16 of the coolest smart home devices from 2014

By Jenny McGrath December 29, 2014

This year almost seems like a watershed moment for smart home devices. A deluge of new appliances, hubs, and apps aimed at making our houses more connected came into the marketplace, and even more popped up on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Some were designed to keep us safe, like smart smoke alarms and outlets, while others were just fun, like the smart photo frame. In fact, there was so much neat stuff this year, we had a hard time narrowing down what give as gifts this holiday season; it seriously helped that not all the devices on this list are actually available yet. It just means 2015 is going to be even more smart-device-laden than 2014.

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Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…

Smart Home

This Wi-Fi robot vacuum is discounted from $199 to $79

The iHome AutoVac Juno robot vacuum cleaning the floor.

Robot vacuum deals are consistently getting cheaper it seems, with it now possible to buy a robot vacuum for just $79. That’s the case at Walmart with the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum down to $79 for a limited time. It usually costs $199 so you’re saving a huge $120 off the regular price making now the perfect time to upgrade to all the convenience that comes from having a robot vacuum. Keen to learn more? Let’s take a look.

Why you should buy the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum
You won’t see iHome feature in our look at the best robot vacuums but that’s not to say that there aren’t benefits to buying such a cheap robot vacuum today. With the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum, you get up to 2,000pa of strong suction power with up to 100 minutes of runtime ensuring that plenty can be accomplished.

Smart Home

Blink sale: Up to 42% off home security cameras and video doorbells

blink mini indoor camera white set in a living room blurred in the background

To make sure that your family is safe at all times, you should think about investing in video doorbells and security camera deals. If you're thinking about buying them right now, you're in luck because Amazon just launched a sale for discounts of up to 42% on various Blink devices. As one of the most trusted names in the home security space with their compatibility with Amazon's Alexa, we don't think stocks will last long for these offers, so it's highly recommended that you choose what to purchase and proceed with the transaction as soon as possible in order to pocket the savings.

What to buy in Amazon's Blink sale

Smart Home

Amazon’s Echo Pop smart speaker is 43% off, and it’s not even Prime Day

The Echo Pop sitting on a countertop.

Usually we see the best Amazon Echo deals around Prime Day or other Amazon sales events. However, today, you can buy an Amazon Echo Pop for a super low price of $23. It normally costs $40 which is already pretty reasonable so being able to snag one for just $23 is pretty great. A useful addition to any room in your home, let’s take a look at what to expect.

Why you should buy the Amazon Echo Pop
One of the best smart speakers around when it comes to value and functionality, the Amazon Echo Pop is a great little addition to your home. Available in different colors to suit the aesthetic of your home, the compact smart speaker offers full sound that’s particularly well suited for bedrooms and small spaces. It’s small enough to blend in while still being pretty loud.