8 Gadgets For The High-Tech Home
Meet George Jetson: From wireless door locks to scales that measure more than weight, these connected devices take your domicile digital.
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A new day is dawning for those of you who've dreamed of being both more efficient and lazier with your household gadgets and appliances.
The barriers to entry for the "connected home" fall as the IoT (Internet of Things) vision comes to life. Network bandwidth is widely available, and traditional home appliances are being rebuilt to connect to the Internet via WiFi and other wireless protocols. Smartphones and tablets double as remote controls for appliances ranging from light bulbs to thermostats to speakers.
You're forgiven if you think this seems a bit highbrow. Are these smart appliances really necessary? The answer is no, and they're probably not even affordable for most folks (although some are cheaper than their traditional alternatives). Sure, it's easier just to vacuum the damn rug yourself with a Dirt Devil than to buy and program a robot to do it. And there's no good reason to replace the old Kenmore with Samsung's latest $3,000, WiFi-enabled refrigerator.
But smart home appliances will only get more intuitive and affordable. Things that seemed ridiculous five years ago, like owning a 70-inch HD TV or tapping your iPhone to fill your house instantly with music, are now feasible as technology improves, prices drop, and your current equipment starts to cough dust.
For better or worse, we're a society that loves its portable gadgets and the information they contain. As shown by the enthusiasm for smartphones, activity trackers, and wearable technology, we like having data at our fingertips, and we like making better predictions and decisions. Your home appliances generate a lot of data.
While this slideshow looks at individual appliances and their WiFi capabilities, service providers like AT&T (Digital Life), Verizon (Home Monitoring & Control), and Comcast (Xfinity Home) are seizing the moment with smart home packages that include the appliances and corresponding mobile apps to manage home security, temperature, and lights. Samsung has also created a connected home ecosystem with its new "Smart Home" service. As with any technology movement, it'll be a battle of the best ecosystem.
But don't feel you have to buy up AT&T equipment and commit to monthly fees. You don't have to assemble a connected home in one fell swoop. For now, see what aging appliances in your humble abode can be replaced with a smart appliance that will produce some helpful data, allow remote access via smartphone apps, send you alerts, and make your home life just a little easier.
Read on for a list of standout smart home devices available now.
Nest Labs' WiFi- and sensor-enabled thermostat is poised to become a household name after being acquired by Google in January. The unit, compatible with most HVAC systems, is built around an operating system that remembers the temperatures you prefer. It takes that data, programs itself, and automatically turns the temperature down when you're away. Nest can be remotely managed using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Priced at $250, it's a good place to start for the smart appliance newbie.
(Source: Nest.com)
Vacuuming and sweeping should be outsourced to a robot. Ecovacs, which grabbed headlines recently with its Winbot robot window cleaner, also has a line of Deebot floor cleaning bots. The newest model, the D77, uses sensors to avoid obstacles, automatically empties its dust bin, and recharges when power is low. It has four cleaning modes for different surfaces, and it offers intelligent time scheduling for cleaning when you're not home. It boasts a detachable canister vacuum and attachments you can use to clean curtains and walls. Some Deebot models can be controlled from a smartphone, but the D77 cannot. Roomba and iRobot make similar models.
The Deebot D77 is listed at $699 on Amazon.
(Source: Ecovacs)
You're not still using an on/off wall switch, are you? The Philips Hue package combines LED bulbs, a WiFi bridge, and a mobile app to give homeowners lighting control via a smartphone or tablet. From the Hue app, you can turn lights on or off remotely, schedule lights to turn on/off, or change the tone or even the color of the light (white to red or blue) to fit your mood. A pack of three bulbs with a WiFi bridge is priced at $200 on Amazon.
(Source: meethue.com)
Internet-connected home alarm systems are fighting for attention as expensive old-guard systems like ADT reinvent themselves. Piper (pictured here) is an all-in-one WiFi-enabled system with integrated 1080p camera, a siren, built-in motion sensors, and other home automation features. Users can access Piper remotely via an iOS or Android app.
Other smart alarm systems include iSmartAlarm, Canary, Oplink Security TripleShield, Viper Home, and SimpliSafe. All these systems cost $200-250. Some are all-in-one devices; others have components. Some have a camera integrated; some do not. Some charge monthly fees. Pick the best smart alarm system based on your security needs and the size of your house.
(Source: GetPiper.com)
Schlage is bringing door locks into the digital age with its Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt, featuring Internet connectivity and a touchscreen for PINs. The Camelot includes alarms of different volume levels to suit your security needs. Internet connectivity is done through the Z-Wave wireless protocol (not WiFi) and requires an $8.99 monthly subscription fee, which is a bit pricey. But features such as the ability to unlock from your smartphone, set the deadbolt to lock automatically after 30 seconds, and receive texts if the alarm is triggered give users more control and flexibility than any lock and key. The unit is listed at $199 on Amazon.
(Source: Schlage.com)
Sonos is currently the king of standalone WiFi home speakers. One Sonos speaker can fill a house with music teed up from a smartphone using the Sonos app. The app gives you access to your iTunes library or streaming services such as Pandora and Spotify.
But Sonos won't be on top of the WiFi speaker mountain forever. Bose launched a line of SoundTouch WiFi speakers that offer the same services as Sonos. Also, Samsung has added music streaming and a mobile app to its Shape wireless speakers. The three Sonos speakers are priced at $199, $299, and $399.
(Source: Sonos.com)
If you have a washer and/or dryer running on fumes, maybe it's time to get smart. Whirlpool sells smart home appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, and dryer) that use the company's 6th Sense Live technology to connect to an online database of energy prices, so you can automatically run appliances when power is cheapest. From the Whirlpool mobile app, you can check when a wash will be done, receive alerts when it's time for more laundry detergent, or start or stop a laundry load remotely. LG and Samsung offer similar smart washers, dryers, and other home appliances.
For now, the Whirlpool Smart Front Load Washer and Dryer are for affluent early adopters, with each unit priced at $1,699.
(Source: Whirlpool.com)
It looks like a typical scale, but the Withings Smart Body Analyzer is a health data machine. Setup is done completely with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. When you step on, the LCD screen shows your weight, body fat percentage, heart rate, and room air quality, and the device syncs data to your Withings mobile app (free on iOS or Android). There the data is plotted along colorful graphs to show progress. You can also set up goals using the app.
The scale is listed at $149.95, but it's a good investment considering its smarts and mobile connectivity.
(Source: Withings.com)
It looks like a typical scale, but the Withings Smart Body Analyzer is a health data machine. Setup is done completely with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. When you step on, the LCD screen shows your weight, body fat percentage, heart rate, and room air quality, and the device syncs data to your Withings mobile app (free on iOS or Android). There the data is plotted along colorful graphs to show progress. You can also set up goals using the app.
The scale is listed at $149.95, but it's a good investment considering its smarts and mobile connectivity.
(Source: Withings.com)
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