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6 Real-Life Downsides to Having a Video Doorbell
When modern video doorbells first hit the market, they seemed like no-brainers. Other than being unbelievably expensi...
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How to Be Your Own Tech Support
High-speed WiFi networks and smart home devices make our lives easier by providing us with entertainment, security, a...
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How to Restart a Router and Modem
For most folks, slow internet is a nightmare from the past. Needing 15 minutes to load a video or several hours to do...
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Modem vs. Router: What's the Difference, and Do You Need Both Devices
At this point, many folks have had internet in their homes for decades. In that time, they’ve been using modems and r...
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The Best Garage Door Keypads of 2023
For added convenience and security, a garage door keypad allows for keyless entry into a garage. For times when a hom...
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The Best Home Intercom Systems of 2023
Some people may remember home intercom systems from the ’70s while others may have encountered them as door-entry dev...
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15 Things You Need for the Perfect Movie Night at Home
One lesson we learned during the pandemic was the importance of recreating our favorite experiences at home. Many peo...
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9 Types of Batteries Every Homeowner Should Know
Electronics are so pervasive in our modern world that you can find devices for an incredible range of functions, from...
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The Best Garage Door Openers of 2023
It used to be that a garage door opener’s controls were pretty basic. It raised or lowered the door with the push of ...
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The Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors of 2023
Robot vacuums for hardwood floors get your wooden floors sparkling clean without leaving damage in their path. Modern...
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The Best Google Home Devices of 2023
Smart-home devices enable you to control a range of gadgets, appliances, and important tasks, whether from home or re...
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The Best Smart Home Devices of 2023
If you’ve got gadgets, up-to-the-minute appliances, and other intelligent fixtures in your home, it may be time to br...
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The Best Amazon Prime Day 2021 Smart Home Deals
It's Amazon Prime Day! We've compiled a list of the latest smart home deals —and we'll be updating this list regularl...
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The Best Motion Sensor Light Switches of 2023
For those who forget to turn lights off, a motion sensor light switch offers an excellent solution for empty rooms th...
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The Best LED Lanterns of 2023
Being left in the dark by a power outage, surprised by severe weather, or setting out unprepared for an outdoor adven...
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How to Refresh Your Home with Smart Technology, According to HGTV Star Breegan Jane
Ready for a refresh? Consider these home automation tips.
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The Best In-Wall Speakers to Elevate Your Entertainment Room
Whether you’re trying to create a home theater room with surround sound or just looking to improve the sound quality ...
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The Best Home Theater Systems of 2023
Although fine for the news and maybe even the occasional scripted TV show, built-in TV speakers just don’t cut it whe...
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The Best AM Radios for News and Weather Updates
A reliable AM radio is a convenient way to stay updated with the local news and weather. It also can double as an ess...
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The Best 9V Battery Options for At-Home Use
Many tools, children’s toys, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other household gadgets rely on 9-volt (9V)...
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The Best Video Doorbells of 2023
A video doorbell is a home security product and also means of being alerted that there’s a visitor—all rolled into on...
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The Best Wireless Home Security Systems to Keep Your Home Secure Remotely
Your home should be the place where you feel the safest; one of the best ways to achieve this peace of mind is by ins...
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The Best Screen Door Closers of 2023
A screen door keeps flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs outside while allowing airflow to cool down the home and cleari...
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The Best Portable Solar Panels of 2023
A personal solar panel lets you enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors without worrying about your camping gear or y...
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The Best Automatic Gate Openers of 2023
While outdoor security cameras and driveway alarms alert you to the presence of visitors on your property, they won’t...
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The Best Hand-Crank Flashlights for Light in Emergency Situations
Whether you are safe at home or out on a camping trip, it can be daunting when the lights go out and you are left in ...
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The Best Smart Doorbell to Upgrade Your Home Security
The days of squinting through a peephole, peaking through the curtains to see who’s at the door, or calling out “who ...
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The Best Coaxial Cables of 2023
Even with a 4K TV, a coaxial cable is necessary to get the best performance. A coaxial cable carries the signal from ...
