Episode 171 - Alexa, We'll Fix it in Post

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: BlueTooth mesh is finally a reality, but what will it mean for the smart home? Thoughts on the URC’s substantial new update — Total Control 2.0. OpenHAB now integrates with IKEA TRÅFRI smart lighting, as well as connected lawn mowers (lawnmowers??). Loxone has nifty looking new weather station. New and improved Alexa integrations from Savant and Logitech, respectively. Important details emerge about Lennar’s Amazon-powered smart home strategy. And much more...

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Show Notes

• Pic of the Week - Hoverbird
• Bluetooth LE adds mesh networking to improve home/building automation, lighting & other IoT devices | 9to5Mac
• Mesh networking comes to Bluetooth, which could set off a new wave of smart buildings – GeekWire
• Exclusive: URC Total Control 2.0 is Complete Overhaul of Flagship Home Automation System - CE Pro
• openHAB 2.1 Release
• Home: On #090 – Home Smart, with Björn Block
• Luxone Weather Station - Measure & forecast accurate weather data
• Logitech just made it easier to manage your Harmony-controlled smart home with Alexa - The Verge
• Savant Introduces Skill For Amazon Alexa | ResidentialSystems.com
• GAFA Follow Up: Lennar’s New Home-Automation Paradigm: Embracing Amazon Smart Home Services
• 'Devil's Ivy' Vulnerability Could Afflict Millions of Internet-Connected Cameras and Card Readers | WIRED

Episode 170 - It's All Wireless Now Anyway

On this week's episode of HomeTech: Is that a Minion? Amazon take a page from the Geek Squad playbook. Apple steps up their retail smart home game. Will the original Echo get an overdue facelift? We don't need no stinkin' wires. A chat (dissertation?) about the great Net Neutrality debate. And much more...

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Show Notes

• Amazon.com : Hide-Your-Cam Nest Cam Camouflage Cover Skin Case Disguise Protection Decoration : Electronics
• Amazon is quietly rolling out its own Geek Squad to set up gadgets in your home - Recode
• Apple unveils smart home experiences in its retail stores worldwide | TechCrunch
• Josh.ai Voice Control Raises $11M in New Funding - CE Pro
• Amazon's next Echo will be more like Apple's HomePod
• Amazon Fire TV can be controlled by any Alexa-powered device - CNET
• In Defense of Lennar’s Wi-Fi Smart Home Strategy: ‘Wireless is the Future’ - CE Pro
• Join the Day of Action for Net Neutrality on July 12th
• The internet is fucked (again) - The Verge
• Why Sonos fights for net neutrality | Sonos Blog
• Net Neutrality in the US: 2017 Update - YouTube
• Chrome Plugin Shows How Dark The Web Is Without Net Neutrality
• DTNS 3071 – The Secret History Of Net Neutrality

Episode 169 - Yay, Florida! 😐

On this week's episode of HomeTech: The joy of summertime in Florida. Have we reached the voice-enabled speaker tipping point? Samsung wants to compete with Echo and HomePod, if only Bixby could speak English. An OTT video comparison worth 7 minutes of your time. Hulu lands a carriage deal with HBO. Another large builder dabbling in the smart home. An (unlikely?) marriage of convenience between Sonos and Crestron. Savant and Ihiji finally play nice. And more...

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Show Notes

• After Apple’s HomePod announcement, Samsung said to be also planning intelligent speaker | 9to5Mac
• Alibaba Unveils the Tmall Genie X1 Voice-Activated Speaker | Investopedia
• The Voice Speaker Tipping Point – Tech.pinions
• How to Get the Best Live TV Streaming : Hulu vs. YouTube vs. DirecTV | Digital Trends
• You can now subscribe to HBO through Hulu for $14.99/month | 9to5Mac
• Meritage Homes to Include Advanced Wireless Home Automation Package in New Homes - NASDAQ.com
• Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship - Strata-gee.com
• Sonos Available Through Crestron, the Only Home Automation Co. with Embedded Sonos App - CE Pro
• Savant Home Automation Now Works with Ihiji for Remote Monitoring, Management - CE Pro
• TRENDnet Partners with Domotz for Remote Network Monitoring - CE Pro

Episode 168 - The Hackintosh

On this week's episode of HomeTech: Seth gets a new computer (with a side of buyer's remorse). Ring's new Elite model now for sale, and a welcome addition to the line up. Amazon's Echo Show now integrates with most popular smart home cams. Sharp jumps into the OLED game. LG's 77" wallpaper TV will set you back a cool $20K. Yet more dire predictions for PayTV providers. And much more...

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Show Notes

• Ring Elite Shipping
• Ring Video Doorbells and Security Cameras Now Work With Amazon Alexa on Echo Show!
• You can now watch your smart home camera from an Amazon Echo Show - The Verge
• Bug your family with Amazon Echo's new intercom feature
• Run Google Assistant on Your Amazon Echo
• Alexa, What Happens if the Echo Has a Screen? You Get This Review
• Sharp will reportedly start building OLED TV panels next year
• LG's 77-inch Wallpaper TV is selling for the low, low price of $20k
• Xiaomi is bringing cinema tech to a living room projector
• U.S. pay TV business to lose 10.8M more subscribers by 2021, Kagan predicts
• Editor’s Corner—Why Hulu is best positioned to win OTT vs. pay TV subscriber race
• Caavo
• YouTube TV is expanding to 10 new markets
• Angry Comcast customer set up Raspberry Pi to auto-tweet speed test results

Episode 167 - Brown the Bear? Or Sally the Chick?

On this week's episode of HomeTech: Seth and Jason indulge in some Apple HomePod speculation. Japan's answer the Echo comes in Chicken or Bear. Lennar and Toll Brothers get hands-on with the smart home.  New hardware from Ring. Vivint kicks open the door to the smart-home-for-renters market. Zigbee PRO 2017 - don't call it a comeback. And Insteon acquired, but where will it lead? 

 Fan of the podcast? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron! 

Show Notes

• Observation: Sphero needs to make a smart hub - Spiderman meets Echo
• Japan’s answer to the Amazon Echo comes in ‘bear’ or ‘chicken
• Amazon surpassed Sonos to become leader in Wi-Fi speaker sales ahead of Apple’s HomePod
• Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home Designs Offered by Lennar Homes: Assurance of Strong, Reliable Home Wi-Fi - Electronic House
• Toll Brothers Builds Smart Home Appeal in New Construction Market
• Smart home startup Kirio’s first product works with pretty much any device, including the kitchen sink
• Ring announces second-generation video doorbell, available today
• Nest is considering Apple HomeKit as iOS 11 makes supporting existing products easier
• Vivint Launches Smart Home Platform for Rental Properties
• ZigBee PRO 2017 Spec Operates in Simultaneous Multi-Band Mesh Networks - CE Pro
• Seattle startup vet Rob Lilleness acquires Smartlabs, investing $7.3M in the home automation company