by Staff | Oct 10, 2022 | Family Safety, Reviews, Tech Living
If you’re like most people, you probably have a few electronics, devices, and gadgets that you use every day. Maybe you have an iPhone or iPad to keep in touch with family and friends. Or maybe you use a fitness tracker to stay in shape. Perhaps an Echo Show to help with home automation. Whatever your favorite electronics are, it’s important to find the best places to buy them. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best places to buy electronics, devices, and gadgets.
For anyone looking to purchase affordable electronics, we’ve searched the Internet to find the most reliable and trustworthy online stores, which all offer some of the greatest gadgets you can get your hands on.
In addition to a wide range of products, Amazon is a terrific place to get a bargain on electronics. It’s easy to find a wide variety of gadgets and devices for sale in this popular online marketplace. The site is easy to use and you may get the best price by finding a seller that offers similar products at a lower price. Amazon’s filtering options are also a nice added feature when trying to drill down on exactly what you are looking for in a device.
Amazon is a trustworthy site that provides exceptional customer service in addition to its low costs. You may expect prompt and thorough responses from Amazon’s sellers in response to your inquiries. In addition, you may rest easy knowing that you can return your gadget for a refund if you want. Because Amazon merchants depend on favorable feedback from their customers, they will go to great lengths to avoid disappointing their customers.
Tips For Buying Electronics On Amazon
Here are a few tips to help you snag the best prices on everything from TVs to laptops. First, be sure to check out Amazon’s “Deals of the Day” page. This is where you’ll find can’t-miss savings on a wide range of products. Second, keep an eye out for special promotions and coupons. Amazon frequently offers discounts on specific items or categories, so it pays to do your research. Third, take advantage of Amazon Prime. Prime members get free two-day shipping on eligible items, which can save you a lot of money if you’re planning on buying multiple items. Next, always check Amazon reviews. Granted, a lot of Amazon reviews are fake. But I’ve found the most reliable method is to sort reviews by recency. I’ve uncovered some janky products with this little research hack. Finally, don’t forget to compare prices. Checking other retailers’ websites is a great way to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
DISCOVER: How Much Trust Should You Put In Amazon Reviews?
What To Watch Out For Buying From Amazon
I love buying from Amazon. It’s one of my go-to places for electronics. It really is. There are a couple of reasons why you might want to think twice before buying your next tech device from Amazon. For one, the company has been criticized for its labor practices, with workers in its warehouses often facing grueling conditions. According to recent reports, it is getting better. But it’s still important to buy from companies that share your values. Additionally, there have been reports of counterfeit products being sold on the site, which could create a lot of additional problems. Not only could it pose a serious risk to your health and safety, but if you buy a brand you expect to get that brand’s product. Chinese counterfeits aren’t as common as they used to be on Amazon, but they’re still a problem with some devices. I always check the most recent reviews on any product I buy from there to make sure there isn’t a counterfeit trend happening.
Since its launch in September 1995, eBay has become one of the most widely used websites in the United States. To this day, eBay is active in over 100 countries throughout the world. Users love their online auction capabilities, and if you’re patient, you may get some great prices by using them. Electronics from your favorite brands are frequently available for purchase here. If you’re looking for a wide variety of brands and products to choose from, this is the place to go. On occasion or during holiday seasons, they provide substantial discounts to their consumers in order to attract new customers and retain current ones.
Tips For Buying Electronics On eBay
When it comes to buying electronics and gadgets, eBay is a fantastic option. Not only can you find great deals on new and used products, but you can also purchase items from sellers all over the world. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping on eBay. First, be sure to check the seller’s feedback score before making a purchase. This will give you an idea of their customer service and whether or not they are reputable. Secondly, pay attention to the shipping costs. Sometimes sellers will inflate these costs in order to make more money. I’ve seen Amazon Echos with a price point of $19 with a shipping price of $29.99. Don’t fall for this little trick by sellers. Finally, be sure to read the product description carefully before making a purchase. This will help you avoid any surprises down the road. By following these simple tips, you can have a great experience shopping on eBay for all your electronic needs.
There is no better place to shop for photography-related products than B&H Photo and Video. In 1973, B&H was founded by a husband-and-wife team as a “Mom and Pop” business. Because of their approach to honest selling and high-quality goods, they quickly gained the trust of the picture, video, and sound professionals. When they first opened their doors, it was 1973. They’ve grown into one of the largest non-chain specialized electronics retailers in the United States today. There is a wide selection of new and used equipment available at their online electronics shop. It’s not rare to find incredible bargains in the area devoted to special offers.
Tips For Buying Electronics From B&H
There’s no denying that B&H is one of the leading electronics retailers in the world. Whether you’re looking for a new television, camera, or laptop, B&H is a great place to start your search. However, with so many products on offer, it can be tricky to know where to start. To help you make the most of your next purchase, here are a few tips for buying electronics at B&H.
