There are two types of people in this world today. There are those who love voice control, and there are those who insist on physical switches. For the former, there is Alexa or Google Assistant. For the latter, there are switches. And for mixed marriages like mine, there is the Lutron Aurora.
Our friends at Eufy and Anker continue to iterate and improve their products, as evidenced with the Eufy RoboVac 35C. The 35C is very similar to the Eufy RoboVac 30C we previously reviewed, however, it adds a touch control panel to the top of the vacuum. Also, the RoboVac 35C is sold through retail, while the 30C is sold via Amazon.
Having recently reviewed the D6 Robot Vac by Neato, I already knew what to expect from their products, but boy was I in for a treat when I received the Neato Botvac D7 Connected. Not only was I amazed by its ability to navigate my home, but even more by how more refined this particular model truly was. At $829, it’s certainly not the cheapest robot vacuum cleaner on the market, but using it for the past few months, it’s certainly one of the more efficient ones, and I’ve reviewed several. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk…
It’s only fitting that with the Spring come allergens and pollutants in the air. But not just outside can you suffer from bad air quality, as more often than not, the worst air you breathe is in your very own home. This is why you need the 2nd Generation Awair.
Nanoleaf made a name for themselves with their color-changing triangular-shaped Light Panels back in 2016. Now they’ve upped the ante with the Nanoleaf Canvas; light squares with edge-to-edge illumination, built-in sound reactivity, touch sensitivity, and a whole lot more. Canvas is a beautiful piece of kinetic artwork that adds brilliant light and a sense of playfulness to any space.
BoxLock is a clever smart lock that will protect your precious packages from porch pirates after they’ve been delivered. When paired with a secure parcel box, BoxLock is a strong line of defense to thwart package thieves. BoxLock has a built-in barcode scanner, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity, and a 30+ day rechargeable battery. BoxLock retails for $129.
High-end plumbing fixture manufacturer GROHE has entered the smarthome market with their new GROHE Sense Guard water controller. The Sense Guard monitors your water consumption, can detect micro leaks, and will protect your home in the event of a pipe burst. When paired with the GROHE Sense accessory, you’ve got an outstanding system to protect your home against water damage.
Looking for an all-in-one solution to browsing, searching, and navigating your TV menu? Look no further than the Logitech K600 Smart TV remote. We’ve had the opportunity to test it out for ourselves and it’s one of the best solutions to typing with your television and getting things done faster.
My home is filled with Amazon Echo devices but, as Judie and Carly reported, it was Google Assistant rather than Alexa that was on display at CES 2019. If the amazing JBL LINK VIEW I have been reviewing is any indication, there’s a good reason why. It is a fantastic device and Google Assistant is remarkably powerful.
We found so many great new products this year at CES that we could have easily awarded 20 with a “Best of CES” designation, but alas, we could only pick ten. Here, in no particular order, are Gear Diary’s top 10 picks for Best of CES 2019.
Toronto-based Nanoleaf, who is best known for their popular triangular-shaped Nanoleaf Light Panels, has wowed onlookers at CES 2019 in Las Vegas with their new product, Nanoleaf Canvas. Canvas is made out of edge-to-edge light squares that are touch sensitive, react to music and sound, and integrate with Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa.
CES may be the home for various gadgets, drones, foldable phones, and roll-up televisions, but if you’re a pet owner, there are plenty of items aimed at you and your four-legged friend as well. Wagz has three new items, the Explore Smart Collar, the Go-Smart Door, and Roam’s Smart Shield.
Ring is popular for their video doorbells and home security systems, but for those of us who live in homes without doorbells, you may have felt a bit left out. That’s no longer the case, thanks to the new Ring Door View Cam.
Lenovo’s Smart Displays blew us away at CES last year, and this year they have some new smart devices to bring us closer to a world like The Jetsons. They have a really amazing smart tablet/dock, along with a smart clock for your bedroom, so let’s see what the future holds! First, let’s talk about the Lenovo Smart Clock. Basically, they’re rolling the various tips for better sleep that are out there with a small Smart Display. This makes a lot of sense because you get a bedside interface that lets you set up a smart home routine around your bedtime…
Chefman’s new Chef IQ App, which is in beta release now, will allow consumers to control their kitchen appliances, monitor their cooking progress, and view recipes with step-by-step videos. This first of its kind app will connect to the appliances via Bluetooth and WiFi.
Partnering with the Funai Corporation, Philips has just announced their first 4k UDH Android TV with two different series and five different display sizes; you’ll certainly want to check out.
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!
Today ConnectSense announced its newest HomeKit-enabled smart plug, the Smart Outlet 2 to its product lineup.
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.
Arlo, the popular smart home connected camera brand, has announced the Arlo Ultra Wire-Free Camera System. We’ve covered the original Arlo home cameras previously, so we are excited that the brand is continuing to create updates to the product.
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.