Smart Home

Control4 and SnapAV are back with another new smart home solution dubbed Essential Lighting. This entry-level module further expands the Control4 Wireless Lighting Lineup and offers a dimmer, switch auxiliary keypad, and two plug-in models allowing you to enjoy ease of use when it comes to controlling your smart home.

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Whenever a product category gains traction, it often becomes flooded with competition. Early adopters may get to experience the technology sooner than everyone else, but products that follow tend to bring new features that one-up their other challengers. The new Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro is a perfect example of this as it takes package protection to the next level. This new contender can detect deliveries, keep an eye on them, then identify potential thieves and let them know they’re being recorded. Continue reading to find a marketing which shows an example of this technology in action.
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Last year we took a look at the Pan Cam from Wyze, and we’ve been blown away by the features for the price. Since then, Wyze has been aiming to get more into the smart home market. Coming in at $90 and compatible with existing single-cylinder deadbolts, the Wyze Lock is a very easy way to get some smart control in your house. Be sure to check out the video below to check it out in action. 
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If the wide variety of smart home cameras currently on the market haven’t been to your liking, today there will be yet another option to consider. The folks at Kami, YI Technology’s smart home division, have unveiled a new a wire-free, weather-resistant smart home security camera. The Kami Outdoor Battery Camera hopes to take on the competition with a list of compelling features at an affordable price tag. Head below for a closer look at its feature set.

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Having dove into the Alexa ecosystem over a year ago, one might think that I would have largely discovered its compatible smart home gear. While I have certainly found several products, it seems I have only scratched the surface of what’s currently available and yet to come. In this guide, I’ll shine light on Alexa smart home devices that have caught my attention and clock in at under $50.
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Arlo first unveiled its Pro 3 camera system back in September with a friendly price tag and promises of eventual HomeKit support. While Apple’s ecosystem has yet to be integrated, there’s still a lot to love about the latest from Arlo. A truly wireless design, various DVR options, and easy installs make it one of the best options on the market in 2020.

However, slow response times and quirky settings provide some challenging steps along the way to securing your home. Our Arlo Pro 3 review dives into all of the best features and notes a few areas of improvement that we hope to see this year.

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Face it, for better or worse we are inundated with what seems like an overwhelming list of smart home gear solutions. This alone makes it difficult for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition, but Leviton has done so today with the official release of its Smart Voice Dimmer. This smart light switch sets itself apart from most by giving you yet another place to fire up Alexa. Leviton has also released its Smart Wi-Fi 4-Speed Fan Controller, which works with IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, and more. Continue reading for further details.

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If you’re in the market for a smart lock, they come in all shapes and sizes. From just deadbolts to entire setups, ones that have no user-facing buttons to ones that have a plethora of buttons. It’s rare that we see a lock with four ways to unlock it, but that’s what the Ultraloq Lever brings to the table. Through fingerprint identification, remote access with a bridge, a touchscreen, and more, this lock is designed for the modern home.

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When it comes to outfitting Siri, Alexa, or Assistant with new devices around the house to control, smart plugs are an easy recommendation for those just getting started or home automation veterans. With versatile designs, affordable price points, and effortless installations, there’s a lot to love about the form-factor. With an over-abundance of options to choose from at Amazon, which is the right model for your smart home? All you’ll need to do to answer that is head below and peruse our roundup of best smart plugs of 2020 to expand your voice-enabled setup.

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Cuisinart has joined the likes of Weber and Traeger with new two new pellet grills that wield built-in smart functionality. Both of the new Cuisinart smart grills are quite spacious with its Woodcreek 4-in-1 Pellet Grill sporting an 862-square inch surface area and Twin Oaks Pellet & Gas Grill clocking in at about 5% larger. Both Cuisinart smart grills feature built-in Bluetooth connectivity and pair with a smartphone app for food monitoring, notifications, and more.

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On the same day August debuted its new Wi-Fi Smart Lock, Yale has taken the wraps off of a new app-controlled storage lineup. Products announced include Yale Smart Delivery Box, Cabinet Lock, and Safe. Each of which joins Yale’s burgeoning smart home lineup. Of all three, the Delivery Box seems to be the most interesting as it offers a unique approach that aims to ward off porch pirates. Keep reading to learn about each of the new Yale smart storage products.
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Jasco is one of those smart home brands that has consistently and reliably been populating the market with diverse offerings in the Z-Wave and Zigbee space. This year for CES, the brand is back with a new suite of products which focus on the latter in terms of connectivity. Launching with a variety of refreshed smart home accessories, alongside  some new additional to the Zigbee 3.0 collection, Jasco’s Enbrighten products look to cover just about any area of your setup. Head below for a closer look at the upcoming lineup of devices.

