From the invention of the wheel, to the creation of the light bulb, to the advent of the cellphone—each leap in technology makes our lives easier. Smart home technology is the newest innovation to come along and improve our lives. Now you can check who’s at your door while you’re at work, schedule your lights to match your daily routine, and let friends into your home without having to make extra keys. Best Buy wants your home to be a well-oiled machine that offers convenience, security, and can even help you reduce the energy your home uses. That’s why we’re running this contest: We want to give Canadians a chance to win amazing smart home technology. Read on to find out how (and what!) you might win.
Smart home security
Making your home safer is easier than ever. Consider security cameras. There was a time when installing security cameras required professional help and a hefty fee. Now, however, most people can easily install their own smart home cameras. Options range from battery-powered, light-fixture powered, and AC-powered, so you can match your cameras to their location and desired use.
Smart cameras stream footage over your home’s existing Wi-Fi to the compatible app on your smart phone. Some models even offer the ability to engage in two-way conversation, and most offer real-time movement alerts. This means that no matter where you are, you can keep an eye on your home and be assured that all is well.
Also gone are the days of the unsightly, conspicuous, wired security camera; today’s smart home security cameras are sleek and unobtrusive. But don’t let their diminutive size fool you. Many models, like the Logitech Circle 2, the Nest Cam, and the Arlo Pro 2 can capture an up to 180-degree field of view in 1080p HD resolution and boast night-vision to boot.
And because the cameras are so small, they’re easily portable. You can place them wherever you need. For example, use one to keep a watchful eye on your children as they play outside, or on your new puppy while you are at work. You’ll be able to see when he starts to chew your leather shoes and tell him to stop.
Lighting is another way to improve home security and personal safety. Outdoor smart lighting has the advantage of adding ambiance to a garden, deck, or patio while simultaneously making it safer for you to walk around your home on dark winter nights. Of course, outside lights are a great crime deterrent too! Lights from the Philips Hue line offer you the chance to personalize your lighting indoors and out.
With these easily customizable lights, you can use the app on your phone to select from 16 million colours (yes, you read that right) to create just the vibe you want. Choose orange for an eerie Halloween glow, or go for red and green to add Christmas cheer. The rest of the year, they’re ideal for keeping walkways and paths brightly lit. Blog Editor Shelley recently discussed how big of a difference the Philips Hue outdoor product range can make to your home security and appearance, so head on over to read her article to find out more.
Smart Home Convenience
Have you ever locked yourself out of your house? Or received a sheepish call from your spouse as they shiver outside in the cold? With smart locks, like these ones from August, you can stop leaving a key in a flower pot or under the doormat. The August Smart Lock offers keyless entry through your Bluetooth enabled smart phone. The lock senses when you’re approaching the door, so you don’t need to worry about juggling bags of groceries as you search for your keys. You read that right, the door will unlock as you approach it, automatically! Plus, you can buzz people in from your phone and receive alerts when someone enters or when the door is left ajar. Blog reviewer Erin Lawrence tried out the August Smart Lock for herself, and she found it incredibly easy to install and even better to use. You can see for yourself by reading her review.
If you shop online, say from BestBuy.ca, you will love the security and convenience you get with smart cameras and locks at the entrance to your home. With smart cameras like the Logitech Circle, Arlo Pro 2, and Kuna Toucan, you’ll be alerted to movement and can keep an eye on your packages. The August Smart Lock lets you create a temporary key, so your ever-helpful neighbour can place the packages inside for you.
Smart home convenience isn’t just limited to outdoors either. The Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit allows you to schedule, adjust, and turn-off your lights remotely from your smart phone. This means that you’re only using power when you really need it, which will reduce energy consumption and cut down on your electricity bill. So not only does smart lighting help you to save money, but it also helps you to do your part for the planet.
Kuna makes the Toucan Smart Sconce Lights that offer all the benefits of smart tech with the style of traditional decor. Smart home lighting is also effective as a security tool, as you can use a lighting schedule to give your home a lived-in look when you’re away for extended periods of time. And since smart lights can be controlled via your smart phone, you can dim the lights for movie night without even having to move the popcorn bowl off your lap.
Smart home compatibility
Most smart home brands, including Lutron, August, Philips Hue, and Nest, work with the Google Home Assistant, giving you hands-free control of your lights, locks, cameras, and more. The Google Home and Google Home Mini are handy helpers in their own right, that can play music, tell you the weather, and more. This article by Shelly gives you great ways for the whole family to enjoy using a Google Home or Alexa unit. Excited yet? The grand prize winner will receive a Google Home Mini of their own. But fear not; If you don’t have one already, you can get your own from Best Buy, or shop our selection of other voice assistants and accessories.
