All reviews of smart home device, apps, and services. Daily updates of the most popular and reliable devices for Samsung SmartThings and other Z-Wave or Zigbee home automation hubs. Guides, tips, and tricks for smart home buttons, sensors, lights, and more.
Tag: Product Review
Why I Migrated My Smart Home from SmartThings to Hubitat Elevation
HomeKit support is available on Hubitat Elevation smart home hubs (as of January 2023)! Finally a seamless solution to connecting your Z-Wave, Zigbee, and WiFi devices to Apple's HomeKit network and controllable from the Apple Home app. Learn more
After many years of satisfied SmartThings...
Top 3 Smart Toilet Seats for 2020
Not as smart as you'd think.
But considering the amount of time we spend bonding with them... why not make it better?
These toilet seats are not compatible with SmartThings or any other home automation platform. But they call themselves "smart" because...they're cool.
Of the current 2020...
Best 4K HDMI Gaming Monitors with UHD & HDR (Updated 2023)
Whether for XBOX or PlayStation, these monitors are capable of displaying the highest quality 4K images via HDMI with UHD and HDR 10. Ports, power, and more.
Optimal Netgear Orbi Router Settings for Signal Strength and Speed
To access these settings, login to orbilogin.com (while connected to the network), click the Advanced tab, then choose Advanced Setup from the left sidebar menu. These settings are only available if your Orbi is in 'Router mode'.
The Ultimate Guide to Buttons for SmartThings
After reviewing over 25 smart buttons for SmartThings and other smart home hubs, we thought it'd be helpful to single-out the top 3 buttons to date. The buttons we link to below are natively compatible with SmartThings, and utilize Z-wave, Zigbee, and sometimes both.
Aeotec NanoMote Quad: Multi-function Z-Wave Controller
Released in early 2019, the new Aeotec NanoMote (Available on Amazon) comes natively compatible with Samsung SmartThings, in addition to other Z-Wave Smart Home Hubs. Offering 4 physical buttons, each with 2 touch-modes (short press & long press), the NanoMote is an upgrade to the Aeotec WallMote Dual and Quad button controllers. Comparatively, the NanoMote is significantly smaller; measuring about 2-inches by 2/3-inch.
Cable Management Tools for DIY Home Automation Projects
Black extension cord running along a white baseboard? Matrix of cables hanging from your new flat screen? Three power strips plugged into each other in the closet?
These types of finishing touches can detract from the hard work and hours it took to setup. A few simple additions focused on cable management, like cable clips or raceways, can give any project a professional appearance.
New Philips Hue Outdoor Smart Lighting
Philips Hue is the leader in smart, colored lighting solutions for residential and DIY projects. While Hue products are on the higher end of the price spectrum, their quality and durability easily justify the price tag. Compared the cheap, LED light strips...
Control Existing Window Blinds with Voice & App
Available on Amazon The idea behind MySmartBlinds is simple: place a small WiFi/Bluetooth servo motor, hidden inside the existing housing of your window blinds, to open, close, and adjust the angle of the slats manually, or on a...
Sonos One vs. Sonos Play:1 – What’s the difference?
The main, and biggest, difference between the 'Play:1' and 'One' is Alexa - the Sonos One has Amazon Alexa voice assistant built in. Both the Sonos Play:1 and Sonos One have 2 drivers, built-in WiFi, a standard wall plug, and are wall-mount compatible.