Eufy SmartDrop Smart Delivery Box Review – A secure parcel delivery box with a security camera, PIN codes and mobile notifications
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Eufy SmartDrop Smart Delivery Box Review – A secure parcel delivery box with a security camera, PIN codes and mobile notifications

ByJames Smythe

Due to the nature of my work, I get a huge number of deliveries and pickups. Thankfully, I work from home, so it is not normally a huge problem, but it can still be annoying having to wait in all day for deliveries. Since Covid, many companies seem to be more lax with how they…

Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera Review
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Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera Review

ByJames Smythe

Arlo has a wide range of battery-powered cameras that will fit most budgets and are suitable for different scenarios. I have already reviewed the Arlo Pro 4, Arlo Go 2 and Arlo Essential Video Doorbell. The Arlo Essential XL spotlight camera sits on the affordable end of the spectrum, providing basic quality surveillance footage but…

Philips Hue Festavia String Lights Announced: How do they compare vs Twinkly Strings
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Philips Hue Festavia String Lights Announced: How do they compare vs Twinkly Strings

ByJames Smythe

Yesterday, Philips Hue announced the new Festavia String Lights, which are a perfect addition to your Christmas and holiday decorations. I have previously reviewed the Twinkly Strings Christmas tree lights and was impressed with them. Twinkly is perhaps still the best option for people that want to set up complex Christmas and holiday lighting. This…

Aqara confirms Matter-compatible Devices. Aqara Hub M2 will get Matter in December.

Aqara confirms Matter-compatible Devices. Aqara Hub M2 will get Matter in December.

ByJames Smythe

With Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) officially launching Matter, there have been lots of press releases coming in with companies confirming products using this new open standard for smart home connectivity. Aqara were ahead of the game back in January when they announced some matter-based products, but they have now extended the list of products which…

Philips Hue Bridge certified for Matter. Nearly all Hue lights and accessories will be Matter compatible  
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Philips Hue Bridge certified for Matter. Nearly all Hue lights and accessories will be Matter compatible  

ByJames Smythe

Yesterday, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced the launch of Matter: the new industry-unifying standard that enables smart devices to work together seamlessly. Signify, the company behind Philips Hue, has been a partner with the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) from the start. Therefore, as you’d expect, Philips Hue is now rolling out updates that will…

Nanoleaf announces Matter compatible Bulbs & Lightstrips to Essentials Line

Nanoleaf announces Matter compatible Bulbs & Lightstrips to Essentials Line

ByJames Smythe

There is some big news in the world of smart homes today. Matter has finally launched. Announced on 18 December 2019, Matter aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from different providers. This standard is backed by a group consisting of Amazon,…

WiZ Luminaire Mobile Portable Light Review & Wiz A80 18.5W LED (150W equivalent)
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WiZ Luminaire Mobile Portable Light Review & Wiz A80 18.5W LED (150W equivalent)

ByJames Smythe

Following on from my comparison between Wiz, Tapo and Philips Hue. Wiz was recently kind enough to send me some samples to test out. This included: WiZ Luminaire Mobile Portable Light Wiz 18.5W LED (150W equivalent) E27 Wiz 8W B22 It would seem that I don’t have any lights with the bayonet-style fitting, so I…

Philips Hue vs WiZ vs TP-Link Tapo Compared – The best smart home lighting options
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Philips Hue vs WiZ vs TP-Link Tapo Compared – The best smart home lighting options

ByJames Smythe

I have reviewed quite a few Philips Hue products over the past few months. More recently, Wiz has sent me some samples to try out. WiZ is a relatively new smart lighting brand that was founded in 2017 and became part of Signify in 2019. This places them under the same company that manufactures Philips…

Annke Crater Security Camera Review – A budget 1080p security camera with human tracking pan & tilt
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Annke Crater Security Camera Review – A budget 1080p security camera with human tracking pan & tilt

ByJames Smythe

I have reviewed a few Annke outdoor cameras in the past, and they are normally a reliable, affordable option. The Annke NC400 was particularly good, providing the full-colour night vision that is typically found on much more expensive Hikvision cameras. The Annke Crater is on the budget end of the spectrum. It is an indoor…

SwitchBot Blind Tilt vs SOMA Tilt 2 – Smart home automation for horizontal blinds with twisting rod
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SwitchBot Blind Tilt vs SOMA Tilt 2 – Smart home automation for horizontal blinds with twisting rod

ByJames Smythe

Switchbot is branching out from their smart home curtain robot to include a new smart blinds controller. Unlike the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1, the new SwitchBot Blind Tilt is designed for horizontal blinds. There are not many competing options on the market. SOMA has been a popular option for both roller blinds and horizontal…

Heated Clothes Rack vs Dehumidifier Electricity Running Costs & Room Heating Efficiency of Desiccant Dehumidifiers
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Heated Clothes Rack vs Dehumidifier Electricity Running Costs & Room Heating Efficiency of Desiccant Dehumidifiers

ByJames Smythe

Continuing my obsessive posting about the cost-of-living crisis, I have been looking into the benefits of using a desiccant dehumidifier over a heated clothes rack for drying clothes. Yesterday, I reviewed the Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer. It is about the best-heated clothes airer/rack on the market, but it is out of stock, and I am…