Home Tech


Smartening up an Apartment on Any Budget

Smart homes have moved from the realm of tech geeks to mainstream America. Even if you don’t set out to have a smart home, the various ways to connect devices and everyday items have become so easy it is impossible to avoid. It’s a bit tougher when you rent, but there’s plenty of ways to make your apartment smarter!


iHome iAV14 Is a Small but Powerful Bedside Clock with Alexa Built-in

We recently reviewed a bedside clock from iHome that works with Google Assistant. It’s impressive but only if you are using Google Assistant as your smart assistant. For those of us deep into the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, there is the iHome iAV14. It may look like a traditional nightstand clock but, thanks to its “smarts,” it offers much more.



BedJet V2 Climate Comfort System: Sleep Comfortably Year-Round

I like to sleep in a cold room, but I want the bed to be warm on winter nights. In the past, this meant climbing in, shivering, and waiting for body heat to do its thing. I’ve been using a BedJet V2 Climate Comfort System for the last month; climbing under freezing sheets is now a thing of the past.




Anki Vector is the Expressive Pet Robot Who Is Here to Help

Ushering in the age of the loyal pet robot, the Anki Vector is a fun sidekick who can do more than play fetch. Vector is helpful; he can take photos, set a timer, answer questions, play blackjack, and more. Packed with high-tech circuitry, Vector can see, hear, feel, think, and communicate; he even keeps himself charged. Vector retails for $249.99.



RapidX X4 Home: The Perfect Mini USB Charger for Home and Travel

If you need a multi-port USB Type-A and Type-C charger that is compact enough for travel yet powerful enough for regular home use, look no further than the RapidX X4 Home. With three Type-A ports, one Type-C port, the X4 Home offers high-speed charging from each port with a total output of 33W.


iHome iGV1 Is a Google Assistant Built-In Bedside Speaker System

We’ve seen an explosion in the number of smart home products currently available. Some are standalone units. Others have speakers and/or touch screens. The iHome iGV1 falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a smart speaker with Google Assistant and a digital clock built-in. It’s great if you want to replace your beside clock with something a bit more powerful.


Skyroam Gives You Great Connectivity Wherever You Go

Just a few years ago, Judie wrote an article about Skyroam, and how great of a product it is when traveling abroad. As someone who travels a lot stateside, but still is looking for a solid connection everywhere I go, the Skyroam piqued my interest with their new GoData Initiative. Let’s take a look at the new way of staying connected.


TCL 6-Series TVs: This 4k HDR TV Is the Most Bang for your Buck

The TCL 6-Series is a great 4K LED TV, especially when you take into account the affordable pricing. With 55” and 65” models, the 6-Series shines with excellent picture quality, high-dynamic-range imaging (HDR), easy-to-use smart TV features, and a nice, small remote with voice-control features. Starting at $649.99, the TCL 6-Series deserves a top spot on every holiday shopping list.


Eufy SpaceView HD Is Our Top Baby Monitor Pick for 2018

I’ve been a huge fan of Eufy and their parent company, Anker, recently. Eufy doesn’t disappoint with their brand spanking new SpaceView HD Wireless Baby Monitor. With a huge HD display, long battery life, great night vision, two-way audio, and pan, tilt, zoom functionality; it’s my new favorite baby monitor when you take into account the affordable $169.99 price point.



Eufy RoboVac 30C Is the Robot Vacuum Every Smart Home Needs

Eufy recently announced an exciting update to their powerful line of robot vacuums, the RoboVac 30C. The “C” stands for connected, as your RoboVac now can communicate via Wi-Fi with Alexa and Google Assistant as well as with the EufyHome app. With a slim body that’s only 2.85” tall with 1500Pa suction, the RoboVac 30C is my top choice.


Anker Unveils Four Exciting New Products at Launch in NYC

On a chilly October night, Anker held their first-ever live product launch in NYC. Announcing products from a number of their brands, Anker impressed with new 27W PowerPort Atom chargers, an updated Nebula Capsule II pocket projector, the Soundcore Model Zero and Zero+ Bluetooth and WiFi speakers, and a groundbreaking security system from Eufy. Read on to find out more!


Gourmia 5-Quart GAF575 Air Fryer: Fried Food without Any Guilt

How in the world did I get by without ever owning an air fryer? In my defense, our kitchen space is limited, so we don’t have a lot of room for extra gadgets. But after trying out the Gourmia 5-Quart GAF575 Air Fryer, I’ve found a kitchen appliance I will simply have to find space to keep; it’s that good.



Chamberlain Ultimate Security Bundle: The Ideal Garage Door Opener

As a parent with young children, my first priority is the safety of my family. My second priority is making sure no one wakes up my kids while they’re sleeping! The Chamberlain Ultimate Security Bundle covers all the bases, as it’s ultra-quiet yet super-secure. With tons of smart and safety features, Chamberlain hits the sweet spot of garage door openers.


Lutron Serena Shades: Wireless, Smart, and Custom-Made

I have an office with two windows on our house’s south side; these windows take in brutal amounts of Texas sun and heat during the spring and summer. Lutron Serena Shades are custom-made window shades that can be controlled by a remote, by your smartphone, or with an AI assistant. What you end up with are smarthome-worthy window coverings.