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The Best USB Extension Cable for Extra Reach
Electronic devices tend to include a USB charging cable that’s only a few feet long. These standard cables may not pr...
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The Best Home Energy Monitors of 2023
Don’t wait until the electric bill arrives to find out how much energy you use. The bill shows only your total energy...
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The Best Home Thermostats of 2023
Thermostats have come a long way from those early models with manual temperature dials that may or may not accurately...
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The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Chilling by the pool, lounging on the beach, and singing in the shower—none of these activities are quite the same wi...
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The Best Smart Blinds and Shades of 2023
Slowly but surely, more and more of our home operations are becoming automatic—and, with each advancement, life becom...
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The Best Ceiling TV Mounts of 2023
Living in small spaces or rooms with knee walls can make it a challenge to find a place to mount a flat-screen TV. Fo...
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The Best In-Ceiling Speakers for the Home
Modern interior design leans toward the sleek and minimalist, banishing the “stuff” of yesterday in favor of clean li...
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The Best Answering Machines for Your Landline Phone
Answering machines were much more prevalent before the advent of smartphones and voicemail technology, yet they still...
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The Best Attic Antennas for Cord-Cutters
Whether you plan on cutting the cord completely or just want access to local channels, a TV antenna is an affordable ...
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The Best Cordless Phones of 2023
Modern cordless phone technology has allowed for better signal security, sound quality, and extended ranges, with som...
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The Best Universal Remotes for Your Entertainment Center
As the number of entertainment gadgets in our homes grows, so does the number of remotes. A coffee table full of remo...
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The Best WiFi Extenders for Stronger Connection at Home
If your router isn’t providing the coverage you need, a WiFi extender may be the solution. A WiFi extender, also call...
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The Best Projection Alarm Clocks for the Bedroom
When you’re in bed, you might find it necessary to roll over, sit up, or crane your neck to view the time displayed o...
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Buyer's Guide: The Best Postal Scales
Do you run a small business from your home? Can’t leave the house often due to caring for young children? Maybe you’d...
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The Best Portable Power Stations Tested in 2023
A portable power station stores an electrical charge in an internal battery to charge various devices, such as a tabl...
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The Best Electronic Door Locks of 2023
Modern lifestyles can be so busy, with various household members all on different schedules, so it’s high time for an...
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The Best TV Antennas for Improved Reception
Broadcast television channels, like local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates, public television stations, and many oth...
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The Best Charging Cables for Your Household Gadgets
Wall chargers provide the juice your device needs, but they can’t function without a charging cable. The best chargin...
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The Best Hidden Cameras for Your Home Security
Hidden cameras offer an easy and affordable way to monitor your home and keep an eye on your valuables. These tiny ye...
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The Best Charging Station for Your Devices
Technology is awesome—until the batteries run out, that is. Phones, tablets, smartwatches, AirPods, e-readers, power ...
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The Best Solar Power Banks for Small Gadgets
Solar energy is an eco-friendly and economical way to power your home, and it can also charge your small gadgets on t...
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The Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2023
Smart light bulbs are a great place to begin making your home, well, smarter. You can turn them on and off, set timer...
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The Best Ergonomic Keyboards for Your Computer Setup
A standard keyboard requires the user to type in an unnatural position, which can put unnecessary strain on your hand...
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The Best Smart Pens for Note-Taking and Drawing
If you prefer taking notes with a pen but you also want to back up a copy, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Through...
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The Best Smart Plugs of 2023
Home automation has taken huge leaps in recent years. Through apps and voice commands, smart devices help people make...
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The Best Outdoor TV Antennas of 2023
Instead of subscribing to streaming services, you could be pulling in free TV channels from the airwaves around your ...
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The Best Smart Home Systems of 2023
Motion sensors, security cameras, refrigerators, heating and cooling systems, door and window locks, light bulbs and ...
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The Best Automatic Plant Waterers for Your Container Garden
Because their growing medium can dry out quickly, container plants require frequent watering to remain healthy, espec...
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The Best Portable Generators of 2023
Portable generators supply power to a home, appliances, small electronics, and even an RV in the event of a power out...
