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Nest Protect: A sensor-packed smoke / carbon monoxide detector for $129
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Videos,
Nest, makers of the massively popular learning thermostat, is getting into the smoke detector game with Protect. The Nest Protect is a sensor-packed smoke and carbon monoxide detector that aims to remove all the annoyances of the "modern" smoke detector, making it more helpful, more pleasing to use, and ultimately, safer. So, how does Nest aim to reach that goal?
Like the Nest Learning Thermostat, Protect is constantly connected to your Wi-Fi network. This allows you to set the device up with your iOS or Android device, and lets you use the Nest app to check things like battery life and other settings, while also receiving push notifications in the event of any emergencies. Even cooler, Nest devices can talk to each other. So, if the Protect senses a fire, it will let all the others know, and they will speak in a female voice alerting you to smoke detected in a particular room. If it senses a rise in carbon monoxide, it can let your Nest Thermostat know to switch off the heat.
Click to continue reading Nest Protect: A sensor-packed smoke / carbon monoxide detector for $129
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Hi-Reflective Umbrella keeps you safe in dark storms
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
Walking around in the rain under an umbrella may seem pretty romantic, but getting hit by a motor vehicle while placing your sport coat over a puddle for your lady isn't. How can you avoid such an unfortunate mishap? You can start with the Hi-Reflective Umbrella. In bright hours, it serves as a dark gray mild-mannered umbrella, but when darkness falls, you get what is essentially a blinding spotlight-esque circle that shouts out "Don't hit me!" to the motorists of the world.
Read More 
| Hi-Reflective Umbrella Product Page
Aquafarm is a self-sustaining aquaponics fish garden
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Science,
Tiny fish tanks can be boring, but the Aquafarm serves as both a home for your fish and an herb garden that provides you with delicious, fresh plants. Even better, all you need to do is remember to feed the fish to make everything happen. You see, through aquaponics, the plants use the nutrients from the fish poop to nourish themselves and keep on growing strong. In turn, the plants keep the water clean, so you don't have to. You get five planters, and seeds to grow wheat grass, lettuce mix, and basil from Seeds of Change. All this for $59.99 from ThinkGeek.
Read More | Aquafarm Aquaponics Fish Garden
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Canary consumer home security device turns your house into a quantified home
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Cameras, Smart Home, Videos,
Here at Gear Live, we've advocated to our readers that they purchase an efficient video surveillance security systems for their home, and if you haven't yet, Canary looks like a great option. It's an affordable, unique, and effective take on home monitoring and security when compared to more expensive conventional alternatives. The very small, sleek product reminds us of the upcoming redesigned Mac Pro, and is packed with sensors that measure temperture, humidity, air quality, and motion, and protect you with a wide-angled HD camera that supports night vision, and microphones.
The iOS and Android app is free and includes all of the basic services, but customers may opt for more increased data storage for a fee. Canary is available by pre-order and is currently being crowfunded on Indiegogo. It goes for the initial price $199 and has surpassed its funding goal of $100K. Here's a video demo of the product.
Read More | Canary
Scanadu Scout bringing to life the medical Tricorder
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smart Home, Science,
Fans of the Star Trek franchise can totally appreciate the concept of the Tricorder. Now, what if I told you that it actually exists? Nelson De Brouwer founded Scanadu and actually went about inventing the Scanadu Scout. The Scout is round, small, and fits in one hand. It connects to a mobile app which stores your vital sign readings like temperature and oxygen levels in the blood. Scanadu also includes a plethora of heart readings like heart rate, ECG, HRV and PWTT (blood pressure.) It also has the ability for urine analysis or UA and, my personal favorites, reading test and stress levels. Scanadu Scout is being crowdsourced and sold for $199.99 on IndieGoGo. Check out the video that shows how it all works after the quick jump.
Click to continue reading Scanadu Scout bringing to life the medical Tricorder
Read More | Scanadu
If you want a 21st century method of deodorizing your refrigerator, get ready to throw out that old box of baking soda and pick up the Kuro Cube. the Kuro Cube is a compressed block of white charcoal that specializes in absorbing the smells that you don't wanna smell, saving your nose from the horrid sensory attack you might get hit with whenever you open the fridge. It costs $25, and lasts a good five years, as long as you set it in the sun every now and then so it can get dried out. You can place these in other areas, too, if you want to purify the air in other rooms.
Read More | Kuro Cube
Meet August: Yves Behar’s keyless digital lock system
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
Yves Behar, the famous designer of the popular array of Jawbone bluetooth headsets, Jambox portable stereo jukebox and fitness activity monitor Up, has launched a new company, promoting a smart door lock, August. August is a keyless digital lock system for your home connected to low powered Bluetooth with an iPhone app. August does not solely rely on Wi-Fi in order for it to function, so no need to worry in the event of a power outage. The device is said to be easy to install in a two-step process compared to other locking solutions. It does not require an additional lock for the outside door and it's said to not be noticeable since the device is housed in the inside lock of the home, which it replaces. Check out the video after the break.
Click to continue reading Meet August: Yves Behar’s keyless digital lock system
Read More | August
Blue Bathing Bad bath salt inspired by Breaking Bad
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
The super-pure, blue-hued crystal meth found in television hit Breaking Bad may be a myth, but for fans of the show looking to relax without breaking the law, these Bathing Bad bath salts are the closest thing to the "real" thing. And they're brilliant. The blue bath salt is "cooked" in Albuquerque, New Mexico using all-natural ingredients. You can get yourself an 8 ounce supply for $15.99 on Amazon.
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Read More | Bathing Bad Bath Salt
Grillbot: The BBQ grill cleaning robot does the dirty work for you
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Smart Home, Videos,
A Roomba for your barbecue grill. That's what the Grillbot is, and it sounds like something that many could use. Sure, it's just about the end of winter now, but those summer months are coming, and we'd bet there are plenty of crusty grills out there. the Grillbot promises to do the work for you, using its wire brushes to get everything shining again. The grill cleaning robot features push button operation, three motors with replaceable grill brushes, LCD display, timer, and alarm. You can get the Grillbot in orange, blue, red, or black beginning this June, selling for $69.95, or $99.95 for the premium model. Check out a video of how it all works after the break, if you don't mind ridiculous music.
Click to continue reading Grillbot: The BBQ grill cleaning robot does the dirty work for you
Read More | Grillbots
USPS to cease Saturday mail delivery on August 1
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Smart Home,
Saturday mail delivery through the United Stated Postal Service will be a thing of the past beginning August 1, 2013. It's a move focused on cutting costs as the USPS tries to deal with, and recover from, massive financial losses due to mandatory retiree health care benefits, and should end up saving the struggling agency about $2 billion per year. Not all Saturday mail activity will go away--packages will still be delivered, P.O. boxes will receive mail as usual, and post offices will still be open on Saturdays. Of course, with the proliferation of email, snail mail demand has decreased significantly over the years. We're sure that this is unwelcome news for Netflix DVD subscribers, but on the bright side, with Saturday mail delivery ceasing, it's another junk mail-free day to look forward to on the weekend.
Read More | AP
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