Can it be done? You bet it can!! Full-designed systems are for people who can throw £10k at a system that will just close your blinds and dim your lights which is nuts!

Im gonna show you how to set up a smart home on a budget that can have the same functionality as a high end Schneider system which costs around £1500 for the control screen alone!

Smart home isnt going away, check these stats on usage increase

I need to know How to set up a smart home on a budget!

I’m going to assume you understand what you mean by smart home systems and devices, if not check my post here which explains more you might just want to be able to control your heating from your phone or be able to dim your living room lights without having to get yourself off your couch!! Or you might want to control everything possible via phone or by a smart hub like an Echo dot or view.

What could I make Smart in my house ?

Lights

CCTV

Central Heating

Each Radiator

Door bell

Any plug socket

and of course, you need a ‘hub’ that can control all the above with either an app or even better by using your voice.

I’m going to list a few of the devices that i think will transform your house without breaking the bank.

Hubs/Control Units

These are the main connective control units of your smart home, (let’s call them hubs for simplicity) to be honest, you don’t need one to start out with, if you just want a smart thermostat, you don’t really need a hub for example, but once your smart home starts growing in connected devices, its better to have one device to control them all or you will end up with as many different apps to control then as devices themselves!!

For A more detailed reviews of smart hubs, check this post here

Hub choice is down to your preference and what the hub will control ( you have to check with each device if it can be controlled by the hub you have bought) Also all these hubs are at the end of the day smart speakers so they can play various media from your phone or connect to streaming services or internet radio.

Echo Show by Amazon,

£150

You’ve probably heard of “Alexa” right? well this is Amazon’s flagship echo model, this is literally 100’s of smart devices with either the app or your voice. It’s the one I use even though most of my tech is Apple!!

Apple Home Pod.

£299

High-quality hub that connects seamlessly with Apple’s growing army of compatible devices.

Google Nest hub Max.

£219

Like the Echo Show has a screen so if you connect your smart door bell to it you can see who’s at your door without relying on your phone.

Ok, so we now have the main ‘engine room’ of our smart infrastructure up and running so whats next in our how to set up a smart home on a budget guide?

Smart Thermostats

This is usually most people’s first step into the world of smart, smart thermostats are the go-to in heating controls when people change the boiler or when builders are building new houses, They have many features that will defo change your life for the better!! You can control your heating from your phone no matter where you are, they can also ‘learn’ your schedule, so your heating will be off whilst you’re at work and be nice and warm when you get home! The Nest one will also use geo-fencing to know when you’re coming home to have the heating ready for you!! Again for a more detail review of smart thermostats read this

Nest

£219

Feature-packed smart themo that ‘knows’ when you’re coming home!!

Hive

£90

The Hive is a cheaper option than the Nest, it also can learn your comings and going with Geolocation, Mini knows if you’ve gone out and left the heating on – and sends you an instant reminder to turn it off. Or better yet, connect it to a Hive Door Sensor and it’ll automatically switch off when your front door closes. Handy

Tado Smart Heating Kit

£99 for the thermostat £210 for the radiator starter pack

The benefit of the Tado system is it has small thermostatic controllers for you attach to your radiator valves so you can literally control the temp of each room with either your phone or your hub.

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Lighting Control

Smart lighting is one of the next systems you buy as you build your smart home and is a logical step in our how to set up a smart home on a budget list.

Smart lighting has a couple of benefits as well as it being super cool to control your lights with your voice (I have mine set up as Wesley Snipes did in Demolition Man, to switch on I say ‘illuminate!) You can set a schedule for them to come on or go off which is good for security and saving money. Again these systems operate with their own apps or check to see what works with your choice of hub

Phillips Smart Led Strip

I personally use this system in my kitchen above my units and I love it, you can change the colour, the time it comes on and goes off, you could put it behind your telly and you can cut it to size.

Tapo Smart Bulbs

If you want to be really budget-friendly, this 4 pack of smart bulbs will save you a nice chunk of change.

easily controlled by the tapo app or your choice of home hub.

Phillips Light Bar

Need something more directional? check these cool light bars from Phillips, which works with all the above hubs and their own smart App. This is perfect for creating a certain ambiance behind your telly.

Smart CCTV and Doorbells

Finally, to show you how to set up a smart home on a budget we come to CCTV and doorbells. The main benefit of smart CCTV over the regular camera and dvr system is, that you can access the footage wherever you have a decent internet connection plus they will notify you whenever they get triggered, thus prompting you to check your phone to see what’s happening or talk to whoever’s at your door.

Blink Outdoor

I use this camera to monitor my garden, and its quality and performance has been second to none. Hi-def pictures even in the rain, reliable alerts and a battery that has upto lasted 2 years! Also connects with amazon alexa so you can get voice notifications when theres a alarm event.

Arlo Cctv

Arlo is the main competitor of the Blink system and for most of the features there’s not much to choose from between the 2 ( they would probably disagree with me!) Again Good battery life, hi-def images and real-time notifications

Smart video doorbells

These have revolutionised front door security and convenience, now you’ll never miss another parcel, all the doorbells on offer door mainly the same thing although they do now charge to store your footage..boo! for a more detailed review check my post here

Smart Plugs

For the ultimate how to set up a smart home on a budget device, check out a smart plug, this way you can control any device ( that dosn’t need extra input to switch on) such as a heater, a lamp or a radio to boost your home security, again the tapo is as good as any

For this option, you don’t need a hub, just the app that controls it. From this app you control switch the plug on and off, set up a schedule or set holiday mode so the plug will switch on a telly, radio or lamp randomly to make it look like your house is occupied

Conclusion

So that’s the end of our how to set up a smart home on a budget, as you can see it is possible to do the smart home thing on a shoestring but still retain full functionality. Take my advice when you can and buy a hub, as you can literally control any device or full room or floor with just one tap. Believe me, once you start buying smart home gear you will keep going and before you know it you’ll have 8 different apps to control it all!. Trust me once you go smart you’ll never flick a light switch again!!

The post How to Set Up a Smart Home on a Budget appeared first on toptech7.com.

What is a smart thermostat and what does it do?

Ok, for the uninitiated in the world of smart tech, a brief explanation into the basics of smart heating controls.

A Smart thermostat is an I.O.T ( internet of things) device that you can control remotely with an app on your phone, So say for instance you get off work early in the middle of winter and you’re thin my house is going to be freezing when i get home, you can fire up your App and switch your heating on so your house will be toasty warm when you walk through the door.

The really cool ones even know when you’re coming home through a geo-fence and switch your heating on anyway!!

For a beginner guide to smart home systems check my post here

Ok, I’m in what is the best smart thermostat uk

There’s a couple of main players that you might of heard of, Nest and Hive. Honeywell who have made thermostats in various guises for ions have also brought out a smart model. Lets get into to features, benefits and shortcomings of each one.

Nest by Google

Nest brag that this thermostat ‘can’ save you 60% on your yeary heating bills. Pretty bold claims if you’re asking me, possibly if you just turned your heating on at the end of September and left it on till May then yes I suppose that 60% could be achievable.

This is probably my favourite of all the smart heating controls and why I’ve listed it first on my best smart thermostat uk list

I don’t know about 60% but using this “learning” thermostat you will defo save money, as it will ‘learn’ your heating preferences in the first week you’re using it and then uses this pattern going forward.

