by Staff | Dec 28, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
Google Assistant is a powerful tool that can help you with everything from setting alarms to checking the score of your favorite team. But what if you want Google Assistant to help you out with more than just regular tasks? Google Assistant can do a lot of incredible things when it comes to smart home automation. We wanted to show you how to add devices like smart lights, thermostats, and even microwaves to Google Assistant so that you can control them with your voice and really leverage the power of smart home automation. Google Assistant is useful in our daily tasks, and it really can make your life easier. Adding devices to Google Assistant is actually quite easy. Getting your devices connected with your assistant will allow you to control your own home from basically anywhere.
Why Add a Device to Google Assistant
If you haven't already, you should definitely add any and all compatible smart devices to your Google Assistant. Here are a few reasons why. First of all, it's really about convenience. You can use your voice to do things like set timers, add items to your shopping list, or play music. And since Google Assistant is always getting smarter, new features and capabilities are always added. There are a TON of cool things you can do with your Google Assistant. Secondly, it's a great way to stay connected with your family and friends. With Google Assistant, you can make hands-free calls or send messages without ever having to pick up your phone.
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Another reason, it's just plain fun! With Google Assistant, you can ask it anything you want and get a response. Finally, adding a device to your Google Assistant making it part of your smart home ecosystem will unlock your smart device’s true potential. I love being able to tell my smart home to shut down at night. This triggers smart locks to lock, Wifi to shut down on my kids’ devices, shut my garage door, and a list of other clever smart home features. Whether you're curious about the weather forecast or just want to hear a joke, Google Assistant is a great assistant for your smart devices.
LEARN MORE: The Best Google Routines
How To Add Devices To Your Google Assistant
One thing you need to know before buying a smart device (if you want to connect it through Google Assistant) is to make sure it is compatible with Google Assistant. Most newer smart devices are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so it shouldn’t be an issue for more. But you’re going to want to double-check. Adding a device to your Google Assistant is rather easy.
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Getting The Google Home App Situated
First, download the Google Home App and sign up for a new Google Account or Sign In to a preexisting account. And then, “Get Started”. To get started, you'll need a Google assistant-enabled speaker (Google Nest Speaker, for example) and a secure Wi-Fi network. If you're using an iPhone, turn your Bluetooth on. Now, open the app and tap setup. If you don't see the setup, tap the device icon in the right corner of the app’s home screen to add your new device, and also you can choose multiple devices.
BOOKMARK THIS: What Does Google Assistant Know About You?
After the app connects to your Google Home, you will hear a chime. Then select “Yes”. If will not hear any chime then tap “Try Again”. It really is too easy to mess up. I love Google’s installation and device integration processes. Your Google Home is now ready to use. Just follow the steps on your screen and you'll be ready to go. Now, you’ll be able to control the added devices to Google Assistant with your voice commands. If you want to connect multiple devices then go to device settings and tap “Multipoint” and now you’ll be able to connect more devices.
You can rename devices in the Google home app. Doing so gives a much clearer overview of your smart home as it's easier to control devices by conversational voice commands rather than irritating names. You can proceed with setting up Google Assistant once you are connected to Wi-fi. The activation of voice match is the first option. If multiple people are using this Google Home and you want personalized results, this might be helpful. Additionally, you can set Google Home to only respond to your voice. So, with Google Assistant just utilize your favorite smart home devices and add devices to Google Home to create useful routines with how your daily life works.
RELATED: Basic Home Automation How To
Adding Your Devices To Google Assistant
Adding devices to your Google Assistant is easy and can be done in just a few simple steps. Here's how:
1. First, open the Google Assistant app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the menu icon in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Select "Add Devices."
4. You'll be prompted to choose what kind of device you'd like to add. Choose from options like "Smart Displays," "Speakers," and "Chromecast."
5. Follow the instructions for each type of device to complete the process.
That's it! As a side note, not every device will communicate as seamlessly as what is described above. If you run into that, one of the most helpful tricks (and I know this will sound cliche) is to perform a search in Google. Simply query, “connect (your device name) to Google Assistant”. I’ve had to do this with a few devices and every time I’ve found a forum thread through Google Support to help.
by Staff | Dec 26, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
Smart lighting is one of the most important aspects of smart home and a definite favorite among smart home lovers. In fact, market forecasts show that global revenue for smart lighting is expected to surpass $22 billion by 2025 and nearly double by 2030.
