Lenovo Smart Clock hands-on review

Move over Amazon Echo Spot: Lenovo’s Smart Clock With Google Assistant is coming for you. At just $79, the Smart Clock turns off the camera and turns up the cuteness factor for an enhanced alarm clock experience. We got a chance to test out the device at CES 2019 and came away impressed.

Reviews         December 14, 2020

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.

Reviews         December 14, 2020

It’s not just more of Alexa! All the big smart home trends from CES 2018

From connected appliances to voice-assistant technology, here are some smart home trends we tracked at CES.

Smart Home Features         December 14, 2020

‘Get ‘yo ass out of my car!’ Shaq has a few ideas for next-gen Ring products

Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal talked to Digital Trends at CES on Wednesday about why he partnered with Ring and his favorite tech.

Smart Home News         December 14, 2020

August Home partners with Deliv to thwart would-be porch pirates

Get rid of porch pirates with August Access, a partnership between August Home and Deliv that allows delivery people inside your home.

Smart Home News         December 14, 2020

Giddy gives hobbyists and inventors a shot at creating that new toaster

Giddy, a subsidiary of FirstBuild/GE Appliances, is a platform that will help connect businesses and aspiring inventors so that new products can be created more quickly or existing products can be improved.

Smart Home News         December 9, 2020

GE’s Kitchen Hub is a smart home display right where you need it: above the stove

GE Appliances wants to put a big screen in your kitchen. The Kitchen Hub is a ventilator above your stove that also works as a smart home hub.

Reviews         December 9, 2020

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.

Smart Home News         August 28, 2020

The best smart thermostats

From Nest to ecobee, smart thermostats don't just control the temperature of your home. They can also learn about your habits and ultimately save you money over time. Here are our picks for the best smart thermostats on the market for all types of living spaces.

Trash         July 29, 2020

The best smart home hubs

The best smart home hubs on the market can control your digital life at home, getting your devices to talk to you and each other. But which smart hub is right for you? Let's take a look at the top options and what they provide, from more security-oriented hubs to voice assistants for your entire home.

Trash         July 29, 2020

Amazon Echo Spot review

The Amazon Echo Spot, the newest member of Amazon’s smart speaker family, is cute, fun, sleek, and the perfect little alarm clock. With this little device, you'll be snoozing the alarm just for fun.

Reviews         April 24, 2020

The best outdoor security cameras

Worried about porch pirates stealing packages from your porch? Always be in the know about who or what is on your property by installing one of these outdoor security cameras. Some are wireless, while others have bells and whistles for added security to your home. We talk two-way audio, sirens and more.

Trash         March 6, 2020

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.

Reviews         December 10, 2019

Samsung DV60M9900 FlexDry review

The Samsung FlexDry is two dryers in one, giving you the flexibility to dry delicates on top while your laundry tumbles below. Find out more in our review.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

Samsung WV9900 FlexWash washing machine review

The Samsung FlexWash washing machine is two in one, giving you the ability to wash two loads at once.. Here's how it did in our review.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

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.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

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.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

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.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

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.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

Amazon Echo review

Our Amazon Echo review reveals a shorter, cuter, speaker with several different color and fabric choices, and a firmware upgrade means improved sound. We took the device for another spin in November 2018 to see whether the speaker still measures up to the competition.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

AmazonBasics Microwave review

Amazon has added to its long portfolio of products with the AmazonBasics Microwave, a small appliance that works with Alexa. What business does Amazon, maker of Kindles, Fire TV devices, and Alexa voice speakers, have making a small appliance? We took the microwave for a test drive to find out more.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

Facebook Portal+ review

Facebook has jumped into the smart home game with the Portal+, a video-calling device featuring a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker and a screen. While the Portal+ has lots of cool calling features, we’re still a little weary of the social media giant taking up counter space in our home. Read our review to find out more.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

LG XBOOM ThinQ WK9 smart display review

Introduced way back at CES in January 2018, LG’s WK9 smart display is finally on store shelves. But how does it compare to other smart displays on the market? We took a look and a listen to find out whether the device is worth its $299 price tag. Here’s what we learned.

Reviews         August 23, 2019

Amazon workers listening to Alexa recordings isn’t a big deal. Here’s why

Thousands of Amazon workers are reportedly listening to recorded conversations between Alexa and voice assistant speaker owners. The idea that humans are listening to our conversations is an outrage and unacceptable. Or is it? This author doesn’t think it’s such a big deal.

Smart Home Features         April 12, 2019

Whatever happened to those dumb smart products we wrote about in 2017?

As manufacturers rush to get the next new smart gadgets out there, we wonder if all these inventions are necessary. We compiled this list of 10 of the quirkiest smart home products available in 2017 and decided to return to them in 2019 to see if they're still in existence. Here's what we found.

Smart Home Features         March 18, 2019

Stainless steel is so last year. In 2019, it’s all about colorful appliances

For the past couple of decades, the color of choice for appliances has been stainless steel. Now, makers are introducing ovens, fridges, and dishwashers in vibrant hues to give customers a more customized, refined look in the kitchen. From royal blue stoves to deep green fridges, consumers have more choices than ever.

Smart Home Features         February 22, 2019

Champagne-colored fridges? Talking toilets? All the appliance trends in 2019

Ever wished you had Amazon Alexa-enabled toilet in your bathroom or a brightly colored appliance instead of boring old stainless steel? The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) starts today, and here are some of the trends we expect to see at the show and for the rest of year.

Smart Home News         February 19, 2019

Will everything from lamps to fridges be spying on me? Yes, and I’m creeped out

With the debut of Panasonic’s HomeHawk lamp with built-in video camera, should we be concerned that everything -- from couches to dishwashers – could soon be spying on us? New surveillance technology could mean we could all be caught dancing in our underwear in a hotel room, or worse.

Smart Home Features         February 1, 2019

Booth babes, banned sex toys, and other mishaps at CES 2019

From female sex toys bans, to fake Tesla/robot collision stories, there was some weird stuff going on at CES 2019 this year. While nothing can top last year's show floor blackout, here are some of the biggest mishaps and flubs we saw this year at the world's biggest tech show.

Smart Home Features         January 14, 2019

4 reasons you should buy the Amazon Echo Input

Do you have an older, great-sounding speaker that you want to add the Alexa voice assistant to? Amazon has got you covered with the Echo Input, a small, puck-like device that connects to non-smart speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary. Here are four reasons to buy the device.

Smart Home Features         December 18, 2018

Amazon sent me a Christmas tree. Did it leave me pining for more?

Is driving to a Christmas tree lot or u-cut farm to get a tree a daunting task that you dread every year? Wish there was an easier way to get a tree to your house? Good news: Amazon is now selling real Christmas trees with free shipping. We decided to order one to see how it went.

Smart Home Features         December 13, 2018

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.

Smart Home News         November 10, 2018

Picture this: The Aura packs thousands of photos in a single frame (for a price)

Are you one of those people who miss the good old days of flipping through photo albums to see each and every favorite photo? If so, you might love the Aura digital photo frame, a smart device that allows you to display thousands of pics on a single frame. We tested the device and came away impressed.

Smart Home Features         November 9, 2018