If you don’t have a smart home hub but want to automate some of your devices, a service such as IFTTT or Yonomi are good options. But they’re not the only ones, they just have been around the longest. Enter Olisto as a relatively new option for both … [Read more...]
How to reduce smart speaker clutter: Ceiling and wall mounts
On our most recent IoT Podcast, Jeff called into our voicemail hotline and asked about something that I too have been struggling with: smart speaker overload. By overload, I don't mean having too many smart speakers but having these devices taking up … [Read more...]
My 4 favorite home automations and voice commands
Last week, I surprised many readers when I noted why automated scenes don’t get any love in my home. And I was surprised that between comments on the blog and on social media were split fairly evenly: About half of them were in the same boat as me … [Read more...]
Google Assistant on Sonos is mostly great, with just a few limitations
After a year-and-a-half of waiting, Sonos officially supports the Google Assistant. A Sonos software update is required and is in the process of rolling out now, first in the US, to be followed by the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, The … [Read more...]
How to stop guests from voice controlling your smart home
An interesting and slightly amusing voicemail came in to the IoT Podcast Hotline this week: The caller's guests are changing his thermostat settings by voice when they come over. The issue isn't specific to just a thermostat though since, in theory, … [Read more...]