Features

• Self-learning: The Nest Learning Thermostat is perhaps best known for its ability to learn your heating and cooling preferences over time and create a personalised schedule to keep you comfortable while saving energy. It does this by observing your adjustments and routines, and then creating a program that meets your needs
• Home/Away Assist: This feature uses your phone’s location to automatically adjust the temperature when you’re home or away. This can help you save energy by preventing the heating or air conditioning from running when nobody’s home.
• Hot water control: Unlike many other smart thermostats, the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd generation can also control your hot water heater. This means you can create a schedule for hot water, or turn it off remotely when you’re away from home.
• Farsight: Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd generation has a built-in Farsight feature that lights up the display as you approach, so you can easily see the temperature and adjust it if needed.
• Easy to use: The Nest Learning Thermostat is easy to install and use, even for those who are not tech-savvy. It has a clear and user-friendly interface, and it can be controlled remotely using the Nest app.

Price

£189

We Love ❤️

• Self Learning- no trying for hours to programme
• Heating Controls- easy way to turn down the water temp in summer
• ⭐️Super easy to fit and use

What we Hate 🤬

• Price. – not the cheapest
• No room sensor: This relies on the thermostat’s own temperature reading, which may not always reflect the temperature in other parts of your home, or you have to buy separate room sensors.
• Limited phone compatibility: Not compatible with all phone models, so check before you buy.

Verdict

Still my fav

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hive Smart Thermostat

Hive say this thermostat can save you £200 a year, which depending on your house and usage I’d say that it is achievable.

the main feature I love about the Hive is the Geo-fencing, so say you rush out to work and leave your heating on, the Hive will send you a message telling you about the heating and giving you the option to turn it off. It can aslo tell when your coming home and make sure your house is nice and warm, although unless you work like 40 miles away and set the geo-locater according i doubt your house will be warm if you working 10 minutes drive away , if you get me., but i still love the idea of it. For that feature alone this makes it onto my best smart thermostat uk list.

Features

• Heating schedules – set up to six daily time slots
• Heating and Hot Water Boost – for up to six hours
• Automatic Frost Protection – helps prevent frozen pipes
• Geolocation – heating alerts when you leave or return home
• Holiday Mode – tell Hive your holiday dates and come back to a warm welcome
• Hive App: turn your heating on and off via the Hive app or with your voice

Price

£129

What we Love ❤️

1. Smart Scheduling & Geolocation: Create schedules and receive alerts if you forget to turn off the heating, promoting energy efficiency and peace of mind.
2. Multi-Zone Heating (with add-ons): Offers the ability to control temperature in different rooms for targeted heating and potentially significant energy savings (requires additional purchases).
3. Voice Control: Integrates with popular smart speakers for convenient hands-free control.

What We Hate 🤬

• Subscription for Advanced Features: Some key functionalities, like detailed energy reports and extended warranty, require a paid Hive Heating Plus subscription.
• Reliance on Hub (Some Models): Earlier Hive thermostat models rely on a separate hub for internet connection, adding an extra piece of equipment to set up.
• Limited Multi-Zone Control (Without Add-Ons): Without purchasing additional Hive smart radiator valves, the multi-zone functionality is unavailable, limiting its room-by-room temperature control capabilities.

Verdict

A definite contender, maybe more down to personal choice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

tado° V3+ Smart Thermostat

The one differing feature of the Tado from the others is the amount of add-ons you can buy to customise your smart heating exactly how you like, the main one for me is the individual radiator controls. So you buy a smart radiator thermostatic controller, like the one below:

And you can control, programme and adjust each room totally separately from the others and places it on my best smart thermostat uk list, for instance, someones ill in bed and got the shivers, you can turn that room to 23 degrees, but you don’t want to be melting in the kitchen whilst you’re cooking your pie and mash so you simply turn that one down, totally love that, for me that could save you a fortune, although if you buy one for each radiator and you’ve got like 13 rads in you house at £75 a pop not many people are gonna have £975 to spend on room stats?????

Features

• Multi-Zone Heating: Control the temperature in different rooms of your home using smart radiator valves (often sold separately). This allows for targeted heating and potentially significant energy savings.
• Intelligent Geofencing: Automatically adjusts heating based on your phone’s location, saving energy when you’re away. It can also learn your routines over time.
• Open Window Detection: Identifies sudden drops in temperature that could indicate an open window and temporarily pauses heating to prevent wasted energy.
• Detailed Insights and Reports: Provides reports on your heating habits and energy consumption, helping you identify areas for improvement. (Some advanced reports may require a subscription).
• Voice Control Compatibility: Works with popular smart speakers like Alexa and Google Assistant for convenient hands-free control of your heating.

Price

£180

What We Love ❤️

• Multi-Zone Heating & Efficiency: Offers targeted heating in different rooms with compatible valves (often sold separately), potentially leading to significant energy savings.
• Intelligent Features: Learns your routines, utilizes geofencing for automatic adjustments, and detects open windows to optimize energy use.
• Detailed Insights & Voice Control: Provides reports on heating habits and energy consumption for better control, and integrates with smart speakers for hands-free operation.

What We Hate 🤬

• Higher Cost & Potential Add-ons: The base unit may be more expensive than some options, and achieving full multi-zone heating requires additional radiator valves, adding to the overall cost.
• Subscription for Advanced Insights: Detailed reports and some advanced features might require a separate tado° subscription.
• Installation Complexity (for some): Installation can be more complex compared to simpler thermostats, especially if you need to install multiple radiator valves.

Verdict

Love the customisation, hate the price of customisation!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honeywell T6 Smart Thermostat:

The Honeywell smart thermostat makes it onto my best smart thermostat UK list purl;y for its simplicity and no fuss unit. For me it is definitely a no-frills, does what it says on the tin type of set-up. Yes you can control it with an app like the others, programme when it comes on and goes off but that’s about it. As you can see from my feature list, i could of even highlighted that is a nice black colour!!

Features

• Smart Scheduling: Create personalized schedules for heating and hot water to ensure your home is comfortable when you need it and energy-efficient when you’re away.
• Mobile App Control: Control your heating and hot water remotely from anywhere using the Honeywell Home app on your smartphone or tablet. This allows for adjustments on the go and additional convenience.
• Broad Compatibility: Works with most boiler systems, including combi boilers, OpenTherm technology, and heat pumps (check compatibility for your specific system). This makes it a versatile option for various heating setups.
• Voice Assistant Integration: Integrates with popular smart speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for hands-free control of your heating with voice commands.
• Large Touchscreen Display: Features a user-friendly touchscreen display with clear visuals for easy temperature adjustments and viewing current settings. This provides a simple and intuitive user experience.

Price

£150. no add ons!!

What we Love ❤️

• Easy to Use & Affordable: Offers a user-friendly interface with a touchscreen display and mobile app control, making it accessible for users of all tech levels. It’s also generally priced competitively compared to other high-end thermostats.
• Broad Compatibility: Works with a wide variety of boiler systems, including combi boilers, OpenTherm technology, and heat pumps. This makes it a versatile option for many homes without requiring additional compatibility checks.
• Smart Features & Convenience: Provides smart scheduling for energy efficiency, remote control via the app for adjustments on the go, and integrates with voice assistants for hands-free control.

What we Hate 🤬

• Limited Multi-Zone Control: This doesn’t offer multi-zone heating capabilities, unlike some competitors. This means you cannot control the temperature in different rooms of your home independently.
• Subscription Might Be Needed (uncertain): While core features seem readily available, there may be a possibility of needing a subscription for advanced functionalities. It’s important to check with the manufacturer or retailer for clarification.
• Lacks Some Advanced Features: Compared to some high-end models, it might lack features like detailed energy reports or intelligent geofencing for automatic adjustments based on your location.

