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Smart Home Features

wireless charging over distance barriers energous feat

When will your phone charge wirelessly in your pocket? We asked an expert

The idea that our smartphones might charge in our pockets, or smartwatches might charge up on our wrists, is appealing, but how close are we to a world without wires? True wireless charging is creeping closer, but there still some big barriers to overcome. We spoke to experts at Energous and Ossia to find out more.
James Briscione

Flavor Matrix cookbook proves peanut butter avocado toast is the neo brunch

The Food Matrix is a new cookbook from James Briscione. While it has some recipes, its main focus is aroma wheels that make it easy to pair new and unusual foods together based on shared compounds.
honeywell lyric leak and water freeze detector

Flood-proof your home with Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Leak/Water Freeze Detector

At $80, the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Leak and Water Freeze Detector is a simple and smart early-warning system for homes susceptible to floods. Setting it and forgetting it could someday save your life.

iRobot wants its Roombas to be the eyes and roving sensors of your smart home

Because of the way iRobot's Roombas map users homes, it has the potential to make smart homes much more connected.
robot-lawnmowers-are-making-their-way-onto-american-grass

Watch your lawn mower cut your grass – while you sit on your front porch sipping a beer

Swedish company Husqvarna Group is marketing its line of six Automowers in the United States for the first time. These robots will connect to the smart home via voice hubs like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Future capabilities could include outdoor Wi-Fi, garden maintenance and security features in the future.
Plated Table

Plated plans to take meal kits from your doorstep to the grocery store

Plated co-founder and CEO Josh Hix told Digital Trends, "We’ve thought from day one that meal kits would need to be omni-channel."
homelessness vertical space alternative solutions homeless pods

Architects around the globe are exploring “vertical land” to solve homelessness

Architects around the globe are turning to a new concept described as "vertical space," stacking small podlike dwellings vertically on existing buildings, as a way to ease homelessness.
Streem AR dishwasher arrow

Carpenters, plumbers, and other pros can ‘beam’ into your home with Streem

The Streem augmented reality app allows home professionals to take a virtual tour of your home, eliminating the long wait for a pro to show up in person.
diy nfc coasters weekend workshop coaster wifi feature

How to make coasters that connect guests to your Wi-Fi with a single tap

Tired of reciting your Wi-Fi password every time your houseguests want to connect to your network? We've got a solution for you: NFC drink coasters that will automatically grant guests access to your Wi-Fi when they tap their phone on them
LG V30 camera sample mansion courtyard

Wondering how far a million dollars goes in real estate? Here’s your answer

Homes.com has uncovered a series of the most common trends in luxury homes sales in 2017, with details about prices and features.
All-Clad Prep & Cook

The Bellini Kitchen Master vs. the Thermomix vs. the All-Clad Prep and Cook

We compare three multi-cookers, the Thermomix, All-Clad Prep & Cook, and Bellini Kitchen Master, to see which deserves a spot on your kitchen counter.
Amazon Echo Show Youtube App

As Amazon and Google keep bickering, consumers are the ones who lose

Google and Amazon are in a smart home war over YouTube and Nest. Would you two stop it already! It’s making me crazy.
amazon echo goofs feature

Hey, I didn’t order this dollhouse! 6 hilarious Alexa mishaps

Amazon Alexa is a great shopping assistant. But when a child, the family parrot, or even Cartman from South Park does the ordering, strange things can arrive at your doorstep.
diy magnetic bottle opener weekend workshop feature

Build a bottle opener that uses magnet magic to catch your caps

You can never have enough bottle openers. In this article, we'll show you how to build one that not only looks good on your wall, but also collects all the beer caps with a powerful rare-earth magnet that's hidden in the back. Check it out!
Close-up of Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos on stage

Why Ring’s porch-protecting cameras made it a no-brainer acquisition for Amazon

Amazon’s buying Ring makes a whole lot of sense. After all, Amazon delivers packages, and Ring protects them.
Weekend Workshop Bench

This Japanese-style bench is easy to build and supports butts of all sizes

Despite the fact that it only requires three cedar boards and is ridiculously easy to build, this pagoda-style Japanese garden bench is an absolute stunner
SNGLRTY watch

