Skip to main content

Cox joins the smart home security game with Cox Homelife Automation

Even your television provider is looking for ways to make your home smarter. This week, Cox Communications introduced a new service offering in the form of home automation. Meet Cox Homelife Automation, heralded as a new choice for customers “who want peace of mind to stay connected to loved ones and control their home, but don’t feel the need for 24/7 monitored security.”

Homelife Automation offers a number of features that are, admittedly, available via several other smart home providers as well. But still, if you’re looking for a one-stop solution for your smart home with a company you are probably already in cahoots with, this is not a bad option. The service provides options like an Indoor and Outdoor Homelife HD camera, which boasts secure live camera viewing and free motion-activated recordings; custom alerts and notifications sent directly to your phone so that you know when your child arrives home from school or when a petsitter leaves the premises; control of lights, smart door locks, and thermostats from the palm of your hand; and professional  installation and educational onboarding supported by a team of local
technicians.

“We see two markets forming, a well-established and growing home security market and an emerging market who aspires to smart home living but who may not want 24/7 monitored security. Offering more choices in the Cox Homelife portfolio enables us to expand our reach beyond the homes that are buying home security today and establishes an umbrella for future expansion into every home,” Kristine Faulkner, senior vice president of Cox Homelife, said in a statement. “The idea of a smart home can be daunting. Consumers want the ease of a professional installation, education about how to integrate and use smart home devices for worry-free living, and ongoing support they don’t get with other one-off products.”

Cox previously tested its home automation services in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last year, as well as in San Diego and Rhode Island. Citing “growing consumer interest” across the country, the company is now bringing these services throughout the United States and will be rolling out to all markets where the company has a presence over the next several months.

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Google rolls out new Nest Cam features to Google Home for web
Nest Cams on a counter.

While many users access Google Home on their smartphone or smart display, the platform is also available via web browser. The web-based Google Home experience wasn't exactly the best way to access your smart devices, but that's rapidly changing as Google rolls out new updates to the client -- the latest of which adds a ton of new ways to access your Nest Cams.

Google began rolling out the update late last week, and most users should now have access to the improved Google Home for web experience. The big draw is access to your Nest Cam history and the option to download clips. Prior to this update, it was impossible to view recorded clips via Google Home for web, forcing you to instead jump into the official Google Home app.

Read more
Blink Mini 2 vs. Blink Mini: Is Amazon’s new security camera a worthy upgrade?
The Blink Mini 2 installed outside.

Amazon recently introduced the Blink Mini 2, the successor to the wildly popular Blink Mini indoor security camera. The smart home device adds a few new tricks, including support for outdoor use and Person Detection, making it a nice improvement over the aging Blink Mini. But what exactly is the difference between the Blink Mini 2 and Blink Mini? And, more importantly, is it worth rushing out to replace your Blink Mini with the newer security camera?

From resolution and pricing to Person Detection and more, here's a look at everything you need to know about the Blink Mini and Blink Mini 2.
Pricing and monthly fees

Read more
Echo Hub vs. Echo Show 15: Which is the best smart home gadget?
Amazon Fire TV on Echo Show 15.

The Echo Hub might look like a smart display, but it actually falls into a category of smart home products known as smart control panels. Unlike smart displays, which are jack-of-all-trades entertainment hubs, control panels are designed to give you enhanced control over the rest of your smart home. That's an important distinction, and it's one of the main differences between the Echo Hub and Echo Show 15.

But is the Echo Hub or Echo Show 15 better for your smart home? Here's everything you need to know before making a purchase.
Pricing and design

Read more