Verdict

Good no frills, but if we’re going smart, it needs to be smarter for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Conclusion

The question is do I need one? yes, you could jump up and down changing the temperature in your house, but why do that if you can get an app to do it? I’d have an app for everything if they existed!!

Well, if you’re reading this you like smart tech, so I’d say, yes you need one. It will save you money over time, and you can pay 3 figures for a non-smart 7-day programmable thermostat so it would serve you well to splash another £50 and be able to control your heating from your phone or cooler still shout orders at your smart speaker. If you just starting the world of smart this could be your first step in the arena of smart tech so take my advice and make the jump.

The post Best Smart Thermostat Uk in 2024 appeared first on toptech7.com.

Like it or not Ai is already in your home, check out this forbes list telling you where AI is in your home already

Some people are fearful of AI, personally i think a lot of this fear is fuelled by both the media and Hollywood.

• “A.I robots will take over the world and exterminate humanity”
• “AI frightens me”
• Is AI going to take my job?”

I don’t think I need to dismay these crazy ideas here but some people may not be too keen on adopting new tech ideas, but have no fear, even if you’re sat there in your tin foil hat and listening to your police scanner, the gadgets i’m going to show you, will not kill you, take your job or try to control your life.

If you are going to adopt smart controls in your home check my post on smart home security here

Ok, I’m not scared anymore, show me the best AI gadgets, please

Tapia Robot Companion

What is It?

Think about an Amazon Alexa but on steroids!!

What Can It Do ?

It can be your digital friend by playing your music, monitoring your home whilst you’re out, hosting video calls as well as becoming your smart home hub.

But more than that, which could be of benefit to both older users and people with social anxieties, you can actually interact with Tapia and he will respond back to you with an almost human-like response. Some people can go for days without talking to people this robot could fill that gap as the A.I used will learn new responses and reactions.

How Much?

At time of writing, its still at crowd funding status, but £500 will get you one!!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I love it defo should be on a best ai gadgets list

Skynet end of the world chances. 🤖. being a robot it might take over your life but i doubt it!!

Duo AI Home Computer

What is it

On first looks, it’s just a mirror, but give it a touch and it turns into a smart home hub powered by Ai

What does it do?

Again based around smart home hub, so it boasts the usual music, I.O.T based info system which can control your entire smart home set up, but also its fully customisable in appearance and even voice responses, it can even have a conversation with you as you get ready in the morning ( mirror, mirror on the wall springs to mind!!)

The 27-inch HD screen weighs only 8 pounds and is about 2mm thick, it has 5 touch points on the screen, can follow voice commands and has an AI assistant built into it, but what I was most impressed with, was the feature of its own app store so that throw open a whole world of open source apps to modify your mirror to do exactly what you want

How Much?

pre order at $400

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ like a designer take on an Alexa but the app store could be a game changer and for its potential should be on the best AI gadgets list.

Skynet end of world chances 🤖 about as much chance of killing you as your phone!!

V.I The Worlds First A.I powered P.T

What is it ?

An AI personal trainer geared towards joggers

What does it do

When it comes to running training, what doesn’t it do? She will coach you during your run, telling you how far to run at your current stage of training, how fast to run, and how hard to push she will monitor your heart and breathing rate and it you keep it connected during the day carry on monitoring your vitals and fitness levels

Knows what the weather will be and adjusts your schedule to suit your needs, adapts your training to your physiology for instance if you’re really struggling one day she will go easier on you, and if you’re really smashing it she will push you more.

You can also play your music as you train through super high-quality Hama/Kardon speakers and take calls for me this is a game changer for running ( not that i do any!!) its like a mobile pelaton!! and 100% on the best AI gadgets list.

How much is it

Retails at $249

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if i was into running any further than across the road to the chippy id defo get one

Chances of it killing you 🤖 unless she tell you to run in front of a bus, you should be ok!

Chris Digital Ai Co-driver

What is it ?

This is a Virtual Ai powered co-pilot that connects to your smartphone to extend various functions whilst driving

What does it do?

according to the kick starter campaign

Chris supports:
– Messaging: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, e-Mail, SMS (sending on Android only)
– Calls: Hands-free calling, voice activated address book and recent calls
– Music: Spotify, Apple Music, Google Music and music stored on the device like MP3 files, your iTunes music library – also FM radio
– Navigation: Offline turn-by-turn navigation, real time traffic-navigation, find gas stations, parking, restaurants and other points of interest

its AI assistant will learn your driving style and behaviours and adapt accordingly, its controlled by voice commands so you wont get into trouble by using it, which i gather is the main selling point of the device.

How much

e299

Rating ⭐️⭐️. to be honest i don’t see the point, i could just buy a mount and use ‘hey siri’ but thats just me. Probably not going to be on a best ai gadgets list but ive got to tell you whats new and out there!

Chances of it killing you, 🤖. unless you swallow it….none!!

Conclusion

There certainly is some exciting gear in development out there that could really enhance peoples lives, i’ve seen robots that can cook for you, not sure how much id trust them like, but when you think how much an lonely single old person could benefit from having a virtual friend that could remind he or she when to take tablets for instance and could talk to them about the weather or the footy, id be into that and that would be on my best ai gadgets list!!

The post The Best AI Gadgets You Need in 2024 appeared first on toptech7.com.

So, what does a gagdet have to do to get on this list?

• It must be New (ideally 2024 or late 23)
• It must be useful
• It must be smart
• It must make your mate’s want one!!

Let’s Do This Give Me Cool Gadgets

Amazon Astro Home Monitoring Robot

Into home security but having a fixed camera is too linear for you? Then try this, Amazon have created a robot that literally patrols your home ( on the same floor as it can’t go upstairs!!)

You can get it to go into a room of your choice for instance to check on your pet or whatever, it can even follow you round when you’re home ansd play your musci or rerad out your texts so you don’t even have to look at your phone!!!

This is the coolest feature though, which because it’s from Amazon will cost you more!! (plus you will need a ring subscription to record the footage) a pet add-on that will throw your pet a treat!!

Features

• Keep home closer – Meet Astro, the household robot for home monitoring, with Alexa.
• Introducing Intelligent Motion – Amazon Astro uses advanced navigation technology to find its way around your home and go where you need it. When you’re not using Astro, it will hang out close by at the ready.
• Stay connected from anywhere – Remotely send Astro to check on specific rooms, people, or things. Plus, get alerts if Astro detects an unrecognised person or certain sounds when you’re away.
• Alexa Together subscription – Remotely care for aging loved ones, giving you peace of mind while helping them live independently. Set up reminders, manage shopping lists, receive activity alerts, and more.
• Put Alexa in motion – Astro can follow you with entertainment or find you to deliver calls, messages, timers, alarms, or reminders.
• Designed to protect your privacy – Turn off mics, cameras, and motion with one press of a button and use the Astro app to set out of bounds zones to let Astro know where it’s not allowed to go.
• Accessorise your Astro – Astro can carry a variety of accessories (sold separately) like a Ziploc container, the OMRON blood pressure monitor, and a Furbo Dog Camera that tosses treats to your pet. You can also dress up your Astro with an It’s a Skin wheel decal!

