Home Automation
How to Migrate from SmartThings to Home Assistant | Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Complete guide to migrating your smart home from SmartThings to Home Assistant. Learn hardware, device pairing, automation setup, and timelines.
How-To Guides
From beginner to advanced user, read out step-by-step how-to guides to solve problems related to iPhone, Watch, MacBooks, and more.
39 articles
Home Automation
How to Set Up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant | Local AI Camera Detection Guide
Step-by-step guide to setting up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant for local AI-powered camera detection. No cloud, no subscriptions, full privacy control.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Home Assistant Green | Beginner's Guide to Local Smart Home Control
Home Assistant Green setup guide for beginners. Step-by-step unboxing, first boot, device discovery, and automations. Local smart home control made easy.
Home Automation
How to Automate Your Existing Window Blinds | Smart Home Blinds Guide (2025)
Learn how to automate your existing window blinds without replacing them. SwitchBot, IKEA FYRTUR, and SOMA smart shades compared with installation tips.
Home Automation
How to Build a DIY Presence Sensor with ESP32 and ESPHome | Under $15
Build a DIY presence sensor with ESP32 and LD2410B mmWave sensor for under $15. ESPHome firmware, Home Assistant integration, step-by-step guide.
Home Automation
How to Add Matter Devices to Apple Home | Setup Guide for iPhone and iPad
Step-by-step guide to adding Matter devices to Apple Home on iPhone and iPad. Includes pairing troubleshooting tips and multi-admin setup instructions.
Apps
Elevating My Smart Home Experience: Why I Switched from SmartThings to Hubitat
After many years of satisfied SmartThings automation, I started wanting more from my IoT hub and began looking for better solutions. Then I found the Hubitat Elevation hub, and my smart home was forever changed for the better.
Hardware
What is Z-Wave? Learn about the most powerful home automation network
As technology continues to advance, the concept of the smart home is becoming more and more popular. Home automation and IoT devices have taken over homes across the world, and with good reason. They offer convenience, security, and energy efficiency, making our lives easier and more comfortable. However, with so many devices available in the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your home.
Coronavirus
3 Household Materials That Filter Out Viruses (DIY COVID-19 Face masks)
The CDC and White House now recommend wearing a homemade face mask when you venture out of your house. These recommendations specifically refer to homemade masks, to avoid diminishing the already depleted N95 face mask supply - desperately needed by hospital and front-line workers repeatedly exposed to the Coronavirus COVID-19.
Gadgets
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'.
Home Automation
Top 100 Wifi Network Names of 2023
1. Mom, Click Here for Internet 2. Bill Wi the Science Fi 3. Abraham Linksys 4. Keep it on the Download 5. Drop it like it’s Hotspot 6. TheWorldWasWifiEnough 7. B(.)(.)bies ...over 100 more.
Cable Management
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.
Apps
How to Optimize Your Home WiFi Network for Speed
In addition to router brand, home size, and internet service provider (ISP) speed caps, there are a number physical factors - inside and outside - which can affect performance and speed of the WiFi network in your home. It's important to think about these factors when placing access points, and mesh network nodes, around your house.
Apps
WebCoRE Automation for SmartThings
WebCoRE is capable of executing automation flows using inputs from any Z-Wave or Zigbee device connected to your SmartThings hub. Explore pistons...
Apple Guides
3 Steps to fix Frozen MacBook on Startup
If your MacBook or MacBook Pro is frozen and unresponsive, save yourself a trip to the Genius Bar by following these simple reset steps.
Apple Guides
How to Mount iMac Display to Adjustable Arm Mount for Thick Desktops
Once I found an arm-mount that could fit my desk, I needed to convert the 2 Apple Cinema Displays to VESA-compatible mounts. It's easy to swap
Home
SmartThings Home Automation Guide
New to SmartThings? Looking for the best Z-wave devices for your smart home? Read reviews of popular devices, how-to guides for integrations, and more.
Apple Guides
AirPort Express firmware update enables AirPlay 2 and Apple Home App support
Many AirPort Express users connect their existing analog stereo via aux for basic multi-device playback, however, streaming was limited...
