I installed the Aeotec Garage Door Controller in my house last month. The Garage Door Controller runs on Z-Wave, so I needed to have a hub with it. I used the Hubitat Elevation Hub to get it running online. I will share my installation experience here on automatelife.net. Why do I need a Smart Garage… Read More Aeotec Garage Door Controller (Gen5) Installation Experience
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) about the Google Nest Hub Max. The Nest Hub Max was released in a few countries already. Hoping that you’re already making the most out of your Google Nest Hub Max. Enjoy the Nest Hub Max FAQ: Hope you enjoy using the Google Nest Hub Max. Everything you’re… Read More Google Nest Hub Max FAQ
The Best Smart Home Gadgets Under $50! We are going to go through all the best smart home devices that have a price under $50 USD. We’ll go through smart home hubs, smart speakers, lights, switches, entertainment platforms, smart plugs, smoke and CO detectors, smart garage door openers, smart sensors, and more. Let’s hear Brian… Read More The Best Smart Home Gadgets Under $50!
Google Nest WiFi will be announced on October 15, 2019. Google Nest WiFi will most likely have WiFi 6, operate using Thread, and have built-in Google Assistant. I have a the Google WiFi 3-pack arranged in my home. They have made using Wi-Fi seamless. I can go anywhere in the house; no dead-spots. It’s fantastic.… Read More Google Nest WiFi with WiFi 6, Thread, and Google Assistant
There were a ton of new products announced at the IFA 2019 conference in Berlin. We’ll name a few here at automatelife.net: Now you can have a home smoke detection device with an air quality monitor. Bosch has created the Twinguard. It competes with the Nest Protect smoke detection system. The Twinguard will integrate with… Read More New Smart Home Products from IFA 2019
Your Google Home, Google Assistant, and Google Nest products have all kinds of new updates and new features that are ready for you to use. Most of the news and new updates for your Google Home are available on Android only right now, as iOS has fallen a bit behind. The Google Home application has… Read More Google Nest, New Updates and Features For September 8, 2019
Tile and Google Assistant are working together to help you find your things. Competitors such as Amazon and Apple have hinted they are finding ways to track lost items as well. Tile has been finding ways to integrate themselves into certain devices. They announced in 2018 that Skullcandy Venue headphones will have Tile built-in to their device. Tile also released… Read More Tile with Google Assistant
Aeotec announced their 700 Z-Wave Series (Gen7) products. It looks like Aeotec is the first company to create products that supersede the Z-Wave Plus platform – the new Z-Wave Plus Version 2, defined by the Z-Wave Alliance. The 700 Z-Wave Series boasts some superior performance standards compared to the 500 Z-Wave and 300 Z-Wave series… Read More Aeotec 700 series Z-Wave Gen 7, Z-Wave Plus Version 2
Imagine walking into a room that knows who is in the room and knows what the person wants to do. Intellithings has released the new generation home automation product – RoomMe. The RoomMe Personal Location Sensor will detect the specific user entering the room, using their presence to activate their devices automatically, rather than on… Read More RoomMe – Personal Location Sensor – Released
There have been recent studies by the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding the use of air conditioning or fans for cooling. Whether you’re in Toronto or New York with high humidity or in low humidity areas such as Johannesburg, or Sydney, there is one aspect of living that is required for survival – Cooling. It… Read More Managing Temperature and Humidity with Home Automation
It’s time for back to school for some. For some it’s back to elementary. For others it’s Post-Secondary. It was time to pick up our kid’s school supplies at Staples- We actually pre-order our supplies and it comes packaged – everything the kids need. Pretty good deal eh? One slight problem – the school supplies… Read More Home Automation for Back to School – Commentary
I enjoy driving hands free – Look at me mom! hands still on the wheel 🙂. However, I can’t take this for granted; I want to make sure I have access to a reliable navigation tool and music/radio application, and still stay focused on the road. I’m able to use my dependable car app –… Read More Driving with Android Auto
Featured Photos and Google Photos If you have the Google Chromecast or the Lenovo Smart Display, you know you can have the Featured photos show as the background display. The default featured photos are pictures from well known photographers from all over the world. The Lenovo Smart Clock will also give you the opportunity to… Read More Lenovo Smart Clock – New Features
The Teckin SB50 has been on the market for some time now. Just type in ‘Smart Bulb’ in the Amazon product search and you’ll see Teckin’s SB50 as one of the featured ‘Amazon Choice’ results. However, there is a new competitor creating a buzz in the marketplace – The new Wyze Bulb. Let’s take a… Read More Smart Bulb Comparison: Teckin SB50 vs. Wyze Bulb
When we think about creating a healthier home for our kids, we don’t usually think of the air we breathe. In fact, Household Air Pollution is a surprising news for many. It’s a dangerous enemy people are unaware of. EPA even states that air quality inside the home can be 5x more dangerous than the… Read More Create a Healthy Home with uHoo – The Smartest Indoor Air Sensor
The 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro – lots of features, great images, nice videos. I have been using the 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro for the past few months. It was my first time using a dash cam in a vehicle. I mounted it to the window of my truck and let the camera run… Read More 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro
Many of us have probably installed a number of home automation devices such as the Amazon Echo or Alexa enabled device already in the house. You’ve probably already benefited from the number of services that Amazon has provided in some way. The number of commands at your disposable could be endless – maybe that’s the… Read More Amazon Alexa Privacy Concerns
Do you know Alexa? Alexa is the friend with many benefits. Amazon devices are out in the marketplace en masse. The competition for the home automation market is fierce. Amazon is trying to gain ground by getting Amazon services integrated into your thermostat, your TV, your speakers, mobile devices for cheap… and if it’s not… Read More Amazon Echo Show and Echo Show 5 – Prime Required
Wyze recently updated their cameras a new Person Detection feature. This is a significant feature for Wyze. Most cameras in the market that provide this feature are expensive and require you pay a subscription service fee to ensure your videos are stored properly. Wyze cameras give you the opportunity to keep your videos local. Wyze… Read More Person Detection Update – Wyze Cam
Prime Day 2019 is RIGHT NOW! (July 15 and 16, 2019). It’s tough to know just what to buy, so we’re sharing the Top 10 things we’re currently wishing for. These products hit the mark for our smart home, and they should fit yours too. What’s on your Prime Day Wishlist? Share your ideas on… Read More Our Prime Day 2019 Wishlist