Cool Gadgets Rating 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

I love this, for me a motorised home monitor has so many uses and I really want one but at this point, you have to apply to get one and it’s only available in the Usa

Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control and Voice Control

How much do you hate having to turn the tap on? Seriously though at first to idea of a tap you can switch on and off with an app seemed pointless to me.. But when you look closer it really could upscale your kitchen activities to a new level.

You need 500ml of water for your cakes but you’ve smashed your measuring jug, use voice control to get the tap to dispense exactly the right amount of water, it can even give you 1 tablespoon of water! although I’m not sure how vital that is!! Got an older person who lives with you who keeps leaving the tap on? well, this tap will switch off after a programmable amount of time. Although its not cheap (£785!) I think this would be a great selling point if you sell your house.

Features

• CONTROL YOUR KITCHEN FAUCET WITH FOUR METHODS: Features four unique methods of control that you can mix and match, independent of the handle position – Voice, App, Hands Free, or Manual
• PRECISE WATER MEASUREMENTS: Precisely dispense water at desired temperature, up to 120 degrees F, and volume, as little as 1 Tbsp. or as much as 15 gallons
• CUSTOMISABLE PRESETS: Fully customizable presets for exact measurements and exact temperatures will make daily tasks a breeze
• VOICE ACTIVATED CAPABILITY: Combine specific temperature and specific measurement or mix generic commands with specific commands, for example “Alexa/Hey Google, ask Moen to dispense 1 cup of hot water”; Create your own personalized presets in the app to facilitate quick delivery of common tasks, for example “Alexa/Hey Google, tell Moen to fill the baby bottle”
• HANDS-FREE CONVENIENCE: Wave sensor positioned at the front of the faucet, starts and stops the water flow with a simple hand movement without touching the faucet

Cool Gadgets Rating 🥶🥶🥶🥶

How much you need this, only you can decide but if your house is fully smart why on earth wouldn’t you have a smart tap

E-skin tattoo

Think you know wearables? well, check this out, who still wears a smartwatch to monitor his/her health? not any more, the e-skin is a super thin piece of material that sits on your skin and replays important health data via bluetooth to your phone for more on e-skin check this page out here

ELECTRONIC TATTOO APPLICATIONS

• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) monitoring
• Managing the symptoms of neurological disorders/
• Controlling robots, prosthetics and machinery
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Scientific and medical research
• Consumer fitness
• Virtual reality and the metaverse

Cool Gadgets rating 🥶🥶🥶

As this is still in the final stages of development, i think 2024 will see more and more health-monitoring developments and most probably used to send data to your doctor or health professionals, which presents with data privacy issues, for more info on ethical gadget use click here

Rabbit R1

This little box of A.I-based tricks ‘could’ revolutionise your life, or make your phone a little less cluttered at least. Think of it as a smaller, voice-activated extension of your phones apps

So you can use it for anything A.I or smart home-based tech like turning your lights on or adjusting your connected central heating Want to order a pizza from Uber Eats? Just press the push-to-talk button on the side and ask it to order you a 16-inch Hawaiian pizza, then watch as the order comes up on the screen and tap to confirm. You’ll be able to do the same for requesting an Uber, booking a hotel, adding a song to your Spotify playlist, as well as searching the web for the latest information. No apps, just one unified interface.

Features

• Rotating camera: The “Rabbit Eye” camera can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to take photos and videos from different angles or use it for video calls.
• Touchscreen and scroll wheel: Navigate through the interface using the touchscreen or the convenient scroll wheel on the side.
• Voice control: Talk to the Rabbit R1 using your voice to activate features, ask questions, and control your smart home devices.
• Press-to-talk button: Alternatively, use the dedicated button for voice commands.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a SIM card slot for cellular connectivity.

Cool Gadgets rating 🥶🥶🥶

Xreal AR Glasses

Thin kof these ar glasses as your own personal movie screen for your head! they boast 2 cinema grade sony screens and cinmatic spacial sound for the ultra emmersive experience.

Pair them with the xreal beam and you’re streaming any one of your many wallet-draining subscription services to your glasses.

You can hook up your consoles to them as well, Call of duty has never been so in your face!!

Features

• Incredible Visuals: Featuring custom SONY Micro-OLED panels, 46° FOV, and an enormous 120Hz ultra-sharp display, each Air 2 Pro is meticulously calibrated for color accuracy – the first to receive TÜV Rheinland color accuracy certification.
• Immersion On Demand: Instantly switch between 3 Electrochromic Dimming levels with a simple touch and block out the right amount of light, ideal for using the glasses in any lighting conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
• Unparalleled Comfort: Enjoy all-day wearing comfort with only 75g of weight, zero-pressure nose pads, and ultra-soft temples. Air 2 Pro has an industry-first three-level temple adjustment and 1:1 weight distribution ensuring maximum comfort.
• Cinematic Sound: Our upgraded sound system delivers rich and immersive audio. Directional Audio technology reduces sound dispersion, offering better privacy and minimal disturbances to others.

Cool Gadgets rating 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

This is a winner for me and possibly the future of large-screen viewing. 85 inch for a telly now is the norm but not everybody has the wall space or the funds for a decent 85 inch qled this way you can have a wall-sized telly but on your head!!

looking for New Ai tech check my post here

The post The Best Cool Gadgets of 2024 appeared first on toptech7.com.

we will have a look and some tricky new smart door locks an AI pillow!!! ( tinfoil hat wearers will be quaking in their boots!!) and an awesome ceiling light that doubles as a projector

Enough of the intro lets check some of the best new smart home tech of 2024

We love smart home tech right? i would literally have an app to control my entire house if i could and i probably could if i had enough money.

Roomba Combo® j9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

Now I know this is a robot hoover and its not really smart home but if you have a house and it needs hoovering so whats smarter than getting a robot to hoover an mop it?

This J9 Hoover and mop is the top of the tree when it comes to smart robot floor cleaners, not only can it hoover your house when you’re out it can mop your hard floors and self empty!!! How cool is that? For a detailed look at robot floor cleaners check my post here

Motion A.I powered pillow!!!

Yes you read it right. this is an A.I powered pillow, don’t worry it wont kill you in your sleep i promise you!

An AI-powered pillow might sound like tech overstepping the mark, but bear with us – what if we said it might stop you or your partner from snoring? That’s the pitch behind the Motion Pillow

This inflatable pillow (don’t worry, it’s made of memory foam, like many of todays best pillows is joined by a Motion System Unit, which identifies snoring sounds and will slowly inflate the offending person’s pillow. This gently turns their head to the side, opening their airways to create some peace.

It won an award at CES2024 too

The companion app also handily gives you insights into your sleep as well as letting you adjust settings just like the sleep app on your apple watch

How does it work?:

If it identifies the sound as definitely a snore, the pillow itself is activated. It will slowly inflate, causing the sleeper’s head to turn to the side – a sleep position that opens the airways and is much less likely to induce snoring. The inflation process is designed to be quiet and gentle, to cause as little disruption as possible, and you can adjust the height to which the pillow inflates to suit the sleeper’s build. 

The whole thing is operated via a companion app (available for Apple and Android). As well as using it to adjust settings, the app will also provide you with data around how long you were snoring for and how often the pillow had to intervene to keep you quiet. And if you want an insight into your partner’s experience of spending the night with you, it’ll even play back a recording of your snoring sounds for you, which might cause problems but hey ho

Lockly Visage Facial Recognition Smart Lock

Ok we’ve all lost our keys at some point, need a solution for that? here you go the Lockly Visage Facial Recognition Smart Lock will recognise your face and unlock your door for you.

