Got a home improvement project coming up, but don’t want to spend a small fortune on the tools and equipment you need to get the job done? Check out this fresh new line of smart power tools from Ryobi. Each tool is designed to work with your smartphone and leverage the high-tech components it’s already got inside (high-resolution touchscreen display, motion processing, HD camera, motion processing, microphone, etc), so despite being incredibly powerful and easy to use, the tools themselves are fairly low tech and inexpensive.
The Phone Works line, as they call it, features a slew of different testing and measuring tools that plug into your Android or iOS phone via the headphone jack. There’s a laser level, laser distance finder, infrared thermometer, stud finder, moisture meter, inspection scope, and even a pair of noise-suppressing headphones — all of which work with Ryobi’s accompanying smartphone app to provide extra functionality.
Related: Bosch’s new laser rangefinder augments reality on your smartphone
Take the laser level, for example. Plug this tool into your phone, and it’ll use your phone’s accelerometers and onboard motion processing abilities to project a perfectly level crosshair onto your wall. With the app, you can also use the Angle Finder function to set custom laser angles for when you’re dealing with an uneven playing field.
Similarly, the infrared thermometer clips onto your phone and works in conjunction with your phone’s existing camera to display a thermal map of whatever you’re pointing it at. In a lot of ways it’s similar to the Flir TG165 imaging thermometer and others like it, but Ryobi’s device uses a visual image – instead of IR – for targeting and measurement logging. And of course, since Ryobi leans on your smartphone and doesn’t have to build a big LCD screen and advanced image processing into the device, this little gizmo is drastically cheaper than most standalone infrared thermometers.
Another awesome addition to the Phone Works lineup is Ryobi’s noise-suppressing headphones. In addition to both active and passive noise canceling, these little earbuds can work with your phone’s microphone to selectively filter out certain noises (the whine of a circular saw, for example) and amplify other ones (other people’s voices and conversations).
Released just last week, the Phone Works line is currently available exclusively through Home Depot. Find out more here.
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.