Firstly, take the time to research the product you’re interested in. B&H offers a wide range of products, so it’s important to find one that meets your needs and budget. Reading reviews from other customers can be a great way to get an idea of what a product is like. I trust B&H reviews more than I do Amazon and Walmart reviews. Once you’ve found the perfect product, be sure to take advantage of B&H’s competitive prices. In many cases, you’ll be able to find the same product for less at B&H than at other retailers. Finally, B&H offers a great returns policy, so you can buy with confidence knowing that you can return or exchange your purchase if you’re not happy with it.
Outside of Amazon, it’s possible that Walmart is Best Buy’s only real competitor. These two retail titans have been in business for a long time. Wal-Mart is also a multibillion-dollar store chain owned by the Walton family, a well-known American aristocrat. Moreover, Walmart provides one of the most extensive selections of consumer electronics available, including some of the most modern models.
Since Walmart has over 10,000 store locations worldwide and an ever-growing presence online, you won’t have any trouble locating one where you can buy your electronics. That’s one advantage stores like Best Buy and Walmart have over Amazon. You can research your product online, then go buy in-store. Or…you can go check it out in the store and go buy it online. In addition to televisions and laptops, they also sell tablets and mobile phones, as well as printers and video games. This is a good site to get gadgets and devices if you’re involved in the internet of things movement as well. It honestly feels like Walmart provides everything you need, from wearable technology to cameras and streaming services. Many fantastic deals are available throughout the year as well in their physical stores and online.
LEARN: Set Up a Smart Home Intercom System For Under $100?
What To Watch Out For Buying From Walmart
Walmart is one of the biggest retailers in the United States and it’s no surprise that they sell a lot of electronics. This could be because of foot traffic or just the massive branding advantage Walmart has over competitors. Nonetheless, there are a few reasons why you might want to be a little skeptical before buying your next gadget from Walmart. Again…it depends on the device or gadget you’re buying. For one thing, Walmart is known for selling products that are low in quality. This is why…if you do buy from Walmart, stick with the name-brand products. These generic, low-quality tech gadgets and electronics often cut corners to save money and this can result in products that break easily or don’t work as well as they should. In fact, some might not even work out of the box.
Finally, Walmart has a reputation for terrible customer service. It’s not always bad, but I’ve had to wait in line for a long time just to return something. If you have any problems with your purchase, good luck getting anyone to help you out.
Hear me out on this. Costco is actually a great place to buy electronics. Not because of the variety (because the variety is slim here or at least slim compared to Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy). But…it’s very difficult to beat Costco’s return policy (and sometimes pricing). And if you sign up for their Costco Citi card, you can score extra years (not days, not months, but years) of warranty without paying extra. Another reason why Costco is a great place to buy electronics is the savings on just one device (like an iPad, for example), which can often pay for a membership for a year.
Tips For Buying Electronics At Costco
Whether you’re in the market for a new TV or a new laptop, Costco is a great place to start your search. Here are a few tips to help you get the best deal on electronics at Costco:
- Know what you want before you go. It can be tempting to browse the shelves and try out all the latest gadgets, but it’s important to know what you’re looking for before you head to the store. This will help you avoid making an impulse purchase that you may later regret. If I had a penny for every time I walked out of Costco without spending over $200 I’d have no pennies. They get me on impulse buys all the time.
- Compare prices online. While Costco does offer some great deals, it’s always worth checking prices online before you buy. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting the best possible price.
- Ask about return policies on specific items. Most electronics retailers have different return policies for open-box and used items, so it’s important to ask about Costco’s policy on the product before you make your purchase. Their general return policy is great, but make sure to check on the specifics for the product as well.
- Check for special promotions. Costco often has special promotions or coupons available for electronics purchases. Be sure to check the website or ask a sales associate.
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A Few More Tips For Buying Electronics
In order to get the greatest deal, it’s critical that you’re looking in the right place. Every site on this list is great for affordable electronics, and they all have something special to offer. Electronics are a big part of our lives. We use them for work, for entertainment, and for staying connected. With so many electronics available, it can be tempting to buy them exclusively online. After all, online shopping is convenient and often cheaper than shopping in person. BUT…there are some risks to consider before buying electronics online. For one thing, it can be difficult to know if you’re getting a good deal. Online retailers may inflate prices or sell counterfeit products. Furthermore, electronics can be delicate and easily damaged in shipping (this is rare, but it still happens). As a result, it’s important to do your research before buying electronics online. By taking the time to compare prices and read customer reviews, you can help ensure that you’re getting a good deal on a quality product.