Smart lighting solutions allow homeowners to control their lights using an app remotely. In addition to just turning them on and off, you can also set timers and schedules for your lights. We’ve talked quite a bit about smart home automation and having smart lighting as one of the most vital components of basic automation. Among many others, Philip Hue offers some of the best smart lighting solutions currently available on the market, and you don’t have to break the bank to buy them.
DISCOVER: Smart Home Automation Ideas You’ll Love
What Is Philip Hue?
Philip Hue is a smart lighting provider with a wide range of options for smart home lovers and newbies. They work similarly to any other smart light setup and can connect using WiFi or other Zigbee signals. They allow you to use an app or a physical remote to control these lights' brightness, color, and timings.
You can even integrate these lights with other smart techs in your house. Along with being controlled by an app, these lights can be with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa, allowing you to control them with nothing other than your voice.
LEARN MORE: Home Automation FAQs
Philips Hue Starter Kit
The Philip Hue Starter Kit is all you need to set up the smart lighting system for your house. It comes with a hue bridge, smart LED bulbs, and other smart accessories that are quite easy to install. You’ll need to consider factors such as which room you will get the kit for and how many lights you need to figure out to choose the best starter kit for you.
Currently, Philip Hue has 3 Starter kits that provide either a white ambiance or a white and color ambiance. The number of smart LED bulbs you get with each light varies, and prices start from just $69.99.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Starter Kit Here <<
Philip Hue Smart Lights
Philip Hue has a wide range of smart lights you can choose from depending on your needs and requirements. Your choice will depend on where you want to install the lights in your house. Let’s take a quick look at some of the Philip Hue lighting options:
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Smart Light Bulbs
These smart light bulbs come in different shapes and bases and can fit into almost any light socket. This makes adding smart lights to your house quite a simple and easy thing to do.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Here <<
Smart LED Lightstrips
Philip Hue offers different colored and gradient smart LED strips for you to choose from. They are suitable for both indoors and outdoors and create a smooth ambiance where required.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart LED Lightstrips Here <<
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Table Lamps and Floor Lamps
These smart lamps are a great option for your house and can function as a reading light or just as decor. Although smart floor lamps provide gradient lighting, smart table lamps offer color and gradient lights.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Lamps Here <<
Smart Ceiling Lights
These ceiling lights offer warm to cool and colored lights and come in different sizes and styles. All the lights are Bluetooth enabled, and options are available for almost every room in the house.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Ceiling Lights Here <<
Smart Outdoor Lights
Smart outdoor lights offer soft-warm lighting and colored lighting. Similar to all other lights, they are also Bluetooth enabled and are a suitable option for the front lawn and the backyard. In addition to these smart lights, Philip Hue also provides a bathroom-specific range called the Philip Hue Adore, which comes with innovative smart lights and the Adore white-lighted mirror. Along with these smart lights, Philip Hue also offers a wide range of smart accessories, including the Hue Bridge, smart buttons, smart plugs, dimmers, and much more.
>>Get Your Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Lights Here <<
BOOKMARK THIS: Basic Smart Home Automation Tips
Setting Up Philip Hue Lights
Philip Hue lights come equipped with a Hue Bridge, which is the first thing you’ll have to set up. When setting up the Hue Bridge, you must plug it into the power socket and connect it to the internet. Then, open the Philip Hue app and add the new bridge.
After installing the smart lights in your desired location, simply connect them to the bridge using the app. As opposed to using the bridge, you can also use Bluetooth to connect to the smart lights, limiting your control over them.
Philip Hue Lights and Smart Assistants
In addition to using the Philip Hue App, you can also use Google Assistant, Apple Home Kit, and Amazon Alexa to control the smart lights as well. Along with allowing you to control the smart lights with voice commands, you’ll be able to take extra security measures such as having the lights turn on if motion is detected as well.
