Comcast has been in the news a lot recently, from failed mergers to promising to improve its customer service. Interesting timing on the latter, because the company wants to up its presence in your home. It recently announced its Xfinity Home service will now support a slew of smart home automation devices. CEO Brian Roberts confirmed the news at cable television’s annual trade show gathering in Chicago. Some of the new partner devices include August Smart Locks, Leeo, Lutron, SkyBell, Rachio Smart Sprinklers, and the Whistle pet monitor. The company noted that it is working separately with Nest Labs to integrate its services.
Previously, homeowners with smart thermostats and doorbells have not been able to control them via Xfinity Home. With this new integration, homeowners will be able flip on the lights or lock the doors with the Xfinity Home mobile app, through their TVs, or with their voice via the Xfinity Remote. The pricing for these systems is tiered, but existing customers can pay $30 a month for the company’s Home Security Service or $19 monthly for no monitoring, with a two-year contract.
“We want to help people unlock the potential of their smart home,” said Dan Herscovici, senior vice president and general manager, Xfinity Home. “Whether it’s through the television, an app or a voice command, we’re giving customers one easy-to-use experience to control all their favorite devices, seamlessly on the same platform.”
Later this year, Comcast also plans to release a Software Development Kit and certification program, which will allow partners to work with Xfinity Home to create more integrated devices.
As of late, Comcast has felt the pressure from “cord cutters” who are ditching their cable packages for pay-what-you-want television services. This move from Comcast could help the company find additional revenue through its Xfinity Home service, though it remains to be seen if customers will want to be locked into the company controlling their homes.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.