It’s 2018, and everything is connected. From your ceiling fan to your cooktop, it feels as though it would be easier to make a list of appliances that don’t have smart capabilities rather than list all the ones that do. But with such a plethora of connected devices, it can be overwhelming to keep track of everything.
Honeywell is hoping to create one connected device to rule them all.
Luckily, Honeywell is hoping to create one connected device to rule them all. At CES, we spoke with Jay Ramachandran, Honeywell’s global product marketing leader, who spoke to us about the Smart Home Security System, an all-in-one device aimed at uncluttering your connected life.
The sleek and surprisingly diminutive device “combines what you normally get from four different products into an elegant design,” Ramachandran told Digital Trends. While it looks like a simple cylindrical speaker, the Smart Home Security actually features an HD camera, security system, home automation hub, and Amazon voice assistance capabilities.
“One of the things we’re focusing on from a design standpoint is things that blend with the decor of your home,” Ramachandran said. Rather than forcing “geeky or gadgety” devices upon customers, Honeywell is instead hoping to create something that can easily disappear into the background of your life, but come to the forefront when needed.
The built-in camera, for example, allows users to live-stream content, get in touch with folks at home via video chat, or set off an alarm should something out of the ordinary occur. And because the system is fully plug and play and comes with batteries, it’s fully portable and can be placed just about anywhere in your home.
And while the system functions well as a security system, Ramachandran told us that the speaker can also be part of your family, so to speak. Rather than only warning you of potentially bad news, the Smart Home Security System can also function as a smart speaker, helping you check the weather, add events to your calendar, or stream music. Because Amazon voice assistance is built directly into the speaker, it works just as an Amazon Echo would.
Moving forward, Honeywell is also looking to integrate Google voice assistance into the system as well, and the company certainly has a track record of making good on its promises when it comes to this device — last year, Honeywell promised to add facial-recognition updates as well as audio analytics to the Smart Home Security System, and those are now live.
The system is still available for preorder for $375 on Indiegogo.
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.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.