Smart home

Last weekend was a scorcher; and as someone who relishes tropical climates and often wonders why she hasn’t yet moved to one, I ate it up. But on Sunday night, as I was enjoying a glass of wine and a new book on my balcony, something tragic happened–the sun set. You might wonder why that’s tragic, but when you live in an apartment that has a small balcony that isn’t equipped with an electrical outlet, sunset means no light, and no light means no outdoor reading. So for those of you who, like me, have a small outdoor space, here are some patio lighting options that will ensure you can remain outside until you say it’s time to go in; or at least until you finish the chapter you’re reading!

I have a lot going on at home so leaving the house, even for just a few hours, can be stressful. If my kids are in school I worry about what my pets are up to, and if my kids are at home, I worry about whether or not a fight is breaking out or if someone is destroying the kitchen.  That’s why I was so excited to hear about the newest Nest product, the Nest Cam. Not only is it a crystal clear 1080p webcam you can hook up in your home to check in on everything, it belongs to the Nest family of products so you know it will work alongside your Nest devices.

Smart devices, connected homes, embedded connected sensors, mobile devices and computers are all coming together in the Internet of Things (IoT). This massive network is constantly connected, constantly exchanging information and if it isn’t already, your home will soon be part of it. Your PC is a part of the IoT—both as a connected device itself and as an interface to other devices—and your Wi-Fi router is a critical, but often overlooked component. In this part of our Internet of Things series, I take a look at the role your computer plays and especially the importance of that Wi-Fi router.

The most important part of your Smarthome network has nothing to do with the products you choose or how they interact with each other. Flashy coordination is nothing without a solid network connection. Without a stable wireless network setup, you won’t have a stable smarthome network. Read on about how to create an easy and smart wireless network for your smart home.

See who's at your door so you don't open it to strangers or people you don't want to get stuck in conversation with. Review of Ring Video Doorbell

Almost all the information currently on the Internet is created by humans. Content mainly produced by people. But the Internet of Things (IoT) is about devices connected to the Internet and interacting with other connected things and to a small extent with humans, and providing its own content. It is a concept that has enormous potential to impact how we live and work and is already starting to impact the home. But we are just at the tip of the iceberg. Smart TVs already comprise some of the billions of “things” currently connected to the Internet, and they will definitely have a role to play as the Internet of Things unfolds. I will start to identify that potential.

When Philips Hue launched I was fascinated and excited by it: a light bulb that connects to my wireless network that could be controlled by my iPhone … and change to any colour! Very cool. Hue has done well, and the line has diversified, growing to encompass other smartphone platforms and different bulb types. With Hue Go, Philips is launching a different type of product: a light that stands alone or connects with your network … but that you can take with you. I had the chance to use it for a week. Here’s what that was like.

In this edition of Connected Home, I take a look at keyless entry. There’s a much smaller selection of keyless entry home devices than some other things like light switches and bulbs, but what’s out there is high quality and easy to enjoy. Are you looking for a new deadbolt system altogether, or something that works with your existing keys and lock system? I’ll lay out some options for you and compare a couple products out there already.

Today I take a look at the Piper Home Security Camera and a few Piper accessories to see just how well they perform. I’ve extensively tested these products over the past few days, so there’s definitely a lot to cover here. If you’re thinking about getting a home security system that’s easy to use, provides multiple layers of security, and has no monthly fees, then read on to discover whether or not the Piper System could be for you. Hint: Testing went quite well. Not perfect, but not bad either!