Category: Tech / Machines
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Halo Smart Smoke and CO Detector
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UPDATE: Halo Smart Labs closed their doors in July, 2018. The devices are no longer for sale. The Halo Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a hard-wired connected smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It has a rechargeable backup battery the manufacturer claims will last for ten years. If you need a battery ONLY detector,…
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Logitech Harmony Smart Control is a Home Run
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We’ve had our Logitech Harmony Smart Control hub and remote for a long time, long enough that it isn’t even for sale anymore in the configuration we have. The remote is so old the printing is wearing off the remote. What We Needed and Wanted Our requirements for a “universal remote” are: Having tried a few universal…
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Samsung SmartThings Hub (v2) – Really Good
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The most common challenge to automate a home is tying pieces together from multiple vendors and the Samsung Smarthings hub is up to the challenge. The SmartThings hub is the best combination of ease of use and interoperability on the market today. Installation and setup of the hub is simple, although your grandmother might need…
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Echo Dot – Versatile and Inexpensive Voice Control
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The Amazon Echo Dot is a smaller, less expensive but just as effective little brother to the full size Amazon Echo. For providing voice control of home automation products regardless of manufacturer, there may be no better product to “rule them all” than the Echo Dot. Setup Amazon setup instructions here. You need a device connected…
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Life With a Neato Botvac Robot Vacuum
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We have a Neato robot vacuum (a BotVac 75 to be precise) named Hazel, and we love her. We live in an under 2000 square foot single story home in Arizona on a dirt road with complete xeriscape (no water) landscaping. We have five kids, four of which have moved out and rarely contribute to the dirt in the house. We…
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Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2014 – Top Ten II
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If I was bidding, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be bidding, these are the next five of the top ten pieces up for NO RESERVE bidding at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction I’d want for my garage. Click here for the previous five. Anything too valuable to drive won’t make this list, only iron you can…
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Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2014 – Top Ten
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If I was bidding, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be bidding, these are the top ten pieces up for NO RESERVE bidding at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction I’d want for my garage. Anything too valuable to drive won’t make this list, only iron you can drive makes the cut. 1955 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport…