Episode 305 - The New OvrC with Kenny Kim

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by SnapAV’s vice president of connected products, Kenny Kim, for a deep dive into “the new OvrC.” Two years in the making, this release represents a major leap forward for the company’s remote monitoring and management platform. We discuss various improvements to the platform’s architecture and overall performance, enhancements to the mobile experience, increased integrations into various product lines, and the company’s migration plans for users of BakPak and Ihiji. Kenny also shares some of the unique backstories behind the new OvrC, including the people and processes which made it all possible. Finally, we explore some of the ways the team at SnapAV continues to evolve their product management and development practices in order to better serve their dealers.

That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Samsung releases a new outdoor TV. Thoughts on Savant’s acquisition of GE Lighting. Crestron and Lutron playing nice. And more…

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

Kenny Headshot.jpg

Episode 304 - Yonomi's Kent Dickson

On this episode of HomeTech: We’re joined by Kent Dickson, co-founder and CEO of Yonomi. Established in 2013, the company eschewed the approach of building a hub. Instead, they focused on building what amounts to a robust and highly-flexible middleware layer for the connected home. Their cloud-based platform empowers developers and end-users alike to create a better home technology experience.

Our conversation with Kent covers the unique backstory that brought him from Aerospace to his current role at Yonomi, why we shouldn’t use the word “smart” to describe homes (and what we should call them instead), the challenges of tackling such a rapidly evolving market, what the future of the connected home looks like, the importance of building great teams, and more. Don’t miss it!

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

Yonomi+Team+-+Kent+Dickson,+Co-Founder+and+CEO.jpg

Episode 303 - Day 2

On this episode of HomeTech: Jason’s new Product gig. Learning from failures. Why projects are such a pain in the a** to finish. The difference between “day 0”, “day 1”, and “day 2”, and why you need to think of all three.

Plus the latest home tech headlines including: Wink’s death throes? Emerald Expositions, COVID, and the future of trade shows. Folks in quarantine stream lots of music. Google’s whole-home Nest Aware now available. A more powerful Apple TV on the way? And more…

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

maxresdefault.jpg

Episode 302 - Home Assistant's Paulus Schoutsen

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant, to discuss the company’s journey from a small, personal experiment to one of the most robust DIY home automation platforms on the market. Supported by a strong open source community, Home Assistant has more than enough horsepower for the dedicated enthusiast who really wants to roll up their sleeves. But the product has also evolved to become increasingly approachable for the less tech-savvy among us. Paulus shares the trials, tribulations, and successes that Home Assistant has seen as it has grown and evolved into its current form.

That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Crestron announces plans to return to CEDIA this year (assuming, of course, there is a CEDIA this year). Luxul prepares to release its new ProWatch remote management tool. Josh.ai raises $11 million. Google’s rumored new streaming device. Sonos debuts three new products. And more…

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

Episode 301 - Looking Around Corners with Allegion's Rob Martens

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Rob Martens, Senior Vice President, Chief Innovation & Design Officer at Allegion, PLC. You may not be familiar with the name Allegion, but its footprint is massive, spanning 30+ brands (including Schlage locks) in 130 countries with 11,000 employees. Rob serves as a futurist for the company and is also heavily involved in Allegion Ventures, which invests in various tech companies surrounding the internet of things. Our conversation covers the state of IoT (hint: it’s not all roses), how companies can and must do better by consumers, why you shouldn’t call it a “smart home”, and much more. Don’t miss it!

That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: CEDIA puts together a task force to ensure attendee safety at this year’s show, but will it be enough? The government funds an additional $370 billion in COVID relief funds. Best Buy to open 200 locations using by appointment only. And more…

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