The "Smart Home Starter Pack" To Embrace Technology at Home - Home & Texture
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The Ultimate "Smart Home Starter Pack" for Those Ready To Embrace Technology in Their Homes

January 8, 2024 at 11:05 PM PST

These days, it seems like everything has the technical capabilities to be controlled remotely by your phone. They’re meant to make our lives more convenient and stress-free. If you’re still stuck in the analog world and ready to take the leap and make some changes in your household home, this smart home “starter pack” of remote-controlled and app-controlled devices has everything you need to embrace the era of home technology.

Our Top Technology Picks for Your Home

Introducing Remote-Controlled Wonders

You could be in full control of your entertainment, lighting and climate all from the comfort of your own couch. These products can help.

Smart TV Remote Control

You can say goodbye to the days of wrangling four different remotes, each controlling the TV’s channels, volume, and sound system, as well as the Blu-ray player. With a Smart TV remote, you can customize your entire cinematic experience with the touch of a couple of buttons and navigate with ease.

App-Controlled Thermostat

An App-Controlled Thermostat allows you to control your heating and cooling systems with your smartphone. Save energy and stay cozy effortlessly.

Smart Lights

Lighting can make or break the atmosphere of your home, and with smart bulbs or smart lights, you can automate your lighting experience. For example, time them to turn on around the time you wake up, and dim them as evening approaches.

App-Controlled Vacuum Cleaner

Cleaning just got smarter. With an app-controlled vacuum cleaner, you can schedule cleaning sessions, monitor progress, and even have your floors spotless before you arrive home.

Remote-Controlled Camera Apps

Turn your smartphone into a remote-controlled camera with specialized apps. Capture group photos without the need for a selfie stick, or take stunning long-exposure shots. The possibilities are endless.

Why You Need These Gadgets

These remote-controlled and app-controlled electronics offer convenience and efficiency like never before.

  • Streamlined Living: Simplify your daily routines and reduce clutter.
  • Energy Efficiency: Save on utility bills by optimizing your home’s temperature with app-controlled thermostats and bulbs.
  • Time-Saving: With app-controlled vacuum cleaners, you can spend more time doing what you love, and less time on chores.

If you’re not sold yet, here are seven items that just might convince you.

1iRobot Roomba

The Roomba 692 is the ultimate cleaning solution, combining futuristic technology with practicality. It effortlessly glides around your home, erasing daily dirt and dust with ease, all at your command through your smartphone or voice assistant. With a generous 90-minute runtime, it makes sure your space is spotless before you return. Its 3-Stage Cleaning system and Dual Multi-Surface brushes make quick work of dirt on both plush carpets and hardwood floors, even reaching those tricky corners. It also learns your cleaning patterns and creating personalized schedules. And when you're feeling extra lazy, just summon it with a voice command through Google Assistant or Alexa.

2GNCC Pet Camera with Phone App

The GNCC Indoor Camera brings a host of benefits to your home security and peace of mind. With its crystal-clear 1080P Ultra HD resolution, you can keep an eye on every detail of your home, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed. The two-way audio feature allows you to communicate with your loved ones when you're away, and with Alexa compatibility, you can control the camera effortlessly through voice commands. This camera's 360° coverage and exceptional night vision mean that you'll have full visibility, day or night, keeping your home safe around the clock. Additionally, its smart detection alerts make sure that you're quickly informed of any sound or movement in your home, so you never miss an important event.

3FOAOOD 2K Security Camera

This innovative device is equipped with a solar charging board and a powerful lithium battery, allowing it to harness solar energy during the day and switch to battery power at night. You'll never have to worry about a drained battery again. Featuring cutting-edge 2K resolution technology, this camera offers crystal-clear visuals that elliminates the annoyance of mosaic-filled screens. Whether you're monitoring wildlife or keeping an eye out for intruders, the FOAOOD DQ201 ensures you see everything with stunning clarity. It not only captures video but can also emit a piercing alarm sound to deter intruders or unwanted critters. The camera can automatically activate this feature when motion is detected, or you can manually trigger it through the app.

4GE CYNC Smart LED Light Bulbs

With total lighting control control at your fingertips, you can create the perfect ambiance without lifting a finger. Setting up is easy. No hubs or bridges required. They connect directly to your Wi-Fi router, granting you the power of voice control through your favorite voice assistants or through the app. You'll never have to return to a dark house or leave the comfort of your bed to adjust the lighting. With millions of colors to choose from, they can transform kids' rooms into vibrant spaces, elevate your movie nights to the next level, and even support your favorite sports team on game day. You can fine-tune the lighting from warm, amber tones to cool, bluish hues, ensuring your home's ambiance is always just right.

5SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote Control

The X1 Universal Remote with Hub is a futuristic move in home entertainment control, offering a ton of benefits for a seamless and personalized experience. Its compatibility is nearly endless with a powerful database that can handle up to 500,000 IR and Bluetooth devices, including TVs, gaming consoles, AV receivers, Blu-Ray players, and even smart devices like Philips Hue and Sonos Speakers. No more juggling multiple remotes so you can enjoy the convenience of unified control. You can create one-touch activities, simplifying your daily routines. For instance, with a "Music Time" activity, a single press of a button can simultaneously turn on your TCL TV, Panasonic stereo, and Philips Hue lighting, setting the mood effortlessly.

6ecobee New Smart Thermostat

It's not just a thermostat; it's a smart investment. By automatically adjusting the temperature when you're away, it saves you up to 26 percent on heating and cooling costs annually. With ENERGY STAR certification, it's energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. This smart thermostat takes comfort to the next level. It preheats or precools your home before your arrival, making sure it's always at the perfect temperature when you step in. It even adapts to your preferred temperature while you're home or asleep, creating a consistently comfortable environment. You can control it remotely using your smart home platform or the ecobee app via your smartphone, tablet, or Apple Watch.

7Echo Dot

You can't have a smart home without the OG smart hub, Alexa, where you can control most of your home's smart features by voice command and then some. The latest Echo Dot promises an unparalleled audio experience, boasting clearer vocals, richer bass, and vibrant sound quality that outshines its predecessors. Whether you're in the living room or any other space in your home, you'll revel in the improved audio. This smart device isn't just about music; it's your versatile assistant. Enjoy your favorite tunes, audiobooks, and podcasts from various platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Spotify, or connect via Bluetooth. Alexa is always ready to assist, providing weather updates, hands-free timers, answers to your queries, and even a joke.

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