The Google Home Hub doesn’t have a camera. Here’s why that’s a good thing
Surprisingly, Google's new Home Hub smart display doesn't have a camera, and that's a good thing. In an age of tech dominated by lots of bells and whistles, we're impressed that Google listened to people's concerns about privacy. How important is video calling on a smart display anyway?
Lenovo Smart Display review
Lenovo has partnered with Google Assistant on the Lenovo Smart Display, a smart speaker with a screen. Available in two different sizes and with crystal clear display, you might wonder how you ever got along without a screen-less smart speaker in the first place.
From sharks to Shaq: Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff’s unusual road to success
In 2013, CEO and founder of Ring security Jamie Siminoff walked away with nothing after pitching his video doorbell on the show Shark Tank. Now, after selling his DIY home security company to Amazon for more than $1 billion. he’s returning to Shark Tank as a guest judge. He tells us his story of how it all began in a garage building explosives.
Amazon Echo Dot (2nd generation) review
The Amazon Echo Dot still holds up as a great introduction to smartifying your home. And at $30, it's more affordable than ever. Read more in our review.
5 lessons from Amazon’s head-spinning, head-splitting Alexa fiesta
What, no Alexa-enabled kitchen sink? Yesterday’s surprise Alexa announcement was a deluge of fast-paced devices and software announcements. Here are five takeaways I have on the event and the devices that were announced. (Hint: one of them predicts Amazon world domination).
It’s Echo season. Our guesses on what Amazon could unveil
Over the past two years, Amazon has announced new Echo hardware in September. We have no idea if it's planning a similar announcement this year, but if so, here are our best guesses for what it will come up with. This list is a combination of evidence-based guesses and our wish list.
I ran into LG’s Cloi robot at the airport in South Korea. Here’s what happened
After running into LG’s Cloi the airport robot in South Korea, the experience was entrancing, yet unfulfilling. Does a rolling, talking computer screen with blinking eyes have a purpose other than to entertain?
Amazon Echo Plus (1st gen) review
Amazon’s Echo Plus was announced in Sept 2017 and we quickly got our hands on one, eager to test the embedded smart home hub. A year later, we’re taking a fresh look at the device to see which new Alexa capabilities have been added and to revisit the speaker’s sound quality.
LG ThinQ WK7 review
There’s a lot to like about the LG WK7 smart speaker with ThinQ technology. It offers solid sounding bass and vocals, and gets the job done as a Google Assistant smart speaker. We tested the speaker out to learn more about LG’s latest effort, which also happens to be a pretty affordable option for those seeking more thump.
How LG built its Signature appliances to solve problems you didn’t know you had
Ever look at your appliance and marvel over how manufacturers thought of including a certain feature or look? We got a behind-the-scenes look at LG Appliances in South Korea, where we learned about how LG’s Signature line was created. The ideas didn’t come from engineers, but from people like you.
This is exactly how much soda you need to drink for a SodaStream to be worth it
With Pepsi buying SodaStream, you might be rethinking where and how you get your soda. Thinking about buying a SodaStream, but aren't sure if it's worth the investment? Don't worry - we crunched the numbers for you. You'll be surprised to hear the results.
The Cortana-powered Glas thermostat now works with Alexa and Google
Glas, built by Jonson Controls and powered by Microsoft's Cortana, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant, is a smart thermostat that sticks its thumb in the Nest thermostat's eye. Glas features a sleek design that includes an OLED touchscreen display, and it's now available to order for $319.
HelloFresh delivers on delicious for fans of American fare
What's for dinner? It's a daily question that doesn't always have an answer. Meal kits, while not necessarily saving time or money in the kitchen, provide ingredients and guided instruction on what to cook. Here are our thoughts on HelloFresh.
Sun Basket meal kits make sophisticated food simple
In our quest to find the perfect meal kit, we tested out Sun Basket, which boasts interesting flavor profiles and simple-to-follow instructions. SoCal Fish Tacos with Avocado, Cabbage Slaw, and Lime Yogurt anyone? Here’s how it stacked up against other Meal Kits we’ve tried. Get cooking!
