Skip to main content

How to program your smart hub to scare the pants off of you

Halloween is just around the corner. Smart devices are getting more compatible than ever now that the Matter standard is rolling out, and there are new releases for everything from the latest Nest video doorbell to the new Echo Dot 5th-gen smart speaker. That makes it a great time to celebrate the season with a few spooky additions to your home.

Your smart hubs now have more options than ever, and we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you get started with your scares — whether you want some mild spooks for the kids or plan to make your friends furiously terrified. Let’s get started!

Recommended Videos

Set your porch up for a maximum scare

Georgina Campbell stands on a front porch at night in Barbarian.
20th Century Studios, 2022

With the right devices like smart lights, smart plugs, and video doorbells, you can turn your porch into a fright show for whoever may stop by. There’s so much you can do, we have a full guide on setting up your porch for Halloween, but here are a few highlights:

  • Set your doorbell to a spooky sound. Google in particular launches a Halloween-themed assortment of noises for its Nest chimes every year, including things like witch cackles and woof howls.
  • Set your porch lights to turn a spooky color. Extra points if you set your smart lights up with a motion sensor, like those on security cams or video doorbells, to turn spooky colors when someone approaches or to sync with Halloween tunes that are playing on a smart speaker.
  • You can use two-audio communication, like that found on video doorbells and security cams, to simulate a spooky greeting or really get into roleplaying.
  • Hide portable Bluetooth speakers in the bushes. You can play noises or scary music on demand from wherever you choose, and the batteries last for hours without needing a recharge. You could even get a battery mount for something like an Echo Dot and put it inside a jack-o’lantern so you can speak out of it for a terrifying effect.
  • Smart plugs and other devices allow you to add smoke machines, speakers, and other devices that you can control with a simple command.

Find a spooky movie to stream

The Night House movie scene.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Voice assistants are usually great at keeping tabs on what movies are currently streaming, so if you want something scary to watch (alone or with friends), don’t hesitate to ask. For example, if you ask Alexa, “What scary movies are streaming?” she will provide a list of the latest options from not only Amazon but a variety of services — everything from the new Hocus Pocus to the Dahmer series on Netflix. Or, if you have an HBO Max subscription, you could use a smart display to visit the House of Halloween page: Pick a tarot card, and HBO will recommend its scariest offerings based on what you choose!

Set a Halloween routine

Echo dot in the dark.
via Reddit/u/Razor512

Your porch isn’t the only place for a Halloween scare. To get some jumps from your friends and loved ones, set a routine on your smart hub so you can give a command like, “Alexa, get scary,” (or Google’s, “Hey Google, haunt my house,” which is a more automated option), and your whole house will get in on the action.

The only limit is what you want your compatible smart devices to do: Indoor smart lights can turn spooky red, and smart speakers can be set to play Halloween sounds or creepy tunes (you can look these up on things like Alexa Skills). If you have smart blinds, you can raise them to suddenly open or close, while smart plugs can turn on and off things like lamps or small appliances. You could even send a Roomba skittering across the floor or make pet appliances shoot out treats! Look at how to create Routines for more information.

Play a Halloween game

Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen on table.
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Smart hubs always have a few interactive games to play, and some of them are much more spine-tingling than others, making them a perfect fit for the season. Alexa has options like Haunted Adventure, while Google Assistant supports games such as the RPG Castle Blackhorn. Just tell the voice assistant to start playing games like these by name. Add in a smart display option like an Echo Show or Nest Hub, and your game options will expand thanks to the touchscreen!

Or hear a sinister story instead

Amazon Echo 4th Gen smart speaker on a table.
Amazon

If a game isn’t quite for you, smart hubs with voice assistants have a stockpile of stories to tell. A variety of voice commands work with this feature, but we’ve found that telling Alexa or Google something like, “Tell me a scary story,” or “Play a spooky story,” will yield great results. You may want to experiment a bit beforehand to find out how kid-friendly the story selections are, but generally, voice assistants are careful to keep things family-friendly unless very, very specifically ordered otherwise.

Use a portable projector for wicked results

The Anker NEBULA Capsule.
Anker

Did you know that there are portable, battery-powered projectors you can connect to your phone that use screen mirroring to stream images, video clips, movies, and more? Some of the best examples include the Buy at Newegg . Set these up with the right connections and a bit of camouflage, and you have the ability to pop up a sudden ghostly image in all sorts of places, from the side of your house to the end of a dark hallway. Most come with Bluetooth speakers that can add sudden audio, too.

You can use these ideas to create jumpscares or to beam an old scary movie on your exterior siding or doorway — well, you probably already have some imaginative ideas. Of course, a portable projector is an expensive pick, but you can always use it off-season to watch movies in the backyard with kids or for other fun tricks.

Tyler Lacoma
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Should you invest in a smart home gym or stick with a gym membership?
Tonal Fitness Smart Mirror

Home gyms have come a long way over the past few years. Instead of a simple workout bench and some weights, you’ll now find smart home gyms that can provide custom workouts tailored to your needs. They can also track your stats, provide advice, showcase lessons, and even sync you with a larger community of users working with the same gear. However, many smart home gyms also require a subscription -- which can range from $15 to $50, making them an expensive proposition.

So, should you invest in a smart home gym or stick with a traditional gym membership? That’s not an easy question to answer, and the truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some folks might benefit from the ease of access offered by a smart home gym, while others might enjoy the motivation and socialization provided by a traditional gym.

Read more
This smart display alternative can now use AI to plan all your meals
The Skylight Cal Max installed on a wall.

Skylight is a smart home company that produces a variety of smart display alternatives, such as the Skylight Cal Max. These serve as a central hub for all your daily planning -- they’re primarily used as a digital calendar, but you can also use them to track chores, make lists, or meal prep. That last aspect just became much more exciting, as Skylight is officially introducing Sidekick, an AI-powered assistant that can plan all your meals in just a few minutes.

Sidekick is a new AI feature for Skylight devices. It’s capable of generating personalized recipes based on your budget, family size, and dietary restrictions, and it’ll even create a shopping list and load up step-by-step cooking instructions. Skylight hopes the new feature will save families 10 hours every month, as they’ll no longer need to worry about the logistics surrounding meal prep.

Read more
Echo Show 21 vs. Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen): which is best for your smart home?
Amazon's new Echo Show 21 and updated Echo Show 15.

Amazon just released two new smart displays -- the completely new Echo Show 21 and the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen). Both are premium options for your home, offering powerful speakers, Full HD displays, and heaps of useful apps so you can stream videos or check your schedule. But which is the better option? The gigantic Echo Show 21, or the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)? Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and design

The Echo Show 21 is the biggest member of the Echo Show family, and it’s got the price tag to prove it. Clocking in at $400, it’s a hefty investment. Its design is pretty premium, however, and it can be either mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an adjustable stand (sold separately). The Echo Show 15 looks much the same, though it’s quite a bit smaller. But from a design standpoint, it’s essentially a shrunken version of the Echo Show 21. It too can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an optional adjustable stand. But at $300, it’s much easier on the wallet.

Read more