Google Nest Hub Is America’s Most Searched For Smart Home Product

A new study has revealed that Google Nest Hubs are the most searched-for smart home product line in America, with an average of 137,520 searches per month. Home and tech experts Smarthomestarter.com used Google data to analyze searches for various smart home related keywords to determine which smart device product lines were searched for the […]

Google Nest Hub Is America’s Most Searched For Smart Home Product

Air Quality Control and the Future of Smart Homes

It’s been a year since the massive fires my fellow Sonoma County, Californian’s and I had to experience. Many homes, businesses, state parks and lives were lost, to say the least. For us who made it through to the other side, we are reminded again of the tragedy that brought our community together in a […]

Air Quality Control and the Future of Smart Homes

AVAD Magnifies Works With Nest Product Lineup

AVAD has announced the addition of Rachio, a smart sprinkler control, to their extensive Works with Nest product lineup. In addition, Dropcases’ Waterproof Nest Cam enclosure is also new to AVAD. Dropcases allow users to turn Nest Cams into outdoor installations for a new level of safety and security while providing incredible camera resolutions, real-time […]

AVAD Magnifies Works With Nest Product Lineup

Works With Technology, Not Just Nest

A tough couple of weeks for the affordable smart home! I’ve finally managed to grab a few days off work during the school holidays after a whirlwind start to 2016 and during this time off I’ve caught up with industry news. The headline grabber has been Nest with the speculation surrounding its lack of new […]

Works With Technology, Not Just Nest

Why Not Sell Floor Heating Too?

You’re selling the rest of the home, why not floor heating? Pentair launches this week at the International Builders Show and The International Surface Event, that its leading brand of electric floor heating systems — Nuheat — now works with the Nest Learning Thermostat. The Nuheat SIGNATURE launched in 2014 and was the world’s first […]

Why Not Sell Floor Heating Too?

Update Adds Nest and More Compatibility for On-Q’s Intuity Home Automation Platform

Giving installers and builders more reasons to employ its recently launched Intuity home automation platform, Legrand has announced Intuity 2.0, new firmware which adds four new partners to the On-Q Intuity product suite, including Nest thermostats, garage door openers from Linear, Schlage locksets, and Aeotec’s Z-Wave Range Extender for more coverage. The new firmware also includes a new graphical user interface, which […]

Update Adds Nest and More Compatibility for On-Q’s Intuity Home Automation Platform

Home Automation: Increasingly Affordable

Home automation has long been the domain of the upper middle class and wealthy. Expensive, professionally installed proprietary systems have traditionally dominated the home automation landscape. The rise of mobile tech and ubiquitous wireless communications — combined with less expensive and more powerful sensors and electronics — are finally enabling the availability of relatively affordable devices. […]

Home Automation: Increasingly Affordable

Weekly Wrap-Up | An Awesome Speaker from BenQ, cAValry Rides @ ISE 2015? and More!

There were some big announcements this week and we want to make sure you didn’t miss any of important news from the week. cAValry Rides has announced a campaign to raise funds to get them to ISE in February, BenQ launched an awesome looking and impressive Bluetooth speaker, DSE announced a new show and more! […]

Weekly Wrap-Up | An Awesome Speaker from BenQ, cAValry Rides @ ISE 2015? and More!

The Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch vs. Residential Tech: My Experiences with Nest and Lyric

Now that I own a home out in suburbia, I have cause to sample the residential side of the tech market. As winter approaches, I’m making a two-pronged attack on the elements — low tech (weatherstripping and better attic insulation) and high (a new fancy thermostat). As this is a half-technology blog we’ll focus on […]

The Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch vs. Residential Tech: My Experiences with Nest and Lyric

Will Google or Amazon Buy CEDIA?

Have you heard the news? As you are well aware of by now, the hottest smart home product ever sold is the Nest HVAC controller. In fact, it was so hot that Google took note earlier this year and bought the company for a little over $3 Billion. Well yesterday, Amazon was outed for secretly […]

Will Google or Amazon Buy CEDIA?

Hey Crestron & AMX: Google Buys Nest for $3.2 Billion

The biggest news in electronics the week after the giant CES (Consumer Electronics Show) wasn’t even talked about at CES because it happened the very next day. Google puts up $3.2 Billion to buy Nest, the three year old company started by former Apple design guys Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Nest is best known […]

Hey Crestron & AMX: Google Buys Nest for $3.2 Billion

Energy Squad Offers LED Diet Training, New Revenue Opportunities

For HomeAV or ProAV dealers looking for some new recurring revenue opportunities or who want to do marketing or branding around GreenAV, Energy Squad offers some interesting programs geared specifically to AV dealers on not only GreenAV products such as automation or energy management, but also on green products that AV dealers don’t typically offer, […]

Energy Squad Offers LED Diet Training, New Revenue Opportunities

Your Next Competitor: Nest

The Nest thermostat is one of the most innovative, yet simplest, HVAC controllers ever created. It has made controlling your air conditioner cool AND has been proven, over and over, to save homeowners using it money in energy costs by using less power and auto-scheduling when the heat and air turn on and off based […]

Your Next Competitor: Nest

Nest Adds API-Based Developer Program – Hints at Getting into Control System Market for the Home

Today at CEDIA, Nest Labs, the Apple-like HVAC Wi-Fi-based HVAC controller, announced plans to begin working with developers on creative ways to connect with the Nest Learning Thermostat through integrations such as home appliances, lighting and home automation. By introducing a Web API, Nest is taking the first step toward working with partners to build a simple, secure and connected experience for […]

Nest Adds API-Based Developer Program – Hints at Getting into Control System Market for the Home

Nest’s Open API – What it Means For Integrators

Tony Fadell, founder and CEO of the hugely popular Nest Learning Thermostat, made a rather surprising announcement during his opening keynote speech at CEDIA 2013.  The big news? Developers will finally have access to a Nest open API. A simultaneously released blog post on the company website described the “Nest Developer Program”, which will officially open it’s doors in 2014.  The […]

Nest’s Open API – What it Means For Integrators