First thing I thought of when I saw this was, what happens if you’ve got a twin who you hate? What happens if you get your head kicked in on a night out and finally what happens if you go in for some plastic surgery but I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s thought of these things!! The Lockly Visage Facial Recognition Smart Lock is available now at about £350

Ring Always Home Cam

How Resident evil is this? The Ring Always Home Cam actually patrols your house in a customised flight path recording and or stream the footage. Features include:

• A new kind of camera – The Ring Always Home Cam is a first-of-its-kind flying indoor security camera for your home that flies along custom flight paths so you can see what’s happening around your home no matter where you are.
• Get better perspectives – See what’s going on in 1440×1440 HD video, with a built-in LED that automatically lights up the path when recording at night or in dim environments.
• Look in anytime – Left a window open or the stove on? Create custom flight paths ahead of time so you can manually check in with the Ring App from anywhere.
• Security when it’s triggered – If your Ring Alarm contact sensors or motion detectors are triggered, Always Home Cam will automatically fly to see what’s happening.
• For your privacy – Always Home Cam’s camera never records when the device is docked and only records during trained flight paths.

First reports are saying the noise of the drone is actually quite loud but the only way I can see this being a problem is if it spooks your dog out which depending on the temperament of your dog could be an issue

Think this is only available in Usa right now. Check the ring website for more details and pricing https://ring.com/always-home-cam-flying-camera

Kohler Smart Shower System:

This is the newest smart home tech for showering, features a ton of different customisable settings to provide you with the ultimate shower experience:

• Digital control with easy-to-read configurable colour touch screen
• Can control shower outlets, audio output, chromatherapy, steam and lighting
• Ability to upgrade to the KOHLER Konnect® platform for voice-enabled control of the showering system​​ ​​
• Can control one or two digital valves to provide two different shower temperatures
• Six user-definable presets for saving your favorite settings
• Integrated preprogrammed temperature and hydrotherapy programs for spa-like showering experiences
• System warm-up and pause feature
• Up to three interfaces can be connected to each system.

Philips Hue Sync Box Kit 2

into gaming or movie nights? then the Philips Hue Sync Box Kit 2 is your next purchase, you plug the smart box into your telly and the smart box syncs the light strip with the audio transmitted from your source which will give your gaming experience a new cool, although at £300 it seems a bit pricey when my under-cabinet led strip also syncs with audio it that certainly wasn’t £300!! but Hue has always been on the top end of smart lights.

The RCA Automatic Cat and Dog Feeder

No list of Best New Smart Home Tech would be complete without a device that makes our lives easier when we forget to do something, now you can set up a schedule for the RCA pet feeder to serve dry food to your pet at a pre-determined time or by the touch of a button via the app ( we love companion apps don’t we?) It also boasts a 1080p wifi enabled camera so you can see your pooch or moggy whilst they have their lunch. All we need now is something to clean up the poop from the garden!!!

This Concludes our Best New Smart Home Tech list

There is some pretty cool tech coming out this year, I really want the patrolling CCTV drone from ring, i think smarter home security could be a game changer in the next couple of years, would i buy a walking A.I powered robot walk the floor of my house? If it stops my house from getting robbed then my answer is Hell YEAH

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Sonus is a brand of wireless home audio devices that deliver high-quality sound and smart features. Sonus devices can connect to each other over WiFi and create a whole-house sound system.

As a few of the devices mentioned here are sound bars you might want to check out my post on various soundbars here

You can control Sonus devices with the Sonus app, your voice, Apple AirPlay 2, and more. You can also stream music, podcasts, radio, audiobooks, and more from hundreds of services. You can Connect Sonus to your home hub such as Echo, nest and Apple Home kit.

The 7 Best Sonus Devices

Sonus One

What Is it?

Tbhe Sonus One is A small but powerful portable speaker, ideal for taking your music with you around the house , be it in the kitchen bedroom or on a dry day outside.

Stream music, radio, audiobooks and more from all your favourite services. Control is easy with the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2. Mix and match Sonos speakers around your home for multiroom listening, immersive home cinema and stereo sound. Everything works seamlessly together over WiFi.

Add 2 Sonus one for spacial sound, buy 4 for total surround as they will all link to each other and other Sonus products

Features

• Voice control
• Apple Air Play 2
• Touch Control
• WiFi
• Humidity Resistant

Who’s it for ?

Maybe someone who likes premium sound quality but hasn’t got the budget for a whole house system, but may want to expand.

Sonus Beam2

What is it ?

The Beam is a next gen sound bar which will totally transform your television-watching experience. Todays super thin tellys can’t pack a punch with those stick thin speakers and this will be more than apparent whilst watching action films, those explosions sound more like a mouse coughing.

The Sonus beam will change that, Enjoy crystal-clear dialogue for TV shows, films, and games, and stream music from all your favourite services. Advanced processing unlocks spatial audio, creating a virtual surround sound experience with Dolby Atmos. Get set up in minutes and easily control Beam with the Sonos app, your TV remote, and your voice. Add a subwoofer and rear speakers any time for more immersive surround sound. Easily create a connected system for your whole home when you add Sonos speakers to more rooms.

Features

• Dolby Atmos
• Voice Controlled
• T.V remote sync
• Hdmi eARC
• True Sound

Who’s it for

Anyone who wants to up their telly watching game with a view to expanding, bear in mind even though this is a mid-range soundbar with Atmos, you’ll probably want to add the companion subwoofer for the full cinema experience later on.

Era 300

What Is It?

The Era 300 is a premium smart speaker for someone who demands more power and quality from their smart speaker, it can be used as a stand-alone smart speaker or you could pair it with the Arc Or Beam sound bar and you have got one awesome surround set up for either music, home cinema or both.

Feel more connected to all your audio content with phenomenally clear and spacious sound. Stream from all your favourite services and devices with WiFi and Bluetooth. Connect a turntable or other audio source using an auxiliary cable and the Sonos Line-In Adapter. Experience mind-bendingly realistic surround sound when you pair two Era 300 speakers with Arc and stream spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Set up is easy, and control is even easier with the Sonos app, next-generation touch controls, and your voice.

Features

• Dolby Atmos
• Bluetooth
• Wifi
• True play
• 6 speakers
• Line in
• voice controlled

Who’s it for

Anyone who wants a more high-end sound from a smart speaker with the possibility of expanding into a premium home cinema when funds allow

Arc Soundbar

What Is It?

A premium sound bar with eleven speakers, spacial dolby atmos to give you the ultimate base to build a kick-ass home cinema set up that will outperform most home audio systems..

Again for the ultimate setup pair with 2 rear speakers like the era and the gen 3 sub, and you’ll never watch a movie with wishy washy sound ever again!!

Easy to set up and use, Arc puts you at the centre of TV shows, movies, and games with crystal-clear dialogue and two dedicated height channels that render spatial audio content in 3D. When the TV is off, stream music and more from all your favourite services in the highest-resolution formats. Feel even more immersed whenever you choose to add a Sonos subwoofer and pair of rear speakers, and easily create a whole-home sound system with Sonos speakers in more rooms.

Features

• 11 speakers
• dolby atmos
• voice control
• Speech enhancement, turn this setting on in the Sonos app to boost voice frequencies and clarify dialogue.
• Adjustable EQ via the App
• Syncs with alexa and google home

Who’s it for?

For the person who wants to build a more high-end home cinema that can be used as a home audio with the opportunity to create a whole house system.

Sonus Ray

What is it?

