578 episodes
There comes a time when every smart home product thinks it has what it takes to control everything through a single app. Is Ring the latest company that wants to give it a shot? This week's HomeTech Headline and some new ideas popping up here at HomeTech within the next few weeks, plus, the Pic of the Week.
This week’s episode features a major announcement—Jason is taking a step back from the podcast. After six years of doing the show, he’s shifting his focus to some new creative endeavors. First things first, don’t worry, HomeTech isn’t going anywhere; Seth is going to carry the torch forward. We discuss Seth’s plans to continue with the show and explore Jason’s new project, which you can check out at pillarsofimpact.com. We also take the opportunity to look back at the biggest connected home stories since the show began back in February of 2014. It’s been a wild ride indeed! Most importantly, Jason shares his sincere appreciation for the ongoing support of our wonderful community. Join us as we turn to the next chapter of HomeTech and give Jason a proper send-off!
On this episode of HomeTech: A look at CE Pro’s “State of the Industry” report. CEDIA to resume in-person training in March. Harrison Home Systems wins CTA Integrator of the Year. US adds Xiaomi to a list of alleged Chinese military companies. Samsung brings SmartThings to the car. Several new releases from Philips Hue. Aromatherapy showers. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Brendon Stead, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Engineering at Sound United. Our wide-ranging conversation covers Brendon’s lifelong passion for audio, a behind-the-scenes look at working with tech majors like Google, Amazon, and Apple, the evolving voice-control landscape, the impact of streaming services on the A/V market, and more. Brendon’s unique background and decades of experience in the business make this an interview you don’t want to miss. That, plus a rundown of the coolest, weirdest, and most useful gadgets from CES 2021. And, because no CES show would be complete without a dive into the world of displays, we take a look at what the major TV makers are highlighting as we enter 2021.
On this episode of HomeTech: Industry mourns the loss of Crestron CTO, Fred Bargetzi. Samsung pushes its MICRO LED technology in the run-up to CES 2021. New TVs from Samsung can keep you honest during your home workouts. New streaming service, Discovery+, launches. ESPN+ raises its annual subscription prices. FBI warns smart home owners about “swatting” attacks. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: Seth proposes new gift-giving legislation. Disney’s latest investor update highlights big plans for Disney+. The results of HBO Max’s day-and-date release of “Wonder Woman 1984”. Sony Pictures Studios reports seeing increased interest from Hollywood’s theatrical-release loyalists. Sony announces major factory closures as part of its strategic move away from A/V. Dissecting CEDIA’s latest State of the Association report, including a deep dive into the topic of standardization. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: Join us for the 2020 edition of the Holiday Fireside chat! This year, we are joined again by two special guests, Richard Gunther from the Home: On podcast and the Smart Home Show, and Adam Justice, Founder and CEO at ConnectSense and Richard’s co-host on the Smart Home Show. We share our perspectives on the biggest connected home trends of 2020 and make some predictions about the year ahead. Don’t miss it!
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Alex Capecelatro, CEO of Josh.ai. Our first three-time guest on the podcast, Alex joins us to discuss the company’s upcoming product releases—the Nano and Core. At just over the size of a quarter, the Nano is billed as the world’s first architectural voice-control microphone. Backing up the Nano is the Core, a processor designed specifically to meet the AI and voice-control needs of the most demanding clients. We discuss some of the unique design challenges associated with bringing these products to market, how Josh.ai has continued to evolve based on dealer and client feedback, Alex’s thoughts on the overall AI landscape, and much more. That, plus the latest home tech headlines, including: Logitech releases a new HomeKit-enabled video doorbell. Hulu’s watch party functionality is now available to all users. Warner Bros. unveils a day and date strategy for all of its 2021 theatrical releases. Google adds Apple Music support to its smart speakers. Samsung adds Google Nest integration to its SmartThings platform. Wyze unveils a new security system that’s shockingly cheap, even by Wyze standards. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Eric Hines, CEO of Inovelli. Eric shares how he merged his passion for connected home technology with his professional marketing background to form his smart lighting startup. In addition to exploring their current lineup of Z-Wave lighting products, we discuss the company’s uniquely transparent approach to engaging with their users. Eric also shares numerous insights about what it’s like to launch a connected home product company from scratch. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: A quick recap of this year’s staggering Cyber Monday numbers. CEDIA announces interim co-CEOs. Comcast to cap internet usage in some areas. The Quibi shutdown is complete. Wyze comes out with a $20 smartwatch. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: Join us for a special Thanksgiving edition. We discuss some of the best home tech Black Friday deals including bargains on mesh WiFi products, smart speakers and displays, TVs, security systems, and more. That, plus we share a few things we’re grateful for as we enter the home stretch of a very bumpy 2020. Thank you for supporting the show! We wish you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving weekend!