Apple Guides
Track Crypto Portfolios with Coin Stats for iOS
Coin Stats is a beautifully designed app for multiple portfolios, containing any of the 1,500 supported coins and exchanges, tracking price.
Apple Guides
Coin Ticker: Free iOS App for Altcoin Portfolios
Coin Ticker is a simple, free, basic coin tracking app. The Portfolio feature allows multiple portfolios to track coin prices over time.
Apple Guides
Bitcoin Ticker iOS App for Crypto Price Tracking
Read our review of Bitcoin Ticker iOS app, and see how to add Bitcoin (or any coin) live market price to your Watch watch face.
DIY Essentials
What is Z-Wave? An introduction to smart home networking
Learn about the underlying network that powers most modern smart homes, including those with Samsung SmartThings hubs running online.
Apple Guides
How to Track Bitcoin Price on Apple Watch Face
Everyone's talking about Bitcoin and Ethereum, and if you've taken the plunge and purchased any form of Cryptocurrency, you might want to keep an eye on its price throughout the day.
Home
Extend IR Range of Any Night Vision Security Camera
Why You Need Infrared Illuminators Both digital and analog security cameras rely on infrared LEDs to illuminate the image when there’s no sunlight or externa...
Apps
Party Strobe Lights with Hue Disco App
Read about how to turn party mode ON with your Phillips Hue lights. All you need is an iOS device with a microphone! Step by step guide...
Apple Guides
Hands-On Review of iOS 11
Apple is planned to refresh a nearly all of its existing hardware and software this year. On the hardware side, we have refreshed MacBooks, new budget iPad, three upcoming iPhone models, as well as the next generation Apple Watch. In terms of software, the big announcement everyone is waiting for is iOS 11.
Apple Products
Will iPhone 8 have a headphone jack?
It started with iPhone 7, when Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack. Now the ultimate question is, will the next iPhone have 1?
Home Automation
What is Google Home? How does it work?
Google home is a voice assisted speaker which functions like a virtual assistant in your home. About the size of a soup can, Google home can..
Apple Guides
Find IMEI or Serial Number of Lost iPhone
There are two ways to retrieve your iPhone IMEI: iTunes backup and Apple ID. If you've ever plugged your iPhone into your computer...
Apple Guides
Apple Watch History and Help
Apple Watch introduced a new charging method to Apple’s product lineup. The watch is the first product to use wireless charging. Find out...
Apple Guides
How to Charge the Apple Watch
Dead Watches Aren't Fun Just picked up your new Apple Watch but unfamiliar with how to charge the battery? This guide will show you how to charge your Apple ...
Apple Guides
How to Back Up iPhone to Computer (iTunes)
There are 2 standard ways to backup the contents of your iPhone: iTunes backup and iCloud backup. This guide will show you how to perform an iTunes backup.
Apple Guides
How to Reset a Frozen iPhone
If your iPhone is frozen or starting to get extremely sluggish, the 1st fix to try is a 'hard reset'. This takes about 2 min and won't erase anything.
Apple Guides
What is Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay is a new Apple product that makes using an iPhone in the car safer and easier. Find out more.
Apps
Improve Nest "Away Mode" by Using Phone GPS
Using Nest Thermostat, learn how to leverage your GPS location to tell Nest when you are home or away, helping improve you automated schedule.
Apps
Smart Home 101: Nest Thermostat
The Nest Learning thermostat is a universal heat pump/air conditioner controller that you can control in-person or on your iPhone or Android cell phone.
How-To Guides
What is McDonald's new STRAW?
There's been a lot of buzz about the new McDonald's straw - what's the big deal? We break it down for you.
Apple Guides
What does “Sent with Fireworks” mean?
Have you received a message that says (Sent with Fireworks)? This is because the sender is using a special animation that only works with Apple iOS 10 or later.
Apple Guides
2016 Vehicles Supporting Apple CarPlay
Which 2016 cars support Apple CarPlay? Read this list of vehicle models that have CarPlay functionality. CarPlay enables drivers to use their iPhone safely