Smart doorbells are awesome. And one that integrates, even if only via IFTTT, with other ecosystems is even more awesome. So it’s great to see the new 1080p 170º video doorbell from DIY home security oriented LifeShield. Price is competitive at $200, so one to watch if you have a LifeShield system, or even if you don’t… LifeShield Enhances DIY […]
Read moreWith real support for BTLE, and massive sensor pools, Thread 1.2 takes a major step forward towards being the home automation (HA) protocol that can really do everything. Even more importantly, all the big players (cough… newcomers) are lining up behind it, so there is massive backing. While I personally have a [mostly] Z-Wave installation at home, I would love […]
Read more
Details are a bit light on how SiliconDust’s new horizontal scaling scheme is implemented, but it seems a welcome addition to the flexibility of the platform, especially with the introduction of the Scribe and Servio models. While the long time users are used to the “complexity” of adding additional storage to the NAS/PC/whatever these new hardware bits obfuscate that complexity […]
Read more
If you’ve thought “the T20 is amazing, but it’s kind of hard to commit to a wired-only headset especially as the 3.5mm jack fades away”, apparently you’re not alone (and I wouldn’t blame you). But, there is now a cake-and-eat-it-too solution to this dilemma, because the T20 is now a wired, and wireless, you-buy-one-thing-and-get-to-swap-cables-for-how-you-want-to-use-it bundle of sonic goodness. This is […]
Read more
Have a Roku, an over-the-air (OTA) HDHomeRun tuner, and frustration about the inability to use the two together? SD just solved your gripe with the just announced BETA for live TV viewing on the platform. Bad news is that DVR isn’t there yet, but the great news is that they’re working on it. So like many things, a touch of […]
Read more
If I were more a drag-a-cooler-somewhere kind of guy, and the price was closer to impulse territory (and I hadn’t sworn off crowd funding random stuff ;)) I would totally be all over the GoSun Chill battery/solar powered cooler. It’s such a neat idea, and if it actually works, a great way to ensure that your food doesn’t end up […]
Read more
We had a quick peek at the HDHR Servio ($150) & Scribe, in Duo ($200) & Quatro ($250) forms, at CES, so it was only a matter of time. And here they are, at least in pre-order format. They are BestBuy exclusive (for now), so you’ll need to head on over to their site to do the business. Expected to […]
Read more
In many ways Zigbee is technically superior to Z-Wave, but the lack of guaranteed compatibility with Zigbee devices is one of the main barriers to its adoption in the home. Their “All Hubs Initiative” could sort that. If it does, Silicon Labs should be worried, very worried. The Zigbee Alliance Announces the ‘All Hubs Initiative’ Driven by Leading Ecosystems to […]
Read more
Details are still a bit thin on the ground, but Kwikset is bringing out a Wi-Fi enabled deadbolt lock. Wi-Fi is obviously a much lower bar to entry than a proper home automation hub/system, so I can see why they are doing it. But, if it’s just an isolated lock, with no chance of integration with other systems (even the […]
Read moreMore colors = more realistic photos. So just as HDR (properly applied) makes for a better viewing experience, I’m happy to see that Android will be receiving wide color photography with the next major release of the OS. The application is likely to be small at first, only one of the devices that I viewed the photos included in the […]
Read more