Final Thoughts
Philip Hue offers smart lighting options for every room in the house and for the front yard and backyard as well. They provide many options, including smart LED bulbs, lighting strips, smart accessories, and more. I’m a huge fan of Philips’ smart lighting technology. Not only is it a brand I trust, but the technology also integrates seamlessly with most smart home assistants. In addition to being set up and controlled from the app, the Philip Hue lights can be connected to various smart assistants allowing you to control them using voice commands as well.
by Staff | Dec 6, 2022 | Family Safety, Reviews
Are you looking for a great gift that you can give to your tech-savvy friends and family members but are still safe when it comes to Internet access? There are so many options out there, it can be hard to choose. We’re here to help you find the best gift ideas for the tech lovers in your life. Here are my top picks for family-safe tech gadgets that anyone would love!
MM Guardian
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, it's more important than ever to teach kids how to stay safe online. MM Guardian is the perfect tech gift for families who want to keep their children safe as they explore the internet. MM Guardian is a cutting-edge app that helps parents monitor and control their child's internet usage. It also provides educational resources to help kids learn about responsible online behavior. What’s really cool is MM Guardian just released their own Samsung based smartphone with their app preinstalled!
DISCOVER: Should I Enable A Content Filter For My Family?
With MM Guardian, parents can rest assured that their kids are browsing the internet safely. And it’s not just the Internet either, it’s how they are interacting with their peers who have devices as well.
>> Learn More About MM Guardian Here <<
Gabb Watch 2
The Gabb Watch is the perfect tech gift for kids. It's a smartwatch that has all the features kids want, without all the bells and whistles that parents don't want their kids to have. The Gabb Watch is durable, has a long battery life, and is rugged enough to withstand drops and bumps. But what makes the Gabb Watch truly unique is its Gabb OS, which is designed specifically for kids. Gabb OS puts parents in control of what apps and features their kids have access to. And because Gabb watches are affordable, parents can get their kids the latest and greatest technology without breaking the bank. If you're looking for the perfect tech gift for your kid, look no further than the Gabb Watch.
>> Learn More About The Gabb Watch Here <<
Gabb Phone
Just like the Gabb Watch, the Gabb Phone Plus is another solid tech gift for kids! Its sturdy design can withstand drops and bumps, making it perfect for little hands. And its small size is perfect for little pockets! The Gabb Phone Plus comes loaded with fun games and educational apps, keeping kids entertained but in a safe manner. But best of all, the Gabb Phone comes with a parent-approved filter that blocks out harmful content and protects kids from online predators.
LEARN MORE: 6 Rules For Managing Your Kid’s Gaming
At the root of the phone’s technology is Samsung, so you know you’re getting a quality phone. What I really love about the Gabb Phone is parents can have a sense of peace that their kids are safe when using the Gabb Phone Plus. In my opinion, I wouldn’t get this phone until my child is 14 years old. But this device is a solid and safe tech gadget for kids
>> Learn More About The Gabb Phone Here <<
Amazon Echo Dot For Kids
The Amazon Echo Dot is one of the most popular home automation devices on the market. It has Alexa built-in, so you can ask her questions and control your smart home devices with just your voice. Plus, with its compact size, it fits nicely into any room of your house.
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I think Amazon's Echo Dot is the perfect tech gift for kids for a number of reasons. First, the Echo Dot is an Amazon product, which means it integrates perfectly with Amazon's many kid-friendly services, such as FreeTime and Amazon Kids+. Second, the Echo Dot is extremely affordable, making it a great option for parents who want to give their kids the gift of technology without breaking the bank. Third, the Echo Dot is very user-friendly, so even young children will be able to use it without any problems. And finally, the Echo Dot comes in a variety of fun and trendy colors, so kids can choose the one that best suits their personality.
Amazon Echo Glow
The Amazon Echo Glow is one of the most engaging tech gifts for kids. It's a fun, interactive way for them to control their devices and play music. And a major bonus: it's a great night light. The Amazon Echo Glow has millions of color options, so kids can choose their favorite color or mix and match to create their own custom light show.
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The Amazon Echo Glow also features an LED timer, so kids can see how much time they have left to play before bedtime. And if they need a little help falling asleep, they can ask the Amazon Echo Glow to play soothing sounds or tell them a bedtime story. The Amazon Echo Glow is the perfect tech gift for kids because it's both fun and functional. Based on the reviews, parents love this device mostly because of its brightness, ease of use, sleep modes, Alexa integration, and timers.
Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad
Crayola's Light-Up Tracing Pad is a simple yet entertaining tech gift for kids! The built-in light makes it easy to see the paper and the included stencils help kids create their own masterpieces. The tracing pad is also great for drawing, sketching, and shading. With its compact design, the Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad is perfect for travel. When it's time to clean up, the tracing pad easily erases with the push of a button. Crayola's Light-Up Tracing Pad is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages! One reason I love this as a great gadget gift is its simplicity. Tech gifts don’t have to be complex with operating systems and impeccable displays. The Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad is a gift you should definitely have on your radar.
Wonder Workshop Dash (Coding Robot for Kids 6+)
The Wonder Workshop Dash is a great tech gift for kids because it's so much fun. It's an interactive robot that responds to voice commands and can be programmed to do all sorts of tricks. The Dash can teach kids how to code, so there’s a massive upside in edutainment (education + entertainment). Kids will love watching it zip around the room and change direction when it hits an obstacle. And they'll be fascinated by the different sounds it makes when it's doing different things.
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The Wonder Workshop Dash is a great way to get kids interested in technology and engineering. But most importantly, it's just a lot of fun. The ability to create a toy that teaches you a STEM skill is awesome. That's why it makes such a great gift.
Miko 3: AI-Powered Smart Robot For Kids
Miko is one of the world's first smart robots designed just for kids. Miko speaks and understands English and can carry on a conversation using natural language processing. Miko also has a range of emotions, so it can react in different ways to different situations. Miko is powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which allows it to learn and grow over time. The Miko 3 is the latest version of Miko and comes with a number of impressive features:
- A ramp-up of educational STEM content
- Improvement in microphones and responses
- Robust safety features. kidSAFE+ COPPA certified
- Stronger rubberized wheels for better movement across multiple surfaces
- An expansive touchscreen that makes it even easier to interact with the robot
- High-performance speakers and wide-angle high-resolution IPS display
Miko 3 is also now sleeker and more stylish than ever before. It’s also more expressive with a wider range of facial expressions and body language. Miko 3 is also equipped with an updated processor and improved sensors making it even more responsive to its surroundings. With all these new features, Miko 3 will surely be a hit with kids of all ages. If you're looking for a tech gift for kids that is both fun and educational, Miko 3 is a perfect choice.
The internet (any web-based activity) has become an essential part of daily life for people of all ages and it provides a wealth of opportunities for connection and education. However, the internet can also be a dangerous place and we’ve outlined why that is exhaustively on DaleDumbsITDown. It is important for families to be aware of the risks. Internet safety is about more than just avoiding online predators. It also includes protecting personal information, maintaining healthy online habits, being a good digital citizen, and being thoughtful about the content that we consume and share. By teaching internet safety to our children and having devices that augment that experience, we can help them to stay safe online and to develop responsible digital citizenship.
Furthermore, by modeling good internet safety habits ourselves and exposing our kids to age-appropriate devices and content, we can set a positive example for our kids. When it comes to internet safety, knowledge is power as well as having the right technology (both good and bad). By increasing our own understanding of the risks and the ways to avoid them, we can keep our families safe while still enjoying all the wonderful benefits that the internet has to offer.
by Staff | Nov 28, 2022 | Reviews, Smart Home
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a small streaming device manufactured by Amazon that plugs into an HDMI port on the back of your TV. It’s one of my most used devices in the home. It’s one my kids use a lot as well. This device allows you to connect to the internet and stream videos on demand on your tv through apps. Just about any streaming app you can think of can be found in the Amazon App store.
When it comes to streaming content with apps, the Fire TV Stick works kinda like your smartphone. In most smart TVs, it's often difficult or impossible to sideload other apps, so you are stuck with the apps that come from your smart TVs app store. Not the case with the Fire TV Stick. This device is much more flexible as you can install apps from a wide variety. But I’ll be honest, most people just use the device with its preset settings completely unaware that you can enhance the experience.
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The Best Tips And Tricks For Your Fire TV Stick
With roughly 40 million users of the Fire TV Stick, it’s a very popular device. But what really surprises me is the lack of leveraging features to give you a better viewing experience. Out of the box, the Fire TV Stick is great. No major complaints. But there are a bunch of little tips and tricks you can do that just make it so much better (and safer).