Silverware handles up or down? Dishwasher experts settle it once and for all
Everyone has their own way of loading a dishwasher. But who’s doing it correctly, those on #TeamHandlesUp or #TeamHandlesDown? We asked some experts to get the question answered once and for all. Now you can stop passively-aggressively re-arranging the forks your partner wrongly put in the dishwasher.
Ring Spotlight Cam Solar review
If you’re like us, you like the idea of wireless home security cameras, but dread the low-battery warning that inevitably comes with them. We tested the Ring Spotlight Cam Solar to see if it was the answer to our dead-battery prayers. Read our review to find out how it went.
‘Hey, Google, what’s wrong?’ Google Home ‘glitch’ gets a fix
Google has announced a fix for a glitch that took down users' Chromecast and Google Home devices all day on Wednesday, June 27. The company explained what happened, and said users can either reboot their devices now or wait until the fix is automatically made in a few hours.
Ecobee Switch+ review
Now you can ask Alexa to play music, on your wall switch. The Ecobee Switch+ controls not just your lights, but also your home, packing everything into a single device.
Philips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit review
Philips Hue has been around for awhile, and are the gold standard for smart lighting. We decided to take a fresh look at a Philips Hue starter kit to see if they're still the best, comparing them to the new contenders in smart home lighting. As it turns out, the Philips Hue still competes.
Guardzilla 360-degree indoor/outdoor battery/electric cam can do it all
We've seen all kinds of home security cameras -- some made for outside, some that are wireless, and some that feature a 360-degree field of view. The Guardzilla 360 Outdoor/Indoor boasts the ability to offer all of those things in one device. The camera is available at Best Buy now.
Is Apple showing up late to the smart home party, or just not coming?
Apple’s WWDC 2018 featured more than two hours of OS announcements. But what was largely missing was news on smart home platforms and devices. While competitors are making the smart home a central focus of their platforms, Apple is mum. Is it because they’re late to the party, or they’re not planning on attending the party?
4 reasons my love affair with Amazon is fizzling
Whether it be running shoes or garbage bags, if I needed something, I always turned to Amazon. But some things have happened recently that have made me question my love affair with the retail giant. Will I be able to trust the website again?
How Amazon’s robot warehouses swing into action the moment you press ‘buy’
If you’re like us, you probably spend a little too much time on Amazon buying stuff you may or may not need. But what happens after you click the “buy” button? How does Amazon get you your stuff so quickly? We toured a fulfillment center to find out.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition review
Alexa, how many planets are there? Alexa, tell me a story. The Echo Dot Kids Edition promises to be great tool for helping children learn, while also giving parents the tools to control and monitor their daily media intake. We kid- and parent-tested the device to see if it lives up to its promise.
Monolith BBQ Guru Edition Classic review
Take a whiff: can you smell it? It’s almost barbecue season, so it’s no surprise you’re looking for a high-tech grill. We tested out the Monolith BBQ Guru Edition with CyberQ Cloud to see if a traditional Kamado-style grill with a modern temperature probe and control base can live together in harmony.
I ordered tea from Amazon, but got a box from Walmart. What happened?
When we order items from Amazon, we expect them to come from Amazon. That's not what happened to me. I ordered chai tea from Amazon and got a box from Walmart instead. I did a little detective work to find out exactly what had happened and ran into what is referred to as retail arbitrage.
Order returning after Amazon accidentally locked thousands of accounts
Thousands of Amazon Prime members say they have not been able to access their accounts, which includes Kindle books, Amazon movies, and music.
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.
‘Alexa, give me a cookie!’ Are digital assistants ruining my son?
My four-year-old son likes to play songs from his favorite movies and asks for the time via our Amazon Alexa device. Are these cute interactions with the voice assistant harming him somehow, or am I just overreacting?
Amazon delivery driver fired after dropping package on a puppy
You've heard of delivery drivers throwing or stealing packages, but what about dropping packages on the family pet?
In news that should surprise no one, Amazon invests in Nest rival Ecobee
Ecobee, maker of smart thermostats and the soon-to-be-released Switch+, announced that Amazon was one of several investors, affirming a strong partnership between the two smart home companies.
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.
Here are some hilarious tweets to Amazon Alexa losing her voice
Some were angry or frustrated, while others found it hilarious and ironic. Check out these tweets about Amazon Alexa losing her voice (for real this time)