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10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Bought a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
With our busy lives today, it’s no wonder everyone’s looking for ways to speed up—or eliminate—daily chores. Topping the list of time-saving tools is the robotic ...
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The 10 Biggest Security Risks in Today's Smart Home
High-tech appliances and state-of-the-art home gadgets shouldn't come at the cost of safety and security. Learn the risks of upgrading to smart-home systems and f...
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10 Reasons to Consider Switching to Smart Light Bulbs
You’ve heard of LEDs. You’re aware of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). So what’s the next big idea in home illumination? They’re called smart bulbs, and they co...
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Smart Home Skeptic? These Are the Products for You
Still not sold on upgrading your outdated house items for their smarter counterparts? Check out these smart gadgets that will make your life less complicated, mor...
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The Best Smart Gadgets to Use in the Kitchen
While today's fast-paced world leaves little time for food prep, we still want to enjoy delicious home-cooked meals. In that battle to get a tasty, healthy meal o...
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18 House Functions You Didn't Know You Could Control from Your Phone
The smart homes imagined in movies and shows from decades ago are essentially reality now thanks in large part to our phones. Ever-improving technology make it po...
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The 12 Biggest Mistakes You Could Make with a Smart Home
It’s official: The future is now. The everyday tasks of life—locking the door, adjusting the thermostat, dimming the lights, and capturing porch thieves—can all b...
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13 Odd Predictions About the Future That People in Past Decades Got Wrong—And Right
Futurists are known for getting more wrong than right, but they do occasionally strike gold, predicting technological advancements and societal changes decades be...
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10 Types of Tech You and Your Home Can Do Without
It doesn’t always pay to become an early adopter of the latest and greatest technological advancements. In fact, some home tech products just aren't worth the inv...
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3 Reasons Now Is the Time to Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Back in the 9-to-5 world, when people got up, went to work, and returned home at the same time every weekday, nobody ...
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10 Weird But Useful Gadgets You Might Not Have Yet
Thanks to modern technology and digital commerce, homeowners are acquiring increasingly large numbers of gadgets. It seems everyone has— or knows someone who has—...
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Outdated Tech? 8 Ways to Rescue Your Old Data from Old Devices
The computer revolution is already a few generations old, and in all that time we've seen many technologies fall by the wayside as innovative, more efficient devi...
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Hello, Homeowners: The 8 Most Useful Apps for Your Phone
Browse the app store and you'll find dozens of useful apps for homeowners—but most of us don't have the phone storage for them all. So which ones are worth the do...
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8 Stupid Mistakes That Kill Your Electronics
Most people nowadays own thousands of dollars' worth of laptops, smartphones, tablets, and countless other devices that play crucial roles in our everyday lives. ...
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10 Pricey Gadgets That Are Worth Every Penny
Every year, new high-end gizmos flood the market. Some gadgets prove invaluable and others are quickly forgotten and never missed. So how to know if a pricey prod...
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50 Great Gadgets for a Smarter Home
Everyone loves the charm of a historical home—but the houses of yesteryear have nothing on today's for ease and convenience. Advancements in home technology have ...
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15 Fun Gadgets Everyone Wants for Christmas
We've gathered the best gifts, from smartphone accessories to nifty little devices, guaranteed to satisfy the tech lovers on your holiday list.
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12 Inventions That Do All Your Chores
Humans have long harnessed the power of machines to help us work better, faster, and smarter. Many of these technologies work in the background of our home, heati...
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6 Technologies Coming Soon to a Home Near You
We all want to provide our families with "all the comforts of home," but just what those comforts are has evolved over the decades, determined largely by the tech...
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Problem Solved: A Cutting-Edge Cure for Household Hassles
You live and learn—theoretically. But I've lived in my creaky old house for nearly 20 years, and I still haven't mast...
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Home Security 2.0: Design and Install Your Own Smart System
Of all the rooms in the house, my personal office is where I spend the most time. Thickly carpeted and paneled in woo...
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No Gimmicks: 6 New Home Technologies That Really Matter
Digital advances have dramatically reshaped our daily lives, yet for the most part, today's typical home isn't very different from a home built 50 years ago. Ther...
