The Smart Home Show

Annual fireside chat round table discussion reviewing major stories of the year and sharing wishes and predictions for the upcoming year. Topics include the downfall and comeback of Smart Labs, innovation and shortages in the smart home industry, future developments and integration of voice assistants, business problems faced by low-cost product companies, hardware decisions, and personal reflections on predictions and gratitude.

As the year comes to a close, Adam and Richard share their top product picks in various smart home categories. They also discuss this year's very long Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales and how to convince someone that smart locks are safe.Here's a full list of every favorite thing discussed on this episode:LightingNaonleaf LinesNanoleaf Essentials LightstripLighting ControlLutron Diva Dimmer for CasétaLeviton Decora Smart Anywhere CompanionPlugs and OutletsConnectSense In-Wall OutletMeross HomeKit smart plugMotion SensorHue (indoor and outdoor)Window CoveringsRollease Acmedia Lutron SerenaGarageTailwind iQ3Door LocksSchlage Encode PlusYale Assure 2SecurityRing Alarm Ring Floodlight Cam ProRing CamsDoorbellRing Video Doorbell ProCleaningiRobot Roomba j7+AudioHomePods Sonos MoveSonos ArcVideoApple TV 4KFitnessPeloton Bike Plus (Use this link to save $100 http://refer.eight.sl/ybkwcazs)Withings scaleOtherEight Sleep Pod Cover   (Use this Link to save $200 http://refer.eight.sl/ybkwcazs)GE Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice MakerGoogle Nest HubJune ovenHave questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam and Richard talk about how to get into the smart home if you rent an apartment or condo — or if you own a rental property. In the first half of the show, they talk about the lighting, locks, kitchen gadgets and more that can make your life as a renter happier without violating your lease. And in the second half of they show, they explain what property owners need to know before tricking out their Airbnbs and long-term rental units with the latest smart home products. Plus: What is the best new product Adam and Richard have bought so far in 2022?Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Inspired by a listener's question, Adam and Richard go back to basics in this episode and explain some fundamental concepts about smart home technology. Including: What is a smart home? What's a platform? What's a standard? What's the difference between a "warm" light and a "soft" one? And how does a smart device know how to do anything?Previously...- Insteon Goes Dark & Cloud vs. Local https://www.smarthome.fm/episodes/208-insteon- Hubs and Bridges https://www.smarthome.fm/episodes/180Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam and Richard brainstorm what their dream smart homes would look like, if money were no object but technology advanced in a realistic way. They discuss the ideal state of voice assistants, lighting, window treatments, security systems, A/V equipment, home robotics, and more. Also: Should you AirTag your baby? (No.)Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam and Richard continue their discussion of Richard's recent move to a new home. Richard explains the first devices he chose to set up, why he intentionally dragged his feet on some devices, and the mistakes he made with his existing Ring and Hue accounts. He also shares some advice for installing Zigby devices that may save you a huge amount of time, and a hack he discovered for making Sonos speakers - including first-gen ones - work in a HomePod-powered home. Plus: The smart home industry's "holding pattern" as everyone waits for Matter to drop.Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Smartlabs, the company behind smarthome.com and Insteon smart home products, has shuttered operations. On today's show, Adam and Richard discuss how that sudden shutdown has impacted both manufacturers and consumers, and the trade-offs of communicating locally vs. over a proprietary cloud.Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam and Richard are back to discuss Richard's move to a new state, which required him to also decide which of his more than 100 connected devices would make the move, and which would be left behind. He talks about how he decided what would make the cut, and explains the settings that needed to be adjusted or turned off in both sets of devices, because "it's not as simple as unplug and go." Plus: The annoyances Richard ran into that device makers should learn from.Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam and Richard catch up with Seth Johnson for the 2021 Technology.FM Fireside chatHave questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.

Adam, Richard, and The Verge's Smart Home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy talk about the next-gen smart home standard Matter, previously known as Project CHIP. They explain what it is, why there's some cause for optimism that this will be the one standard to rule them all - and also who's currently missing, and what important questions have not been answered yet. They also talk about Athom's reinvented Homey platform, and settle the most important debate of all: Is candy corn bad or good?Have questions or feedback for us? Send it to feedback@smarthome.fm.