The 2nd generation Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector comes with a variety of features. You can operate it through a mobile app and you can use it with other connected home Nest devices such as the Nest Cam, Nest Learning Thermostat and IFTTT. It does not look like the traditional smoke detector. The company has made sure that the Nest Protect is beautiful to … [Read more...] about My Nest Protect Review – Time to Ditch Your Old Smoke Alarm?
The Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors for 2022
If you have hardwood floors, what are the best robot vacuums that you should consider? This is a question I get frequently. I also sometimes get: "Does Roomba Scratch Hardwood Floors?" Bottom line: most robots vacuums do better job on hardwoods by default (carpets are what tend to cause more problems), but there are still better options to consider in terms of VALUE … [Read more...] about The Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors for 2022
Roomba 960 vs 880 – Which Roomba is Better and Why?
Two of iRobot’s best robot vacuums are the Roomba 960 and the Roomba 880.  But which one should you buy? There are so pretty clear reasons to go with one vs the other... My Bottom Line Up Front: If you want WiFi App control: You should definitely go with the Roomba 960 here. If you don't really need it: The Roomba 880 is a great value here. About the Roomba … [Read more...] about Roomba 960 vs 880 – Which Roomba is Better and Why?
Reviewing the Lyric T5 Smart Thermostat – The Best One Yet?
Just how much smarter can a smart home thermostat get? The original generations, just two or three years old, managed the program and adjusted it to your whereabouts. Since then, similar devices have been made by growing numbers of companies, but there’s a finite limit to where the technology can go: geofencing, connectivity and additional HVAC support are about as good as … [Read more...] about Reviewing the Lyric T5 Smart Thermostat – The Best One Yet?
Furbo vs Petzi Treat Cam – Which is Better for Fido?
It seems that pet lovers are not going to get enough when it comes to their beloved pets. It does not come as a surprise that more and more pet parents are buying pet cameras that allow them to see and interact with their furry babies when they are not home. There are a lot of pet cameras out there that also have a treat dispenser thrown in. Two of these are Furbo Dog … [Read more...] about Furbo vs Petzi Treat Cam – Which is Better for Fido?
Amazon Echo vs Google Home – Which is the Better Device?
Imagine coming home from a long day at work. You walk through the door, turn on your lights, play relaxing music, and get updated on today’s news and tomorrow’s weather forecast without lifting a finger and using only your voice. With Amazon Echo and Google Home, that is very possible. You can issue out voice commands and get the job done without needing to do … [Read more...] about Amazon Echo vs Google Home – Which is the Better Device?
Dyson 360 Eye vs Roomba 980 – Comparing the Heavyweights
Robot vacuums have been around for quite some time now and innovations or improvements have focused more on the cleaning technology involved, the brushes used, and other advanced cleaning features. Nothing really groundbreaking was introduced of late, until the addition of a camera and the ability to be able to remotely control a robot vacuum. Two models with these new features … [Read more...] about Dyson 360 Eye vs Roomba 980 – Comparing the Heavyweights
Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners for 2022 – The Top Choices This Year
A lot has changed in the past year with robot vacuums. They are becoming more popular, moving beyond the "early adopter" phase and into the mainstream. Across the board, performance levels have increased along with overall customer satisfaction. Having been here in the early days of robots (I started this blog in 2011), it's AMAZING how quickly things have changed. Why … [Read more...] about Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners for 2022 – The Top Choices This Year
The Best Amazon Alexa Skills – 25 Top Things You Can Do
The engineers and coders at Amazon are adding new features to Alexa every month. Here’s 25 of the best new skills you can add, or things and features you can find to do with your virtual assistant. Available to a growing user base of Amazon’s Echo, Echo Tap and a growing range of other devices, they are slowing changing how we interact act with technology. From improving … [Read more...] about The Best Amazon Alexa Skills – 25 Top Things You Can Do
Nanoleaf Review – Making Smart Lighting Cool Again?
Smart lighting might be cool and funky for some smart home owners, but for others it is already old and boring. That’s how fast the technology moves these days. For those who want something with a little more epic, enter Nanoleaf, a system that takes the lights off the ceiling or lamps and puts them on the wall, makes them interactive and ideal for a designer … [Read more...] about Nanoleaf Review – Making Smart Lighting Cool Again?