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Amazon currently offers the Arlo Ultra 4K Camera System bundled with a Video Doorbell for $439.99 shipped. Typically selling for $550, today’s offer is good for a 20% discount, marks one of the first discounts we’ve seen on Arlo’s recent Video Doorbell, and is a new all-time low. Headlined by 4K HDR recording, Arlo’s new security system lets you monitor a location with a 180-degree field of view and an outdoor-ready design. Other eye-catching inclusions here are enhanced night vision, an integrated spotlight, as well as auto zoom and tracking. Plus with the doorbell, you’ll be able to monitor activity at the front door such as package deliveries and the like. Rated 3.9/5 stars from 600 customers.

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Amazon has expanded its smart home ecosystem to cover everything from Alexa-enabled outlets to voice-activated microwaves. Roughly a year ago, the company unveiled a smart timepiece, and today is officially announcing a follow-up. In partnership with Disney, you’ll now be able to adorn your wall with a Mickey Mouse-themed version of Amazon’s Echo Wall Clock. Head below for a closer look.

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Aqara might not be one of the first smart home companies that come to mind or even one you’re familiar with already. But over the past year, the company has garnered a pretty large following thanks to its affordable price points and, even more recently, the introduction of HomeKit support. Now Aqara is officially bringing its product line to the United States with the launch of an Amazon storefront. Head below for more details and to learn how you can take advantage of an introductory 20% off promotion.

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The Echo Wall Clock was a first of its kind, but today, Amazon teamed up with Citizen to launch a few higher-end models for those who want Alexa in an analog form. The Citizen Smart Clock, as it’s called, offers multiple timers that are configurable with voice commands through an Amazon Echo. Simply tell your Echo, “Alexa, set a timer for 8 minutes” and the countdown begins. However, that’s not where it ends.

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With smart home ecosystems largely funneling down to HomeKit, Alexa, and Assistant, it’s always good to see new products that natively support as many as possible. The new ConnectSense In-Wall Outlet thankfully supports all three, solidifying itself as a solid contender in the smart home space.

Unlike typical smart plugs, this unit replaces existing outlets. Going this route yields a clean look while also delivering desirable smart home functionality. “Ultra-precise power monitoring” is also a notable feature, delivering measurements that ConnectSense touts as accurate within a 0.1% margin of error.
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Each year here at 9to5Toys we debut a series of annual gift guides, and this year I’m focusing on the best smart home essentials. Gear for Alexa, Assistant, and Siri setups have already proven to be a massive hit throughout 2019. And if Black Friday has shown us one thing, it’s that more homes than ever are going to be welcoming a smart speaker come the holidays. So this year we’re diving into must-have accessories for those just getting started, as well as our favorites for other tech enthusiasts. So you’ll want to head below to check out our top recommendations for essential smart home gifts.

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Wyze is both a fan and writer favorite here at 9to5. Originally launching with just a security camera, the company now has pan-and-tilt models, sensors, bulbs, smart plugs, and…now a smart lock! The latest announcement from the company is the Wyze Lock, and it brings quite a few interesting features to the table. Coming in at $89.99 plus shipping, it’s one of the more budget-friendly offerings out there. But, there’s one stand-out feature that sets it apart from the rest.

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With more and more home appliances smartening up, Weber is here with SmokeFire. The company’s first-ever pellet smart grill that’s got enough sensors to notify a smartphone when your dish is cooked and ready eat. Weber’s new smart grill sports easy temperature adjustments and a wide range that can vary from 200- to 600-degrees.

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Over the last year, we’ve seen competition heat up in the home audio space. This means that Black Friday speaker deals are abundant with home theater and smart solutions ripe for the picking. In this guide we cover some of the most notable deals we’ve seen to date, making it easy for you to plan ahead and increase the likelihood that you score exactly what you had in mind.

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Today Awair is introducing a new entry into its lineup of smart home air quality monitors. Awair Elements packs five sensors into a compact design complemented by a unique LED display for showcasing real-time status. Alongside just monitoring the air quality of your home, it’s able to command smart home devices for proactively fighting allergens and more. Head below for a closer look at the new release.

