Smart Notes
Setup guides, automation ideas, and gift strategy from the team behind the devices.
Hexagon Light Panels: Where They Work, Where They Don't
Hexagon panels are the most photogenic smart lighting you can buy — and the most placement-dependent. Here is where they shine.
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Smart Plugs: The First Automation Every Home Should Make
Twelve dollars and two minutes of setup is all the smart home revolution actually requires to start. Here is where to begin.
Smart Thermostats: What They Learn, What They Save, What to Check First
The thermostat is the smart home's best investment — if your system is compatible and your schedule is real. Here is the honest guide.
RGBIC vs Regular LED Strips: What the Extra Letters Actually Buy
One strip shows many colors at once; the other shows one. Here is when that difference matters and when it genuinely does not.
The Smart Home Starter Plan: Your First Weekend, Your First $100
The smart home fails when it starts with the ecosystem and succeeds when it starts with the problems. Here is the weekend plan.
Security Camera Placement: Where One Camera Does the Work of Four
Most homes need one good camera, not four mediocre ones. Here is where to mount it and how to configure it to stay useful.