With all that said, if you’re looking for the best deals on electronics, then shopping online is the way to go. You can find great discounts on everything from TVs and laptops to cameras and smartphones. And with so many online retailers to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect electronics for your needs. Plus, shopping online is convenient and easy. AND…if you stay connected to some of these brands’ social media handles, you can score some really good deals IF you’re patient. You can also shop for electronics from the comfort of your own home. I do not miss the days of finding the best deals among crowded shopping malls and crazy traffic.
by Dale Meredith | Sep 28, 2022 | Geek Speak, Tech Living
Synology is a network-attached storage device that helps you to manage your data profiles. DiskStation continues to provide exceptional solutions and a comprehensive guide for your data managemental problems. And I say problems because our devices and lifestyles just lend themselves to collecting a ton of data. Issues like sharing files, media management, storing important media, and minimizing the cost of backup queries and requests.
Maybe you’ve already dropped coin and got yourself a Synology DiskStation. Maybe you’re still on the fence and need a little nudge or a couple more logical reasons before buying one. Regardless, I’ve compiled a handful of my favorite tips, tricks, and uses of this awesome network-attached storage device.
Connected Remotely To Your NAS
Synology’s QuickConnect service allows you to connect your NAS anywhere with just one click, without having to mess around with port forwarding or setting up a username/password. Plus it works seamlessly in combination with almost all their mobile clients so that when I’m on the go, I have all of my favorite songs and media right at my fingertips! The QuickConnect feature also allows you to use an easy-to-remember (customizable + unique) name. For example, I only have to use dalerocks.quickconnect.me (this link doesn’t work so don’t try using it) to gain access via a web browser. Additionally, with any Synology App when you do the setup (Photos app, Drive app, etc.), you’ll be asked for your QuickConnect name and immediately it finds it and connects.
DISCOVER: Is This The Best Smart Photo Manager
There are a couple of ways to set up QuickConnect. You can do it during the initial configuration (which I highly recommend) or you can head to your Control Panel and select Quick Connect then General. You will need a Synology account so you can assign an ID to your NAS. From there you’ll be supplied (or you can create your own) with a unique URL to connect to your DiskStation.
NAS Backup
The best way to ensure your data doesn’t get lost is by setting up regular backups. If you don’t spend enough time doing this, then the next thing that will happen could be something as drastic and unexpected as hardware failure or something similar. I’m a big proponent of backing up my devices and use my NAS to do so frequently. In fact, it’s important to know that drives will fail and I even back up my NAS in case something happens.
LEARN MORE: What Is NAS?
There’s no better place for storing these vital copies than in an easily accessible location like NAS (Network-Attached Storage). With its high-speed connections and access from just about anywhere, it makes recovery quick & easy should anything go wrong. Backing up your smartphones on Synology is another really powerful hack that can free up a ton of storage on your device. I’ve stopped using Google Photo because of Synology’s Photo app that not only backs up all my family’s phone images almost immediately, but their AI will help to organize your photos based on facial ID, objects, or locations. I love this app!
Virtual Machine Access
The Synology DiskStation allows you to have smooth access to a virtual machine. These virtual machines are significant for the maintenance of different sorts of operating systems over your PC network. Essentially, you can effectively install these virtual machine managers and make them run for efficient data management activity. Furthermore, these VM managers are easily supported by all the versions of windows without any further concern.
What about running Docker containers on Synology NAS? Docker containers are a lightweight alternative for running applications on your Synology NAS. You should know that Synology NAS does have official support for Docker. I think they’re great because they require less memory and system resources. If you don’t have enough memory for a virtual machine, you can run a Docker container. Personally, I use a Docker container to run my CrashPlan backup which gives me unlimited backup space for $10 a month.
Create Your Own Personal Streaming Service
You’ll need the help of Plex on this one. The media streaming service, Plex has been around for quite some time now. It’s powerful and easy-to-use offering an unlimited number of features at no cost! One of my favorite hacks with my Synology Diskstation is connecting it to Plex where I can store virtually all of my media to stream on-demand. And no worries, you don’t have to be a tech wizard to set this up. There is a manual and an automated method for installing Plex Media Server on your Synology NAS. This is one of the best tutorials on how to do that.
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Host Your Own Website
Do you want to host a small family website inside your LAN or perhaps create an online journal for the outside world? Most people would need to hunt down reliable web hosting services and pay monthly fees, but all this can be done on Synology NAS servers without any cost at all. I wouldn’t recommend hosting a website if you plan on having a lot of traffic or want to provide a shopping site. But the option to host your own website is there with Synology’s DiskStation.
Leverage Synology’s Mobile Apps
Synology has a ton of mobile apps available for Android and iOS, allowing you to back up data (as we’ve seen above) or stream media. These apps are free of charge (although there are some that require a subscription). There’s DS Video and Video Station for streaming your media to any device. DS Photo and Photo Station allow you to back up all your photo files and immediately access them from a computer or phone.
