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Smart Home Features

Luxe bidet neo 120

Bidets are smart investments that save money as the pandemic rages on

Bidets are cleaner, more effective ways to clean yourself after you use the bathroom, and these devices are smart investments during the current pandemic.
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Skeptical about UV light sanitizers? We put one to the test

If you're paranoid about germs, UV light sanitizers have been touted to be effective. How well do they really work? We put one to the test to find out.
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Can an air conditioner make you more prone to coronavirus?

Your air conditioning system isn't likely to give you coronavirus, but an unclean system can exacerbate other respiratory problems that may put you at risk.
Google Home Mini

Is your home packed with smart speakers? Here’s how to make them work together

Multiple smart speakers with multiple accounts can be a headache. We have some tips to help.
mirror at home gym experience with weight training

Lululemon’s purchase of Mirror proves home gyms are the future of fitness

The pandemic is changing the traditional gym. People are still afraid, so there's been an increase in adoption of home gyms, connected apps, and subscriptions.
iRobot Roomba 900 series

How data helps robot vacuums clean your home with maximum efficiency

Robot vacuums like the Roomba i7+ create a map of the layout of your home and use this information to more efficiently clean and navigate your living spaces.
LIFX Smart Bulb

The future of smart home lighting is big on sensors, slim on apps

The smart light bulb made it easier for us to control them, but they've been slow with innovations of late. The future does hold some promising possibilities.
Ecobee security products on a white platform.

The case for putting a voice assistant in every device

Smart assistants can control your home, answer questions, and shop for you. With all these features, voice assistants should be part of every smart home device.
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Having a backyard bash? Your smart speaker could pose a security risk

Smart speakers may be great choices for controlling your smart home, but they aren't the best picks for outdoor party speakers. Here's why Bluetooth is better.
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Should you worry about hacked smart home appliances?

As smart appliances continue to evolve, the potential for them to be hacked becomes greater. We spoke with a cybersecurity expert who sheds light on the risks.
Pixel 4 running Android 11 beta

Android 11 beta’s smart home controls are a fresh start, but need to stay simple

Google Assistant can be useful, but sometimes it fails to listen to commands. A quick-access menu for the smart home will be a great feature for Android 11.
Google Nest Home devices.

Your electric bill will skyrocket this summer. Smart home tech can help.

Working from home during the summer can make your electric bill to go crazy. We'll tell you how an informative smart home can help keep your costs down.
Roborock S6 MaxV front view

Should you be worried about cameras in robot vacuums?

Robot vacuums can now map your rooms, and some even have cameras. Is this a privacy problem? We break down what to look for and the safeguards robot vacs take.
Ashen Cabin

This robotically built cabin offers a peek into the high-tech future of housing

Ashen Cabin is an experimental log cabin built with the aid of a giant 3D printer and construction robot. It may be the future of sustainable housing.
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Robot mops can’t sanitize your floors. Here’s why

Robot mops are convenient devices that alleviate a household chore, but don't try to add your own cleaning solution or disinfectant to the device. It may break.
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Here’s why you need a cordless vacuum in 2020

Cordless stick vacuums are versatile, powerful, convenient, and a perfect complement to a good robot vacuum.
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Without a firewall, the door to your smart home is left wide open

Your smart home could be hacked, but you wouldn't even know it. Protect your all your devices against them with a hardware firewall.
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Can a smart thermostat protect you from the coronavirus?

Smart thermostats can help control the humidity level in your home and reduce the potential for viral spread.
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Can your smart speaker contact emergency services for you?

Google Home and Amazon Alexa cannot yet call 911, but Siri can. Updates are on the way that may give smart speakers this functionality.
where to get toilet paper in a pandemic

Toilet paper is out of stock everywhere. Here’s how to order it online

Stores have been cleaned out, and the next logical choice would be to search online. With the COVID-19 pandemic going strong, is ordering online even an option?
woman working from home

Tech tips for maintaining work-life balance now that both happen at home

Working at home? Use these tech-centric shortcuts to avoid burnout and keep business and personal time separate, even when your home and office aren't.
Dyson V10 Cordless Vacuum used in a living room.

Your vacuum might be vomiting dust all over your house

Not all vacuum cleaners are created equal. If the vacuum isn't sealed, it may make the air quality in your home worse. Here's what to look for when buying.
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Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Ultrafast toothbrushes and a laptop/phone hybrid

Every week, Digital Trends combs through crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to round up all the best gadgets, gizmos, and gear currently in preproduction. If you're looking for innovative ideas, keep an eye on this column. This week's offerings include a Backyard biodigester.
home workout

Your home gym could threaten your life, but you can fix it

Many of us have been forced to exercise from home. However, you may be doing more harm to your health than good. Indoor air quality sensors can be crucial.
Man working at a desk at home.

Smart lights can elevate your mood while working from home

The lighting in your home (and home office) has a huge impact on your mood. Brighten your spirits by scheduling your smart lights to warm and cool when needed.
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Transform your home office into a space that’d make even a Google employee drool

From a standing desk/PC combo to a top-notch speakerphone and more, you can really spice up the work-from-home routine with a few additions to your office.
Echo Alexa

Avoid saying these words near your smart speaker, if you don’t want it to listen

If you are worried about privacy, beware of using these words around your voice assistants. The device might mistake them for a wake word.
Intelligence of Things Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2017

Forget the Internet of Things. Here’s what IoT really stands for

IoT means the Internet of Things, but there’s a growing movement to change the definition, to give it more meaning and set us up for the next decade of innovation. Tomorrow, IoT will mean Intelligence of Things, impacting AI, 5G, and every other buzzword. Here’s what that shift will bring – and how everything’s going to change in the decade ahead.
Ring Stick Up Camera

Why are hackers snooping on smart home security cameras? I asked an ex-hacker

Ring's security cameras have made news due to a series of hacks. What do hackers gain by hacking such cameras? We spoke with a security expert to find out.
Amazon Echo Input Portable buttons

A battery-powered Amazon Echo? I wish all smart speakers had this feature

After a week with Amazon's Echo Input Portable, I'm convinced that a rechargeable battery should be a must-have feature in smart speakers. The addition of a battery unlocks several new use cases and lets the Echo Input Portable work like any other smart speaker -- without being tied up to a power outlet.
livia

Livia claims that it gets rid of period cramps, but does it actually work?

Livia is a tiny electronic device you wear on your abdomen that promises relief from menstrual cramps through electrodes. Sound too good to be true? We decided to test Livia to see if there's any merit to the claims. Here's how it went.
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Honeywell’s vision of the ‘smart office’ focuses on efficiency and savings

Honeywell has moved away from smart home technology. Now, the company has a bigger focus: Connected buildings. I toured Honeywell's headquarters in Atlanta to see how the company is improving the office through its Vector app, which brings the conveniences of the smart home to the workplace.
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Holiday Gift Guide 2019

Looking for the perfect tech gifts to give this holiday season? Digital Trends’ experts have searched high and low for the best of the best. We’ve picked out the greatest drones, computers, smart home gadgets, and more, so whether you need a stocking stuffer or a splashy gift, you’ll find it here.
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Google’s plan for the helpful home all goes back to privacy

The smart home landscape continues to evolve, and one of its biggest proponents is Google. We sat down with Google's Michele Turner, who talks about the company's vision for the smart home, what it's doing to get there, and what we can expect surrounding the helpful home.