Samsung didn’t take long to make use of its newly-acquired SmartThings IoT platform: SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson announced Wednesday morning during the…
Read MoreResearch
Don’t count out cellular. It could still win with the internet of things
The industrial internet will use cellular. For real! That's the take from this week's podcast guest, who joins us after Kevin Tofel and I digest the SmartThings buy, Best Buy's hub offering and more.…
Read MoreThere are many paths to a smart home. And that’s the problem.
People always ask me where they can buy a smart home. The answer shows how far the industry needs to come if it wants to serve mainstream consumers.…
Read MoreIf Samsung buys SmartThings, it’s a win for both
Samsung is in talks to buy smart home hub startup SmartThings in a deal valued at $200 million. If so, this is a win for both companies.…
Read MoreIf Apple releases its own smart home hardware, think connected speakers and TVs
Apple is reportedly assembling a team of people to possibly, maybe build hardware for the smart home. If it does so, here are a few ideas for it.…
Read MoreThe smart home is coming, but will it be psychic or programmable?
Should the smart home be programmable, or should it react to your needs before you even recognize them? A Time package shows the conflict between current smart home visions.…
Read MoreQuirky throws Wink into the crowded smart home arena
Quirky will launch Wink, its connected home brand, as a separate company. But the real test of Wink's success in the market will depend on awesome software and a distribution channel that educates consumers.…
Read MoreDigital health is going to need medical approval and a great UI
So far the internet of things hasn't made much headway into patient care in the medical setting, but consumers are buying wellness devices for a variety of reasons. Will the medical world embrace that data?…
Read MoreThe internet of things isn’t about things. It’s about cheap data.
The internet of things is a way to deliver cheap information that could be used for good or ill. So let's start talking about what we want as a society. A good place to start is at Structure Connect, this October in San Francisco.…
Read MoreHoly hubs! Lutron builds its own bridge for the smart home
Everyone wants to get in on the smart home, so the launch of a DIY home hub by lighting automation provider Lutron isn't a huge surprise. Here are the details.…
Read MoreConsumers will love Apple’s entrance to the smart home, but smaller device makers may not
Apple's reported plans for the smart home let Apple do what it does best, create a magical software experience while extracting a fee from developers. Who wins if Apple makes a smart home play?…
Read MoreSmartThings sweetens its hub for consumers and developers in a bid to own the smart home
SmartThings has been an early mover in the connected home, but it's also been struggling to reconcile its vision of openness with a user-friendly product. Its latest app and business decisions should help.…
Read MoreVoice control comes to SmartThings via Ubi … sometimes.
I've been playing with voice recognition and the smart home for weeks with only a little luck. Here's how Ubi integrates with SmartThings.…
Read MoreA fight is brewing over control of the smart home and APIs are the weapon of choice.
As more companies release connected gadgets for the home, startups selling one-off devices are coming up against those who want to integrate everything into their own applications. What's a consumer to do?…
Read MoreIntegration drama in the smart home and Lumafit’s CEO on new wearables
Is it different building a connected device in Europe? Where are wearables heading?What are the risks of hacked smart home integrations? We discuss these questions and more on the podcast this week.…
Read MoreIt takes an ecosystem: Building natural UIs isn’t just about sensors and software.
Building more powerful user interfaces isn't just about software, such as the newly launched product from Aquifi, but about providing more context. This will make UIs better and programming harder.…
Read MoreSecurity is driving the mainstream smart home adoption, so Staples adds more cameras
Security is the entry point for the mainstream consumer looking to connect their home, according to sales of Staples Connect devices. That's why the program is adding more IP cameras.…
Read MoreIFTTT adds an Android channel so I made a bat phone
Popular service If this Then That has added an Android channel to its line up of web-and-physical-device-based triggers. Let's have some fun.…
Read MoreSmartThings adds support for TCP Lighting, Ecobee and Quirky outlet
Woohoo! SmartThings has added support for TCP Lighting, Quirky Pivot Power Genius, and my personal favorite, the ecobee thermostat. This will allow…
Read MoreALYT offers a smart home hub jam-packed with sensors
Another day, another crowdfunding campaign for a smart home hub. This one uses Android and has a cellular radio that makes it a more reliable home security choice.…
Read MoreHow to recognize the three types of connected device vaporware
After the launch of a connected device, for many people the waiting begins. They are waiting for the actual product, or an integration or even a promise that the device can't deliver.…
Read MoreDude, where’s my car? Plus a tour through a Savant home
This week Kevin huffs candles, I lose my car and a visit to the Savant demo home makes me reconsider how I view the future of the smart home. Listen to this week's podcast.…
Read MoreCanary raises $10M for new home security product
Home security is one of those emerging areas where the crowdfunding crowd sees an opportunity to provide something smarter, cheaper and disruptive to the existing industry. With $10 million, Canary hopes to invade the biz.…
Read MoreSavant, the Apple of home automation providers, launches a cheaper option
As the smart home heats up, players at the high end are going downmarket with products that help consumers automate their homes without having to play with complicated software.…
Read More