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10 Money-Saving Gadgets That Pay for Themselves
It may seem like a paradox, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a lot of green. Investing in just a few little upgrades like energy-efficient l...
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The Best 9 Smart Home Gadgets of 2015
While some would say smart-home products are a luxury, others would argue that they are the way of the future. Programmable thermostats, smart switches, and even ...
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10 Life-Changing Buys to Help You Survive Winter Mornings
Cold, dark, dreary. Winter mornings can be enough to make you hit the snooze button and crawl back into bed. Luckily there are a number of life-savers that can ma...
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12 Gadgets Every Homeowner Wants for Christmas
With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to start making your gift list and checking it twice. But with so many gadgets on the market today, weeding t...
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Control the Temperature of Your Home—From Anywhere
Smart-home technology has been developing for years now, with forward-looking manufacturers pioneering ever more inge...
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This Motion-Sensing Dimmer Fully Automates Your Lighting
If you've bought new light bulbs anytime in the last few years, you know the selection has changed dramatically for t...
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Never Lose ANYTHING with Tile Tracking Tags
A panicked frenzy over misplaced items as you're rushing out the door—we've all been there, and the stressful search ...
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Get Instant Alerts Whenever Leaks Threaten Your Home
With the exception of fire, water poses the greatest threat to our homes, whether it's a slow-and-steady leak or a su...
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Is This One App Going to Change DIY Forever?
Even if you're a veteran do-it-yourselfer and hip to the many different avenues for project research available on the...
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Scout: A Next-Generation Home Security System
Joining the ranks of smart-home gadgets and gizmos is Scout, a completely wireless, internet-connected home security ...
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Built-In USB Ports Redefine the Wall Socket
In 2015, people are as likely to charge a digital device as they are to plug in a table lamp or a hair dryer. But whi...
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Meet the Next Generation of High-Tech Kitchen Appliances
How'd you like to cook your dinner from your desk and have a hot meal waiting for you when you get home? Sounds pretty good, and it can easily be a reality for an...
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The World's First and Only $99 Light Bulb
Light bulbs didn't change for decades—arguably for a full century. But then, somewhat all of a sudden, a confluence o...
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5 New Smart Home Gadgets for 2015
As surely as the tides ebb and flow, each new year retires older technology and witnesses the arrival of a new genera...
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The Toilets of Tomorrow
High-tech appliances, gadgets, and gizmos are steadily marching into all corners of our lives. So it only makes sense that advanced technology would insinuate its...
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New & Notable: 8 High-Tech Home Security Gadgets
In our high-tech world, keeping your home fully protected is easier than it's ever been. Vastly more sophisticated than those blaring door alarms of yesteryear, t...
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Welcome to AT&T Digital Life: The New Smart Home Security Solution
When it comes to home security, we've certainly come a long, long way from hanging signs that caution "beware of dog"...
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Bob Vila Radio: Central Vacuums
Consider this: In Canada, about 40% of homes are equipped with central vacuum systems. In the U. S. , the figure is l...
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9 Solar Gadgets That Have Us Aglow
Backyards and sunshine go together like hot dogs and mustard. So do these cool new solar gadgets designed to provide light, sound and added convenience to outdoor...
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9 Ways to Turn Your House into a Smart Home
From self-programming thermostats to voice-activated television controls, here are 9 appliances, devices, and gadgets designed to increase your home's tech IQ.
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Waterproof Gadgets to Revolutionize Your Shower Experience
Whether you want to watch TV, write a screenplay, or simply enhance your shower experience, these high-tech upgrades are sure to propel your bath into the 21st ce...
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The Internet-Enabled Home
It’s hard to imagine a house without the Internet, which is being leveraged in more ways by the home’s subsystems, ap...
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Automation for the Smart Home
Like any system, home automation is available on a variety of levels—from the simple to the complex, the ready-to-ins...
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Home Automation Alliances
Home automation systems must talk to one another, but how they do it can vary from company to company and product to ...
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Green Homes—Electronic Controls
Today’s home automation products allow homeowners to take an active role in managing power consumption while controll...
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Selecting Appliances
When researching and selecting appliances, keep a tally of a week’s usage to help you decide what capacity and featur...
