Is a Smart Smoke Alarm worth it?

Regular smoke alarms are dirt cheap. The cheapest models can be bought for about $5. The city I live in actually gives them away for free.

So why would anybody pay $100 or more for a single smoke detector? Well, because it’s a smart smoke detector.

I love connected devices. Heck, I created an entire website dedicated to them. However, I’m not entirely convinced that spending this kind of money is worth it.

There are low cost alternatives called smart listeners. In addition, there is one smart smoke alarm that’s fairly affordable.

Read More

A Quick Guide to Keeping Your Smart Home Secure

It’s expected that by the year 2025, there’ll be over 64 billion IoT devices, and most of them will be inside our homes. Smart TVs, smart locks, smart lights; they all offer great convenience but expose users to great threats as well.

When thinking about cyber threats, what comes to mind most often is computer viruses. Thus, many people seem to believe that cyber-security stops at anti-malware software installed on a smartphone or PC.

However, there are many types of cyber-security threats, and every internet-connected device must be properly protected, smart homes included.

Read More

Nest Protect Review: Way More Than Just A Smoke Detector

Can you think of a better way to use “smart” technology than to potentially save lives? That’s exactly the power Nest Protect gives you – and the life it saves could be yours, or that of a family member.

As important as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are, some homes are inadequately equipped. Those systems rely on battery power alone. But when the power in those batteries diminishes, these devices designed to save us, could fail us.

That’s where owning a smart smoke alarm like Nest Protect comes in. When your batteries lose power, Nest Protect sends an alert to you on your smart phone and/or tablet. It tells you what and where the problem is. It tells you if there is smoke or carbon monoxide present so you can take action immediately.

Read More