Category: Smart Devices

Lenovo Smart Display is the Only Choice
Lenovo Smart Display is the company’s answer to Amazon’s Echo Show. The Google Assistant-equipped smart speaker comes in two sizes: 8-inches ($200) or 10-inches ($250) and does everything the Home does, plus full HD video chat using Google Duo. Until Google launches its own smart speaker with a screen, this is the best one to get if you’re firmly using the Google assistant.

The Great
- HD Display is crystal clear
- camera shutoff option
- Google Assistant enabled
- Two different sizes
The Not
- Limited Functionality
- Sound quality is lacking
- Not suitable for noise enviroments
The Conclusion

Lenovo tries and fails to join the game with its Google-equipped Smart Display. The Lenovo Smart Display fits Google Assistant into an Echo Show competitor with an 8 or 10 inch screen

Finally

So you saw the Amazon show and the eco dot, thought to yourself that is neat but do they work with the nameless Google assistant Ive become accustomed to? No they don’t, but you have an option now, only one option for a Google Assistant with an HD Screen.

Just like you assumed, you will be able to issue voice commands to Lenovo’s Smart Displays. Say the word and you can control your smart home, search the internet, ask for directions or check your calendar, you know the drill. Lenovo’s display will show info relevant to your question on your touchscreen like a map or your schedule for the day.

I’ll call you Carl

Google assistant stand toe-to-toe with Alexa in terms of capabilities. I still feel it needs a distinctive one syllable name. Do I have to assign it? Because I will. Im going with Carl, it doesn’t have to be a feminine name right? This Display does Help Carl catch up to Alexa on the hardware front, its just not as good looking. The Lenovo Smart Display also has a couple of extra touches to help with privacy. The mute button was expected, as all Google Home smart speakers have one. Lenovo’s cam also has a physical shutter you can slide over it. One odd function I find missing is the Lenovo Smart Display won’t be able to make regular phone calls.

The Final Thought

Lenovo’s screen looked good in action doing Carl some justice. However The only thing I am seeing that separates this apart is the ability to turn of the camera, I’ve got to many cameras watching me as it is. The Lenovo Smart Display features either an 8 or 10 inch screen for $200 and $250 respectively.
February 14, 2018
Bose SoundTouch 300 Delivers again.. for a Price
The Bose SoundTouch 300 is a soundbar for your televesion, capable of a gorgeously wide sound field, which benefits both music and movies. The speaker is capable of reproducing both dialog and incidental effects with crystal clarity. The system offers easy-to-use music streaming via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Great
- Superior Sound
- Easy Set Up
- Expandable with wireless Bose speakers
- Versatile connectivity
The Not
- treble EQ cant be modified
- Needs remote to function
The Conculsion

Great ” larger then life” Sound, If you have no intention of buying a sub woofer, though, don’t buy this sound bar. Sound fine on its own, but you’ll miss the deep ravid notes that the optional Acoustimass 300 sub can bring — for an extra $699.

Bose knows how to delivering big sound from small packages. Once again they hit us with the SoundTouch 300, a slim soundbar that produces plenty of bass depth and solid clarity in the highs. You can stream audio via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, features HDMI ARC and optical outputs. Its a baseline sound bar option that can be expanded to an all out theater sound experience.

The Design

The design is elegant and sharp as it looks looks graceful and stylish. Inside the beautiful exterior, the SoundTouch 300 uses four full-range drivers and a single centered tweeter, all front-facing, and bass ports on the rear panel, aided by a pair of “phase guides,” one on each end of the bar. There are 3 Icons across the front, one to show you are connected to your home network, one indicates when audio from the SoundTouch app is played, the last is when you have audio playing from a connected TV.

Whats that on your Head?

It uses AdaptIQ, that is the system Bose employs to adjust the soundbar’s output to your room’s dead areas, as well as reflective surfaces. You connect a adapter by connecting it to the speaker’s back panel and pressing the AdaptIQ button will start the measurement process. Then with this headband receptor on your head and sit in various places in your room. The system go through a series of 10 seconds of frequency sweeps in each spot while the headset measures the reflections from the sweeps.

The Final Thought

Through the SoundTouch 300, the audio is crisp and full of low-end, though the bass response sounds slightly thin with out the sub woofer. Its a great standalone sound bar but not for $699, Only purchase this if you are going to double down for the remote speakers and the sub woofer.
February 14, 2018
A Plus + to the Bose Soundlink Revolver +

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is the best-performing portable Bluetooth® speaker from Bose, is engineered to spread deep, jaw-dropping sound in every direction.