RELATED: Our Synology DiskStation NAS Review
With photos becoming more of a memory hog on our smartphones (we take more photos + camera phones are better and they require more space), DS Photo is a must-have. The interface and organization are phenomenal as well. If you are into smart home automation and have a home security system with an IP camera, DS Cam and Surveillance Station will allow you to view image and video files from your home security network. You’ll need an extra license for this and a supported IP camera (Synology is compatible with about 7K+ security cameras), but it does work smoothly. Looking for a VPN solution to connect to home while traveling? Synology has you covered
Don’t Have A Synology DiskStation Yet?
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I really love this technology. If I find something new that I can find a use for, I’ll get it. Technology should make our lives easier. They should save us time, save us money, and reduce effort on menial tasks. Do Synology’s NAS devices do that? If you know how to use them, absolutely! I’ve said quite a bit of Synology in this review and will continue to bang that drum for getting one of these amazing storage devices. So if you haven’t gotten one yet…what are you waiting for?
by Staff | Sep 26, 2022 | Tech Living
Surveillance in today’s age of wireless connectivity is not limited to streets and places with security concerns. Different homes and businesses have started adapting the latest security systems to ensure safety and surveillance in real-time. I bet 80% of the homes in my neighborhood have some kind of home security setup.
Presently, the number of options is expanding regarding monitoring devices for your home security. Some are amazing. Some are not. There are new and advanced approaches to your property protection with the light bulb security camera or a reliable, DIY solution with the Ring Home Security Alarm. Before choosing the right security system, you need to look at all the characteristics, features, and security options these systems provide. We wanted to briefly see how both these options stack up against each other.
What We Know About Light Bulb Security Cameras
As the name suggests, a light bulb security camera enables installing the security camera as simple as screwing in a lightbulb. You can utilize these light bulb security cameras with Wi-Fi and a compatible smartphone. A light bulb security camera is convenient and inexpensive, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious homeowners.
For instance, a WiFi Light Bulb Camera covers 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical movement, helping it avoid dead corners. It also works well for both in-home and outdoor coverage since it alerts you if someone tries to enter your home, thanks to its motion detection. In a nutshell, light bulb security cameras are super easy and super quick for home security.
What We Know About Ring Home Security
Ring security has evolved since it made its first security doorbell around eight years ago. Thanks to these developments, Ring Home Security now offers both innovative and reliable security systems. With the Ring Alarm 5-Piece Kit + video doorbell combo, you can view live video from the doorbell camera and get in-depth smartphone notifications.
TRENDING: Our Home Security Light Bulb Camera Review
You can connect the monitoring system to your phone using your Wi-Fi network. Moreover, you can also use an Ethernet cable for your hub (if you have to). In my opinion, Ring is the best DIY home security option on the market.
Ring vs. Light Bulb Security Cameras
Self-Monitoring Support
Both Ring and light bulb security cameras offer compact security system kits that are a perfect fit for users that prefer self-monitoring. For example, Ring’s Alarm Security Kit contains contact sensors and motion detectors, while light bulb security cameras have motion detection, 360-degree angle coverage, and night vision. Each has its own apps that users can take advantage of to get the full effect of self-monitoring. However, I’d give Ring the advantage because their app comes with more features, more customization, the system is IFTTT enabled, and I love the Neighbors feature to keep me informed on what’s happening in my community.
Winner: Ring Home Security
READ MORE: Best IFTTT Home Security Systems
Ease of Installation
Both Ring and light bulb Security Cameras are great options for home security systems that are easy to install and set up. They do not require you to be tech-savvy or have in-depth knowledge of electronics to set up. Ring alarm systems equipment mostly uses double-sided tape. As for the light bulb security camera, it can screw in a bulb socket with no extra wiring.
LEARN MORE: Ring Video Doorbell Tips And Tricks
Now, I also consider installing the app and configuring it to your technology as part of the installation process. You will not find an easier setup/install process as you do with Ring. Just from what I’ve researched (I’m a member of their Deep Dive team, which means I get products from them to beta test and offer feature suggestions), Ring puts a ton of research and development into their app. Are the light bulbs easier to install vs Ring’s 5-piece home security kit? Well…yeah. It’s literally as easy as screwing in a light bulb (no jokes either). However, considering the simplicity of installing and setting up the Ring kit…this one is a toss-up.
Winner: Tie
Wireless Connectivity
Both Ring and the light bulb security camera have wireless connectivity, requiring a Wi-Fi connection and router to operate. Ring relies on the Z-Wave wireless protocol for connectivity, which is more robust and provides a better range. On the other hand, a light bulb security camera supports different Wi-Fi connectivity depending on the product. Some support standard 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi, while others can support 5Ghz Wi-Fi.
RELATED: Here’s A Crash Course In Home Automation Basics
I’ve never run into any connectivity issues with either of these products, but when you consider Ring’s DIY home security kit comes with 5 pieces of tech (and in some cases more if you get more add-ons), the level of complexity compared to one light bulb being screwed in…is hardly comparable.
