Skip to main content

Birdi is a smart smoke detector and much, much more

Nest might have the smart thermostat market cornered, but when it comes to smart smoke detectors, it might have some competition on it’s hands in the very near future. 

Birdi is a new device that’s currently seeking funding on IndieGoGo, and it’s more than just a smoke detector – it’s a full-on air monitoring system. In addition to housing the sensors necessary to detect things like smoke and carbon monoxide, Birdie includes a slew of other sensor types that enable it to monitor an array of environmental factors.

Recommended Videos

Underneath its slick, minimalist exterior, Birdi boasts a photoelectric smoke detector, electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor, a particle detector for stuff like pollen and dust, a thermometer, humidity sensor, CO2 sensor, and a Wi-Fi transceiver. Its like the Swiss Army knife of smart devices.

Armed with this arsenal of sensor tech and a cloud-based brain, Birdi can give you well-informed suggestions on how to improve the air quality in your home. For example, lets say the atmosphere in your house is extremely dry. Birdi can help prevent respiratory tract infections, ease cold symptoms, or simply help you avoid dry skin and itchy eyes by sending you a message advising you to raise the level of indoor humidity.

If there’s ever an emergency like a fire or a gas leak, it’ll set off lights and sirens and send off text alerts to everyone in the house. And because it’s also connected to the Web, Birdi can even give you alerts on potential dangers happening outside your home. If there’s a natural disaster making its way toward you like a hurricane, tornado, flood, or earthquake, Birdi will shoot you an alert well in advance. It’s not just about smoke anymore.

Built by a team of engineers and designers based in New York, Birdi was initially called Canary, but was later re-branded and redesigned, presumably because the name Canary is already taken by a smart home security system that was announced earlier this year. 

You can get your hands on a Birdi for just $99 bucks if you back the project now. Head over to IndieGoGo for more details.

Topics
Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Best tech for new grads: From dorm to office
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in silver.

Graduation season is just around the corner, which means it's about time that you start thinking about the gifts you're going to get for new graduates. Some students will head into college and move into dorms, while some students are leaving that chapter behind and will instead find their way into an office. With those in mind, we've rounded up this list of offers featuring discounts for some of the best tech for new grads.

Anker 332 USB-C Hub -- $25 $35 29% off

Read more
Earth Day with Reolink: Protecting nature, one camera at a time
earth day with reolink protecting nature one camera at a time hero crop

This Earth Day, Reolink is celebrating the incredible intersection of technology and conservation. With help from environmentally conscious users and dedicated NGO partners, Reolink is proving that small actions, powered by smart outdoor technology, can lead to a big impact for our planet's wildlife and natural landscapes.
Smarter, Greener Outdoor Monitoring
Reolink's lineup of outdoor cameras, including the Go PT Ultra, Go Ranger PT, and TrackMix LTE, do more than safeguard homes. They empower nature lovers to connect with the wild while treading lightly on the environment.

Each camera is engineered for sustainability and performance. Solar power compatibility keeps them running without contributing to battery waste. Their rugged, waterproof designs ensure they survive the toughest outdoor elements. And with stunning 4K 8MP ultra-clear footage, they capture the beauty of wildlife — from the shimmer of a bird's wings to the subtle prowling of a fox at dusk — without disturbing natural behavior.

Read more
Roku expands smart home lineup with two upcoming security cameras
The Roku Battery Camera on a tree

Roku might be known for its streaming sticks and smart TVs, but the brand also has a strong presence in the smart home market. From video doorbells and smart lights to plugs and motion sensors, Roku’s smart home catalog is surprisingly robust. The catalog is set to expand in the coming months, as Roku has officially revealed two upcoming security cameras -- the Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus.

The Roku Battery Camera Plus is the most enticing of the two, as it can get up to two years of battery life on a single charge (the Battery Camera gets up to six months). They can also be combined with an optional solar panel to extend their battery life. Beyond that, most specs are shared -- including 1080p resolutions, color night vision, and the option to receive motion alerts when activity is detected around your home.

Read more