The Great

Portable
Waterproof
360-Degree Sound,
Multiple speaker party mode
16 hour play back battery life

The Not

No connection ports
No digital assistant capabilities
Lacks volume

The Conclusion

Despite no Siri or Alexa built in this is still the best Bluetooth speaker you can get. Sound quality, durability, versatility is what you want in a portable speaker

I Liked the Last Soundlink

I’ve been a fan of the Bose Soundlink mini since it’s conception. When it was first released if filled a big void in tech we all had been experiencing. I need a wireless speaker that connects to my smartphone and sounds good. Boom, we got the Soundlink mini. I took mine everywhere, boats, golf carts, strapped to my bike , it upped the game and brought the party. I gave the Soundlink to everyone having a birthday, graduation, weddings, holiday, they all got a Soundlink mini. So I’m excited to say the least to get the new Soundlink resolve plus

Out of the Box

When you open the box, you are greeted with sleek cylindrical shape of the speaker and the reality of the build quality. This speaker weighs almost two pounds and is built like a tank. The body of the speaker is one piece metal construction with a plastic base and rubberized buttons on the top. There are six buttons on the top of the speaker; power, Bluetooth, Aux, volume up, volume down and a multi-purpose button. The battery needed charged right out of the box but the speaker turned on after a few minutes of being connected.

Yep it Sounds Like a Bose

The sound coming from this speaker is so immersive and full, stereo sound is a non-issue. There is an app for this speaker, Bose Connect but its pretty lackluster, only offering volume and connectivity options, oh and you can use it to rename the device and select the voice language. It also gives you the option to pair multiple Soundlink together for a party mode.. this will come in handy later. I’m convinced the attitude at Bose is “we know how your music is supposed to sound” and you’re going to like it. It’s got Great Dynamic Range for a portable speaker. The mids and highs are crisp and clear, and the bass is good. It could get louder, I know it would start to loose quality at a much higher volume, but sometimes you just got to crank it up. Like most Bose speakers, the bass is not heavy. This is the first speaker I have ever used that emits sound in all directions equally. Every time I listen to it I’m so impressed and glad it’s there to crank the mood for any situation.

The Final Thought

The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is an extremely well-rounded product that deserves the praise it has been getting. I never leave home with out it and I’ve found my go to gift of the next 5 years.

February 14, 2018
Top 5 Premium Headphones for Audiophiles

After hearing the audio recently in a $4k pair of wired headphones I realized I am the know nothing John Snow of headphones. I have been quite content, even pious, thinking my Beats Solo and Bose Bluetooth Noise Reducing earphones where of high quality. I was wrong, so very, very wrong. It takes a lot to admit ones’ wrong, in this case these 5 blow your hair back, kiss your eardrums good bye headphones have indeed humbled me..

1. Audeze LCD 4-$3999.99

These High-performance planar magnetic headphones are truly the best of the best. The California-based sound experts have been on the cutting edge of planar magnetic headphone research, design, and development. Along the way, they’ve earned a stellar reputation among serious headphone enthusiasts for both their high-tech approach and high-fidelity results. The brilliant Audeze LCD-4 headphones are the result of all their hard work. Wait, what is planar mangetics? Just another fancy word for good? No, planar magnetic drivers offer low distortion, enhanced dynamics, and detailed sound.

2. Final Audio – Sonorous X Headphones- $4999.00

The Sonorous X is beautiful, and my favorite design among the top 5. Despite the more attractive appearance and truly amazing sound quality these head phones are taking home the silver. My first impressions was that Final has got things nailed with its range-topping headphones, the Sonorous X. These arrived in an immaculately made fur-lined wooden box, bonus. As I dug, in I found comparing it to the others on the list, mainly the LCD 4. To tell you the truth its sound lacks some drive and dynamic nuance. My final opinion was These headphones are excellent in many respects but don’t have the all-round ability required at this level to win the gold.. But Silver is yours Final Audio.

3. HiFiMAN – SUSVARA – Audiophile Headphones- $6000

With a Similar look to the Audeze, the SUSVARA looks like a hand crafted beauty with a through back to the origins of 1900s radio. The advanced magnet design used for the first time on the SUSVARA is acoustically transparent, dramatically reducing wave diffraction turbulence which degrades the integrity of the sound waves. The result is reduced distortion, yielding a purer, more harmonious sound that is audibly so. Detailed like an electron microscope, mostly flat frequency response, excellent sound stage height/depth/width, layering and instrument separation, incisive speed without excess, impeccable attack and decay, its like being there.The SUSVARA is perhaps the most revealing and neutral sounding headphones I have experienced, with a soundstage that is coherent yet open and spacious. The dynamics of the SUSVARA and its ability to respond to small signal changes depicting spontaneous fine gradation of sound differentiates itself from the competition. Its outstanding imaging and separation capabilities makes listening to well-mastered albums like St. Vincent a joy on the SUSVARA. However, there are areas for improvements to the accessories that came with the box as well as the overall finishing and workmanship of the headphones to make the asking price more, which is why it is taking the Bronze

