FarmBOX is a DIY plant management system: It’s hard to believe that a meager $15 Raspberry Pi Zero 2 can help you grow indoor plants like a master gardener. OK, it takes more than just the $5 compute board; you’ll need a compatible camera sensor, a … [Read more...]
How to use a HomeKit garage door opener with an Alexa smart lock
On our latest IoT Podcast episode, we take a question that Steve left on our IoT Voicemail Hotline. Steve is transitioning his smart home platform from using Amazon Alexa to Apple HomeKit. However, his family likes the fingerprint sensor door lock in … [Read more...]
Maybe we should be talking to our connected devices instead of our smart homes
Last week, I read reports of Sonos creating its own voice assistant for the company's audio speaker products. My first reaction? "That's just stupid," I thought. What's the benefit of doing that when there are already several capable digital … [Read more...]
Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi lock: Apple Home Key arrives
Ever since Apple announced Home Key last year, I've been anxiously waiting to try a smart lock that supports it. Home Key uses the same NFC technology as ApplePay on iOS devices. With Home Key, an iPhone or Apple Watch acts as a digital key for your … [Read more...]
Home Assistant’s newest release is big and awesome
Although I've gone all-in on HomeKit for personal use, there are still other great smart home options out there. And one of them is Home Assistant, which often gets lost in the connected platform shuffle. If you're not familiar with it, Home … [Read more...]