With all the smart home tech available today, what smart home products are important for your home automation? There is a plethora of smart home devices available that are ready and available for your home. These items may include a smart thermostat, smart speaker, smart lights, smart plugs and a smart lock for added security and functionality.
These are just some of the smart home gadgets that are available. It is also crucial to remember what ecosystem you may be using. For example, if you use an Apple iPhone, an Apple home pod speaker has compatibility with Apple HomeKit and the Siri voice assistant. So, in the same vein as Amazon’s Alexa compatible devices, such as the Amazon Echo Show, you can operate compatible smart home devices with your voice assistant.
Not only that, but these can really enhance your home security. Having smart home items like a video doorbell from a manufacturer like Ring, which also can operate your home’s security cameras, allows you to use the accompanying app for a home security system that not only can monitor who comes and goes from your home, but has accompanying cloud storage so you can save days if not weeks back of security recordings. Plus, with the compatibility with Alexa when connected to your home Wi-Fi through your router, you can use the app to log into your security system at any time and get real time alerts sent directly to your phone.
MyQ is an interesting company as they make smart home devices dedicated to the security of your garage. These include a smart garage door, security cameras and a video doorbell with a smart locking deadbolt with a backlight keypad, all dedicated to the security giving homeowners peace of mind.
When discussing smart home devices, creating your own smart home system has never been easier. Google Nest products like their Nest Mesh Routers, coupled with a built in google assistant, allows you to control google assistant compatible devices like the aforementioned smart light bulbs. Having a “Google Home” works great with your Android phone, just open your Google Home App and control your smart home security devices, like your smart doorbell. This will allow you to lock or unlock the door even when you are away from home. So, if your child heads home from school, before you leave work, you can easily control your door lock by unlocking the door for them from your phone’s app and the re-locking the door once they are safely inside.
Having a smart home hub can control all your smartthings like a robot vacuum such as a Roomba and allow you to utilize their potentially included touch screen smart display, the voice control to make video calls and set up voice commands for usage on other smart home items. These could range from a cam by your front door, to setting up your thermostat with its smart technology to have more efficient energy usage, automated energy monitoring and ultimately have energy-savings on your utility bill.
So, what are some of the best smart home devices that will help future proof your home?
Smart Home Technology
Routers and Smart Home
Having a router, especially a good mesh router will help you create a sort of home LAN network, in which each satellite router speaks with the main router and creates a mesh network. This is often found in Tri-Band 5Ghz + Wi-Fi Routers that mesh capability, as the third band is used to create a fast wireless backhaul from your satellites to the main router. For even faster speeds, to boost your home automation, you can hardwire each satellite together, thus eliminating the need for a wireless backhaul and allowing you to use the fastest third band on your router.
The Google Nest has long been considered one of the best smart thermostats on the market. It is unbelievable what this smart thermostat can do. It can adapt to your habits and living conditions, automatically changing settings and alerts (like air quality issues) for you. You can also use the accompanying app at any time to control the smart thermostat from anywhere, as long as it is connected to your Wi-Fi or Zigbee home network.
We also are massive movie and television watchers, so having a Smart TV from manufactures like Samsung, allows us to connect our peripherals via bluetooth like a great Sonos smart Home Speaker. You can also connect some of the newest A/V receivers and soundbars and to your smart home system, as they can be controlled with voice assistants like Siri, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
If you happen to have a TP-Link router you can use kasa Smart Home Devices which can control things like your light switch, smart light with a Philips Hue bulb.
Additional Smart Home Products
Below we will examine some fantastic smart home products (in no order) that will help with your overall home automation and future proof your home (to an extent) as new technology comes out. Remember to check compatibility of your smart home products with your preferred voice assistant, prior to purchasing an item.
Ease of Use Items
Item #1
One item that we really feel enhances our daily routine is the Capstone Connected ThinCast Touchscreen Smart Mirror. Every morning, as we are getting ready for work, we are looking in the mirror, so why not take advantage of that time to get information, viewing items and alerts. This works on the Android platform, sort of as a wall tablet where you can download some of your favorite apps. There are basic apps that come standard with this smart mirror such as weather, email, your calendar and a clock. You can also download widgets and personalize them as well, so they only show you content you want to see. You can stream videos from YouTube or use the Firefox browser to peruse the internet while you are getting ready in front of the mirror.
With built in Wi-Fi AC and Bluetooth 5.0, you can connect this mirror to your home’s router and devices like bluetooth headphones for a more private listening experience while watching or listening to content from your smart mirror. You can also cast content from your Android or Apple device and have it appear on your smart mirror. Plus, with a USB-C and USB-A ports, you can connect additional peripheral devices to the Capstone Smart Mirror.
Item #2
When it comes to home security, you should try and get the one of the best home security products on the market. There is nothing more relieving, than knowing your loved ones are protected the best smart home security products. Items like a video doorbell which also has night vision as with smart home security cameras, are available through Lorex. Check out some of these great home security cameras which can record in up to 4K, come with cloud storage options and really give you a sense of ease and security.
Item #3
We love the newly announced Lorex 2K Wired Video Doorbell. This video doorbell has 32 GB of internal storage on its SD card and can record at a resolution of 2K with color night vision, so you can easily make out a subject at your front door. You can also set the LED light to activate when the video doorbell senses motion detection near it. This may help deter potential thieves and other unwanted sorts from your home. You can use the Lorex app on your smartphone or tablet to connect with people at your front door through the video doorbell even when you aren’t home. There is also two way talking, so you can let the individual know when you will be back or communicate anything you want through the app. All data is saved on the local SD card inserted into the smart doorbell and you can change these out as frequently as needed or overwrite on them, if you don’t need older security footage. It’s a great DIY home security system as it is also compatible with Amazon Alexa controlled through your phone, an Amazon Fire TV Stick or even an amazon echo dot.
Final Thoughts
Why not take advantage of all the smartthings that are available to us? Setting up home automation via Smart Items will help you relax, make life easier, safer and more convenient. So now with the holidays approaching, as a homeowner, it is a great time to grab one or more of these smart home devices.
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