Posts in Smart

How do Smart Assistants Work Under the Hood?

Posted on 19th Aug 2020 01:44:57 in General, Smart

It seems every device these days include a virtual assistant, from mobile phones to desktop computers and more recently even regular looking speakers. All this is very nice and can surely come in handy now and then but what are they really and how do they work?

How voice assistants work

The Ultimate Guide to Smart Plugs

Posted on 14th Aug 2020 14:42:04 in General, Smart

Smart plugs are pretty awesome. They allow devices that would normally have no smart capabilities to be controlled over the network by a controller or app. These versatile little plugs have so many uses and vastly different features that it can become confusing to try and navigate this space. Here are the most common smart plug questions, answered.

Smart plugs

4 Great Ways to Setup Offline Home Automation

Posted on 9th Aug 2020 23:30:55 in DIY, General, Smart

Home automation is really awesome. Who doesn't want things to happen automatically around the house? One of the common questions about home automation is if it can be used offline. The answer is a resounding, yes! There are a lot of ways to do this, and they vary significantly in cost and difficulty, so I encourage you to really dig into each option to decide which is right for you.

Offline Home Automation No WiFi

Should you buy an Amazon Echo Flex? - Full Review

Posted on 7th Aug 2020 17:05:56 in IoT, Review, Smart

Smart voice assistants are quite popular now. One of the big players in this industry is Amazon with its Echo line of products - most recently, the Echo Flex. What can it do? Does it respect your privacy? Is it worth it? Find out in this comprehensive review!

The Echo Flex Plugged in

How to Easily Make a Smart Kettle

Posted on 5th Aug 2020 23:38:23 in DIY, Home Assistant, IoT, Smart, Tutorial

A lot of people have kettles and wouldn't it be nice if it started boiling water for your morning tea automatically? While there exist many commercial kettles that offer integrated technology, they are often expensive and require replacing your existing device. Lucky for us there is an easy way to convert a regular kettle into a smart one using a cheap smart plug. Learn how to make a smart kettle out of a regular one using a smart plug!

How to make a smart kettle