Winner: Ring Home Security
Cloud and Local Storage Support
Ring uses the cloud to store data and has no option for local storage. This can be a concern if you face connectivity issues (which are far and few between), but Ring also provides a pro plan that features a cellular backup connection.
A light bulb security camera supports both cloud and local memory storage options. It provides more security as you can store the data offline on a small SD card (with most models). This is one feature I wish Ring would support
Winner: Light Bulb Cameras
Home Security Coverage
A light bulb security camera leaves no loose ends because of its 360-degree angle coverage. On the other hand, Ring Home Security uses a mount and fix coverage approach. In theory, you could place a light bulb security camera in as many sockets as you have. But…you’re limited by how many sockets AND where those sockets are strategically placed on your property. Furthermore, whereas many of these light bulb security cameras don’t come with LED lights to actually light up your property, you’re at a disadvantage with coverage. I love the coverage options when it comes to Ring. Windows, motion sensors, cameras, doorbells…you can’t even compare coverage when it comes to Ring.
Winner: Ring Home Security
Home Security Add-ons
A light bulb security camera is one purpose for all, with varying specifications in terms of resolution, memory, and night vision. To be fair, its entire premise is built on that. Down the road when these home security devices gain in popularity, we might see add-ons. On the other hand, Ring security systems are designed to support various add-ons like sensors and other devices to enhance your system further. As popular as these lightbulb security cameras are, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a product-niche they get their hands in.
Winner: Ring Home Security
Legalities
Both of these security systems approach methods of surveillance differently. A light bulb security camera is built to disguise it as a light bulb. It’s a little more discreet. Though such hidden cameras for home security are legal in many states, some still have varying laws depending on the location. It is best to confirm your state law before going for the light bulb security camera. Ring Security System does not have these legalities.
Winner: Ring Home Security
Ring vs. Light Bulb Security Cameras: The Prices
Prices for both Ring and light bulb security cameras vary depending on the features you are aiming to get. Going with the Security Kit for your first set-up of Ring Home Security is a great option. It includes the 5-Piece Alarm Security Kit, which will cost around $199. That’s around $40 per device with this setup. I’d also point out that the Ring doorbell camera (that doesn’t come with the basic Ring kit) will run you about $99.
Light bulb security cameras range from $14 to $200, depending on network connectivity, night vision, and resolution features. Most decent light bulb security cameras will run you anywhere from $30-$40 per unit to start. In terms of price comparison, there’s not much difference there.
Winner: Tie
Ring vs Light Bulb Home Security: The Verdict
Many options for monitoring your home security are available today. I’m shocked at how far the industry has evolved in just the last several years. It’s encouraging and I welcome all of it. Depending on your preference, you can select an innovative and reliable DIY self-monitoring system with the Ring Home Security or a more inconspicuous, cost-effective choice with the light bulb security camera. Both offer advantages for the home automation sector and are unique in their functionality, allowing you to choose the best option depending upon your preference.
DISCOVER: Home Automation? What Is That? We Answer That And More!
When it comes to affordable and effective, DIY home security I have to give a strong nod to Ring home security. I’m a huge fan of smart home automation and how home security integrates with that ecosystem of all the gadgets and devices in the home. While you can still integrate these smart light bulbs into your home automation, there’s another dimension of security that Ring offers that these smart light bulbs can’t.
by Staff | Sep 23, 2022 | Tech Living
Smart home automation is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Devices communicate with each other and function without manual control. Stuff just happens—like in the otherworld. All you have to do is to buy a device that’s easy to install.
If you’ve already armed yourself with the basics of home automation, dive in with me.
Whether you’re just looking for the latest automatic devices for daily routine or looking to beef up your home security or install smart home technology to make your home futuristic and more convenient…this article has you covered.
Here are smart home automation ideas you’ll love…
Top 5 Home Automation Ideas For A Smart Home
- Home Security Ideas
- Smart Home Entertainment Ideas
- Practical Home Automation Ideas for More Convenience
- Automated Climate Control Systems
- Smart Lighting Ideas
Home Security Ideas
Security automation is a smart way to beef up security in your home. This happens at different levels, and you can get an assortment of functions from a security company, or using various devices:
Home Monitoring
How about your home detecting an emergency event and sending a signal to the monitoring center whenever an intruder enters your home? Once notified, they deploy their team to your home and do what’s needed (in my case, my monitoring center is my neighbors that get notified, and they may or may not be police officers and folks that understand the business end of a baseball bat). And, to make security even tighter, don’t forget to arm your alarm. You’ll have different modes for different situations, including night, away, and home. You can arm your exterior doors and windows and even activate motion sensors downstairs if your bedroom is upstairs.
