Image used with permission by copyright holderIf you have a connected home featuring tons of smart devices, you probably also have a platform like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings to help you control all the units from one location. Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, has come up with a platform called Project Things that claims to let you control all those smart home devices from the web, by utilizing a Raspberry Pi to set up the network. Mozilla believes this self-created platform will give users more control and customization, so people don’t have to be tied to any one preset platform, such as the Amazon Echo.
With Project Things, users can build a gateway connecting their smart home products directly to the internet, with each unit then receiving its own URL. Users can then control these products using the web interface or via voice controls, although the latter is still in the experimental stage. Project Things lets you set up If This Then That commands to determine how your devices should interact, and you can even upload floor plans that show where the devices are located in your home.
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As of now, Project Things only supports a small selection of smart home devices. A recent release just added the ability to support light dimmers and smart plugs, and Mozilla anticipates more add-ons to come in future releases.
Project Things is still considered a work in progress. “Please note that this is experimental pre-release software and at this prototype stage is not ready for production use. It is intended as an early preview for hackers, makers, and web developers to get their hands on with the Web of Things,” writes the company on its website.
If you’re interested in getting started with Project Things, Mozilla has guidelines on how to set up a network with the help of Raspberry Pi 3, which has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support capabilities. Not familiar with Raspberry Pi? Another developer board such as an Arduino can suffice, and according to Mozilla, users also have the option to use a laptop or desktop computer. However, the company notes that Raspberry Pi 3 will “currently provide the best experience.
Amazon's first smart control panel, the Echo Hub, is officially here. It's not without a few quirks, but it offers a great way to access all your smart home gadgets in one unified location. Thousands of products can be connected to the panel, and with full Matter support, it's a relatively future-proofed device. If you're looking to get the most out of your new control panel, here's a look at the six best Echo Hub tips and tricks to optimize its performance.
Customize your Echo Hub home screen before you do anything else
There are tons of ways to modify your Echo Hub home screen. After syncing all your smart home devices, you can create a variety of tiles for the home screen that give you quick access to all your features. Take some time to create widgets, shortcuts, and other tiles for your most-used devices and actions, as it'll streamline your smart home and save you the hassle of digging through menus.
Check out all the privacy settings
Like all things Alexa, there are plenty of privacy settings for you to tinker with on the Echo Hub. While the control panel benefits from a microphone button and the option to delete voice recordings, you can also dig into other Alexa settings to ensure your privacy is respected.
Launch Routines directly from the Echo Hub
Echo Hub vs. Echo Show 8: Which is the best option for your smart home?
The Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) are two of the newest products to join the Amazon catalog. Both are designed with large touchscreens and make it easy to access the Alexa voice assistant, connected smart gadgets, and your favorite apps. But while the two share a few similarities, there are big differences between the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8.
Here's a closer look at the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
Pricing and design
Amazon already has a robust lineup of smart displays, but the new Echo Hub is something entirely different. While it looks a bit like an Echo Show, the Echo Hub isn't a smart display -- it's a smart home hub designed to be mounted directly on your wall.
Unlike the Echo and Echo Show products, the Echo Hub isn’t a tabletop device. In fact, you'll need to pay extra for an optional stand just so you can place it on your table or countertop. That's because the Echo Hub is a smart control panel, not a smart speaker or smart display. Amazon bills the Echo Hub as "an Alexa-enabled control panel for your smart home devices." After getting it mounted to your wall, it'll sync up with the rest of your smart home and make it easy to control your various gadgets via its touchscreen.
