Home Automation

The Android app for Belkin’s WeMo line of home automation products is now available

belkin wemo android app 2

I reviewed the Belkin WeMo Smart Home Automation Switch about a year ago, and at the time, you really needed an iOS device to control the products.  There was an Android app, but it was in beta, but Belkin announced late last month that the Android app is ready.  Just like with the iOS app

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Turn any light bulb into a WiFi-connected bulb

emberlight kickstarter 2

This Kickstarter project gives you the tools to turn any dimmable light bulb into a WiFi-controllable bulb.  You don’t need hubs, and getting your house connected is as easy as signing the bulb into your router.  The emberlight is a screw-in base that you can use with any of your current light fixtures or lamps

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Manage your lights from your living room or from anywhere in the world

connected by tcp 1

Belkin has announced some connected light bulbs in their WeMo home automation line, but they have been “coming soon” for a long time now.  I discovered some other internet-connect LED bulbs while checking on the status of the Belkins recently.  The Connected by TCP smart lighting system consists of 11W LED bulbs, a gateway to

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Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat review

Honeywell Wi Fi Smart Thermostat 1

Thermostats, in my day they only came in two varieties: round and rectangular . Today, thermostats are still available in rectangular and round, but now they also come in smart versions and programmable versions as well. With features such as digital and touch screens, humidity sensors and even some that will learn your habits. Thermostats

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Magically turn on your lights with a wave of your hand using the iON capacitive switch

ion touchless capacitive switch 2

You’ve just come home to a dark house and your arms are full of groceries. With the wave of an arm or hand over the iON capacitive switch, you can turn on (or off) your lights without having to set your groceries down! And for the germaphobes out there, you no longer have to touch

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Now you can control your Phillips Hue lights from your Mac computer

hue menu mac app

I got the Phillips Hue lights starter kit for Christmas, and I control them with an app on my iPhone or iPad.  Sometimes I’m at my computer and would like to turn on the lights, but I can’t unless I have one of my mobile devices with me.  Phillips made the API available for third-party

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This connected window air conditioner keeps your home cool on your schedule

quirky aros air conditioner 2

Programmable thermostats are great for minimizing heating and cooling costs while maximizing your comfort, but they don’t work for people who rely on window air conditioning units.  Leave it to the folks at Quirky and GE to develop the WiFi-connected Aros Smart Window Air Conditioner.  It works with the Wink app, so you can monitor,

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Belkin expands its WeMo line with internet-connected light bulbs and a Crock Pot

belkin wemo lights and crock pot

According to Belkin’s latest press release, they are introducing new WeMo products at the 2014 CES.  I’ve been using Belkin WeMo Switches to automate my lamps for months now, and they have worked flawlessly.  I wanted to use some of their WeMo Light Switches to control ceiling lights, but the wiring in my older home

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Now you can monitor energy usage with the latest WeMo Switch

wemo insight switch

I’ve been using four WeMo Switch modules in my house for a few months now, and they work great for turning lights on and off on a program and for letting me manually control them from anywhere I have internet connectivity.  Belkin isn’t resting on their laurels, though, and they have announced the WeMo Insight

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Now you can control your light switches with WeMo controllers

wemo light switch

I recently reviewed the Belkin WeMo Smart Home Automation Switch, and I’m still happily using four of them everyday to control my table lamps and the Fake TV.  There are some rooms, like the bathroom, that don’t have table lamps, but I’d still like to be able to remotely control my ceiling fixture in there.

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Control your entire house with the Revolv system

revolv home automation

If you’ve started trying to automate your house and find you’ve now got a variety of systems doing various tasks, you should check out the Revolv Smart Home Solution.  Simply power up the Revolv hub in your home, and it uses the proprietary FlashLink system to join your local network (you’ll need to enter the

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Philips compact fluorescent bulbs with built-in photocell automatically turn on your porch lights

Screen Shot 2013 07 31 at 10.51.45 AM

I recently reviewed the Belkin WeMo Switch and said it was one of the steps I was taking to automate my home and increase its security. The Switches work great to control lamps plugged into outlets inside my house, but my porch lights don’t plug in to an outlet. I had first thought that I

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Belkin WeMo Smart Home Automation Switch review

belkin wemo 1

I have some OCD tendencies that are under control now for the most part, but I still freak out about leaving the house unattended for any length of time.  I don’t mean I have agoraphobia, but I’m afraid someone will break into the house while I’m out, even for a few hours.  We don’t have

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