RELATED: Smart Home Automation Basics
Smart Locks
Have you ever made a U-turn on your way to work or spent the day wondering if you really locked the door on your way out? Smart locks lock down once you’re out and can always confirm on the app. In some cases, you can use voice commands via Google to “secure the Batcave”, and all your doors lock themselves and the garage door is checked to ensure it’s secure.
Smart Water Sensor
If you’re worried about leakage around the house when you’re away, you can place smart water sensors (I personally use the Govee WiFi Water Sensors) in places like the sink and bathroom and connect the sensors to your smart home hub to receive notifications whenever moisture is detected. I’ve also installed a Smart Water Valve that will automatically shut off my main waterline if any of my Govee sensors detect a water leak and I’m notified of an event. Cool huh?
Smart Home Entertainment System Ideas
If entertainment is a big part of your life, or you love entertaining, read on. Some of the benefits of entertainment automation include:
Turning The TV On And Off Automatically
If you’re a parent or guardian, you know how addictive TV can be for kids and teens and how grumpy they get when you touch the TV remote. Let the smart hub do the job of turning off the TV when TV time’s up, at dinner time, or bedtime.
No Messy Cables
Too many cables, some running all the way from the living room to the bedroom can be an eyesore. A smart home entertainment system allows you to connect devices wirelessly. No extra ports or ugly cables.
Entertain From Anywhere!
It can be tiring to move speakers from one room—or worse, outdoors and back. A smart outdoor entertainment system will make your work easy. You just need fast internet and a protected outdoors (to keep your electronics safe). With this system in place, you’ll just be streaming music from the living room.
LEARN MORE: Home Automation FAQs
Practical Home Automation Ideas for More Convenience
- Everyone loves comfort and convenience. Any innovation that can help us achieve things faster or effortlessly is welcome. After all, it’s not the Early Stone Age period.
- Automatic temperature control – Cool or warm up your home automatically from anywhere to save money, reduce your energy footprint, and cut energy costs. You can also enable your thermostat to switch to energy saving-mode whenever the windows are open. All you need: window sensors, a smart thermostat, and a smart hub.
- Waste reminders – “I’m sorry, I forgot.” Is that you every other week? Trash reminders help keep track of waste collection schedules. You’ll be reminded to put out your bins from garage flashlights to E-mails and alarms. You need smart lights and a smart hub for the light option or a simple free app if you prefer emails or push messages.
Automated Climate Control Systems
You’ll notice that some of these fall under other categories in this article, but these are some of the really cool smart home ideas for climate control.
Smart Fireplace
It’s winter. You’re snuggled in your blankets in the bedroom and afraid the spot you’ve warmed for two hours will get cold if you move. With a smart fireplace, you won’t have to lift a finger. You’ll just tell Alexa or Siri to turn on the fireplace because smart fireplaces are controlled remotely or via virtual assistants. All that stands between you and this is a simple installation and pairing.
Smart Thermostats
If you’re keen on energy conservation and energy cost and want automatic optimization of your home’s heating and cooling, smart thermostat technology is a must-have. My favorite is my Nest thermostat. Most of these devices take voice commands through Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and others, and, with a good one, you can even warm or cool your home on your way from the airport. Some thermostats have home and away mode sensors as well! So they turn on when you’re home and off when you’re gone.
Refrigerator/Freezer Door Alarm
Modern refrigerators come with this function. You get notified whenever your refrigerator is ajar or not properly shut, mainly within a couple of minutes. You can install a sensor on your old refrigerator to trigger the alarm if the door stays open for a given period. All you need to do is install it and connect it to your smart hub.
Washer And Dryer
Yep, I’ve got one of these too. How many times do you throw your dirty laundry and forget it. Next thing you know, you have clothes that smell of mildew or worse, clothes that shrink because you forget to pull them out of the dryer after “x” amount of mins. My LG washer and dryer notify me when a cycle is complete. Yeah, that just happens!
Control Bathroom Humidity
If forgetting to turn on the fan—to get rid of the thick, humid air in the bathroom—is one of your pet peeves (or bad habits), it’s time to invest in a fan that automatically turns on and off. Then, all you have to do is automate the fan.
Smart Lighting Ideas
You probably have the basic smart lighting in place already. Here are a few other lighting automation ideas you’ll love:
Automatic Dimming, Brightening And Turning Off
You can program your lighting system to dim at bedtime, brighten up in the morning, or turn it off. You can also turn off all the lights at once via an app.
Sunrise Alarms
A sunrise alarm will brighten gently as the day breaks just as the sun does. It’s less jarring than usual—phone alarms and alarm clocks. Syncing to the sun’s light helps you wake up more naturally. And, if you don’t mind nature sounds, you can also select to have birds chirping or the sound of waves in the background.