1. Pin Your Most-Used Apps
If you have installed dozens of apps from the Amazon App store, finding the ones you want to use frequently may become difficult. I think it’s a pain to find apps I use in the app section of the interface. You can pin the most frequently used ones to the home screen so they're easy to find. All you do is take your highlight cursor over the app you want to pin (don’t select it). Hit the Menu button on your remote (three little lines) and select “Pin To Front”.
LEARN MORE: Did You Know Amazon Is Using Your Internet For Their Own Network?
2. Disable Automatic Audio And Video Playback On Fire TV
The Featured Content page on the Fire TV home screen plays the most recent movies and TV shows from partner apps by default, which can be REALLY annoying. I also notice my Fire TV Stick getting glitchy when they auto-play as well. You can easily disable autoplay for audio and video by just doing a simple adjustment from the Settings menu. Go to your Settings and select Preferences from the options. Scroll until you find “Featured Content” and turn off the Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay features. You can thank me later.
3. Adjust Fire TV's Privacy Settings
This is another no-brainer option everyone should do. There are concerns regarding privacy because Fire TV devices must be connected to the internet. The content you watch, the amount of time you spend using the device, your location, your most used apps, and other details can all be tracked when you use a device. If you are uncomfortable with constant tracking, disable the behavior from the Privacy menu.
4. Make Use Of Your Phone's Virtual Fire TV Remote
You can easily control your Fire TV using the Fire TV remote app on your iPhone or Android phone. There have been times (lots of times) when the Fire TV Stick remote gets lost or it runs out of batteries. That’s when this trick really comes in handy. The app offers the same buttons and functions as the remote.
5. Create Multi-User Profiles
On your Fire TV, you can create separate profiles for you, your spouse, and your kids. With recommendations for movies, TV shows, and pinned apps, users get a personalized Fire TV experience. This is one of my favorite and most underutilized features of the Fire TV Stick. You can create Kids profiles doing this which will give you more control over what your kids are watching.
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Another quick tip on profiles. To easily switch in between profiles, press and hold the Home button on the remote and a pop-up will appear prompting you to switch profiles. You can also use this little Home button trick to open other Apps and put your device to sleep.
6. Access Diagnostics Information
This is for advanced users. There is a hidden diagnostics panel on the Amazon Firestick. You are granted access to a ton of information, many of which is essential for advanced settings. Frame rate, CPU load, video codecs, display resolution, memory usage, current internet streaming speed, and other diagnostic data are just a few examples. You’ll want to press and hold Select (Center button) for one second and while still holding it, press the hold the Down direction button for three seconds. Then release both and press the Menu button. From there a pop-up will appear and you’ll want to turn On the Advanced Options and System X-Ray.
7. Restart Your Device Using The Remote
You don't have to turn off your television if your Fire TV Stick freezes. Using the remote, you can just restart it. It’s really easy to do. Hold down the Select and Play/Pause buttons at the same time for five seconds. Even if the screen is frozen (which doesn’t happen on the later generations as it did on earlier versions), this quick restarting tip will work. As a side note, you can also restart your device from the menu screen or by simply unplugging it as well.
RELATED: Best Streaming Devices For Your Home
8. Send Video Footage From Security Camera To The Fire TV
This is a pretty cool trick you can do with your Fire TV Stick: live video feeds from home security cameras can be directly displayed on Amazon Fire TV. You’ll only be able to use this feature with Alexa-enabled devices. If you utilize an IFTTT applet, you can actually have this feature automated.
9. Disable Interest-Based Ads On Your Fire TV Stick
Going to be honest, I wish there was a way to kill advertisements altogether, but I realize corporations have to make money. You may not know that your Fire TV is tracking your behavior for a lot of purposes, and advertising is one of them. However, Amazon does allow you to turn this feature off. Please note that you will still get ads, they just won’t be lasered in on what you were just talking about with your family at the dinner table. Go to Settings, then Preferences, then Privacy Settings, then Advertising ID and turn Interest-based Ads to off. Once enabled, the apps on your device won’t be able to use your advertising ID to build a persona profile to serve you personalized ads.
