Smart homes have become a hot topic of late, especially since the release of the highly talked about “smart grid” which allows homes and other buildings to communicate with each other and with the utilities using the same system. The long answer is that there really are several different kinds of smart homes and smart neighborhoods. A smart house is basically a completely self-sufficient dwelling that is either integrated with the Internet of things (ITT) or designed directly into the house architecture itself. These houses can be fully automated or wired for electricity, plumbing, lighting, ventilation and even heating and air conditioning, or they can just be standalone units. Of course, not every home is meant to be smart or even remotely smart – there are a lot of these in areas where the average residence is just a single-floor residence with limited outdoor space.
If you typically get a new Android phone every year, your options are to either trade in your old phone or keep it. So if you choose to keep your older Android, what should you do with it? Some options are to stash it in a drawer or try to …
There are plenty of ways to improve your home with tech that goes beyond a smart speaker. I’ve found some of my favorite inexpensive and geeky gadgets to add a touch of flair to your home, apartment or dorm room. All these budget friendly finds are under $100 and I’ve …
Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell and home security brand, announced a new wireless intercom device Thursday at the IFA tech showcase in Berlin. As the European launch might suggest, the battery-powered gadget is slated to make its debut in Germany and the UK this year, with orders opening up later …
If you have a battery-powered Google Nest doorbellyou’ll soon be able to outfit it with seasonal ringtones for fall. Google said Wednesday that it will make available special themed ringtones for Halloween, Diwali and Oktoberfest. You can download the ringtones from the Google Home app during the following timeframes: Oktoberfest: …
This story is part of Home TipsCNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out. Alexa is no doubt a fun sidekick. It can host a top-tier game nightit help you relax at the end of a long day and it even has …
Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays provide a more visual Alexa experience with their bright, touchscreen displays bolstering already great Amazon smart speaker functionality. Amazon makes Alexa devices in a variety of shapes and sizes these days, and right now you can save as much as 53% on its smart displayswith …
Amazon Alexa devices are everywhere. Since 2014, with the release of the original Echo smart speaker, the tech giant has been at the forefront of smart home innovation with over 100 million devices sold. Alexa is the premier voice assistant that runs smart home automation, and Amazon has steadily introduced …
More and more of us are working from home these days — or at least spending a lot more time there than a few years ago. And in that same time, homes have transformed into smarter, more helpful spaces, complete with Wi-Fi-connected lightbulbs, speakers, video doorbells, security cameras and more. …
As you count down the days to your end-of-summer trip, you might find your pre-vacation giddiness is actually overshadowed by stress. There’s a heap of chores to manage before traveling: After you arrange your time out of officeyou’ll have to prep your home for your absence and make sure it’s secure. …