On this episode of HomeTech: Big personnel moves at SnapAV including the departure of Charlie Kindel. Kaleidescape brings on a new CEO and VP of Marketing. Wyze continues its run of new product launches with a smart sprinkler controller. Hulu raises the price of its live TV service. Sonos introduces a paid tier of its Sonos Radio service. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Balaji Krishnan, Founder and CEO of Dabkick. Balaji joins us to discuss his company’s new streaming device, Dabby. This device takes a unique approach to the TV experience by eliminating many of the friction points common in today’s streaming-first environment including user fatigue around managing multiple subscriptions, navigating multiple apps, and the dreaded content decision fatigue. The product’s “Watch Together” service also offers users a slick new way to enjoy movies and shows with remotely-located friends and family. We discuss Balaji’s deep background in the streaming video space, what inspired him to develop this innovative product, and how they hope to redefine the TV experience. That, plus a busy week in home tech headlines including: A look at Josh.ai’s new Nano and Core products. Wyze gets into the vacuum game. Comcast launches a new DIY security system. ADT and Google accelerate their plans to launch a new smart home platform. Netflix tests a linear-style TV service in France. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Crestron’s VP of Residential, John Clancy. A long-time channel vet, we explore John’s rise through the industry from Crestron Programmer, to part-owner of one of the country’s largest integrators, to his current post at the helm of Crestron’s global residential efforts. John shares the interesting backstory behind his joining the team at Crestron following the company’s famed departure from CEDIA Expo in 2015. We then do a deep dive into the company’s expanding portfolio including Crestron Home OS, the new 70-series touchpanels, its home conferencing solutions, their wellness partnership with Delos, and much more. If you’re interested in a peek behind the curtain at one of the world’s largest home technology companies, don’t miss this episode! That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: We speculate about JoshAI’s upcoming and much-hyped mystery release. Netflix raises prices again. Comcast and Walmart might make TVs together. Older Nest TStats can now monitor your HVAC system. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: Results are in for the CEDIA board. Crestron delivers new 70 series touch screens. Amazon Business unveils a new portal for home tech pros. FuboTV now lets you watch four shows at once on Apple TV. AVNation unveils AVN² virtual event. CE Pro mid-year market report shows strong growth in the channel. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Andrew Vloyanetes, GM of installed solutions at Ring. Andrew leads the go-to-market strategy for professionally installed solutions at the company. The increasing crossover between “DIY” and pro solutions is a trend we’ve long been interested in here at HomeTech, so we were excited to have Andrew on. We discuss Ring’s focus on working backward from customers’ needs, the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in working in the professional channel, the new Ring X line and the strategy behind it, and much more. Having directed the installed solutions strategy at Sonos prior to joining Ring, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to this important conversation. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Quibi calls it quits. LG’s rollable OLED goes on sale in Korea. The Nest Secure is being discontinued. Google unveils upgrades to its smart display UI. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: we discuss the biggest announcements from SnapAV’s Snap Pro Live and Apple’s iPhone event. We dissect SnapAV’s grand strategy, their focus on services and OvrC, and a host of new Control4 products including updated touch panels, a limited edition NEEO remote, the new Chime Video Doorbell, and more. On the Apple front, we dive into the long-overdue release of a HomePod mini and the new iPhone 12.
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Justin Worley, owner of Audio Concepts in Long Beach, CA, and Desert Valley Audio Video in Scottsdale, AZ. We dive into the lessons Justin has learned growing Desert Valley to a 30-person team and acquiring his second business. Justin shares his perspectives on recruiting, hiring, and team development, the decision to bring electrical work in-house, the importance of “getting your act together” as you grow, how to get out of owner-operator mode, and much more. Home tech pros won’t want to miss this one. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: The numbers for CEDIA’s first virtual event are in. Apple pulls Sonos and other third party products from its stores. Disney movies are finally available in 4K on iTunes. And more…
On this episode of HomeTech: We dissect the biggest announcements from the Amazon and Google events this week including: Google’s new Chromecast and Nest Audio speaker; New Echos, Fire TVs, Eero devices, and more from Amazon; and Ring’s entry into car security and… drones?! That, plus: Sonos sues Google for infringement (again). Info on SnapAV’s upcoming virtual event. And more...
On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by David Bambrick, CEO of Connected Life Labs. Our conversation explores the company’s mission to make dumb appliances smart. We explore SmartDry, their first product targeted at dryers. An engineer first, David takes us behind the scenes, sharing some of the unique challenges he and his team had to overcome to design an IoT product that functions reliability inside a giant metal box full of wet, tumbling clothes, high temperatures, and static electricity. We then zoom out to discuss the company’s partnerships with energy providers, future plans aimed at other appliances, and more. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: ISE 2021 gets postponed until June. CEDIA cancels all in-person tech summits for 2020. Lutron announces its Connection 2020 series of virtual events. Wyze is practically giving away its new smart doorbell. Quibi looks for a buyer after a lackluster launch. Roku and NBCU bury the hatchet. And more…
Join us for a special episode recorded live from HomeTech’s Virtual Happy Hour! We are joined by numerous supporters of the show for an in-depth review of CEDIA’s first-ever virtual Expo. A big thanks to everyone who attended our event, and especially to the diverse group of industry pros who joined us on-air to provide their unique perspectives including Eddie Shapiro of SmartTouch USA, Josh Christian of the Home Technology Association, Justin Rounsefell of the Stratus Group, and Robert Spivack of DoItForMe.solutions.