A cheaper ( if thats the right word) sound-bar. the ray may be a world cheaper than the beam or arc but it will still totally transform your listening experience compared to the tinny clanging your tellys standard speakers will pollute your ears with. This would also be an ideal present for any gamer in your family, as yes it is smaller but the sound quality you will get from your gaming with te Ray will be another level. and you can still expand this system into a full surround system by adding rear speakers and a sub, or multi room system with additional speakers.

Features

• Tv remote sync
• Optical connection ( ideal for connecting to next gen consoles)
• Touch controls
• Great Price
• Bass reflex system
• Compact dimensions

Who’s it for

Anyone who wants an upgraded sound for their viewing or gamers who want an extra kick in their gaming immersion levels without spending over £500.

Sonus Roam

What is it?

The Roam is an ultra-portable smart speaker. It is ideal for taking with you on camping trips or just for chilling in your garden in the summer ( or winter as it’s water resistant!) with your favourite tunes without the need for power cables or super expensive outdoor speakers.

Enjoy hours of music, radio, audiobooks, and more from all your favourite services thanks to Roam’s long-lasting rechargeable battery. Listen at home with WiFi and easily control the sound with the Sonos app, your voice, and Apple AirPlay 2. Use Bluetooth, when you’re away and outdoors. Add more Sonos speakers around your home for multiroom listening. Everything works together over WiFi.

Features

• Water resistant ( ip67)
• Bluetooth
• Voice controlled
• Airplay2
• Drop resistant
• Lowest price ever!!

Who’s it for?

Anyone who needs sounds on the go, perfect for weekends away, camping trips or chilling in the garden.

Sonus Sub Gen 3

What is it?

I know I may of gone a little of track with this one but anyone who knows me will tell you I couldn’t possibly list any brand of smart speaker/home cinema without mentioning a subwoofer. I would sooner selotape my ears shut than listen to an action film or listen to any music ever written without the solid presence of a sharp kicking bass!

But anyway just like it says in the title, the Sonus Sub Gen 3 is a subwoofer that provides the most spine-kicking bass to your action film and music, the very second your budget allows, you should add a sub to any audio system you own!!

Features

• Gives the most amaing bass
• Wireless
• Responsive done to 25hz
• Only 1 cable
• Easy set-up
• Matches all Sonus amplified speakers/soundbars

Who’s it for

The sound guru who really needs the full home cinema environment, the sub will relieve the mids and tweeters of trying to provide you with the full sound range. Add a sub to your home cinema and all that’s missing is popcorn and a bag of £20 pick and mix that every snot-nosed kid had handled and thrown back in the tub and you’re in the cinema!!!

Conclusion

Whilst writing this article I’ve had the pleasure of testing what i can only describe of some of the best Home cinema/audio products that are available today, each one of the above speakers really does perform so well that you won’t regret spending the money on them, and as you can some if you buy now there’s some great discount to be had.

The problem is if you do have the means to buy say buy the arc, the sub and 2 surround speakers, your cinema will hate you and forget what you look like!!!

The post The 7 Best Sonus Devices You Can Buy In 2024 appeared first on toptech7.com.

There’s so much you have to choose from, do you need a hub or sender unit? What devices do I need? what do these things do? if you are a seasoned vet in tech? Then I’d find another article to read, but if you’re new to all this and want to get started the right way, the first time, check out this guide and you’ll have all the knowledge you need to choose the right gear without making the mistakes.

If you’re a total beginner and don’t know what smart tech is all about let alone what top 5 smart gadgets you need ( don’t worry, we all started somewhere) check my beginner’s guide here

What is smart tech?

As a brief simplistic guide, smart tech is a single or collection of devices that are designed to make you and your family’s life easier, for instance, there’s smart heating control, smart tellys, smart lighting and so on so let’s get into the finer details.

Im in, so what are the top 5 smart gadgets you need?

Smart Heating

This is classed as one of the first smart home devices, and definitely a top 5 smart gadget you need, usually in the form of a smart thermostat that’s wirelessly connected to your boiler or heating system.

With a smart thermostat, you can control your heating, hot water and with some systems, you can control each individual room’s temperature. Some have whats called geo-fencing where your system knows when you have left your house and when you’re returning so your house isn’t being heated when the place is empty thus saving you money.

Of course with the thermostat being smart, some of them will learn your behaviours and tailor your heating requirements to optimise your settings, again saving you money in the long run.

What Do I Need?

A smart thermostat to start with, this will control your heating with an app on your phone or tablet.

Theres a few to choose from, but I suggest you research, Nest, Hive and Tado or check out my post on smart heating here

Expect to pay anything from £80 to over £300 for a full system.

Smart Lighting

This is exactly as it sounds, a method to control your lighting from an app in your phone. These are more independent lighting switches and more commonly bulbs that are connected to your home wifi so you can control them from anywhere

You can switch the lights on and off, set schedules, change lighting colours and themes. So if you’re trying to get your better half in the mood, just grab your phone soften the lights and you’re good to go!!

Going away on holiday? you can set separate schedules for each lighting unit you have connected, so you could have your lounge lets come on at say 7 pm until 11 pm, then stairs lights 11:05 till 11:15 then bedroom lights following that kind of pattern soi It would definitely look to a watching burglar that someone is in and moving about the house normally

Having a bit of a party? you can set some lights to interact with your tunes, your local club Dj will have sleepless nights believe me!!

What Do I Need?

You have 2 choices, you can buy smart bulbs like the ones in the Phillips Hue range or you can buy smart light switches that also have an aesthetic design appeal as they are nice and modern as well as being super cool as they control your lights!! One thing I will say is pick one method of lighting control and run with it as you don’t want loads of different apps controlling your lights or you’re gonna have a full smartphone page with 12 light-controlling apps!! Not good

Smart Speaker/Home Assistant

I joined these into one heading as they usually go hand in hand with each other, I’m sure you’ve heard of Amazon’s Alexa? It’s a voice and app-controlled home assistant, you can say “Hey Alexa what’s today’s weather, whats my schedule, what’s apples stock trading ‘ and such like.

You can also sync your other smart devices with your digital assistant or home hub. For a detailed post on smart home tech check this here

You can also use your smart speaker/ home assistant to form the core of your smart home control. Instead of spending 100’s on fully wired in home automation systems and 1,000’s on the electrician to install it then more 100’s to fix it when your blinds go up when you turn your kitchen light off!!

Briefly, if you use your smart assistant to integrate and synchronise your smart kit, your phone will be a world more organised and tidy, if you buy an Echo Show for instance you can control all your smart devices, heating, lights, speakers CCTV etc using the one app.

What do I need?

you just need to make a choice on what smart speaker you like and if it is compatible with your current smart set up if you have any of course. Choose a brand you know or like such as Google, Alexa, Nest or Apples home kit but there’s a world of choice out there

Smart Plugs

These can literally be a money-saving game changer and an economical way of transforming your standard but beautiful house into a hi-tech smart emporium.

A smart plug can literally change any device that just needs to be switched on to work into a smart, remote controllable device.

You can control and table lamp into a smart lamp, you could fill your kettle, switch it on and set up a schedule for it to boil and boom your kettle has boiled just as you walk down the stairs. I also have a deli and i have smart plugs controlling cooking equipment so its hot and ready to use when i walk in the door.

You could attach a normal electric radiator to a smart plug and there you have it you have now got a smart heater. Of course it goes without saying that if you have a device that requires various button presses after powering on to get it to work then this isn’t gonna work for it, as much as I’d like to program my air fryer to have my dinner ready when i come home it’s not going to happen! But I’m sure you get the jist!

