Battle of the Smart Home Ecosystems Choosing a smart home ecosystem is a long-term commitment. The two most popular premium systems, Google Home and Apple HomeKit, offer very different approaches to home automation. Let’s compare their strengths and weaknesses to…
Get Your Echo Device Listening Again It can be highly frustrating when you say your wake word and your Echo speaker sits silent with a spinning blue ring or ignores you completely. If Alexa is not responding to your commands,…
Enjoy Your Favorite Music Hands-Free By default, Amazon Echo devices use Amazon Music as their primary audio source. However, if you are a Spotify subscriber, you can easily link your account to Alexa. This allows you to play your custom…
Never Miss a Visitor: Solve Video Doorbell Lag There is nothing more frustrating than receiving a notification that someone is at your door, only to open the app and see they have already walked away. Delayed notifications defeat the purpose…
The Unsung Heroes of Home Automation and Security Contact sensors (or entry sensors) consist of two small pieces: a magnet and a sensor. You place one piece on the frame of a door or window and the other on the…
Avoid Data Loss: Guide to Security Camera Micro SD Cards If you use smart security cameras that support local storage (like Wyze, Eufy, or Reolink), you must choose the right micro SD card. Standard SD cards designed for phones or…
Scare Off Intruders with Loud Smart Sirens Most home security cameras will send a notification to your phone if they detect an intruder, but they won’t physically stop them. A loud, smart siren is a highly effective way to scare…
Privacy Tips for Living Next to Smart Cameras As smart outdoor security cameras become more common, privacy disputes between neighbors are rising. If a neighbor’s camera is pointed directly at your backyard, pool, or windows, you have a right to…
Deciding Between Self-Monitoring and Professional Security When securing your home, you have to choose between a self-monitored system (using smart cameras to check on alerts yourself) or a professionally monitored system (where a dispatch center monitors your alarms 24/7). Let’s…
Turn Your Echo Speakers into a Security System Alexa Guard is a free feature that turns your existing Amazon Echo speakers into smart security monitors. When you set the system to “Away,” your Echo devices listen for suspicious sounds like…