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There is an argument to be made about the benefits and advantages of using interest-based ads. But I think the Cons far out-weight the Pros. One reason I enabled this is that if they are collecting that data and utilizing it, it’s going to take some amount of memory and bandwidth to transfer that data. That’s more input and output for your device. Without running any formal data test on if disabling this cuts down on bandwidth usage from your Fire TV, my gut tells me it does. The other issue is privacy. Less personal data on our behaviors being sent to the cloud is a positive.
Features Vs Privacy Vs Experience: How Do You Prioritize?
You’ll notice that a handful of these tips are putting data restrictions on what Amazon collects about you. Some would argue that turning these features off will dampen your user experience. It’s the “but we’re collecting data on you to give you a better experience” argument. There’s a little bit of credence to that as well. Amazon continues to develop features that enhance the user experience for its customers. I’m all for that. However, I have found that enabling these tips and tricks hasn’t interfered one bit with how I interact with my Fire TV Stick device. Personally, I think it helps the device run smoother. You don’t have to do all of these, but I highly recommend you adopt at least one. And if you’re serious about your personal data being stored in the cloud, I’d act on all those tips. Quite frankly, you can make your watching experience more enjoyable and safer by utilizing these Fire TV tips and tricks.
by Maygen Brockway | Nov 25, 2022 | Family Safety, Reviews
If you’re pretty set on using your phone and an app to view your baby then there are a few things you should know. Parents need to understand the risks associated with using the internet for their monitor’s connection. Establishing a safe and secure home network is important when using wifi and home internet. We’ve discussed home network questions every
parent should know, simple firewall reviews, and pros and cons of a VPN. Unfortunately, there are intelligent people who choose to use their brains for poor decisions like scamming others and hacking devices like baby monitors. Using your best judgment and being prepared can save you a lot of grief and loss.
DISCOVER: Utah Influencer Warns of Wifi Baby Monitor Hack
Wifi Baby Monitors
Owlet
Owlet is a baby sleep monitor sock, camera, and phone app system which allows parents to not only see and hear their little one but to also check basic vitals like oxygen and heart rate. The Dream Sock and camera tracks quality sleep indicators for your little one, so you can rest easier each night. The Owlet system tracks awake and asleep times, heart rate, oxygen levels, movement, room temperature, humidity, and more. It’s one of the most in-depth baby monitor systems to date. This in-depth system alerts parents when the sleep indicators change and when their baby starts to wake. This alert goes off via the wifi app on Android and iOS systems. Owlet Dream Duo 2 retails for $399.99. It comes with free access to the online app, so you can use your cell phone provider or wifi to access your baby’s vitals and camera anytime, anywhere. The original Owlet Dream Sock combo retails for $299.99 and only has the sock and app access. Their website shows almost 150 reviews with an average of 4.2 stars. Most parents who reviewed the Owlet products say they couldn’t imagine newborn life without this baby monitor system.
Nanit
Nanit offers many options for baby monitors, sleep and breathing trackers, plus accessories for their products and baby. To be honest, looking at their site overwhelmed me. They have so many options for parents, including smart sheets. Parents can use their Nanit camera, app, and smart sheets to track their baby's height and share the information with others. Nanit also offers a breathing tracker swaddle and band system linked to the app along with its camera system. The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor bundle retails at $509 but is on sale for $380. The basic Nanit Pro Camera Flex Stand retails at $199. Once again, all these run on cell phone data and wifi links. Nanit offers parents a sigh of relief with its breathing bands and smart sheets. Pretty neat technology, as long as your connection is secure. Otherwise, it’s pretty scary and creepy if someone hacked into your Nanit system and knew all that extra information about your child, right?
Safety 1st
Safety 1st is one of the top baby safety brands that almost every soon-to-be parent recognizes. Between newborn baby first aid kits to baby gates to baby nail clippers, Safety 1st is a parent’s well-favored and trusted brand. There are three different versions of baby monitor wifi systems from Safety 1st. You can shop on their website, on Amazon, or other retailers. Their largest bundle called Full Connected Suite retails for $294.95 and includes the wifi monitor, a smart soother, a smart humidifier, an under-crib smart light, and a plug adapter. The Connected Suite Illuminate Trio retails for $194.97 and comes with the wifi baby monitor, smart humidifier, and the under-crib smart light. Finally, Safety 1st offers a basic wifi baby monitor for $70. Each set provides safety and security for parents via wifi and an app. The app lets parents share and connect with other caretakers. You can even add it to your home system and listen via Alexa Echo Show or Google Home Hub. If you need a friendly reminder on choosing the Best Alexa Devices, check out our thoughts.
