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584 episodes

Episode 304 · May 22, 2020 · 00:54:04

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!

Episode 303 · May 15, 2020 · 00:58:45

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…

Episode 302 · May 8, 2020 · 01:14:00

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…

Episode 301 · May 1, 2020 · 00:58:18

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…

Episode 300 · April 24, 2020 · 01:10:44

The HomeTech Bunch

On this very special 300th episode of HomeTech: We celebrate our big milestone with a live group recording featuring some great friends of the show! Join us as we dive into the latest home tech headlines together. Also, be sure to hang out for the lighting round where we have some fun with a few (not so) serious home tech questions. Thank you for being a part of our journey to 300 episodes! We are so appreciative of your support!

Episode 299 · April 17, 2020 · 00:54:02

Wandering Eyes

On this episode of HomeTech: A homewrecker threatens Jason’s long marriage to Trello. (Un)wise ways to spend your stimulus check. The week-3 doldrums. And the latest home tech headlines, including: HBO does an about-face on their ill-timed move to stop supporting older Apple TVs. COVID studies using Oura smart rings highlight the potential of wearable tech. IKEA smart blinds now available online. Ecobee unveils a new camera and home security service called Haven. And more…

Episode 298 · April 10, 2020 · 00:30:47

Quarantini

On this episode of HomeTech: Thoughts on the new short-form streaming app, Quibi. HBO Go and HBO Now will soon stop working on older Apple TVs. Sonos has a big sale on Beam, One, and One SL speakers. Amazon Business Eyes the CI channel. And more…

Episode 297 · April 3, 2020 · 01:03:35

COVID-19 Government Assistance Deep Dive with Chris Williams of OneVision Resources

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Chris Williams, Director of People Operations at OneVision Resources. Our conversation breaks down the various governmental programs designed to help small businesses navigate the COVID-19 crisis. The government is providing a lot of assistance to businesses and employees. Gaining a deep understanding of the options is vital to ensuring you make the most of what’s available. Chris brings deep expertise to the table, along with an uncanny ability to distill complicated legislation down to simple, actionable insights. Whether you own a business, work in one, or have recently been furloughed/laid off, you do not want to miss this episode! That plus, home tech headlines including: AVNation launches a “Learn from Home” conference, taking place April 7 and 8. Sony restructures, creating the Electronics Products & Solutions Unit. JoshAI now enables a politically correct smart home. And more…

Episode 296 · March 27, 2020 · 01:06:35

Navigating COVID-19 with SimpTech Solution's Chad Nichols

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Chad Nichols, principal of SimpTech Solutions in Cincinnati, OH. Chad joins us to share his perspectives on the impact COVID-19 is having on the integration landscape. Our discussion covers strategies for handling client relationships, keeping employees healthy, productive, and engaged, and doing all of this while dealing with an incredibly daunting economic landscape. It’s a delicate dance all too many home technology professionals will be grappling with in the weeks and months ahead. Tune in to hear Chad’s perspective on keeping it all together in these trying times. In addition to our conversation with Chad, we share a number of other stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic including: OneVision releases a “COVID-19 Data Room” with comprehensive resources to help integrators navigate the situation. Information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. CEDIA offering complimentary professional development resources. Tips for running a distributed workforce. And more…

Episode 295 · March 20, 2020 · 01:06:08

Catching up with Z-Wave's Mitch Klein

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Mitch Klein, Executive Director of the Z-Wave Alliance. Mitch, a 2019 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Recipient, shares his unique perspectives on the industry, shaped by decades of working in every facet of the business from crawl spaces to chip manufacturing. Our conversation explores the challenges and opportunities facing integrators in today’s evolving technology landscape and the continued evolution of the Z-Wave ecosystem. Don’t miss it! That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Sonos confirms their new S2 OS will release in June. New research from Parks about which connected home platforms builders want. NBCUniversal will make theatrical movies available on-demand immediately. Fox acquires streaming service Tubi for $440 million. And more…

Episode 294 · March 13, 2020 · 00:35:38

Corona-Cones

On this episode of HomeTech: Philips Hue Bridge gen 1 hub set to lose all internet connectivity. Some nifty new features coming to HomeKit with iOS 14. Ring reveals a new doorbell with a three-camera array. Sonos getting rid of Recycle Mode that needlessly bricked its older devices. Elon Musk reveals some surprising new facts about the forthcoming Starlink satellite internet service. Control4 announces new Essential Lighting line. And more…

