How to Fight Cabin Fever With Family-Friendly Alexa Games - Wirecutter

In this new normal, as we all try to squeeze our work life, school life, and home life into one big communal life (in one very small space), reliable ways to keep the kids occupied and at peace are as valuable as jumbo-size rolls of toilet paper. Our discovery: Amazon’s Alexa happens to have dozens of voice-based games built in (many of them really good; some not so much), and so it is a terrific tool for keeping the kids entertained without resorting to more screen time. To launch one of these games, just ask Alexa to open or play them by name (no need to install a Skill, as you did in the past).

Read the full post here.

The Best Smart Garage-Door Controller | The Wirecutter

Read the full article here.

Here's what happens to your smart home now that Works with Nest is ending - The Ambient

The Nest Thermostat was the golden child of the early DIY smart home. Finally, a polished, good-looking device that could be the centrepiece of a smart home. Sure, it wasn’t the perfect smart home hub we dreamed of, but the functionality it enabled was pretty magical.

Now, with the imminent demise of Works with Nest, our smart home dreams are crumbling, being replaced by a device we have to talk to, or use an app to control, the antithesis of Nest’s original ecosystem. According to Google, moving forward all smart home interactions will have to go through Works with Google Assistantand the Google Home app, which currently only has three triggers for Routines: voice, touch or schedule (it does promise more will come later though).

Read the full post here.

How to Survive the End of Works With Nest - Wirecutter.com

We recommend several Nest products at Wirecutter, along with many devices that work with them, and that integration is often crucial to how people use their devices. But the recent news that Google is folding Nest into its smart-home ecosystem and creating Google Nest means that major changes—some good, some painful—are coming. Here is what you need to know about these changes and what steps you can take.

Read the full post here.

U.S News World & Report Smart Home Security Systems Review

I wrote two full guides to security systems Link Interactive and Protect America, as well as interviewed CTOs, CEOs and VPs of security companies for U.S News World & Reports Best Home Security Systems of 2019.

Link Interactive

Protect America

Chris Carney, CEO Abode

Mike Harris, President of Ring Solutions

Syed Zaidi, CEO of Frontpoint

Daniel Roberts, founder and CEO of Scout

Chad Laurans, founder and CEO of SimpliSafe

Erick Low, senior product marketing manager for Nest

Dennis Mathew, vice president and general manager of Xfinity Home

Jeremy Warren, chief technology officer of Vivint Smart Home

3 smart solutions that will help make bedtime better for everyone - Omaha.com

Since my first child was born, bedtime has been the bane of my existence. From the early days through to elementary school, I really struggled to crack the nighttime routine.

Until I made my home smart.

Read the full article here.

3 Smart Home Devices to Sell Your House Faster - Dwell (VIDEO)

Offering new conveniences, energy savings, safety, and security, pre-installed home automation devices are quite appealing to buyers.

Read the story and watch the video here. 

Meet The Firm That’s Reimagining Life in Antarctica - Dwell Magazine

The largest community on the planet’s coldest continent needs a smaller, smarter facility to continue its crucial work. It may be on the verge of getting one.

Read my latest piece for Dwell Magazine here. 

The Best Smart Thermostat: Reviews by Wirecutter | A New York Times Company

My newest update to my Best Smart Thermostat guide for  Wirecutter. 

How to Stop Your Bathroom from Wasting Energy - Green Homes - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Step-by-step guide to installing a smart fan and smart lighting in your bathroom. 

How to Create the Smart Bathroom of Your Dreams - AllConnect.com

You’ve heard of the smart home — homes equipped with technologies that provide convenience, comfort, and security. Now get ready for the smart bathroom – bathrooms that promise the same, along with improved cleanliness and safety. From motion-sensor lights to Bluetooth speakers, there’s a wealth of devices that can make your bathroom one of the smartest rooms in your home. Here are just a few reasons to invest in creating a smart bathroom.

Read the whole post here.

How to Add Audio to Every Room, On Any Budget - The Real Estate Book Blog

5 Household Robots That Make Your Life Easier - AllConnect.com

Easily take care of common household chores and carve more time for yourself with the latest generation of household robots. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), today’s robots can wash your floors, monitor your home’s climate, clean your windows, and more. Here are just some of the ways household robots can make managing your home easier.

Read the whole article here.

AllConnect.com

Today AllConnect.com published my article on Smart Home Robots, and that marks 5 years of my writing for this great, consumer-focused website. Read all of my smart home and consumer electronics related posts for AllConnect here.

6 High-Tech Gadgets for Your Vacation Rental Bathroom - Tripping.com

How (and why) to turn your vacation rental bathroom into a smart bathroom. Read the post here.

The ABCs of LED Lighting (Infographic) – Green Homes – MOTHER EARTH NEWS

View the infographic here.

Smart Home DIY: 5 Reasons Your Family Is Going To Love Smart Door Locks | FunTimesGuide.com

The phrase “latchkey kid” was a popular one among my generation — the first where many families boasted two working parents. Coming home from school to an empty house was a pretty common occurrence for many of my school friends. However, thanks to smart door locks, today’s latchkey kids can dispense with the key entirely and parents can dispense with the worry over whether their children made it home safely!

Read the full article here.

How smart home devices help monitor and mitigate indoor air quality | MultiBriefs.com

There are a significant number of connected, Internet of Things-powered devices that incorporate some sort of indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring that can help mitigate indoor air pollution. From standalone IAQ monitors and devices that do double duty as security systems to smart HVAC systems that filter the air when dangerous levels occur, consumers can now easily monitor the health of their homes and businesses. For more read the full post here.

The Best Smart Sprinkler Controller - Wirecutter | A New York Times Company

After spending two months with six smart irrigation controllers in a sunny South Carolina yard, we’re confident the Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller (Generation 2) is the best choice for most people with an in-ground sprinkler system. Any smart controller will save you water and money compared with a simple timer, but the Rachio is the best of the ones we tested.

Read the full guide here.

How smart home technologies can help with senior living - McKnight Senior Living

Connected technology in the home is a fast-growing area, providing inhabitants with enhanced conveniences, improved security and increased comfort. Known as “smart home tech,” everyday devices such as door locks, smoke alarms and thermostats use a connection to the internet, software programs and machine learning to provide added functionality and remote control.

Read the full post here.