What do I need

There is literally hundreds to choose from, I think even Amazon have created their own!! Best advice as said before is to make sure you choose one that can be operated with your current smart home devices or the ones you mainly intend on buying.

Smart Doorbell

Smart doorbells are becoming more and more widespread as they provide convenience as well as security. How many times have you missed a delivery? The postie walks up your drive then he rings the bell, you’re not in and back to the sorting office your parcel goes. if you had a smart doorbell, you can catch him walking up your drive, you can speak to him and ask him to leave your parcel in a safe place or knock next door to take it in for you.

They are also really good for security too, you can set a geo-fence to scan that area, and every time someone steps into this area your tricky doorbell lets you know through an app. To save the footage you do have to subscribe to a monthly plan which is about £2 a month but if you’re using it for security there’s not much point having it without the plan. For a more detailed post and advice which smart doorbells to choose click here

Conclusion

So i’ve said these are the top 5 smart gadgets you need today, and i stand by that statement, I think, maybe without you even knowing, you need these gadgets, trust me start simple, get a smart home hub, digital assistant, smart speaker or whatever you want to call it, see how useful it could really be. Slowly add things to your smart home map and before you know it without spending major dollar, you’ve got a smart home my friend and you’ll never look back trust me!!

Smart Television

As a last throw in that I didn’t know whether to mention the smart telly, for me this is just a given, why oh why would you even consider a telly that wasn’t smart in this day and age? In fact it should be illegal to buy a T.V that isn’t smart.

There’s so many streaming channels, games, apps and uses for your smart TV I’m not sure I’d even watch a TV if it wasn’t smart. You can play free games, browse the internet, post on Twitter, stream 4k films and series, stream content from your phone or websites the list goes on but I had to mention it because it is one of the 5 smart gadgets you need without a doubt!

The post The Top 5 Smart Gadgets You Need For 2024 appeared first on toptech7.com.

It certainly is possible but not guaranteed that you could save money by switching to smart heating, check this article here about the possible savings

What do I need to know when I’m trying to find out how to choose smart heating

Smart heating systems have several advantages over traditional heating controls, such as:

Remote control

You can adjust your heating from anywhere using your smartphone, tablet, or PC. This means you can turn your heating on or off, change the temperature, or set a schedule without being at home. You can also monitor your energy usage and get alerts if there are any issues with your system.

Learning and automation:

Some smart heating systems can learn your preferences and habits, and adjust your heating accordingly. For example, they can detect when you leave or return home, and turn your heating on or off automatically, so for example your heating can learn what tine you leave for work and what time you come home, some can also ( by the way of geo-fencing) detect if you decide to come home early! They can also sense the weather, the time of day, or the presence of people or pets in your home, and adapt your heating to suit your needs

Zonal control

Some smart heating systems allow you to control the temperature of each room or zone in your home independently. This means you can heat only the rooms you use, and avoid wasting energy on empty or unused spaces. You can also create different schedules and settings for different rooms, depending on your comfort and preferences.

Compatibility and integration:

Most smart heating systems are compatible with different types of boilers, radiators, and heating systems. They can also integrate with other smart home devices, such as smart speakers, lights, cameras, or security systems. This allows you to create a connected and smart home environment, and control everything with your voice or a single app.

What are the types of smart heating systems?

There are different types of smart heating products and accessories that make up a smart heating system. Some can be used independently, and others need to be used together. The main types are:

Smart thermostats:

These are devices that connect your central heating system to the internet and allow you to control your heating remotely through an app or a website. They can also have learning and automation features, such as geofencing, weather sensing, or open window detection. Some smart thermostats can also control your hot water, as well as your central heating. Smart thermostats can either be wired or wireless and can either replace your existing thermostat or work alongside it. For a more in-depth view of smart thermostats, check my post here

Smart radiator valves:

These are devices that connect to your radiators, and allow you to control their temperature output remotely through an app or a website. They can also have learning and automation features, such as occupancy sensing, adaptive start, or child lock. Smart radiator valves enable you to create zonal control in your home, and heat only the rooms you need. Most smart radiator valves need to be connected to a smart hub, which is a device that connects all your smart heating devices to the internet and acts as a central controller.

Smart central heating control packs:

These are bundles of smart heating devices that include a smart hub, a smart thermostat, and one or more smart radiator valves. They are designed to work together as a complete smart heating system, and allow you to control your heating and hot water remotely and create zonal control in your home. They can also have learning and automation features, such as self-learning, presence detection, or voice control.

Smart electric radiators:

These are electric heaters that can be controlled remotely through an app or a website. They can also have learning and automation features, such as energy monitoring, adaptive start, or open window detection. Smart electric radiators are ideal for homes that do not have a central heating system, or for rooms that need extra heating, such as conservatories, garages, or lofts.

What are the features to look for when deciding how to choose smart heating

When choosing a smart heating system, you should consider the following features and factors:

Compatibility:

You should check if the smart heating system is compatible with your existing boiler, radiator, and heating system. You should also check if it is compatible with other smart home devices, such as smart speakers, lights, cameras, or security systems. You can find this information on the product’s website, manual, or packaging, or by contacting the manufacturer or retailer.

Installation:

You should check how easy or difficult it is to install the smart heating system, and whether you need a professional installer or not. Some smart heating systems are plug-and-play, and can be installed by yourself in minutes. Others may require wiring, drilling, or plumbing, and may need a qualified engineer or electrician to install them. You should also check if the installation is included in the price, or if you need to pay extra for it.

Cost:

You should compare the prices of different smart heating systems, and see which one offers the best value for money. You should also consider the running costs, and how much you can save on your energy bills by using a smart heating system. Some smart heating systems may have additional costs, such as subscription fees, maintenance fees, or battery replacements. You should also check if the smart heating system is eligible for any grants, discounts, or incentives, such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, or the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme.

Main Players

There are 3 main manufactures of smart heating controls, nest mainly supply just the thermostat where as tado make the smart radiator controls also.

Nest around £150

• AUTO-AWAY
• It automatically adjusts the temperature after you leave. It can even turn off your hot water if you’re away for a few days.
• HOT WATER
• Now you can control your hot water tank. And give your hot water a boost when you need it.
• AUTO-SCHEDULE
• Just turn it up and down. It learns the temperatures you like and creates a schedule for you.

Hive around £80

• Tap, talk or let Mini take care of it
• Set schedules and boost your heating all from the Hive app – or just ask Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to do it for you. Then let Mini take care of the rest. If you need to, you can use its simplified controls to set the temperature and switch between modes.
• Left the heating on back home? We’ll tell you.
• With Geolocation, Mini knows if you’ve gone out and left the heating on – and sends you an instant reminder to turn it off. Or better yet, connect it to a Hive Door Sensor and it’ll automatically switch off when your front door closes. Handy.

Tado starter kit around £160

• Adapt your heating to suit your routine With the Smart Schedule, tado lets you plan your desired day and night time temperatures in time blocks based on your routine.
• Let the sun warm up your home tado takes local weather forecasts into account. It turns down the heating, if the sun is warming up your home, to save energy.
• Breathe healthier air with tado With the Air Comfort Skill, tado advises you on how to keep the air in your home healthy. It also gives you insights about the outdoor air quality.
• Never heat an empty home With Geofencing, tado reminds you to turn down the heating when the last person leaves home and to turn it up in time for the first person’s arrival.