As we’ve discussed, the safety and security of your home and home network are everything. Not only are you protecting yourself and your data from hackers, but as a parent, you are protecting your little one now, too.
by Staff | Nov 16, 2022 | Reviews, Tech Living
We live in a world of digital connectivity where maintaining one’s security while surfing the internet or doing anything online is critical. Having a VPN service can help achieve this by making your browsing private. But not everyone wants to subscribe to a VPN service. In some regards, these VPN services have their drawbacks, as setting up VPN software one by one on every single device OR turning it on every time you want to surf the web can be a little time-consuming.
Thankfully, VPN routers provide an easier-to-use solution if you want VPN protection on your devices and your home network. These VPN routers work similarly to your typical routers but offer a secure network to all devices connected to them. These routers make it simple to set up a VPN connection.
LEARN: Are The Benefits Of VPN Worth It?
Why Do You Need A VPN Router?
If you are looking for VPN routers, you are probably already familiar with VPNs' security and privacy benefits. They encrypt your data helping you stay anonymous when surfing the web and even accessing websites that are banned in your area.
Even though you can set up a VPN on any device connected to your regular Wi-Fi router, we still recommend investing in a good VPN router, as it provides various other benefits, as given below.
Automatic Connectivity
You will no longer have to turn your VPN on with a router manually. You will be connected to the VPN as soon as you join the network of the VPN router.
Protect Every Device
As mentioned earlier, any device connected to a VPN router's Wi-Fi is automatically connected to the VPN network, ensuring protection on devices like smartphones, televisions, and those that generally do not have VPN software support.
DISCOVER: Should You Use A VPN?
Factors to Consider when Choosing a VPN Router
Now that you know a little about the benefits of having a VPN router, there are some factors that you have to consider when choosing one that is best for you.
Frequency
Many VPN routers provide a 2.4 GHz or a 5 GHz frequency, so it is best to know the use of both and choose accordingly. Firstly, the 2.4 GHz band's Wi-Fi connection is slower but has an excellent range. On the other hand, the 5 GHz frequency supports high-quality streaming but is less powerful.
Encryption and Security
Privacy is probably the most important factor you should consider when choosing a VPN router. It is best to look for VPN routers that support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and IP Security (IPsec) encryption and protocols, as they are better and more secure.
Speed
The speed and reliability of VPN routers are generally related to encryption standards. When choosing the best VPN router, you do not want one that provides security but makes gaming, streaming, or browsing processes slow and aggravating.
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Which Are The Best VPN Routers?
With so many different VPN routers on the market, it can be a little tough to figure out the right option for your home. That's why we've put together this list of the best VPN routers. If you're looking for a powerful router for your home or office that will get you premium protection, won’t cause your network to slow down, and won’t break the bank…you’re going to want to check these out.
TP-Link ER7206 Router
The TP-Link ER7206 router comes fully configured with Omada SDN Cloud Controller, so all you need to do is connect it to your network with an ethernet wire to get started. The cloud controller’s SDN user management lets you know the device and location of anyone using your network.
The TP-Link ER7206 offers various features like Bandwidth Control, Port VLAN, UPnP, Firewall, and many more. More of its key features include:
- Integration into Omada SDN
- Centralized Management
- Gigabit Ports
- Up to 4 WAN Ports
- Highly Secure VPN
- Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, and IP/MAC/URL filtering
NETGEAR ProSafe FVS336G Dual WAN VPN Firewall Router
The Netgear FVS336Gv2 ProSafe Dual WAN VPN Firewall Router has an SSL and IPsec supported VPN providing the ease of spreading broadband internet access throughout your network. This router provides Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and IP Security (IPsec) VPN tunnels in two different configurations for the most secure access to your network. We recommend it because it is a great option to securely connect remote users or remote LAN locations to your network.
