I really like my Alexa devices for controlling my smart home devices, listening to music, and answering the occasional random question. However, as Alexa “matures” it seems like the annoying advertisements and unsolicited advice keep piling up. One of the most annoying “features” happens after you ask a question or issue a command. Alexa will complete your request, but instead of shutting up and quietly waiting for the next command, she will continue with “By the way,” followed by some useless advice or attempt to sell you something. Fortunately, this particular feature is easy to eliminate. T ..read more

A few days ago I had a situation where I wanted to use my Echo Dot (gen 3) device as a speaker. The Echo Dot has a 3.5 mm jack in the back so I figured I could simply plug my audio source into the jack and instantly have a speaker. After a few tests and no success, I dug a little deeper hoping to find where I messed up. It’s possible to use your Amazon Echo device as a speaker by using one of two methods: Bluetooth connection – Available on most Echo devices. Requires a Bluetooth capable device to broadcast the signal to the Echo device. Line in – Available on only a few Echo devices. Require ..read more

In this review, I’ll be sharing my experience with Lumary’s smart landscape lights – from unboxing to installation, and of course, the final results. 1 Best Value Lumary Smart Landscape Lights (6 pack) -6 RGBW color changing lights -Individually adjustable brightness and color temperature -Wi-Fi connectivity -2W and 200 Lumens per light -Weatherproof with an IP65 rating -Use app to set lights to preset patterns or create your own custom pattern Check Price The Lumary smart landscape lights offer a transformative experience for ordinary backyards, turning them into beautifully illumin ..read more

For years, human presence detection for home automation has been really hard to do well, and almost impossible to do perfectly. However, human presence sensors powered by mmWave radar are threatening to change that. In the past, motion detection was done almost exclusively with the standard PIR motion detectors. They work great IF you’re moving. But if you stop moving – fall asleep, read a book, watch television – they no longer detect your presence. On the other hand, mmWave sensors can sense much more subtle movements, such as breathing. In addition, the newest models can detect distance, wh ..read more

For years, human presence detection for home automation has been really hard to do well, and almost impossible to do perfectly. However, human presence sensors powered by mmWave radar are threatening to change that. In the past, motion detection was done almost exclusively with the standard PIR motion detectors. They work great IF you’re moving. But if you stop moving – fall asleep, read a book, watch television – they no longer detect your presence. On the other hand, mmWave sensors can sense much more subtle movements, such as breathing. In addition, the newest models can detect distance, wh ..read more

When I first heard of smart faucets, I was initially skeptical. I figured this was yet another example of “over-smart-home-ization” where companies needlessly add “smart” WiFi function to their product. However, after I looked into these smart faucets, I started to change my mind. With a voice-activated faucet, you can avoid touching the faucet with dirty hands, waiting for a pot to fill, or waiting for water to get to the correct temperature. There are potentially some real, tangible benefits to owning a smart faucet. Admittedly, I am not an expert on what constitutes a high-quality faucet. H ..read more

Outdoor smart plugs are a great way to schedule your light displays or other outdoor landscaping features. This list reviews five different outdoor smart plugs, based on factors like smart home integration, WiFi connection, and weatherproofing. After reviewing the options, I believe the best choice more most people will be the Meross outdoor smart plug. Table Of Contents Best Outdoor Smart Plug – meross Outdoor Smart Plug What I like What I don’t like Verdict Best For Multiple Switches – POWRUI Smart Power Strip What I like What I don’t like Verdict Highest Quality – Lutron Caséta Out ..read more

In this article, I’ll show you how to connect your smart lights to the Alexa app, and how to easily control them using natural, easy to remember commands no matter how many lights you add. Table Of Contents First, connect your lights to the Alexa app Make sure all devices that control lights are designated as lights in the Alexa app Use Groups to control multiple lights at the same time Put an Echo device in the same room you want to control How does Alexa know which device you’re talking to? Combine multiple groups to control entire sections of your home Use the following commands for cont ..read more

Smart padlocks sound great in theory. Simply use your fingerprint or an app on your phone to unlock your gate or gym locker, eliminating the need to remember a combination or key.  Just about every smart padlock I looked at for this review suffers from some issue from battery life, to fingerprint scanning, to app security. In my view these issues cancel out any of the supposed convenience of smart biometric padlocks. However if you’re still interested in smart padlocks continue reading to learn more. Table Of Contents What Are the Best Smart Padlocks? Best for School or Gym Lockers – M ..read more

Currently, there is no fee for using Amazon’s Alexa service. However, some features such as premium music streaming or the Alexa Guard service, do require a subscription which comes with an associated fee. You don’t necessarily need to purchase an Amazon Echo smart speaker either. You can simply download the Alexa app to your smartphone (for free) and take advantage of all the Alexa features using your smartphone. Table Of Contents What can the Alexa app do (for free)? What does cost money with Alexa? How much do Alexa devices cost? Amazon Echo devices 3rd Party Alexa devices If Alexa is ..read more