Smart Home

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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If you have a smart home filled with Wi-Fi-connected light bulbs, cameras, and more, then you’ve likely wondered how to keep everything functioning in case of a power outage. In this guide, you’ll find out top recommendations for how to keep your smart home online during a power outage.

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Ever since I bought fifteen Echo Dots, I have been on the lookout for more ways that I can lean on Alexa for help throughout the day. As with any voice assistant, there are areas in which I find Alexa lacking. One major disappointment that is always on my mind is how some skills do not support multi-room audio. Even with occasional letdowns like this, I am happy with my investment in the Alexa ecosystem and want to share some of tips and tricks that I have learned on my adventure.
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So you’ve adopted Alexa into your home and paired it with some Hue bulbs or smart plugs, but now what? Surely there’s more to the whole home automation trend than just voice controlling your lights. We’ve rounded up five of our favorite unique Alexa-enabled devices to help expand your smart home’s capabilities. So whether you’re looking for some help tidying up around the house or managing your home theater, you’ll want to check them out below.

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I love home automation. For so long I have bought a thing or two here and there to expand my smart home, but up to this point the high-cost of HomeKit-enabled accessories has kept me from going all-in on light bulbs and switches.

When I made the switch to using Alexa as my primary voice assistant, one of the deciding factors was how inexpensive it is to buy Alexa gear compared to competitors that support Apple HomeKit. Head below for a look at which lighting products I’m using to illuminate my home.
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Up to this point, I have been adamant about using Siri as the only virtual assistant in my home. Feelings on this began to change as Siri failed my wife and I time and time again. Whether it be our iPhones not hearing us say “Hey Siri” several times in a row, or seeing them change the correct transcription of what we actually said into what it thought we said, these failures have really gotten on our nerves. For this reason and many others, I have bought several Echo Dots and am now using Alexa to control my smart home accessories.
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With tons of different products to chose from, building the best smart home that you can isn’t easy. If you have lots of different smart devices on your Wi-Fi network especially, you might be faced with slow or even unreliable control. Below you’ll find four different ways to improve your setup with the best smart home products out there.

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Philips Hue is synonymous with smart home lighting these days, but it’s also synonymous with expensive pricing. Philips Hue does offer some nice features, like HomeKit, Assistant, and Alexa integration among many in-app bonuses as well.

But, it’s possible to achieve the same look of Philips Hue for less. You can sometimes expect to pay up to $80 or more for a single LightStrip from Philips. If you want to outfit a den or office with these strips, it can get very expensive, very quick. Keep reading to find out how you can get the same look at a much lower price point with these Philips Hue alternatives.

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Choosing your preferred smart home system can be confusing enough, but thinking about what gear you may want to adopt later on makes starting out even more difficult. Lighting is one of the cornerstones of any smart home, and due to the wide range of options on the market, can be one of the trickiest areas of your home to outfit. Some systems shine as perfect entry-level buys, while others require you going all-in to reap the benefits. But fear not! We’ve rounded up our top picks for smart lighting down below.

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Whether you’re hearing about it in the context of more basic smartphone control, home security or voice assistants, a lot of perks come from being a smart home owner. But often times smart home tech can be expensive, especially to someone just looking to get started. So below you’ll find our top picks for building a budget smart home under $200 to have you living in the 21st Century in no time.

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With the wide range of smart home platforms currently on the market, opting to center your home’s automation around Z-Wave may not be your first thought. But adopting Z-Wave over alternatives like HomeKit and Alexa has some serious perks that are worth considering for anyone contemplating a more in-depth smart home. 

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With the delicious meals eaten, family gatherings over and the gifts unwrapped, the holiday fanfare is finally winding down. If you’re up to date with the latest technology, odds are pretty high that you found an Amazon Echo or Google Home underneath your tree. To help you get the most out of your new device, we’ll be rounding up the best smart home accessories.

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We cover a lot of smart home tech here on 9to5. But if you aren’t already familiar with it all, choosing a platform might seem like an overwhelming task. Because after all, there’s no guarantee that two devices you buy are compatible with each other. From HomeKit to DIY-oriented solutions, we’ll be diving into how to get started bringing automation and voice control to your home and appliances.

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At this point, it seems like everyone is working on their own variation of smart mirrors. From DIY setups, to even major companies. Getting started with your own isn’t terribly difficult, but a new project on Kickstarter hopes to make use of those old tablets you have lying around. Firefly, yet another smart mirror, has launched on the crowdfunding site with one major difference: it relies on an iOS or Android tablet to power it.

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