After eight years of torturing my family with smart bulbs, sensors, connected kitchen appliances, and an assortment of software and devices that tended to mostly work, but would fail only at 2 a.m. in a show of sparks or lights or noise, I have … [Read more...]
Avoiding the smart device Ponzi scheme
When it comes to connected devices, cloud costs can be a kick in the pants. Surprise AWS bills from inexpert architecture, a sudden rise in customers storing video, or an inability to keep selling more hardware as the usage of a platform grows can … [Read more...]
Are we finally ready for smarter HVAC vents?
A few years back, I covered a trifecta of startups that were building connected air vents. Ecovent, Keen.io, and Flair were putting motors and sensors onto air vents so the vents could open or close based on the ambient temperature in individual … [Read more...]
Google’s ADT partnership turns the smart home into a service
Google has taken an investment stake in alarm company ADT as well as signed a deal to tie ADT's installer network to the Google ecosystem of smart home products. The deal helps Google by bringing professional installers into the homes of consumers to … [Read more...]
Podcast: Here’s what people at CES said about CHIP
This week's show was dedicated to a wrap up of CES 2020. Kevin and I shared how the show has changed in the last 15 years, talked about technology for Boomers, the Withings ScanWatch and ran through several new maker boards. We covered the $2 Wemos … [Read more...]