Security And Safety Lights
You can set an alarm to turn lights on automatically, for pathway lights to turn on automatically when you approach, and even have motion sensors trigger your outdoor lights. Better yet, you can create automation that uses multi-colored light bulbs to simulate a TV being watched in your living room. Another automation is being able to use your digital assistant in a moment of panic “Hey, Google BatSignal NOW!” and all the lights at Wayne Manor turn on. The best part is, that you don’t need any wiring; you just turn on the functions on your smartphone.
Convenience and Night Lights
With this, your bedside light will shut off automatically. Motion sensors will turn on your bathroom or kitchen lights when you walk in and off when you walk out, as will your garage lights when you open your garage.
Smart Light Bulbs
There’s a wide selection of smart bulbs to choose from to lessen your energy footprint, cut energy costs, secure your home, light up your home for different occasions, and even notify you of important things. You’ve probably come across color-changing bulbs—that’s not new. Some take the color-changing a notch higher; the light bulb just changes color when an email from a specific address comes in.
DISCOVER: Four Smart Home Security Cameras We Love
Is Smart Home Worth it?
Every buy might not be a smart buy, but a smart home is totally worth it. The possibility of having to overhaul your home automation systems only increases if you don’t consider important smart home factors before buying or installing. Follow the guiding principles of home automation and check this list:
- Security – Smart home tech should be secure. I can’t insist on this enough.
- Convenience – It should make your life easier and add to your user experience.
- Versatility – You don’t want to have to stick to one brand. A home tech product needs to be versatile, with the ability to support various platforms—IFTTT, Alexa, HomeKit, Google, etc.
- How easy it is to configure – You need to know if you can (and how to) configure it.
- Best brand – Always find out which brand has the best product.
- Usefulness – Before buying any device, ask yourself, “Is this necessary?” “Do I need this feature?” and “Will it change my life?”
- Compatibility – What’s your big plan? You want to ensure a smart product fits with the other devices you already have. If you have Google Home devices, find products that are compatible with Google Assistant.
There’s a plethora of home automation innovations and technologies out there, and there’s nothing wrong with leveraging home automation and available technology to automate everything you can. Make your life better, take some tasks off of your hands and reduce your energy footprint and bills.
by Maygen Brockway | Sep 21, 2022 | Tech Living
Digital assistants are devices and software like Google Assistant, Bixby, Alexa, Siri, and others. These assistants have changed our world as we know it. Oftentimes, we can even say they are like uninvited guests in our home and space as they can track our information to yield better search results, suggestions, etc. Though designers created these devices and software programs to help us, they often feel nosey and intrusive.
LEARN: Google Assistant Guide
Pros of Digital Assistants
Digital assistants offer multiple benefits which can help your everyday life. If you’re a fast-paced person, you might appreciate the talk-to-text features, so you can always answer your messages and even create emails and documents while multitasking. You can ask your digital assistant to create grocery lists or add to a list, schedule events, add to your calendar, set alarms, set timers, and more. The major pros and convenience of digital assistants are that our devices are almost always with us. From phones, tablets, smartwatches, home systems, and car systems, it’s easy to have all the help with a click of a button, an “Okay Google” “Hey Siri” or other various audio commands.
Google has leveled up with its audio assistant, not only allowing users to do routine tasks like making a phone call, texting someone, and setting alarms, but it also allows users to shop select sites, and set ringers for other devices.
If you’re feeling humorous, you can even ask Google to tell you a joke, read you a poem, or sing you a song. These may not help assist you in a task, but they sure make your day a bit brighter. If that doesn’t get you loving digital assistants, then what will?
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Cons of Digital Assistants
Let’s have a chat about some cons of our lovely digital assistants. We all know our technology can malfunction, some worse than others. Every few months, there are new phone releases and models for just about everything. Plus, every few months each device has software updates that can vary from small changes to mega changes resulting in data loss or corruption. The real problem most of us have? The lack of privacy. Our technology and our digital assistants store a multitude of information from recordings, images, website tracking, purchase history, and more.
How many times do you and your family have conversations about a product, only to see an advertisement on your Hulu or YouTube account? Sometimes it’s downright scary to realize how much our electronic devices are listening to us. Other times, it can be helpful. But the lack of privacy within our own homes, cars, and spaces is a con of digital assistants.
There is great news! You can turn off a lot of the tracking on our phones, tablets, and computers. Each device has similar ways to remove the listening feature, but doing so does mean it limits the pros of your digital device. When you have a Google account, you can go into your account, into settings, general settings, and select turn off Google Assistant. If you’re wanting your Google Assistant off on your computer, you can select the time button, go into your settings, and repeat to turn off the feature.
DISCOVER: How To Stop
Home Assistants
We all love a good smart home device that makes our days easier. A favorite of ours is using Alexa or similar digital home assistants to set laundry and cooking timers, home security, or turn music on plus so much more.
