Smart Homes

Times are stressful, but there are surprising things you can do to unplug and recharge. For example, you can go for a walk every day or relax in front of a crackling campfire. You don’t have to hike in the woods to enjoy this cozy orange glow. You also don’t need to build a permanent fire pit out of heavy materials like stone …

Chris Monroe / Tips Clear Amazon Echo ($ 40 on Amazon) Smart speakers and displays can be useful nerve centers for your home – connect your smart devices and orchestrate them with simple sentences. But get Alexa to work with you Wireless Internet access, Bluetooth and other networks can be problematic – especially when it comes to that Decoding of …

Hi everyone, a quick note on promo codes: in the past few weeks, a handful of really sexy deals (phone stand, sports earbuds, survival kit) seemed to be gone within minutes of my posting. This can happen for a number of reasons, but trust me when I say I understand how frustrating it is. I will redouble my efforts with …

The continuing coronavirus pandemic has kept many of us working from home, and in a lot of cases, that means pushing your home’s Wi-Fi network to the limit. And, if you’ve tried to set up a home office that’s a little too far from your router, you’ve probably learned the hard way that dead zones can be a real pain. Fortunately, a good Wi-Fi …

Now you can ask Samuel L. Jackson a question directly without even having to say “Alexa”. Tyler Lizenby / Tips Clear Amazon updated its on Wednesday Samuel L. Jackson Alexa ability with a custom wake-up word – “Hey, Samuel.” The ability, which was first introduced to download in late 2019 and costs 99 cents, answers your questions about weather and …

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images For the latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website. The Coronavirus pandemic Businesses and homeowners alike are looking for something that can make common spaces feel safer and more hygienic. Some consumers and product manufacturers are therefore turning to ultraviolet or UV light as a possible …

Home improvement company are not like that ADTs and Vivints of the world. Rather than signing up for a multi-year contract with a broad monthly coverage fee, most DIY security systems give you the flexibility to decide how and when to monitor your home. That usually means that you can optionally sign up for a professional surveillance service and cancel …

Once you’ve set it up, it’s easy to make calls using Google Home. Josh Miller / Tips Clear Your Google home page ($ 130 at QVC) Smart speaker is possibly the best speakerphone you didn’t even know you had. It’s great to use Google Home to gather the whole family for a call with other family members and friends, and …

Big brands like Amazon, Google, Philips Hue and Arlo are famous for their smart home innovations, but hundreds of smaller competitors are pushing boundaries as well. In fact, when big brands focus on general issues, many smaller brands deal with more focused topics, which makes them a better fit if you can find the right one. If you’re more into …

Burglars often steal your sense of security as well as your treasured possessions. One of the most stressful days of the past year for me was after someone broke into my car: spending hours calling banks and law enforcement, and days after looking out the window and checking my door locks after dark. Security is priceless and has long benefited …