Smarthome Archives

An outdoor smart plug that could be better

Sep 17, 2020 | Smarthome

Smart home gadgets aren’t just for inside your home. There are smart grills, smart landscape lighting setups and even smart outdoor TVs. If you’re not keen on spending big bucks on fancy new smart things for your porch or patio, you can still bring some of that Wi-Fi magic into your space with an outdoor […]

Philips Wiz Connected LED review: This color-changing smart bulb isn’t stupidly expensive

Aug 28, 2020 | Smarthome

I’ve long held that connected lighting is one of the most sensible smart home upgrades you can invest in — in part, because it really doesn’t need to be much of an investment. Perfectly decent smart bulbs can be had for less than the price of a...

Orison claims to store your electricity, save it for later

Aug 23, 2020 | Smarthome

The Orison Panel. Orison Orison is a San Diego-based startup with a pretty lofty goal — it’s trying to reduce your overall reliance on the energy grid. Its flagship products, the Orison Panel ($1,200, £835, AU$1,700) and the Orison Tower ($1,550, £1,100,...

Arlo’s Essential Spotlight Camera does a lot for 130 bucks

Aug 15, 2020 | Smarthome

I’ve been waiting for Arlo to offer a more affordable outdoor security camera for a long time — and it’s finally here. The new $130 Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera isn’t as cheap as the $50 Wyze Cam Outdoor or the $100 Ring Video Doorbell, but...

Nanoleaf’s Hexagons made me like being at home a little more

Aug 5, 2020 | Smarthome

In 2016, I tested out Nanoleaf’s smart, color-changing LED wall panels at the CNET Smart Home. That was the original, triangular version, originally called Nanoleaf Aurora — two years later, I was testing out the square-shaped, touch-enabled Nanoleaf...

This tiny smart plug is a big contender for your wall

Aug 2, 2020 | Smarthome

One of the top annoyances of early smart plugs was their bulk and overall ugliness. It was hard to get excited about automating a lamp when it meant plugging a clunky, unattractive gadget into your outlet. LikeCompact sizeWorks with major assistantsAffordable...