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There was a point when a “smart home” sounded pretty cool.
Then somewhere along the way, we apparently decided the refrigerator needed Wi-Fi, the washing machine needed an app, and the light bulb needed a firmware update.
I’m not interested in making the house smarter just because we can.
I want the stuff that actually makes living in the house easier.
Turn something off without walking downstairs? Useful.
See who’s at the door without getting off the couch? Useful.
Check a room when you’re away? Useful.
Have one place where the family’s devices can charge instead of hunting for cables like they’re endangered species?
Very useful.
So forget building some futuristic command center. These are six relatively simple tech upgrades that solve actual everyday problems.
Plug the Smart Plug into the wall, plug your device into it, connect it through Alexa, and you can control that device remotely or put it on a schedule.
That’s it.
No separate smart-home hub required.
Where I’d actually use one
A lamp you want turning on automatically in the evening.
A fan you routinely forget to shut off.
Holiday decorations.
A light across the room that apparently becomes 300 yards away once you’ve gotten comfortable on the couch.
That’s where smart-home technology makes sense to me.
Take something slightly annoying and make it less annoying.
Dad Approved verdict:
You don’t need 30 of them.
Start with the one thing in your house that somebody is constantly forgetting to turn off.
16 Million DIY Colors: Govee smart light bulbs own millions of color and 54 preset scene modes, you can explore your favored one or pick one suits your moods most, bringing yourself a real fantastic lighting experience(Working Voltage: AC 120V).
Music Sync: Our smart light bulbs change color and brightness simultaneously when sounds are detected by the microphone on your phone. Note: only works when the microphone is not occupied. Download Govee Home App and enable microphone permissions.
Smart Control: Govee color changing light bulbs make it possible to control your bulbs with simple voice commands. And you’d also feel free to turn your smart light bulbs on/off, adjust brightness, or change the colors, set scenes via Govee Home App. (Note: Doesn’t support 5G)
Group Control: Simplify daily setups by grouping smart bulbs & Govee devices. Create a scheme, add devices, and control them simultaneously. Ensure bulbs are on stable 2.4GHz WiFi for optimal experience. Please Note: This A19 smart bulb cannot be used with smart switches.
Timer and Schedule: Applying the ceiling fan light bulbs to your daily routine now is easier than ever, with timer function and modes like Sunrise & Sunset, you can set your bulbs to brighten when you wake up, and gradually dim when you fall asleep.
Smart lighting can get ridiculous fast.
You can spend an entire evening programming your living room to look like a nightclub.
Or…
You can use smart bulbs for things that are genuinely useful.
The Govee Smart Light Bulbs 4-Pack gives you control over lighting without replacing fixtures or rewiring the house.
Video Doorbell is our second-generation smart security doorbell with up to two years of battery life, an expanded field of view, and improved security features for more peace of mind, no matter where you are.
Last longer with two-year battery life — Experience up to two years of continuous security coverage with three included AA Energizer lithium batteries and a Blink Sync Module (sold separately).
See more at your door — Greet guests and watch packages get delivered, day and night, with head-to-toe HD view and infrared night vision. Use two-way talk to hear and speak through the Blink app.
Set up in minutes — Easily install wire-free or connect Video Doorbell to existing doorbell wiring. When wired, Video Doorbell will sound through your home. Without wiring, you can use your Blink Mini 2 camera (sold separately) as an indoor plug-in chime. You’ll also get alerts on your Blink app with each doorbell press.
Always know who’s there — As part of a Blink Subscription Plan (sold separately), get alerts whenever a person is detected and enjoy features like Blink Moments, which stitches together clips into a single video to save and share.
This may be one of my favorite smart-home inventions.
Someone knocks.
Twenty years ago, you had two choices:
Open the door.
Or perform the ancient ritual of slowly approaching a window and moving the curtain approximately half an inch.
Now you can just look at your phone.
The Blink Video Doorbell gives you a head-to-toe HD view, motion detection and two-way audio so you can see and communicate with someone at the door.
And that’s useful for considerably more than avoiding awkward conversations.
You can check:
Deliveries
Visitors
Motion near the entrance
Packages
What’s happening at the front door while you’re away
The second-generation model can be installed using existing compatible doorbell wiring or used with batteries, although batteries are still required for operation.
Dad Approved verdict:
This is smart-home technology solving an actual problem.
You don’t need to wonder whether the package arrived.
You don’t need to yell:
“WHO IS IT?”
through three rooms.
And you don’t need to open the door just to discover someone would like to discuss your electric bill.
【2K High Definition】Capture every detail inside your home with crystal-clear 2K high definition video with this indoor security camera. Easily see what your baby is holding or what your pet is playing with.Controller Type:Amazon Alexa;Android;Google Assistant.Connectivity protocol:Wi-Fi.Power source type:Corded Electric, Power Adapter: 100–240 V. Connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Band
【Up, Down, All Around】This Pan/Tilt camera see everything across an entire room or walkway with the 360° horizontal and 114° vertical range pan/tilt field of view.
【Detection & Instant Notification】Get instant push notifications when motion, person or baby crying is detected, there is no additional fee to use it as a baby camera monitor. Discern from notifications that matter, so you’ll know if its your pet playing around or if someone is actually there.
【Works w/ Alexa & Google Assistant】Fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, use your simple voice command to view Tapo indoor security camera live stream on Echo Show or Google Chrome Cast with a screen. Streaming via Google limited to display on Chromecast & Nest devices only.
【2-Way Audio w/ Built In Siren】Never truly leave home with the built-in 2-way audio. Use as a pet camera with phone app to comfort your pet from anywhere in the world. Keep your family safe with cameras for home security indoor by warding off intruders.
A fixed camera is useful.
A camera that can move around and let you see more of the room?
Even better.
The Tapo Pan/Tilt Security Camera 2-Pack gives you two cameras you can position around the house while providing pan-and-tilt viewing instead of locking you into one narrow angle.
15W Fast Charge for the Morning Rush: Save up to 45 minutes with the INIU Wireless Charger. Powered by AirFuel tech, it’s ideal for commuters needing a rapid power boost before leaving, eliminating the frustration of slow charging.
Sleep-Friendly for Nightstands: The self-adaptive LED dims in the dark and brightens by day. Perfect for light sleepers, it keeps you informed of your charging status without harsh glare disturbing your rest.
Dual Coils for Desk & Entertainment: A wider charging area means no more finding the “sweet spot.” A must-have office desk setup, letting you FaceTime in portrait or watch videos in landscape without losing power.
NTC Temp°Guard for Battery Health: Smart, real-time temperature control prevents overheating. Heavy users can safely leave phones charging overnight, solving the pain of heat-induced battery damage.
Perfect for Every Household: Auto-adapts up to 15W for compatible iOS and Android phones, making it the ideal shared wireless charger for families and guests.
This one isn’t glamorous.
That’s precisely why I like it.
Every family eventually develops The Charging Area.
It usually consists of several cables, two missing charging bricks, somebody’s tablet, three phones, a smartwatch and one mysterious cord nobody is willing to throw away because it might belong to something important.
The INIU Wireless Charging Station gives compatible devices a dedicated charging spot instead.
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