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Save your home (and the planet) with Roost’s Smart Water and Freeze Detector

Leo Watson
Former Content Specialist
Educated at the University of Oregon, Leo is a Content Manager for Digital Trends. When not tweaking the dials in Photoshop…
These buttons and dials offer a unique way to access your smart home
The Flic Smart Button on a table.

One of the major pain points of the modern smart home is its digital nature. Whether it’s controlling your smart lights, robot vacuum, smart lock, or thermostat, there’s a good chance you’re using a smartphone for most of your interactions. That makes it less than ideal for other members of the household -- or even guests -- to make changes to your setup. This is where Flic comes into play, as the company offers a lineup of physical buttons and dials so everyone can use your favorite smart devices without the need for a digital interface.

I’ve been testing out both the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist, and while they lack certain functionalities, they’re bound to be a fun addition to most smart homes. That’s especially true if you use Alexa or HomeKit, as both platforms work with the innovative smart buttons.
The Flic app makes setup a breeze

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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.

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This tiny smart puck can control your smart home without the need for mobile apps
The Linxura with four buttons on the screen.

My home is overrun with smart gadgets, and the main way I interact with them is through my smartphone. This is usually a robust way to control my gadgets, as my phone is never far from my side -- whether I need to toggle my smart lights, adjust my air purifier, or change the thermostat, my smartphone lets me tackle most of these tasks in a matter of seconds. However, having a physical button to perform these actions would certainly be preferred. Instead of diving into apps and wading through menus and automations, a physical controller would perform actions at the press of a button, much like a remote works for a TV.

That’s the idea behind the Linxura Smart Controller -- a disc-shaped object that lets you perform a long list of actions at the press of a button. After syncing it with your smart devices, you’ll no longer need your companion mobile apps. Just tap or double-tap its outer ring, and you can toggle hundreds of different products. I’ve been testing it out in my home, and while I think it’s a fun device, it falls short in a few areas. But if you’re craving a physical remote for your smart home, there’s good reason to take a closer look at the innovative gadget.
Simple, but tedious setup

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