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Now that just about all of the major Black Friday ads have debuted, we’ve done the hard work for you to make it easier to get the best smart home deals come the Thanksgiving week shopping event. This year’s sale is highlighted by everything from new all-time lows on smart speakers to HomeKit lighting, security cameras, and much more. Head below to find this year’s best Black Friday smart home deals.

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Just over one year ago, IKEA made a splash into the world home automation with a series of affordable smart devices ranging from bulbs and smart plugs to sensors and more. Since then, the brand has filled out its Tradfri lineup with other devices, but today smart homeowners will be able to add yet another device into their setup. Enter IKEA’s Edison-style Smart LED Light Bulb. Launching with a low-cost price tag, this new release undercuts nearly all of the other smart filament bulbs on the market without sacrificing on features. Head below for a closer look.

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Black Friday is still weeks away, but the deals are rolling in today, thanks all of the Singles Day sales that have officially begin. Yesterday we took a look at some of the best early offers, and this morning we detailed some enticing offers from AliExpress. But now we’re turning our attention to the likes of Banggood, which has discounts on everything from Xiaomi smartwatches to Eachine drones and popular 3D printers. Head below for all of our favorite Banggood Singles Day deals and more.

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Lots of companies make universal remotes. In fact, they’ve become so ubiquitous that a large variety of options exist for $10 or less. Logitech’s Harmony lineup has been the gold standard for quite some time, but with the Neeo Smart Home Remote, it and others may need to step up their game.

Like Harmony Elite, the Neeo Smart Home Remote tackles more than just home theater. It takes on smart home gear, allowing users to adjust lighting, alter the thermostat, and more. It runs Control4’s Smart Home OS and wields a gorgeous design that easily one-ups Logitech’s high-end remote.
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Not long after eufyCam 2 made its rounds, yet another Anker security camera has debuted. As with its name, eufyCam 2C shares many similarities with Anker’s recent release, but thankfully price is not one of them. This specific offering is sold in a two-camera bundle that’s paired with a HomeBase Station intended to keep recordings secure, on-site, and private. Continue reading for further details and to see how you can shave $40 off its list price.

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Wyze is a fan-favorite around here when it comes to budget-friendly security cameras or smart home devices. While the cameras sport 24/7 on-board recording and free 14-day rolling online storage, the motion capture timeframe is currently limited to just 12 seconds when stored in the cloud. That means if something happens to trigger the motion recording, and an event happens more than 12 seconds later, it’s not stored. That’s where Wyze Complete Motion Capture comes into play, offering up start to finish recordings of any motion that’s detected.

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A great benefit of using smart devices is the ability to use automation. For your Amazon Echo smart speaker or other connected devices, you can easily create what are called Routines with Alexa. Routines let you do things automatically like play music or hear the weather using a trigger. If you’re new to Routines in Alexa, here’s how to set them up.

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Earlier today, SwitchBot took on companies like IKEA by officially announcing a small wireless device that automates existing curtains. SwitchBot Curtain appears to be dead simple to install, with the company touting it as a mere 30-second process. While SwitchBot has successfully shipped products before, it is worth noting that initial orders are taking place at Kickstarter, where it has already blown through its initial $20,000 funding goal.

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Not too long after the Anker-owned brand Eufy debuted its 2K Video Doorbell, the company is back at it again with a smart floodlight. As was the case with eufy Video Doorbell, this Anker floodlight takes aim at Amazon’s lineup of Ring security products. This could not be more clear with its strikingly close resemblance to Ring Floodlight. So how does it compare? Continue reading to learn more and find out how to unlock a 25% savings.

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Amazon offers several at-home services for its customers, including cleaning and installation. Perhaps one of its lesser-known offerings comes in the way of smart home design. You can contact Amazon to help you put together your smart home if you’re unsure of where to start. And with so many different brands out there competing for your money, it can be overwhelming to choose where to start. HomeKit? Assistant? Alexa? Each one offers its list of features that may fit your lifestyle best. Amazon Smart Home Services looks to fill in the gaps with its installation services, which are, of course, centered around the online giant’s stable of products. Head below to learn more.

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Smart home gear may have been popularized by assistants like Siri and Alexa, but there’s so much more to home automation than commanding devices with your voice. One of the most popular options for upgrading your connected setup falls to Z-Wave. It’s a standard that’s overflowing with benefits like local control, added security and a massive list of compatible devices.

To help kickstart your upgrades, we’ve taken a look at some of the more notable ways to get started. Head below for a dive into why you should adopt Z-Wave tech in the first place and the best hubs to get going with.