4. Focal Utopia Reference High-Fidelity- $3999.00

These are the very Headset that set me on this quest for the ultimate sound, not thinking I would find any better. Yet here we are. The Focal Utopia Reference High-Fidelity contain full-range loudspeakers with unusual M-shaped domes made from pure beryllium. They’re designed in such a way that they can adjust to the size and contours of almost any head, offering supreme comfort.

5. Sennheiser HD800- $1099

Designed with a tight, closed-back ear covering intended to give you listening privacy when you take these cans out into the world. Their planar magnetic drivers produce a high-quality sound that should please the majority of listeners. Top-notch engineering and build quality; highly accurate sound; super comfy over-the-ear design; detachable headphone cable.The HD 800s sound a bit less like headphones and more like high-end speakers than any headphones I’ve heard. While they don’t have the same nostalgic, handcrafted feel of the others on the list at $1099 the best bang for the buck.

The Final Thought

For the purpose of this review, I have selected the 4 album by musicians Led Zeppelin to compare all headphones because, why not? These five headphones are the best of the best, they are the Olympiads of premium Headphones. Test with caution, nothing will ever sound as good after.

February 13, 2018
Sounds in the Key of Focal’s Utopia Headphones
The Focal Utopia open-back headphones employ the same spare-no-expense approach to design, engineering, and execution that made Utopia such a prestigious name in the worlds of home and car speakers. However are theseover-the-ear, open-back design for reduced resonance and spacious, natural sound worth the $4000 price tag?

The Great
- Open back circum-aural
- Low noise with the least distortion I’ve heard
- Full range “loudspeaker-like” sound
- Easily adjustable to any head size or shape
- Balanced cable (bi-amp)
The Not
- Heavy Heavy Price tag
The Conclusion

Your friends will be giving you eye rolls and unreasonably over dramatic shocked reactions about the price. Yes, they are expensive, but then all the great audiophile gear is insanely expensive. These are exceptional headphones, take the time to listen to old Ludwig Van’s Minuet in G with these headphones from a high capacity out put. What you will be experiencing is the absolute peak of the minds comprehension of music. As far as music can be heard, that is it and there aint no more… and that is worth the price tag.

Focal’s design innovations represent a revolution in headphone design. Focal Utopia’s driver diameter closely follows their voice coil’s diameter with an open back magnet assembly thus there is no trapped air behind the dome. Think of it as a miniature, ported speaker with the most amazing sound you can put on your head. In addition, the driver uses pure Beryllium formed in the new “M” shaped dome which is extremely rigid and super light which results in incredibly low distortion and quite possibly the best in the headphone marketplace.

Now This is way more money than I thought I’d ever have to pay for any type of audio gear – let alone headphones. Once I listened to these I was absolutely blown away. With one listen of Led Zep’s Kashmir i had essentially ruined any hope of listening to music on good even premium headphones. Goodbye Beats, goodbye Bose , all the ‘phones I had in my collection sounded dull by comparison. I immoderately went to eBay and sold them all for the trash they had become.

Focal’s Utopia headphones change key ideas about headphones and sound. Ideas such as sound-stage, clarity, and separation new standards are set. Every high-end headphones maker in the world must now rethink, redesign, and discover a new sound or risk losing share to a speaker company. Focal’s Utopia headphones change the very idea of sound. They are so clear, inclusive and their ergonomics so well crafted things once important such as “isolation” fade. Isolation isn’t the issue. Being swept away by the sound, hearing more music, and forgetting TIME is the real desire. “Isolation” is not really what is important – sound quality clarity, and warmth are the real issues. And I know that now after listening to “open back” headphones so epic what was once critical – isolation – isn’t relevant at all anymore.

The Final Thought

Never would I ever had thought to critique the sound on the Beats Solo, and never have I found a product that revolutionizes my understanding of sound. Here we are, staring at a $4000 pair of headphones that have become an utmost priority. These not only offer superb clarity and build quality and comfortable for long hours of sonic rapture but transform sound. This headphone is truly deserving of the music and they are, in the long term and grand scheme of man . to be considered an essential experience. What is money good for if not for a personal performance of Mozart’s greatest symphonies with sound quality Mozart couldn’t possible comprehend.
February 13, 2018
Verizon to Lock My iPhone?

