Smart home technology allows you to monitor and control devices and appliances in your home remotely using your smartphone or other networked devices. Connected products like smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, locks, and more can be programmed to turn on/off automatically or be controlled manually from anywhere.
Smart home devices communicate with each other and with the homeowner through wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc. or through hardwired home automation systems. Cloud services and digital assistants like Alexa also enable voice control.
With home automation, you can save energy, time, and money while adding convenience and security. We cover and review the latest smart home gadgets and whole-home platforms to help you create your connected dream home. See our smart home product guides, news, buying advice, and more.
Following the Smart Home Week Forum, I attended a few months ago Yale was kind enough to send me one of their Keyless Connected Smart Locks to review. In the UK, as it currently stands, Yale is the only reputable company producing smart locks for the home, there are a few random Chinese brands on…
I have reviewed a large number of home security cameras now but the Kodak EP101WG is actually the first model I have tried out with pan / tilt /zoom, so it is an interesting alternative to the many options available nowadays. The Kodak EP101WG is part of a new security system Kodak has developed and…
I have covered a lot of home security products in the past couple of years, and I have always been eager to try one of the Ring products. As I have IP CCTV at home I mainly wanted a Ring Doorbell for its notifications, I live in a reasonably large semi-detached house (thanks to Blackpool’s…
A look at the latest technology headlines indicates gadgets are improving quickly, and it won’t be long before the people who buy them can benefit from the latest and greatest features and functions. Let’s take a look at some of the likely changes ahead for the gadgets we love, as well as those we’ve not…
Smart Home Week is a collaborative effort by the leading brands in smart home technology to raise awareness and educate consumers about benefits and opportunities of living in a smart, connected way. It is in its second year and this year will take place from 21st – 27th May, it is backed by many of…
I have previously reviewed the fantastic TP-Link HS110 smart plug, which I now have 3 of. They are great for powering down devices on a schedule or via Alexa and allows me to fully power down my office room at night and have everything switched on when I get there in the morning. As usual…
The Echo Spot was finally released in the UK this week and can either been seen as a budget mini Echo Show or very expensive Echo Dot with a screen. Does it find a comfortable middle ground between the two devices? While the Echo Show is large and ugly, the Echo Spot can only be…
The smart home and home security market have boomed over the past year or two, but one security upgrade that hasn’t seen a vast number of products released are home doorbells. In the UK, the only real option is Ring, and all the other choices seem to be low-cost Chinese imports (not that these are…
I previously reviewed the Lightwave system nearly two years ago, and while I did find some issues with the lack of sensors and the proprietary communication technology, it is an excellent system and the only system available that offers proper built-in smart plug sockets. Smart Home technology has boomed since then with the introduction of…
I have already reviewed the original Blink indoor camera system back in January of this year, while it wasn’t quite as good as Arlo, I found it to be an excellent affordable solution and one of the few cameras on the market that can be used truly wirelessly, and use normal batteries. Blink has now…
Having previously reviewed the Devolo Home Control system, I was quite excited to try out a new controller called the nCube. This is a multi-protocol controller, allowing you to control devices that work on Z-Wave, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Lan. If you are not familiar with smart home controllers, they act as a central hub to…
Dozens of companies have launched cloud-based security cameras in recent years, and we have covered many of them. So, it is no surprise that Amazon has announced a product of their own. Named the Cloud Cam, this intelligent camera is also being launched alongside a new smart-lock service called Key, similar to the likes of…