Episode 293 · March 6, 2020 · 00:39:05

The Great TP Panic

On this episode of HomeTech: Take a break from your toilet paper hoarding, and join us the latest HomeTech headlines including: AT&T’s new streaming service essentially amounts to DirecTV without the satellite dish. A healthy (pardon the pun) debate about the viability of home wellness. Interesting takeaways from Best Buy’s ongoing success with Total Tech Support and in-home consultations. Assessing the potential impact of Coronavirus on the CE supply chain. And more…

Episode 292 · February 28, 2020 · 00:35:37

Crazy Walls

On this episode of HomeTech: HBO and HBO Max are coming to YouTube TV. CBS to massively expand All Access’ streaming library in 2020. Comcast acquires little-known streaming service, Xumo. Comcast’s NBCUniversal enters advanced talks to buy Vudu. Failed server update takes down Nest cameras for 17 hours. New research reveals you can relax, your smart assistant is not always listening to you. And more…

Episode 291 · February 21, 2020 · 00:41:04

More K's and 2FA's

On this episode of HomeTech: Dish CEO says merger with DirecTV is “inevitable'.” Redbox launches an ad-supported streaming TV service. HBO Max’s first trailer reminds you the service is not just HBO titles. Nest and Ring users will soon be required to use two-factor authentication. Arlo Pro 3 adds HomeKit support. Is the connected home an ecological boon, or an ecological disaster? And more…

Episode 290 · February 14, 2020 · 00:45:42

Jitterbug Remote

On this episode of HomeTech: Samsung shows QLED 8K TVs, “The Wall” Improvements, and more at ISE. Crestron unveils its new MC4-R 4-Series control system and new Crestron Home features. Lumastream files for chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeks a buyer. Sonos testing new Flex rental service in the Netherlands. Sony’s new TV remote doubles as a speaker. ViacomCBS reportedly working on a new streaming service. And more…

Episode 289 · February 7, 2020 · 01:03:05

SmartRent's Lucas Haldeman

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Lucas Haldeman, CEO and Founder of SmartRent, an enterprise home automation company taking a novel approach to the rental market. Join us to learn how Lucas and his team help renters and property managers/owners alike enjoy the benefits of the modern smart home with a comprehensive and flexible set of solutions. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Sonos CEO apologizes in response to backlash over their legacy product announcement. Nest thermostats can alert homeowners to problems with their HVAC systems. Google Fiber drops its TV package. Samsung accidentally announces its Galaxy Home Mini's release date. The home tech industry gets some tariff relief (or do they?). And more…

Episode 288 · January 24, 2020 · 00:35:35

Savant Brings Sexy Back

On this episode of HomeTech: Guest Co-Host and frequent guest Cody Crossland joins the show to chat about Frontier filing bankruptcy, Sonos messaging gone awry (again), and the big announcements from Savant at IBS in Las Vegas. And more…

Episode 287 · January 17, 2020 · 00:48:13

Projects Project with Andrei Gorbatiuc

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Andrei Gorbatiuc, an integrator out of the Vancouver, WA area, for an installment of the Projects Project. Andrei is the man behind what is reported to be the largest HomeKit-based technology installation in the world. With hundreds of lighting and shade devices, plus some audio and video as well, Andrei has tested the outer limits of what is possible with HomeKit. Join us to hear about the unique backstory, challenges, and successes behind this one-of-a-kind installation. That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: SpaceX’s plan to launch satellite-based broadband internet could come to fruition later this year. Spectrum’s exit from the security business leaves consumers holding the bag. Thoughts on the latest plan/pricing changes from Domotz. And more…

Episode 286 · January 10, 2020 · 00:59:59

The CESpool

HDMI announces a new mandatory certification program, but will it make a difference? The 8K Association (8KA) is live with its new certification (and a terrible logo). NextGen TV for 4K TV broadcasting launches at CES 2020. Sonos sues Google, and it sounds juicy. Ring unveils numerous new products, including some pro-friendly options. Comcast introduces a WiFi 6 gateway. Sony, Samsung, and LG provide looks at their 2020 TV strategies. Plus a roundup of some cool (and downright silly) tech products from CES 2020. Don’t miss it!

Episode 285 · January 3, 2020 · 00:20:12

A New Decade

On this episode of HomeTech: While Jason travels Seth takes the reins of the sleigh and drives the podcast into the next decade. Big news stories about internet outrage over recycling, Ring getting hit with a lawsuit over their security practices, a cool new idea to charge devices remotely and more…