The wireless carrier has been selling phones unlocked, allowing you to swap SIM cards and use other carriers. Soon, it’ll lock phones for a certain period to prevent theft and fraud.

Verizon Lock Down

Say this isnt so! Ive gone through a lot with Verizon in recent months. First they move me from my old 30gb plan to the new unlimited plan, all the while assuring me that they will only throttle speeds once I have hit 22gb and im on a congested tower. I was told that day to day internet functions wouldn’t be affected but streaming movies or music may. Not true, I haven’t been able to purchase tickets from fandango in the movie theater parking lot since. I don’t get any where close to 22gb, but if Im in any popular place my 4g LTE is gone, and my internet is completely useless. Rant aside, We are being told that the fantastic unspoken policy that Verizon does not add any sim locking carrier software is going away.

Not On Rex Manning Day

The nation’s largest wireless carrier said Monday that it would begin locking the phones it sells to consumers, which will prevent them from using a SIM card from another carrier. Initially, the phones will be unlocked as soon as a customer signs up and activates the service. But later in the spring, the company will begin the practice of keeping the phone locked for a period of time after the purchase – in line with the scams of rest of the industry. While it is a function I don’t get that much use from, really only during international travel, Its one Im particularly fond of. I like to upgrade to the newest model iPhone every year upon its release. I wait in line at the crack of dawn with all the other die hards, we joke, laugh and share apple news, drinking coffee and waiting for the store to open. iPhone day is my 3rd favorite holiday of the year next to Rex Manning day. I have raviolis and throw confetti on my bushes. Once I move all my info to my new phone, I wipe my old phone and list it on craigslist. Im able to re-coop a large amount of the new phone by selling the old phone, usually 60%. I get a good price for last years model because I can safely sell it to anyone on any carrier knowing its unlocked and they will have no issues activating it. Well not anymore.

Wait, is this Even Allowed?

Verizon says They’re taking steps to combat this theft and reduce fraud,” according to Tami Erwin, executive vice president of wireless operations for Verizon, said in a statement. “These steps will make our phones exponentially less desirable to criminals.” Now, also to me. The move marks a broad reversal of its policy to offer all of its phones unlocked — part of a deal with the Federal Communications Commission requiring it to unlock phones as part of its acquisition of the “C block” of 700 megahertz spectrum which powers its 4G LTE network. One section of the deal specifically prohibits Verizon from configuring handsets to prevent them from working on other networks. Verizon argues it is still following the intent of the rule.

The Final Thought

My guess is its a way for Verizon to protect itself from competition, with the locked phones making it tougher to switch. Thankfully Apple sell iPhones direct that are all unlocked, so it will be off to the Apple store with everyone else for iPhone Day from now on.

February 12, 2018
Jibo. He’s not Alexa, but he’s adorable!
The Good
- Jibo’s expressions make him much more human than Siri or Alexa
- Can take photos and store up to 700 images
- Can track flights, scores, daily news
- Can control Phillips Hue and Nest.
The Bad
- Cannot connect to your phone
- No calls, text, music, or streaming
- Is much more expensive than the Alexa or Google assistants
The Conclusion

Jibo is a very charming and helpful assistant to who can do a fair amount of task such a control your homes lighting, thermostat, track schedules and flights, but is limited in comparison to Alexa or Google. Jibo is more focused on being a social robot opposed to just cold services. His friendly movements and disposition make him feel much more human that the other competitors. But at $900.00 is he worth it?

Jibo Arrives

In 2014 the Boston based Jibo Co. released Jibo as a concept and received a lot of buzz. But unfortunately for Jibo, Amazon released Alexa that same year…All of Alexa’s capabilities immediately surpassed Jibo’s and did so from a sleek 8oz can. Jibo’s production slowed but he made it through and is available for purchase now. Unlike Alexa, Jibo is a robust helper, standing at 12 inches tall and weighing 9lbs. With being friendly animations, adorable look, and features such as a camera, Jibo is finding his way into homes as we speak. Jibo is a much more social robot that seems to want to talk to you and has a proactive approach to tasks. Jibo is at sometimes too helpful and can make people well..uneasy. Jibo will likely have all the features that Alexa and Siri have and will eventually have the edge do to his cuteness. He’s a bright entity in the house and children seem really responsive to him. But at $900.00, you may want to wait to get your monies worth.