Home automation has come a long way from just Alexa speakers and Bluetooth devices we’ve learned to love. Home systems include lights, music, thermostats, refrigerators, and more. If you think, “Hey, this would make my life easier,” it probably already exists. Our refrigerators can tell us what ingredients we need and sync them to our grocery list. How wonderful is that? Timesaving digital assistants making our lives easier, one task at a time.
When it comes to your privacy, you really need to ask yourself, “What’s the cost.” Are these conveniences with home automation and digital assistants really worth your information swimming in the internet ocean? If you really enjoy these devices and assistants, then we highly suggest making sure your routers and wifi are as secure as possible. Check out some of our favorites.
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by Maygen Brockway | Sep 19, 2022 | Tech Living
Technology provides us with a living snapshot of our surroundings. Want to take a picture? You don’t need to wait to get your camera, send the film to the store, and wait a few weeks to get your images back. Smartphones, tablets, and some phone watches provide the instant picture gratification we all desired as kids. However, as we have tons of ways to take pictures and videos all at the tip of our fingers, all our technology has storage limits. When your phone memory maxes out, where do you turn to store all your media? Do you keep them forever and ever? Never switching phones? Or do you download it to your desktop computer? Wait, do you own a desktop computer? You might not. So do you switch your media to a tablet or other physical storage option? You might. You could also use an online backup method to save your images and videos for years to come. Digital storage is the new photo album you wish you had as a kid.
There are a bunch of different media storage solutions available depending on your media devices and budget. The internet is full of free storage services, but it really depends on if you’re looking to store simple pictures and videos of your pets, kids, or family or if you’re looking to use online storage for work-related projects and media. Different media storage services will provide different free options and pricing tiers to give you the most out of your storage opportunity. Let’s break down the most common online media storage options.
Google Drive & Google One
Google Drive has fantastic benefits for media storage and document backup. Google Drive has built-in security to help prevent attacks from malware, spam, ransomware, or phishing. It sends its users a warning message that the email or document may be suspicious. It handles the security checks for you. It’s a free tool Google account holders can immediately access. As a Google user, Drive provides a personal option and a paid Business option. The personal drive has access to 15GB of storage, which is a pretty decent amount of storage. Plus, you have stored use of Docs, Forms, Slides, Sheets, Gmail, and Meet Video for up to 100 people. If you’re looking to increase storage space, gain more people for meetings, or have your Drive account managed professionally, then upgrading your Drive to Google’s Business Standard might be your best option. Users gain up to 2TB storage with the added business benefits of stored Meet Videos and Administrative access and management.
Google One is like a step up from Drive, but with an added cost. Basic plans start at $1.99 a month and increase to $149.99 a month. Beginning storage is at 100 GB with increasing plans going from 2TB to 30TB. At the $9.99 monthly plan with 2TB storage, Google One offers VPN for Android and iOS. If you remember, we’ve previously discussed VPNs and the best for Androids and iOS platforms. This Google One plan is a win for us on the affordability and security side.
iCloud for Apple Users
iCloud is available to all Apple users and on all Apple platforms as a standard feature. Users get 5GB of free storage for all their files, pictures, videos, and more. Users can also upgrade to iCloud+ to gain more storage and benefits. One of the added benefits of iCloud is that it comes with a two-factor authentication feature. We’re all about the added security that two-factor authentication provides. In fact, if you need a refresher, we highly suggest reading What Is Two Factor Authentication. iCloud provides top-of-the-line security, health checkups for its users, and an impressive account recovery system.
pCloud is quickly becoming a media storage favorite as it provides downloads for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Linux systems. It is a pay-per-plan storage solution, but it offers 10GB free with initial sign-up. Plans start from $49.99 per year to $99.99 per year with the beginning plan with 500GB storage and the other plan with 2TB storage. For an added price, you can get pCloud Encryption. They list a bunch of reasons for using their cloud storage over others, but one is that they provide encrypted and unencrypted folders jointly. This option provides you as the user to pick and choose which files should be encrypted. The benefit to this is that some sharing options like emails, etc. have a hard time processing encrypted files, so picking and choosing to allow for easier shareability.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a fantastic option for online media storage. You can create a free account and gain 2GB of storage. It’s a more common media storage option as it’s very user-friendly and shareable. In fact, users can earn additional storage when friends or family sign up with a referral link. Significant benefits include media storage, backup, HelloSign, and DocSend which make professional and work-related documents more accessible and manageable. Dropbox also allows access to partnership companies like Trello, Slack, Canvas, Google Workspace, and more. Their basic plan is free with upgrades starting from $11.99 a month to $30 or more monthly, depending on the user’s needs. The Standard plan seems the best for security and media protection, coming in at $18 a month.
Whatever media storage you decide on, make sure you pay attention to the security options. It’s one thing to share pictures and videos with your family, it’s a whole other thing to share them with potential predators and scammers. There are many other online clouds/storage options for users. We recommend doing your research and making sure the solution fits your household.