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Smart Homes Save Time and Energy
Odds are each night you check to make sure the doors are locked, lights turned off, and windows closed. If you had a ...
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New Tech for Old Homes: 5 Easy Upgrades
There was a time when someone who loves old homes would have found it tough to satisfy his inner high-tech geek. But ...
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12 Gadgets to Lead Your Home into the Future
Sick of housekeeping and home maintenance? Worry not. These home automation products do it all for you—no kidding!
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Bob Vila's Holiday Gift Guide: For the Gadget-Lovers
Tool or toy? For the do-it-yourself, that line is always gray. Browse ten fun and practical holiday gifts for the gadget-crazy handyperson in your life.
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Bob Vila Radio: Home Automation
Whole-home wiring systems, or smart home systems, have been around for decades, but it’s only since wireless communic...
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One-Touch Automation for Your Home
Light switches are a problem in our home. Every single light switch is in the wrong place—or at least it always seems...
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New Smart Home Option: AT&T's Digital Life
Technology is permeating our domestic lives and "smart homes" are at the apex of this movement. Communications giant ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Smart Appliances
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
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The Benefits of a Central Vacuum System
When we were weighing options for our home, a new construction, I was almost certain we wouldn’t elect to put in a ce...
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Heavy-Duty Garage Door Opener and Features
Bob checks out a Sears garage door opener-- at 3/4 horsepower, it's among the strongest on the market.
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Kitchen Internet Appliance
Brent Thompson (from IceBox) joins Bob in the kitchen to talk about a new Internet appliance.
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Structured Wiring Options
Bob and Tim Woods (of Internet Home Alliance) discuss the basics of structured wiring and connectivity in the basement of the Vermont farmhouse.
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Home Technology Update
Bob meets up with Tim Woods (of the Internet Home Alliance) in the basement of the Quechee home to hear about the progress made integrating the connected home tec...
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Reviewing the Features of OnStar and the Home Entertainment Center
Bob checks email from his truck using GM OnStar's Virtual Advisor functionality. He then meets with Tim Woods (from the Internet Home Alliance) to check out the P...
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Kinetico Water Purification System and Gas-Fired Water Heater
Bob explains how the Kinetico water purification system works and reviews the A.O. Smith ProMax 75 gas-fired water heater.
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Reviewing Satellite Dish Features and the Master Bedroom
Bob experiences the Panasonic Replay TV with the show-stopper feature and he tours the master bedroom suite, admiring the space, scope, and the view.
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Structured Wiring Installation
Bob joins Tim Woods (from Internet Home Alliance) in the basement to look over the network connection center, the area responsible for the homeowners' internet, t...
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Interlocking Beech Flooring, Anti-Static Carpeting, and the Media Room
Bob looks at the beech flooring in the key hall, before moving to the media room to discuss the carpeting with Gary Johnston (from DuPont) and the electronic comp...
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Manufacturing Photovoltaic Devices at the Global Solar Factory
Bob visits the Global Solar factory in Tucson, AZ to see how they company manufactures its unique solar-electric (photovoltaic) devices.
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Networking, Entertainment, and Security Wiring for the Home
Bob Ryley meets with Ken Frankel (from Lucent Technologies) to discuss the new HomeStar wiring system.
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Discussing the Home Automation System
Bob meets with Tom Morgan (from Home Automation) to view and discuss the "brain" of the home automation system. Next, Bob checks in with the wiring contractor to ...
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Technology Systems in the Governor's Mansion
Bob inspects the remote device, controlling the PA system, HVAC, lighting, and entertainment systems. In the basement, Bob Ryley is exploring the wires and cables...
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Wiring the Virginia Governor's Mansion
Bob meets with James Gilmore, the governor of Virginia at the time of the executive mansion's restoration. Gilmore stresses the practical and symbolic importance ...
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Mahogany Deck and Kitchen Appliances
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
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Installing the Garage Door Opener
The garage door openers are installed on the automotive end of the garage. Bob reviews the brackets and beams used to mount the opener's drive, as well as the cha...
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Garage Door Opener Installation
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a Craftsman garage door opener.
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