Final Thoughts

If you’re like me, you might welcome a friendlier robot who can’t do as much as his cold faceless competitors. Jibo is just that. He has limits, but he also has a lot of love…from taking photographs of you and your family at the dinner table or even reading a bedtime story to the kids, Jibo does bring a factor to the table that others cannot. With adorable animations and expressions, the kids sure like him, and he can still control and connect with a lot of the household gadgets such as Nest, and Phillips Hue. But the question is, is he worth $900.00? I’ll leave that to you.
February 12, 2018
Apples’ Beats by Dre…Can They be Beat?
The Good
- Unrivaled sound quality, especially in bass heavy songs
- Lithium Ion Battery provides 22 hours of continuous listening
- New noise cancellation tech is an important focal point
- Robust and sturdy craftsmanship makes them hard to break
- Wireless and portable headphones make them great travel companions
The Bad
- The sound quality drops when not listening to songs through Apple Music, (i.e listening from Youtube, Pandora, Spotify)
- After extended period of wearing the headphones, the comfort-ability rapidly declines
- High price point. On average consumers pay an additional $100.00 just for a name.
The Conclusion

Apples’ Beat by Dre are clearly the best headphones on the market. With incredible clarity and tone, songs we’ve heard a millions times before are elevated to a different plain inside those earbuds. Coupled with quality craftsmanship and care, there is a reason why they are so distinguished from competitors. But can competitors get close in quality for a significant drop in price?

The upgraded Studio3 Beats are here to stay

The newly released and upgraded Studio3 Beats by Dre have continue to progress and fix the previous versions and continue to hold up the good Beats name. With focusing on the noise cancelling aspect of the Studio3 beats, these bottom heavy headphones are quieter than ever. And Apples W1 Bluetooth chip makes pairing a breeze. Additionally, iPhone users can switch between devices logged into the same iCloud account to easily move from an iPhone conversation to watching a movie on your Mac. (The headphone also works with Android and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.)Totaling 22 hours of wireless playback with the new Noise Cancelling Tech and approximately 40 hours of battery life without it.

With tough competition such as the Sony WH-1000XM2 noise cancelling headphones or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, Beats has an uphill battle to stay at the top. Sony’s new headphones very closely rival Beats sound and quality, but struggle a bit in terms of battery life and comfort-ability. But for $100.00 less than the Studio3 beats, they are a great option for those not wanting to spend $379.00 on headphones.

Final Thought

The Studio3 Beats have made a great addition to the Beats line, and continue to rule the headphones playground for now. But at this point much is expected from Beats, and they need to find new ways to keep their customers coming back. The strong competition is gunning for Beats, and doing so by significantly under cutting Beats prices. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II has even added a Google Assistant button to their headphones for that extra bit of personality. I’ll be waiting for Beats next move…
February 11, 2018
Samsung’s 4K Ultra TV is Easy on the Eyes
The Good
- Vivid colors, and excellent blacks.
- Quick 120 Hertz refresh rate
- Excellent upscaling, especially from 1080p content
- No light-bleed at all
- Hi quality Frame and extremely thin bezzle
The Not so Good
- Sub-par viewing angles
- High cost for a Television that does live up to the cost in comparison
- “Game Mode” displays very poor gradients
The Conclusion

This is very well built and sturdy television. The thin metal bezzle is a welcomed improvement from the all plastic ones in Samsung’s prior LED TVs. The 65” model is large , but fairly lightweight and easy to wall mount. The 4K resolution is very impressive and the darks are very dark. It’s a pleasure to watch TV on this Samsung, but the cost is high and there are other cheaper and still high quality options out there.

4K Resolution

The incredible detail of the 4K resolution is amazing. With vibrant colors and deep blacks, it looks like the images were painted on the screen. With the 120 frame rate, it’s just simply a joy to watch a 4K movie such as Wonder Woman, on it. In terms of the TV’s remote, the Samsung remote is really nice and the voice control is a great addition. It’s a simple remote that liken to the Amazon FireTV voice remote. The toggle channel/volume buttons take some getting used to, but it’s a short learning curve. The TV’s set up is pretty straight forward and it easily detect gaming systems, such as Xbox One and PS4 as well as the Apple TV. The Cost can be steep considering the price tag for a 55 inch is around the $1,500.00 mark. There may be some better options for the price out there.

Final Thoughts

Depending on who you are and how much television you watch, this could be the television for you. With stunning visuals and vibrant colors, this television elevates watching movies and sports to a whole new level. If you’re willing to shell out a hefty price tag, then look no further. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, there are some cheaper options that should do the trick as well…
February 11, 2018
5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

1. The iRobot Roomba

Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

2. The Nest Thermostat

Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

3. Brilliant Light Switch

With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly.

5. The Ring II doorbell system

The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

The Conclusion

With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.

February 10, 2018