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. |
I am on a budget, so energy savings for me!
Is it cheating to use the home security cameras during a game of hide and seek? 😉
I want to be able to see when my parents pull up out from, so a camera would help me to switch away from YouTube to something more appropriate.
Definitely the ability to just talk to my home and have it do stuff. “Hey Google, turn off all the lights” (that the kids left on!)
The most important benefit from smart tech home… is security. My loved ones safety means the most to me. I believe that the Logitech Circle 2 would best provide that security.
Security. I like the Logitech Circle 2 it will benefit my home.
Security. I like Logitech Circle 2 for sure it will benefit my home.
security & energy savings
Energy saving is important to me. Thinking about my costs and about protecting the environment. The Philips Hue bulbs are a good solution.
Security all the way for my family! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity…
All of these aspects are interesting, but the convenience of controlling the doors from a distance and also not having to worry about finding the keys in a pocket or going over different bag compartments to find the “unlocking device” is a major asset that makes the August Smart Lock system the first pick to me.
Safely unlocked doors just approaching it? Yeah, I’m in!
Security is important to me.
I would like the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect to help me achieve security
Which of these three smart home benefits is the most important to me: convenience. Also tell us which product would most help me to achieve this benefit; NetGear Are Pro 2.
Convenience would be ideal; because, like the editor of this article, I also have a tendency to forget my keys. And, it would be so convenient just to go for a run without the hassle of keys bouncing around in your pockets.
I would love to provide security to my family with the Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Cameras which I can set up for one indoors and one outdoors in front of my home.
Security would be the most important benefit for me; and, the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would provide the ability to record any suspicious activity for both the front and back entrances.
Security is the most important benefit to me and the Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Cameras would be a great deterrent.
Security of my home is the most important feature for me. For this reason The Logitech Circle2 Wi-Fi Wire Free camera would help me feel at ease and protected.
It’ll be the convenience of the Nest Indoor Cam for me – I can check the dog isn’t grabbing anything she shouldn’t from the kitchen without having to trudge upstairs
The energy savings is my best selection, although all the above is amazing.
The smart home technology with the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect would be wonderful for juggling a toddler, a baby, and groceries when I get to the door. As well, we have 2 teenagers who never seem to remember their keys.
The logitech circle 2 would help protect my young family by keeping a watchful eye on our entry points.
Security…
convenience, the smart lock would be nice to have
Security is most important to me.
I think Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera will be great to help with home security
It’s all about convenience, making tasks easier is so valuable! You save so much time!
The Kuna Toucan Outdoor Security Camera would provide the security i’m looking for
Security benefit is the most important for me, cameras video recording etc
Security benefit is the most important for me,
SECURITY is my fave feature and the Logitech Circle 2 security cameras would be perfect for our cottage. The Phillips Hue Smart Lights would also help a great deal on those days when we can’t get up to the cottage until after dark!
I think security is the most important feature for me and the Logitech Circle2 Wi-Fi Wire Free camera would help secure our home.
Security with the Outdoor Smart Lighting would be great when coming home in the dark or deterring would be thieves.
Security and engery works for us
I would like the Lily outdoor spotlight. WE have lots of trees and basement windows. A spotlight would discourage thieves from try to break in without being seen!
I think I’d like improved security the most. This setup would work really well.
The added security is most important to me. The cameras & lights would help with this.
I likey the security
Energy savings would be my priority, followed closely by security.
Would love the added security of some of these great products
have to agree with a lot of yr viewers the Logitec circle 2 would be a great feature to my home
The Logitech Circle 2 Cameras would help with our home security.
Best Buys=Best Contests.
Lately there have been numerous break-ins in our community. I think security is the most important at this time. I would love the Logitech Circle2 Wi-Fi Wire Free camera.
We live on an acreage along the highway and often we get vehicles coming in, looking around and then leave.
What we really need and would benefit us is the Security Benefit which is most important to us. So the home security cameras would make us feel more comfortable and help us to be more watchful.
The Security benefit is the most important for me and the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would eliminate my concerns, plus make me feel secure. Our home was broken into many years ago, so protecting it is a priority for us.
Security for me. I need to know my home is safe and secure. I especially like the Nest Cam. I like the easy installation, compatibility with Smart phone, and two way conversation.
Security is very important to me especially now that we moved to a less desirable neighborhood. I would love to have the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera so that I can see who is lurking around my house.
Security for sure. I love the combo idea of a smart lock so I can tell when someone unlocks my door by getting notifications, and who came home and when just from a quick glance at an app to check the camera. Would also come in handy for people with little ones that can reach doors. Would love all these products for my home! 🙂
Security benefit is the most important for me, achieved through home security cameras. I have my eye on the Logitech Circle 2 as its a trusted brand and I used to have their webcam back in the day which worked really well.
Security and Energy saving are most important to me. Sorry, I can’t pick just one!
Comments are closed.