Archives - Smart Home


How to safely manage IoT children’s toys

For 2020 and the years ahead, it seems likely that internet-connected devices will only become more important in the home. This includes a growing segment of devices used by the whole family, like smart speakers and TVs, as well as connected devices designed specifically with children in mind. A 2019 Clutch survey found that 53% […]

What is the Internet of Things?

Internet of Things (IoT) or smart devices refers to any object or device that is connected to the Internet. This rapidly expanding set of “things,” which can send and receive data, includes cars, appliances, smart watches, lighting, home assistants, home security, and more. Cars, appliances, wearables, lighting, healthcare, and home security all contain sensing devices […]

Adjust Quality of Service in your router

Some internet routers provide advanced settings that let you determine how certain types of traffic are handled by your network. This functionality, usually called Quality of Service, is useful for ensuring that demanding applications like online games and VoIP or video conferencing get priority.

What to look for in a 5G laptop when you upgrade your work-from-home equipment

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly hastened the trend toward working from home (WFH). As employees across the country adapt to remote working environments, some users may have become a bit uncertain about their tech options. If you find yourself looking for an upgrade when it comes to your home office equipment, consider how the 5G […]

Mute smart speakers during sensitive conversations

Have an Amazon Alexa, Google Nest Mini or other smart speaker? You probably want to mute it if you join a lot of phone calls or video conferences while at home. This is easy in most cases; for example, the Nest Mini’s mute switch is on the back. While muted, speakers won’t listen for their […]

Use Ethernet if you’re working from home

As work-from-home arrangements become increasingly common, the quality of home internet connectivity is more important than ever. A direct Etherent connection to your router or switch will provide better stability and possibly faster speeds than Wi-Fi – plus it’s immune to certain types of cyberattacks against Wi-Fi security mechanisms. If your laptop lacks a built-in […]