SMART HOME Posts on XDA

The best smart plugs to buy for Google Assistant and Google Home in 2022

The best smart plugs to buy for Google Assistant and Google Home in 2022

September 17, 2022
There are a number of reasons to invest in smart plugs. Not only are they an easy way to connect 'dumb' appliances to your smart home setup, but they can also help you save money on your energy bills. The ability to set routines to turn things off and on as you require is extremely...
How to use the intercom on Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini

How to use the intercom on Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini

September 11, 2022
One of the great, yet often overlooked features of the best smart speakers around is the ability to use them as an intercom. Assuming you have multiple speakers dotted around the house, it's an effective way of communicating without yelling at the top of your voice or calling up someone's phone. Having an intercom is...
How to customize your Amazon Echo Alexa flash briefing

How to customize your Amazon Echo Alexa flash briefing

September 10, 2022
One of the many fun things you can do with an Amazon Echo is to create a morning routine that includes a flash briefing. This flash briefing is designed to serve you up just the news you want to hear without needing to scroll around on your phone. Since it is audio-only, you can listen...
These are the Best Google Assistant Speakers you can buy in 2022

These are the Best Google Assistant Speakers you can buy in 2022

August 27, 2022
When it comes to today's best smart speakers there is really only a choice of two voice assistants. In one corner you have Amazon Alexa, and in the other, you have Google Assistant. While very similar in many regards, Google Assistant has one key advantage when it comes to implanting itself into your daily routine. If...
Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Review: The best smart speaker to put at the side of your bed

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Review: The best smart speaker to put at the side of your bed

August 7, 2022
In a world where a smartphone is charging on every nightstand, the humble alarm clock is a bit of an antique. Or is it? Lenovo certainly doesn't think so with its now second attempt at a smart clock that's part smart speaker. The first one, the Smart Clock Essential, came with Google Assistant. The sequel...
Amazon’s latest acquisition adds the Roomba to its hardware portfolio

Amazon’s latest acquisition adds the Roomba to its hardware portfolio

August 5, 2022
Amazon's continued quest for world domination has taken another step forward with the company announcing the acquisition of another hardware brand. Amazon, owners of smart home brands such as Eero, Blink, and Ring is adding iRobot to that list. If you don't know that name, you're perhaps more familiar with the company's iconic Roomba. In announcing...
SwitchBot Smart Home Controls Review: Your smart home starter pack

SwitchBot Smart Home Controls Review: Your smart home starter pack

July 30, 2022
SwitchBot offers a range of products to introduce smart components into your home. From automated curtain openers to hands-off light operation and security devices, the SwitchBot range could ease your journey into smart home products I live in a dumb home. Built one hundred years ago with solid brick interior walls, it is not receptive to...
New Eve Motion gets a light sensor and is ready for Matter

New Eve Motion gets a light sensor and is ready for Matter

July 21, 2022
Eve, formerly part of Elgato, has a brand new motion sensor available from today. The Eve Motion costs just $40, doesn't require recharging, has some nifty new features, and, most of all, is ready for the future. Perhaps the most important part of the Eve Motion is Thread support. This is going to be an integral...
Roborock’s Prime Day discounts on robot vacuums have never been this big before

Roborock’s Prime Day discounts on robot vacuums have never been this big before

July 12, 2022
Doing the vacuuming yourself is so last decade, the new best way to keep the house clean is with a robot vacuum. What a coincidence then that Prime Day is happening right now and that there are some stellar deals on robot vacuums. Of those, Roborock is a brand worthy of your attention and it...
A $13 Amazon Smart Plug for Prime Day is a great way to make your home a little smarter

A $13 Amazon Smart Plug for Prime Day is a great way to make your home a little smarter

July 10, 2022
While shiny connected smart home tech is a lot of fun, it's a lot of work to replace everything in your home. As such, ways to make "dumb" hardware around the home a little smarter is always welcome, and that's what you get from the Amazon Smart Plug. Whatever the hardware, if it requires electricity,...
Do you need a Sync Module 2 with the Blink Video Doorbell?

Do you need a Sync Module 2 with the Blink Video Doorbell?

July 8, 2022
Ring isn't the only smart camera and doorbell brand under Amazon's ever-growing umbrella. The giant also has Blink, which is a more budget-friendly alternative to Ring in most ways. The brand offers similar products, including a video doorbell, but at a lower price and without the necessity of a subscription plan to get the most...
Is the Amazon Echo Sub waterproof? Does it have an IP rating?

Is the Amazon Echo Sub waterproof? Does it have an IP rating?

July 4, 2022
The Echo Sub is Amazon's $130 subwoofer that you can pair with one or two Echo speakers to add powerful bass that the speakers themselves can't produce on their own. The Echo Sub doesn't have a long list of features to write home about mainly because it's just a companion product to enhance your audio...