Smart home technology allows you to monitor and control devices and appliances in your home remotely using your smartphone or other networked devices. Connected products like smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, locks, and more can be programmed to turn on/off automatically or be controlled manually from anywhere.
Smart home devices communicate with each other and with the homeowner through wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc. or through hardwired home automation systems. Cloud services and digital assistants like Alexa also enable voice control.
With home automation, you can save energy, time, and money while adding convenience and security. We cover and review the latest smart home gadgets and whole-home platforms to help you create your connected dream home. See our smart home product guides, news, buying advice, and more.
A look at the latest technology headlines indicates gadgets are improving quickly, and it won’t be long before the people who buy them can benefit from the latest and greatest features and functions. Let’s take a look at some of the likely changes ahead for the gadgets we love, as well as those we’ve not…
Smart Home Week is a collaborative effort by the leading brands in smart home technology to raise awareness and educate consumers about benefits and opportunities of living in a smart, connected way. It is in its second year and this year will take place from 21st – 27th May, it is backed by many of…
I have previously reviewed the fantastic TP-Link HS110 smart plug, which I now have 3 of. They are great for powering down devices on a schedule or via Alexa and allows me to fully power down my office room at night and have everything switched on when I get there in the morning. As usual…
The Echo Spot was finally released in the UK this week and can either been seen as a budget mini Echo Show or very expensive Echo Dot with a screen. Does it find a comfortable middle ground between the two devices? While the Echo Show is large and ugly, the Echo Spot can only be…
The smart home and home security market have boomed over the past year or two, but one security upgrade that hasn’t seen a vast number of products released are home doorbells. In the UK, the only real option is Ring, and all the other choices seem to be low-cost Chinese imports (not that these are…
I previously reviewed the Lightwave system nearly two years ago, and while I did find some issues with the lack of sensors and the proprietary communication technology, it is an excellent system and the only system available that offers proper built-in smart plug sockets. Smart Home technology has boomed since then with the introduction of…
I have already reviewed the original Blink indoor camera system back in January of this year, while it wasn’t quite as good as Arlo, I found it to be an excellent affordable solution and one of the few cameras on the market that can be used truly wirelessly, and use normal batteries. Blink has now…
Having previously reviewed the Devolo Home Control system, I was quite excited to try out a new controller called the nCube. This is a multi-protocol controller, allowing you to control devices that work on Z-Wave, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Lan. If you are not familiar with smart home controllers, they act as a central hub to…
Dozens of companies have launched cloud-based security cameras in recent years, and we have covered many of them. So, it is no surprise that Amazon has announced a product of their own. Named the Cloud Cam, this intelligent camera is also being launched alongside a new smart-lock service called Key, similar to the likes of…
BenQ is mostly known for their affordable LCD monitors, but they also produce other products such as the ZOWIE e-sports peripherals and now a LED lamp specifically designed for e-Reading. It is a pretty niche product, but with the popularity of the Amazon Kindle, it could prove popular. From the BenQ website: BenQ WiT combines…
Home automation systems allow homeowners better control over their environments and more idea of what types of energy they are using and why. Home automation systems as a whole are designed to take some of the strain from homeowners – instead of worrying about whether or not they have locked their doors or left their…
I think the iSmartAlarm SPOT+ is the cheapest indoor CCTV camera I have been sent to date. My pack was the dual camera version which sells on Amazon for just £54.99. At this price, you have to wonder if this can possibly perform well? So, let’s find out! The cameras themselves are nicely sized and…
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