The three Philips Hue color types (White, White Ambiance, and full Color) might seem confusing at first – especially if you are new to smart lighting. Thankfully the differences aren’t all that difficult to understand, as this video covers. I also cover which of the three color types I prefer. 0:00 Intro 1:11 Philips Hue … Read more
Since its introduction, the Amazon Smart plug has become increasingly popular with smart home users around the world. These simple, easy-to-operate smart plugs have helped many turn their normal or ‘dumb’ appliances into smart appliances, making it possible to integrate these appliances into their already functional smart homes. Being manufactured by Amazon, this smart plug … Read more
Ring cameras and doorbells are great… when they have a strong Wi-Fi signal strength, that is. When they have a weak signal, you may experience a range of issues from missing recordings to poor quality video. Thankfully the Ring app makes it easy to see whether a weak Wi-Fi signal is at fault due to … Read more
When it comes to smart home devices, many people are familiar with two of the most popular manufacturers out there – Philips Hue and Ring. Many smart home users have either one or the other – or in some cases, both – brands of smart home devices at work in their homes. Being a primary … Read more
The ecobee range offers various smart thermostats that are some of the most popular choices for today’s smart home. ecobee works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Homekit as well as a few other systems. Normally, you can rely on your ecobee thermostat to keep your home’s temperature right where you need it. However, there are … Read more
Frost control as a function isn’t unique to the ecobee smart thermostat. In fact, many old-fashioned thermostats and HVAC systems have their own versions of frost control. This setting is part of the overall attempt to wrest with relative indoor humidity. We humans have become picky creatures when it comes to climate. While we have … Read more
Back in 2013, a small company appeared on Shark Tank: a company called DoorBot, who later rebranded as “Ring”. In their appearance, Ring outlined their smart doorbell – one of the first smart doorbells on the market. Since then, Ring have released smart cameras, an alarm system, a range of smart lights – along with … Read more
Having full control over your home’s heating and cooling is one of the best perks of smart home tech. Being able to use your phone to quickly change the thermostat in response to a cold snap while you’re on the way home from work is ideal. Ecobee makes one of the most popular smart thermostats … Read more
Smart homes are great. They give a range of benefits to home owners and lodgers. BUT they have some big downsides too: they can be really creepy. Whether it’s listening to your household’s conversations by mistake, running facial recognition on people walking by or various data privacy issues, it’s important to know the risks so … Read more
With the introduction of the smart plug, came a new convenience that has even further enhanced the functionality of today’s smart home. Smart plugs have been a game-changer for those who want to integrate their ‘dumb’, or average fixtures (i.e. lamps and air conditioners), into their smart homes. One of the best selling smart plug’s … Read more