Ladies and gentlemen, the future has arrived, and it’s right inside your front door. The advancing world of tech in 2016 has brought new generations of smart phones, computers and an impressive lineup of smart home appliances that will undoubtedly change the way you run your household.
Amazon Echo by Amazon, $179.99
The Amazon Echo
The Echo is Amazon’s newest and one of their most exciting innovations yet. This hands-free, voice controlled speaker not only fills your home with crisp, quality sound from virtually any music application, but serves as a control center for other appliances in your home — it’s Alexa Voice Service can provide you with the latest sports scores, read eBooks, give traffic updates, news, weather and more. It can even control lights, switches and thermostats with compatible smart appliance technology, and all just by the sound of your voice (which, by the way, the Echo can hear from across the room, even with your favorite song or eBook playing at the same time). Trade in the plastic flowers and the outdated vase and make this slice of Jensen’s-esque technology your new centerpiece.
Nest Learning Thermostat, $241.99
Comfort and efficiency are essentials of any modern home, and the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat has this completely covered. After a week of use, the thermostat automatically adapts to your preferences and habits. That means you don’t have to worry about turning the heat down before bed or to a comfortable 70 degrees while you eat breakfast — Nest has it covered. The Learning Thermostat even knows when you’re away at work and when the seasons change, and adjusts accordingly, saving potentially hundreds of dollars in energy costs without you lifting a finger. And did I mention it comes in different colors? The Nest Learning Thermostat is just as sleek as it is effective, as useful as it is innovative, and will elevate your quality of living in the most effortless way.
August Smart Lock, $229.00
This cutting edge security system delivers the complete peace of mind of a hefty locks and alarms with the ease and convenience of your smart phone. The lock itself can be installed without any changes to your existing doors/exterior, and it works with the free August Smart mobile app to maintain a 24/7 activity log to show you who’s been in your house and when. You can grant self-selected users access to your home with their own personalized virtual key, and delete users at any time as well. The Smart Lock even unlocks your door when it senses you approaching it, eliminating the need for clunky sets of keys while preserving your home’s security.
By Francesca Mathewew
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