Smart Thermostats, Security and More...

Innovations in smart-home technology have made it possible for consumers to make modifications to their existing homes to increase efficiency and comfort. Some of today’s high-demand devices in smart-home include: ·
 Smart thermostats – Among the most popular and most effective at improving energy efficiency, smart thermostats can learn the temperature preferences of the homeowner and auto-adjust on schedule. · Smart security systems – typically include remote/mobile-access and control to security camera footage and auto-locking doors. ·

Read more: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/12/7/337582/Chris-Mabee-A-Gift-For-The-Smart-Home.aspx

Installing Smart Home Shades

Smart Shades aren't just expensive decorations as they can change how you interact with your home's natural light. I use the shades at the CNET Smart Home more than any light switch. Opening the shades is more efficient -- especially when you can just issue Siri a voice command to operate them. If you're really ambitious, you can even control home temperature more economically, by scheduling the shades to open and close at specific times. If you've got the cash and you want the shades, the question is: Which ones should you buy? To help with the decision, I conducted a head-to-head comparison between Somfy's motorized shades and Lutron's Serena Shades.

Read more: https://www.cnet.com/news/smart-home-showdown-somfy-shades-vs-lutron-serena/

Smart Home Installations Essentials

Smart home is one that is equipped with security cameras, lighting, heating, televisions and other electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by phone, tablet or computer. According to Coldwell Banker, more than 25 percent of households currently own smart home devices. That number is expected to grow over the next five years. Originally, smart homes were the domain of the rich. Today, thanks in advances in technology, smart homes can be within anyone's reach. If you're in the market for a smart home, what gizmos/gadgets are essential and what can you live without?

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/realestate/mc-smart-home-sunday-real-estate-1225-20161223-story.html

What’s the simplest way to start Smart Home?

If you want to automate your home with “smart home” gadgets, and you’re not a super-geek, watch out. Incautious consumers, like one listener who wrote into Too Embarrassed to Ask, may buy devices that don’t work with one another. “Maybe we’ll get there at some point. Today, there isn’t one” The Verge’s Dan Seifert said on the new podcast. “There is one that I can recommend that covers most of the bases: If you are looking to start with a smart home today, I would recommend looking at the Samsung SmartThings hub.” So what makes SmartThings a better start than Apple HomeKit, which the listener who wrote in had bought?

Read more: http://www.recode.net/2016/12/9/13894976/smart-home-homekit-smartthings-amazon-echo-dan-seifert-recode-podcast

Sonos users can now control their systems from Spotify

Sonos and Spotify have long been associated with each other, but the relationship has become even closer as you now control your connected music system from the Spotify app. This feature is now available to all Spotify Premium subscribers with a Sonos music system. The feature has been reserved for Android, Apple Mac and PC users until now, but iOS users can now reap the control benefits too. Anyone with a Spotify Premium subscription now has the ability to fully control what music plays through a Sonos system without having to open the Sonos dedicated application.

Read more: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/139343-now-all-sonos-users-can-now-control-their-systems-from-spotify

Savant's Smart Home Hub

There are plenty of smart-home systems available, things like WeMo and SmartThings and the Wink Hub. But long before any of those products could be found and long before the “Internet of Things” was a buzzword, such integrated systems could only be obtained via a pricey home installation specialist. A leader in this field is Savant, a decade-old company that sells professional custom installations to control thermostats, lights, blinds, music, and security systems in mansions, castles, and yachts the world over.

Read more: https://www.wired.com/2015/10/savant-smart-home-hub/

Best Product of the Year: Smart Home

Last year, the Amazon Echo took Yahoo's spot for the Best Home Product of 2015. The Google Home is brand new and very similar to where Alexa was in terms of skills when it debuted. It can’t control as much of your smart home as the Echo or Dot, but the Home is savvy as heck. Since it’s connected to user's Google account, it knows a lot about you, from your calendar to where you work to your location. It uses that information to find nearby restaurants, let you know what events you have every day, and give you a briefing on your commute.

Read more: https://sports.yahoo.com/news/best-products-2016-smart-home-111556433.html