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One of the things that I appreciate most about Amazon’s smart home ecosystem is Alexa routines. For those familiar with HomeKit, these are basically the same thing as automations. Unlike HomeKit, Alexa routines do not require a HomePod, iPad, or Apple TV to run them. Any Echo device, even the most inexpensive ones, can control other devices based on a plethora of parameters. In this guide, I’ll dive into the ways that Alexa routines can be triggered and how I am using them.
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The third display-laden product in the Amazon Echo line, the new Show 5, is a more compact and affordable Alexa powered smart display priced at $90. It comes in as a less-priced alternative to the older Echo Show 2nd generation, which is still available, that packs a 10-inch screen and is priced at $229. Check out the video below for a hands-on look at the new Echo Show 5.

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With a detached garage that I all too often forget to close the door on – adding a smart opener was something I’ve been wanting to check out for a while. Featuring a built-in Wi-Fi connection, the myQ Smart Garage Hub from Chamberlain connects to an existing, compatible garage door opener and adds smartphone control via the myQ app. I have an old Craftsman opener that was made in 1997, and at $50, this Smart Garage Hub might be the easiest, and affordable way to add some smart features to it. Check out the video below.
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With summer quickly approaching, there are plenty of ways to put your preferred voice assistant to work. We’ve rounded up some of the best devices for both Alexa and HomeKit setups to prepare your smart home for summer. So whether you’re looking for some help monitoring allergens, controlling outdoor lights or automating your lawn care routine, you’ll want to check them out below.

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It’s been about six months since I dove headfirst to the Amazon Alexa ecosystem. While it’s not perfect, I’m very happy with my decision to switch away from Siri as my primary voice assistant. Having fully immersed my home in Echo Dots, I initially didn’t see a need to venture outside of Amazon’s most affordable smart speaker.

My feelings changed pretty quickly after I realized how feature-rich Echo Plus was at such an affordable price. More microphones, better sounding audio, and a built-in smart home hub all worked together and eventually pushed me to try an upgraded Echo experience.
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As each day passes I become increasingly fond of Amazon’s products and services. My initial love for Amazon all began with Prime shipping which gave me access to thousands of items available for 2-day shipping. I reluctantly gave Alexa a shot and was so pleased I went from one Amazon device to several quite rapidly.

In this Echo Dot Diary I’ll be covering the Amazon devices I currently own and how their features have improved my life. While the Alexa ecosystem is large, I tend to gravitate towards an Amazon-made device over one from a third party. This often leads to less headaches and an experience that works as expected.

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Over the past several months, I’ve gone all in on Alexa. At first I was not convinced that Amazon’s assistant was the right fit for my Apple-centric home, thinking it wouldn’t be long until I switched back to (cursing at) Siri. I was wrong. Inexpensive gear and reliable performance have kept me here and I’ve got more items than ever on my Alexa wishlist.
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Nobody likes to see their weight, but if you’re on a weight loss journey (no matter how much you’re trying to lose), keeping track is always a must. While we used to have to write down our weight, it’s now easier than ever to record it with our smartphones. These are the best smart scales to track your weight loss starting at just $30 shipped.

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One of the centerpieces for improving your home’s security is the smart lock. Not only do the deadbolts provide peace of mind, but also allow you to ditch a traditional key for pin codes, automated unlocking and more. But with so many options to choose from, which option is right for your smart home? Whether you fancy HomeKit, Alexa, Z-Wave or another ecosystem, we’ve highlighted the best smart locks for your smart home. Head below for the full report.

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If you’re getting a bit tired of paying a premium for HomeKit-compatible smart devices, you’re not alone. For years I’ve been all-in on Apple’s ecosystem and until recently HomeKit was an area that thought I’d never switch away from. This all changed when I purchased a bunch of Echo Dots over the holidays and began dabbling with the skills that Alexa wields.

I absolutely love the simplicity offered by Alexa when it comes to voice control, but abhor the moment when I need to launch the Alexa app. In this guide, I’ll show you how I put IFTTT Webhooks to work so I could use iOS Shortcuts with Alexa-compatible devices.
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In our on-going endeavor to show you how to make the most out of your smart home, today we’ll be checking out another way to add greater utility to your smartphone-enabled gadgets. Bolstering your home’s security not only offers peace of mind, but can bring real benefits like break-in notifications, remote monitoring and more. Head below for five of the best smart home security devices from August, Eve, Ring and more.

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