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Category: Home Automation

Josh Centers 16 comments

Apple Opens iTunes Video and AirPlay Up to TV Rivals

Apple is opening up its TV ecosystem to rivals, bringing iTunes content and AirPlay to Samsung TVs, and AirPlay and HomeKit to others. “Take Control of Apple TV” author Josh Centers explores what this move could mean for the Apple TV.

Julio Ojeda-Zapata No comments

The HomeKit-Compatible Arlo Baby Security Cam Is Not Just for Parents

The Arlo Baby security camera is officially a souped-up baby monitor. But look beyond its marketing and you’ll find a quality—if pricey—security camera with broad appeal. Though HomeKit is not yet fully integrated, other capabilities help make up for its limitations. Just ditch those animal ears.

Josh Centers 19 comments

Wyze Cam Pan Helps You Watch Your House for $30

The latest entry in the Wyze Cam line, the Wyze Cam Pan, can cover an entire 360-degree area for an absurdly low price. It’s well worth checking out if you’re looking for an interior security camera, but sadly, it doesn’t support HomeKit.

Adam Engst 33 comments

Wireless Sensor Tags Protect Against Freezer Failure

If you’ve ever worried about losing food due to a freezer breaking or a refrigerator door being left open, the Wireless Sensor Tags system could save your bacon by monitoring temperatures and reporting significant changes on your iPhone. Other available features include motion detection, moisture monitoring, light sensing, and even locating lost items.

Josh Centers 1 comment

Wemo Mini Gains HomeKit Support

Belkin’s Wemo Mini has gained HomeKit support in a software update, making it the first home automation device to do so and paving the way for a larger Apple home automation ecosystem.

Josh Centers No comments

Elgato Goes All-In on HomeKit; Changes Name to Eve Systems

Hardware maker Elgato is going all-in on HomeKit home automation and to that end is changing its name and selling its gaming division.

Mike Matthews 12 comments

A Prairie HomeKit Companion: The Honeywell Lyric Controller with HomeKit

Looking for a security system controller that not only integrates with HomeKit, but also turns all your connected security devices into HomeKit accessories? Look no further than the Honeywell Lyric Controller.

Michael E. Cohen 28 comments

The Big News about macOS 10.14 Mojave Is Dark

Dark Mode leads the list of new features in the evolutionary macOS 14 Mojave. But, while most of the changes are small, many of them will be welcome.

Josh Centers 14 comments

Ecovacs Deebot N79S Robot Vacuum Feels Like the Future

If you’re skeptical of robotic vacuums, but tired of dealing with dirty floors, the affordable Ecovacs Deebot N79 and N79S are worth your consideration.

Josh Centers 14 comments

A Prairie HomeKit Companion: The Ecobee 4 Thermostat

Josh Centers is back to smartening up his home with a smart thermostat, the Ecobee 4. But it may be more than he bargained for and way more than he needed.

Rich Mogull 9 comments

Smart Home Lessons from a Home Automation Veteran

Rich Mogull shares the lessons he’s learned over a decade of home automation and how the new “Take Control of Apple Home Automation” book compresses many of them into a neat package.

Josh Centers 11 comments

$20 WyzeCam Security Camera Is Almost Too Good to Be True

A Wi-Fi security camera for $20? What’s the catch? Josh Centers shares his experiences with the unbelievably cheap WyzeCam. It’s well-built, has a decent app, works in the dark, and even provides limited cloud storage for free. There’s only one minor problem.

Adam Engst 16 comments

HomePod First Impressions: Let the (Apple) Music Play

We’ve had the HomePod for a weekend, and for the most part, it has been a success when it comes to music, thanks to excellent audio quality and Siri spinning Apple Music tracks with aplomb. Siri on the HomePod has been less useful as a fount of general knowledge, or perhaps we just don’t have the right questions.

Josh Centers 9 comments

HomePod Arrives February 9th, Multi-Room Audio to Follow Later in 2018

Apple has announced a shipping date for the HomePod smart speaker, and you can preorder it now. But should you? Josh Centers expresses some doubts.

Josh Centers 3 comments

HomeKit Hardware to Expect in 2018

Apple’s HomeKit home-automation ecosystem has been growing slowly but steadily, and numerous companies took advantage of CES 2018 to announce new HomeKit-compatible devices. Explore the most compelling new devices with HomeKit expert Josh Centers.