It supports two broadband connections with a load-balancing structure, thus adding to its reliability. Its key features include:
- 25 IPsec VPN Tunnels
- 10 SSL VPN Tunnels
- Dual WAN Gigabit Ports
- Total of 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet Ports
- Load-Balancing or Fail-Over WAN Setups
- NAT Firewall, SPI & Other Security
- 350 Mbps LAN-to-WAN throughput, 10,000 concurrent sessions
TP-Link AX6600 WiFi 6 Gaming Router
The TP-Link AX 6600 WiFi Gaming Router (Archer GX90) is a tri-band router for low-latency gaming that supports the Wifi 6. But despite its popularity as a VPN router, you don't have to be a gamer to appreciate this router. This is a great one for streaming as well.
Its setup comes with the additional benefits of antivirus and parental controls. The bandwidth for each device connection is displayed on the quality-of-service controls. Its features also allow you to configure priority on devices connected to the network, which is helpful if you have limited bandwidth. One of my favorite features of this VPN router is prioritizing device connections. Its features include:
- TP-Link OneMesh Supported
- 4.8 Gbps Game Band
- Detect and optimize gaming streams
- Up to 5 WAN Ports
- Expansive Coverage
- OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology
- 1.5 GHz Quad-Core CPU
Synology RT 6600ax VPN WiFi Router
By far my favorite VPN router is the Synology RT 6600ax. This tri-band VPN router features 2.5 Gbps ethernet, VLAN segmentation, supports multiple SSIDs, has robust parental controls, and enhanced threat prevention. This VPN router provides one of the most comprehensive VPN server solutions with site-to-site tunneling that provides secure remote connectivity and remote desktop capabilities. It’s everything you want out of a VPN router and then a lot more.
What I love is that this router is powered by the Synology Router Manager (SRM) which helps you manage its security and performance. And don’t worry, you won’t have to be a techy to customize its web filtering and threat detection features. It comes with default profiles that make it easy to customize your control over your home network. Some of its features include:
- Supports Wifi 6
- Tri-band Wi-Fi
- Expanded 5.9 GHz support
- Support for the fastest ISPs
- Ability to create up to 5 separate networks
- Can be configured for WAN or LAN
- 1.8 GHz Quad-Core CPU
- 1 GB of Memory
- Incredible tech support from Synology
Users of this VPN router agree with me on how incredible it is. On Amazon, it scores 4.4 out of a 5 rating. There are nearly 3.4K reviews pushing that rating as well. It’s most highly rated features according to verified users are WiFi signal (4.3), User Interface (4.2), Ease of Use (4.2), and Easy To Install (4.1). In fact,
VPN Routers Are A Solid Home Network Device
If you're looking for a way to improve your home network, you might want to consider buying a VPN router. To recap, a VPN router can provide many benefits over a traditional router, including improved security and privacy. One of the biggest benefits of a VPN router is that it can help to protect your devices from hackers. I’ve pounded this drum time and time again: any time you can add an extra layer of security to your devices, you should seriously explore that option. When you connect to the internet through a VPN router, all of your traffic is encrypted. This means that hackers won't be able to see what you're doing or gather any information about you.
RELATED: Best VPN For Business
Another benefit of a VPN router is that it can help to improve your privacy. I’ve been in the business a long time and can tell you that almost every app and every website is tracking everything you do and storing that data. That’s why every website blasts you with pop-ups about cookie policies. When you use a traditional router, your ISP (and most websites) can see everything that you're doing online. However, when you use a VPN router, your traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel. This means for the most part that your ISP can't see what you're doing or collect any data about you.
And another awesome perk with these router types is a VPN router can also help to improve your speed and performance. When you use a traditional router, your traffic has to travel through several different servers before it reaches its destination. However, when you use a VPN router, your traffic is routed directly to the server that you're trying to reach. This can help to improve your speed and performance, especially if you're trying to stream video or play online games.
If you use a VPN service or are considering doing so, getting one of the top VPN routers we’ve touched on above will really help heap on that extra level of security. I love these routers because you get VPN protection at the network level and not the device level. However, one drawback is if your device disconnects from the network and uses cellular data, you won’t have the protection. This is one of the advantages a VPN service has over a VPN router and why I’m a big proponent of a VPN service. Regardless, if you’re not into getting a VPN service and still want that VPN level of security, one of these routers is a fantastic addition to your home network.