Reviews:

You should read the reviews of other customers who have bought and used the smart heating system, and see what they think about its performance, quality, reliability, and customer service. You can find reviews on online platforms, such as Amazon, Trustpilot, or Which?, or on the product’s website or social media pages. You can also ask for recommendations from your friends, family, or neighbours who have smart heating systems in their homes.

Conclusion

Smart heating systems are devices that allow you to control your home’s temperature and heating schedule remotely through the internet. They can help you save money on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and make your home more comfortable and convenient. You should consider the benefits, types, features, compatibility, installation, cost, and reviews of different smart heating systems, and compare them to find the one that suits your needs and budget. You can also visit the websites of some of the leading smart heating brands, to learn more about their products and services.Don’t forget to always secure your smart home, to learn how check my guide here

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Do you trust Smart Locks? And what are they?

A smart lock is a replacement lock usually for your main access door they usually doesn’t require a key to gain entry to your house. They use the lock manufactures app and will use your phone’s N.F.C (near field communication) software to open the lock or you can type in a code.

This all sounds great, you know the deal, it’s pouring with rain, you have your hands full of shopping and you can’t find or grab your keys, just wave your phone in front of your door and you’re in! (or tap in a code!!) I’m sure you have questions , so let’s look at the main points.

Are They Safe Enough?

In short, yes, they can’t be ‘hacked’ as you might think, the only way of accessing your house is with the app, password or most locks have a manual, physical over-ride key. You can create different access codes for different people so you can see who’s coming or going, for example, you might give a access code to your neighbour whilst you’re on holiday to come in and water your plants.

Surely They Can Be Hacked

Not the locks themself. The only other way would be if someone would be able to gain access to your Wifi password but the chances of your average bally’ed up house robbed will not have the skill to crack a hexidecimal wpa2 wifi password I can imagine is pretty thin.

One thing that you do have think about is, if you buy one with a physical keypad, make sure you clean the button every week because the grease off your finger will make it obvious what numbers are used in your code.

There has been issues over certain bluetooth devices having a certain vulnerability, check that here But for extra peace of mind I’d follow these tips:

• Only buy a good quality lock from a well know manufacturer, like Yale, Schlang or August.
• Keep the firmware upto date and do any app updates as soon as they come out. for tips on securing your smart home tech check my post here
• Pick a monster password.

Ok, whats the good points. ❤️

• You don’t need to carry ( or worry about losing) you key when you leave the house.
• You can connect your lock to a smart hub or digital assistant so it can announcement. some one at your door or if they have a code Alexa can tell you who’s just walked in your house.
• Give out access codes to people you trust like dog walkers or family members, you can get notified when you they come in or out and you can pull access rights at any time and set times for certain people to come in.

And The Bad Points 🤬

• If you don’t have one with a over ride key and the power goes.. you’re screwed. If you lose your phone or the battery dies…you’re screwed. Internet down?…you’re screwed.
• You have to change the batterys.
• Looks, they’re not the nicest looking locks, they tend to make your door look like it’s off star trek.
• Might take some getting used to if some of your family aren’t as tech savy as yourself, you might here them say ‘It’s witchcraft” or ‘Whats wrong with a yale key’

How Much Are They?

Here could be the deal breaker, if you buy cheap are they more likely to let you down, I’d say so, cheap tech can ruin your whole day so beware. I wouldn’t buy a cheap one just to say i had one. So expect to pay anything from £90 for a simple one to well over £300 for a biometric one with key over-ride. Which is a considerable amount more that an insurance backed 5 level deadlock for about £50, but this is a gadget blog isn’t it and no-one said this obsession we share was gonna be cheap!

So Do We Run Out and Get One?

I’d consider everything we’ve said above and see if that fits, don’t not get one because you thing any 14 year geek with a laptop if gonna wonder in and out of your house, chances of that happening are pretty thin.

What I would say is, what are you gonna do if your internet or power go down? if that s the case make sure you get one with a key override, but then are you defeated one of the advantages of the thing in the first place…not carrying a door key. Maybe hide a lockable key box for that emergency.

Do you like the look of it? does it make your front door look like an office block?

Or at the end of the day so obsessed with tech that this is the last piece in your smart home jigsaw? And who carries keys about apart from a jailer right?

The post How Much Do You Trust Smart Locks In 2023? appeared first on toptech7.com.

Don’t Know What You’re On About, What’s Smart Home?

Smart home has been around for a while now, but as the tech becomes more accessible, easier to use and most importantly, cheaper more and more people are taking advantage of it. The basics are you can buy a device, usually called a hub, that can control everyday appliances in your house like a light, your heating or security. if you want to know more check my more in depth post here

Ok, I Get It, So Is Smart Home Usage Increasing?

Hell yeah it is, and us Brits love it, compared to its early days when the only thing you could get it to do would be to dim or turn off your £120 Philips Hue light bulb, theres a whole host of devices your can control. Just check the stats.

• In 2018, there were 5.9 million smart homes in the UK, representing 23.1% of all households.
• The number of smart homes grew by an average of 14.8% every year from 2018 to 2023, reaching 6.9 million in 2019 and then 8.1 million in 2020.
• In 2021, the number of smart homes surpassed 10 million for the first time, reaching 10.4 million.
• By 2022, the total number of smart homes in the UK was 12.1 million
• The latest smart home statistics from a survey show that as many as 14.2 million households in the UK were actively using smart home devices in 2023, indicating a 17.4% increase
• The current penetration rate of smart homes in the UK is 46.7%, and it is expected to grow rapidly and reach 61.2% by 2026. The estimated number of smart UK households for that year is 17.9 million
• The UK smart home market size reached £5.31 billion in 2022, and it is projected to grow by 12.34% (2022-2028), resulting in a market volume of £9.31 billion in 2028
• The British Smart Home market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.63% between 2022 to 2027, reaching £7.61 billion by 2027
• On average, revenue gained from every installed Smart home is projected at £537.17
• 23% of British households own at least one smart home device, according to a YouGov survey.
• Amazon and Google have sold 150 million smart speakers in just 4 years check the market share table below:

• Smart Tv’s are the most popular smart home product in the world most probably because every tv sold now is smart!

98% of people who own a smart device are satisfied with their experience, according to a 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers study.

• setting up a smart home could save you £317 a year when you think about the lights you could of left home, heating empty rooms or having your heating on till 10 o’clock when you’re in work at 9!
• Amazon Echo is the most popular smart speaker in the uk
• Smart home devices save most people an average of eight days per year, how? ‘I’ve forgot to switch off the light in the bedroom’ theres time spent going upstairs to switch it off. ‘How much beer have i got left in the fridge’ i’ll just look on the camera that fitted to my smart fridge.
• “Isn’t it just dead money” No it really isn’t, 65% of people would pay more for a smart home, according to a John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey of 22,000 people

And its only gonna get bigger check this page for super detailed stats

Conclusion:

Smart tech and smart homes are going away, once you make the jump you’ll never look back, trust me, I’m a Tech Doctor! but seriously, you need to embrace it with open arms, don’t worry about security, check my post here on how to secure your smart home, it’s not complicated check my post on setting up here. You don’t have go all in and Spend £1000’s in one go, you don’t even need a hub for a super simple set up you might just need an app. But be warned, once you witness how easy your life could become with smart tech you’ll want more an more, i mean who actually still closes the blinds with the little handle thing? what are we still in the 90’s??

The post In 2023 How Is Smart Home Usage Increasing In The UK? appeared first on toptech7.com.