Smart home

 Whether you have an existing doorbell in place or using the good, old-fashioned door knock, there’s a cutting-edge way to change the way you easily upgrade your doorbell. Ring Video Doorbell, just as its name states, and more, including two-way microphone and security features, all in HD.

 Technology is changing everything, transforming even the mundane into something pretty cool. Take padlocks, for example. You know, those big metal things you use to secure your valuable stuff? Well, they’ve evolved quite a bit from the rusty old dinosaur that used to adorn your grandfather’s shed. Today, you don’t even need keys to unlock them, and you can manage a range of different locks with a tap on your mobile phone. Sound way-out and futuristic? Read on and I’ll give you my review of the Dog and Bone Keyless Bluetooth Padlocks.

 It’s time to take a look at the August Smart Lock, the intelligent, secure access for the home’s door entrance. It’s also a product that is part of the “Works with Nest” family which syncs with an existing Nest product, including the Nest Thermostat.

     In part two of the smart home series, I share my experiences with the third generation Nest Thermostat. You will find out why I believe it is a central device to own when building out a connected home.

 The newest feature for the OnHub Wireless Routers isn’t a Google feature at all. So what is it, where did it come from, and why does it make your connected digital home more useful than ever before?  

  Welcome to the first of seven blog summaries that share my trials and success of creating a smart home inside my home. With a little elbow grease and help from Geek Squad, the project is already turning into a fun journey!  

 I’m a huge fan of Arlo cameras. I’ve been using them for several months and I’m impressed with their ability to withstand all weather conditions while still streaming great video. Now Netgear has brought the Arlo inside with the Arlo Q, and this camera comes with all the bells and whistles including sound and zone detection.

Are you tired of high household energy bills? Sure, you could cancel all your utilities and live like Henry David Thoreau in a log cabin by a pond somewhere, but then how would you keep up with what’s happening on Walking Dead or The Voice? No, today, thanks to some nifty gadgets, you can still live in a modern household and save power with smarthome technology, and we’re going to show you how.

Saving money these days is less about depriving yourself of things, and more about just being smarter about how you spend your hard-earned cash. Luckily, new technology is around that can make saving money a snap, if you’re willing to invest in those savings ahead of time. Where once we’d lower the heat and throw on an extra sweater to cut back on the bills, nowadays we can save power with smarthome technology, and the use of smart thermostats.

Sleep is such an important part of our lives even though we may not enjoy getting it with so many things to do and see. Regardless, there are ways to maximize the quality of your sleep in what little time you are in bed. In this final edition of the Smarten Up series, we discuss the values of colour with sleep as well as what smart home technology you can use to help you rest and wake up refreshed better.