Roku is best known for its TVs and streaming devices, but it also manufactures related audio devices and accessories and makes smart home products. The Roku Smart Home Starter Kit contains a Roku Indoor Camera, two Roku Smart Bulbs, and two Roku Indoor Smart Plugs; at $53.97, it is a very aggressively priced way of making your home a bit smarter.
The new Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam offers seamless 360° panoramic coverage of any room directly to your smartphone. This versatile camera empowers you to control your viewing angle effortlessly through the Ring App, eliminating blind spots and ensuring complete peace of mind.
Pool season is fast approaching, and if you’re in charge of keeping yours clean, the Beatbot Aquasense Pro will help you keep it in tip-top shape with minimal effort. Keeping our pool clean and ready to swim in is my husband Kev’s domain; when I was offered an Aquasense Pro to try, Kev was intrigued. After using it for over a month, I figured it was time to let you all know how it’s been going. Long story short, this pool-cleaning robot has made his life (and, consequently, my life) so much easier.
Today, Yale has introduced its first retrofit smart security solution, which will make the brand’s security products available for the first time to most US renters. The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi and the wireless Yale Keypad are designed with first-time users, renters, and those hesitant to modify their locks in mind; these products promise an affordable, top-tier, and user-friendly solution, with a myriad of access options for key-free convenience.
Some people want to lose 20 pounds. Some people pledge to get 8 hours of sleep. But for us, our 2024 resolution was to finally address our water issues in the basement. An integral part of our plan to prevent future disasters included a sump pump monitor like the Flo by Moen Smart Sump Pump Monitor.
In my smart home setup, we have covered many Vivint products. The system adds a lot of convenience and next-level security to a home. The cameras keep adding features and getting smarter, making managing security remotely easy. The new Vivint Smart Home Vehicle Detection for their Outdoor Camera Pro does just as the name implies — it will alert you when a vehicle arrives, leaves, or passes through a designated detection zone.
I love the Hue lighting system in my home, and each year, I find ways to expand the system. That’s easy to do since Phillips Hue is constantly improving and adding new offerings! Philips Hue has announced new indoor and outdoor lighting solutions and a home security system.
Robot vacuums are one of the coolest inventions to come out of the last few years. It’s a toss-up between video chat and robot vacs for which development has made life feel closer to the Jetsons, but Eureka is making a strong case for the robots with the new Eureka J20 Robot Vacuum/Floor Washer 2-in-1.
For the past few summers, I’ve reviewed and continued to use Aiper robots to help keep my pool clean in between professional services. The brand hasn’t stopped making great pool-cleaning robots but is expanding its line-up to include robots for other purposes. They’ve just announced the new Aiper Horizon U1, their first cordless robotic lawn mower.
The folks at MediaTek are consistently launching new chips and platforms to keep up with the changing technological landscape. They’ve got some exciting news coming out this week, with developments under the hood and ones you’ll interact with more directly!
Nanoleaf is adding new products to its line-up, promising enhanced color and lighting experiences for indoor and outdoor spaces. They’ve just announced Orchestrator software, Essentials Matter Smart Multicolor Lightstrip (for indoor use), Outdoor String Lights, and Permanent Outdoor Lights. Additionally, Nanoleaf is finally opening pre-orders for the much-anticipated Nanoleaf Skylight Modular Ceiling Light!
Sometimes, you look around and realize there are some brands that just contribute to everything in our everyday lives. TCL is definitely one of them! They cover you for your entertainment at home and on the go, and they’ve just refreshed their best offerings for 2024!
If it’s electronic, it’s likely Samsung makes it. TVs, computers, phones, monitors, wearables, home appliances — you name it. And they’re using all those devices to make everything interconnected in new and exciting ways.
Do you need a new TV? LG is giving you good reason to think you do with their updated OLED TV lineup for 2024! LG is packing some serious technology with an AI processor to sharpen objects and analyze colors to adjust to various scenes. At the same time, Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro will create images that look more vibrant and three-dimensional.
Since most homes in the U.S. aren’t built with bidets installed, adding one to your existing toilet seat is a great way to upgrade your bathroom experience. If you’re considering which to get, you should take a look at the just-announced Bio Bidet BB-1200 Bidet Toilet Seat; not only does it offer all the bells and whistles you’d expect, like a heated seat, unlimited warm water, multiple cleaning modes, a nightlight, and warm air for drying, it’s also first-ever North American bidet toilet seat to be controlled by a smartphone app.
U-tec has just announced its latest creation, U home. This isn’t your typical smart home setup; it’s a personalized ecosystem that combines security, automation, and convenience, turning your home into a hub of smart living. So, what’s the buzz all about? U home wants to be the go-to platform for anyone who wants a hassle-free and powerful tool to amp up their home security and automation. U-tec U home offers a straightforward way to build your personalized smart home suite.
Arlo‘s home security offerings are favorites with a number of Gear Diary staffers. In today’s world, you can’t be too safe, and thanks to Arlo, you can secure your home and keep an eye on it when away without breaking the bank; they even offer a panic button so you can call for help if you need it!
The new Eufy SoloCam S340 with dual cameras provides 3K resolution, giving you peace of mind knowing that your home is secure, especially with its 360° coverage. Solar-powered, it’ll run forever without needing to charge the battery manually, and with local storage, there are no monthly fees! The Eufy Homebase S360 (HomeBase 3) adds features like AI functionality, increased video storage, and the ability to expand storage even more via a built-in SATA port for SSD hard drives.
Arlo manufactures home security products, including a line of cameras and the Arlo Home Security System, a clever and thoughtfully designed security hub with related sensors. The version of the system tested here ships with a keypad security hub and two sensors. There is also a kit with five sensors instead of two, and also includes a yard sign.
Nanoleaf is a technology and Internet of Things-focused company that, since 2012, has offered a line of modern smart home products, including several series of light panels. Their system of smart light panels is available as triangles, mini triangles, and hexagons. Occasionally, the company offers limited editions of these products, as is the case with the Nanoleaf Ultra Black Shapes, which are available in Hexagon and Triangle Smarter Kits.
Yale Home has just added a couple of cool additions to their smart lock lineup – the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch and Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus. They’ll make your home security smarter without making it complicated.