HOW TO ENTER
In a comment below, please tell us which of these three smart home benefits is the most important to you: convenience; security; or energy savings. Also tell us which product would most help you to achieve this benefit.
I personally enjoy the convenience aspect of smart home technology and would want the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect as I come from a long line of folks who forget their house keys, and it’s apparently an inheritable trait.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
We will randomly draw four winners. One person will win the grand prize, one person will win the second prize, one person will win the third prize, and one person will win the fourth prize. The prizes are shown here (and also in the Rules and Regulations posted below).
| Grand Prize | 2nd Prize |
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| 3rd Prize | 4th Prize |
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This contest runs from October 19th until November 2nd.
Remember, you can only enter once. However, you probably know someone who would love to add some incredible smart products to their home, so please share this contest so that they too can have a chance to win one of these prizes.
Enter for a chance to win a Smart Home Prize Package Rules and Regulations
Good Luck.
| We frequently have many contests running at Best Buy, so check out the “contests in progress” page for more great contests to enter. |
We live in a large city so I think security is the most important. Thanks for the chance to win!
I think Security is priority
I like the 2 x Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera item since security is the most important benefit to me.
The ip camera, so we could check on or house while we are away
Security is most important so I would choose Logitech Circle 2 cameras as they can be installed outdoors to help keep my yard safe.
I like the security features. Being home alone quite often I like the idea of seeing who is at the door without having to answer it first.
Security is most important so I would choose Logitech Circle 2 cameras as they can be installed indoors and out to improve home security.
Security is my top need
Security is my greatest concern,
convenience is my top quality
convenience is the one quality of greatest importance to me
convenience is the quality that is most important to me
We travel a lot, so security is our priority.
Smart home compatibility is the quality that is most important to me
I’m interested in energy savings. The Lutron Caseta Wireless Dimmer Kit with Smart Bridge would help with that goal.
With the growth in home break-ins in our area the security is on the top of my list.
The Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras would be best for security which I feel is most important.
I think convenience would be my pick for smart technology. Google Home assistant would be great for this.
Security, my neighbourhood has become transient and nobody knows who actually lives here.
I personally enjoy the convenience aspect of smart home technology and would want the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect as I come from a long line of folks who forget their house keys, and it’s apparently an inheritable trait.
Security provides peace of mind. Being able to lock my door remotely with the August Smart Lock Pro would be pretty reassuring. Pairing the lock with a nest cam would allow me to have full control over who enters my home.
I need to protect my family.. so for me it is security
security
The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect would be great for safety and convenience.
My parents would feel much safer and I would be at ease also with this system,
I’ a senior and need security where i live.
energy savings
energy savings
Convenience – I’d love the Philips Hue Smart lights, and an ability to change the colour through an app on my phone to suit my mood before I come home.
convenience, it always wins
I would love to have the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera for security purposes.
The nestcam.Security at it’s best.
I’m often home alone with very young children and would feel much safer with all of this!
Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera is very important for me. I would feel very safe knowing that a camera is securing my house from intruders.
I like the energy saving lights to illuminate the entrance
security for me — The nestcam could be well camouflaged to catch pesky parcel thieves
We are seniors and live in the city. Having security cameras will help us feel more secure in our homes.
Security is to important to us as we are seniors and living in the city. Nice to know that we can have some peace of mind.
The Philips Hue Smart Lights for the security and energy savings would be awesome!
I would benefit from the Philips security and energy savings. Any option would be greatly appreciated and put to use in my household.
energy savings
security is most important to me, would love to try these new types of security systems
Security is most important and the smart home security camera Logitech Circle 2 would suit me the best.
Security is probably most important to me and I think the Nest Cam Wi-Fi Indoor IP Camera would help me to keep an eye while I’m at work.
Security is most important to our family, the Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras would be perfect.
Security for sure. We live in the country and the Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras, would be great.
I would love the Logitech Circle 2 Security Sysrem. It would make me feel safer in the neighbourhood. I love Best Buy. They have the coolest new gadgets.
This would be awesome! The security would sure come in useful at my house. Thanks for the opportunity Best Buy
Security is the most important feature for me, as we’ve had a rash of crimes in our neighbourhood over the past year or so – including just the other day when someone stole a pumpkin off our friend’s porch!!! Who does that!? One of the outdoor cameras in the article would definitely give me the peace of mind, knowing that we’re more safe.
I love the Philips Hue Smart Lights for the security and energy savings!
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