Buying furniture online is a gamble. The Mine wants to use AR to improve the experience

The Mine makes 3D images of its high-end furniture so you can use AR to place it in your living room via its iOS app Envisioned.
diy pallet wood beer carrier weekend workshop caddy

Sling your suds in style with this DIY beer caddy made from a pallet

If you have access to a bunch of old wood pallets and are looking for a simple but useful project to put them to use, we highly recommend this rustic, reusable beer carrier.
amazon echo vs apple homepod

6 reasons you should buy an Amazon Echo over an Apple HomePod

If you’re trying to choose between the Amazon Echo and the Apple HomePod, you might find that the versatility of the Echo makes it the better choice. Here’s why.
diy box table how to make a shaped end without using clamps  feature

Forget clamps. You can make this stylish box table with some glue and tape

Don't have a garage full of tools? Don't worry -- with this super clever trick, you'll be able to build a gorgeous mid-century end table using little more than a saw, some glue, and a roll of packing tape.
what to expect kitchen bath industry show kbis 2019 tovala

After a long wait, the Tovala oven is here for modern cooking convenience

A high-end conventional oven called Tovala uses industry standard technology to cook food while offering a healthy meal subscription service.
enseo tv closeup

With smart TVs and devices, Enseo wants hotels to feel like a home away from home

Enseo puts Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services on hotel TVs, and it also incorporates your preferences into smart devices to mimic your home.
WSU blood pressure header

WSU’s system monitors seniors’ activities to help them live independently longer

Washington State University researchers are developing technology that gathers data on seniors’ movements in order to help them remain independent longer.
ember smart mug lifestyle5

Are smart mugs worth the cost? We tried 3 options to find out

We tried three smart mugs -- from Ember, Yecup, and Ozmo -- to evaluate whether or not more intelligent cups are worth the cost.
soraa healthy radiant violet leds news lighting 03

Soraa’s Healthy violet LEDs want to help you sleep better

Trouble sleeping? Blue light emitted from LED bulbs may be the culprit. Soraa's solution is a bulb that uses violet LEDs to replace blue light -- protecting your health while also looking incredibly natural.
smart home thanksgiving google home

Smart home tech is booming, but we’re far from the age of The Jetsons

Jane Jetson pushed buttons to make meals and mop floors, while Rosie the Robot did the dusting and sweeping. We aren’t there yet, but smart home technology is already automating many of our household chores.
Suvie counter top

Put dinner on autopilot with Suvie, a robocooker that juggles 4 foods at once

The Suvie Kitchen Robot keeps protein and vegetables cold like a fridge then steams or sous vides them automatically, based on when you want to eat dinner.
Amazon Go

Shopping at Amazon’s Go stores feels like a heist. And we love it

The Amazon Go cashier-free grocery store is now open to the public, so we went shopping.
wi fiber surveillance ces2018 lamp3

Wi-Fiber is creating safer cities by combining wireless tech, smart streetlights

An emerging networking and technology company, Wi-Fiber is building mesh-enabled Wi-Fi networks and smart streetlights to help smart cities.
best personal sous chef devices drop scale

At CES and KBIS, connected smart appliances begin to deliver a smarter kitchen

At CES 2018, guided cooking with smart appliances and recipes apps was a big trend, with several manufacturers announcing partnerships.
smart home trends ge kitchen hub

It’s not just more of Alexa! All the big smart home trends from CES 2018

From connected appliances to voice-assistant technology, here are some smart home trends we tracked at CES.
google home mini vs amazon echo dot google close

Nearly half of Americans plan to purchase a smart speaker this year

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) took a poll that found 44 percent of all Americans intend to purchase a smart speaker this year.
August Smart Lock Pro review

From cameras to locks, smart home security is the name of the game at CES

More and more companies are debuting smart home security devices such as cameras, doorbells, locks, motion detectors, and more.
top tech stories 01 06 2017 ces screen 0002

It’s almost here! Here’s the best of what’s coming at CES 2018

From wireless power to electric cars and the rise of China, these are the trends you’ll see dominate CES 2018, and the tech world in the year to come.