We all know (and mostly love) the Philips Hue line of connected lighting… and much more, these days. But not everyone is familiar with its sister brand WiZ (via acquisition) consisting of economical WiFi bulbs. Beyond a hubless approach and more favorable pricing, when comparing WiZ to Hue, one of the knocks has been a … Read more
The Arlo Essential has just been announced, with two rather surprising design decisions. For the first time in the their history, going way back to the innovative camera line launching as Vue over ten years ago, the company is doing away its iconic and infinitely practical magnetic mounting. A threaded mount may provide some benefits, … Read more
The Eufy Smart Lock Amazon link has just become public and, while we don’t yet know the price nor can we make a purchase, all else has seemingly been revealed. Many smart locks, like August, only require replacement of the inside portion of a lock for a simpler install and allowing you to keep a … Read more
We knew it was in the works. And now we have production imagery of the upcoming Wyze Doorbell. Of course, Wyze’s most notable “feature” has been its budget pricing — which they generally hit by reskinning existing hardware as their own. As such, I suspect the new Wyze Doorbell could riff off a somewhat similar-looking … Read more
While the Ring Video Doorbell 2 was the original Ring successor, and since replaced by the Ring Video Doorbell 3 line, a refreshed entry-level model has just broken cover at $100. What’s new you ask? Regarding main differences, the new Video Doorbell has 1080p HD video (vs 720p HD), an additional “near” motion zone that … Read more
In something of a pivot, the smart home company known for inexpensive, battery-powered video cams has gone alternating current with the $35 Blink Mini. And, I gotta tell ya, it’s a cute little bugger. The camera anyway, if not the mount. In this space, the Blink Mini’s nearest competitor is the $26 Wyze Cam v2. Whereas … Read more
By way of the FCC, leaked packaging, and app assets we get our first good looks at the upcoming Wyze Outdoor Cam. And, as I previously disclosed, it will indeed require a (tiny) bridge. On a positive note, possibly related to the camera’s long gestation period, it appears the outdoor camera will indeed be battery … Read more
In something of a pivot for Amazon’s Blink brand, the company has just introduced an indoor video camera that requires AC power. Unlike the prior rev, the new Blink Mini comes in a more palatable white finish and is aggressively priced at $35. Like Wyze, the camera plugs in via a small USB nugget. However, … Read more