HomeTech.fm

On this episode of HomeTech: SnapAV and Control4 complete their merger, Locast lawsuits get started, AT&T rebrands something, and Seth takes a swing at recording a solo show and writing show notes while Jason is out of town… can you tell?

On this episode of HomeTech: SnapAV continues to gobble up distributors, acquiring north west-based Custom Plus. Are rumors of HAI’s demise greatly exaggerated? Prime Day topples records. Amazon Music Unlimited growth rate is outpacing its competitors. Hulu quietly brings back 4k. CEDIA names Mitch Klein its Lifetime Award Winner. Five key questions about the forthcoming HBO Max streaming service. And much more…

On this episode of HomeTech: IKEA saves American podcasters from the embarrassment of trying to pronounce Trádfri by rebranding the line to “Home Smart”. Prime Video finally works on Chromecast and Android TV. Wyze adds AI-powered people detection to their cameras. Arlo cameras go on fire-sale pricing. Hulu adds a new “yada yada yada” shuffle button for Seinfeld episodes. Details on AT&T’s forthcoming streaming service, HBO Max. Will Apple’s culture help or hurt their TV+ efforts? And more…

On this episode of HomeTech: Massive hacks and data breaches expose 2 billion home automation records, Alexa will never delete those secrets you told her, Bixby really wants to be a thing, Roku dominates and Netflix starts to pinch pennies in anticipation of more competition. We have a big discussion on how voice isn’t the next big platform we all anticipated it to be and Seth tells everyone how he really feels about his Echo. Spoiler alert: The Echo is out.

On this episode of HomeTech: FCC filings reveal a new TiVo Edge DVR. Dish unveils a new internet and live-streaming bundle aimed at apartment dwellers. Screamin’ display deals unveiled ahead of Prime Day. A new deal brings Amazon Music to Comcast subscribers. SnapAV unveils new Araknis WAPs. A new entrant to Li-Fi category, but will this technology ever take off? The most tedious factory-reset sequence of all time. And much more…

On this episode of HomeTech: Join us for a very special installment of the “Projects Project”! We are pleased to welcome Matthew G, who Reddit users might better recognize as VMU_kiss. Matthew, who is a moderator on the popular r/homeautomation subreddit, shares his creative process for coming up with some of the most unique DIY smart home hacks we’ve ever seen! From an umbrella holder that lights up when it’s going to rain, to a toothbrush holder that automatically triggers a timer, and much, much more, Matthew’s ideas are sure to inspire you to inject a little more creativity into your next DIY project. And the coolest part? Matthew has done it all using inexpensive, off-the-shelf parts (combined with a little elbow grease and a whole lot of ingenuity). Don’t miss this one!

On this episode of HomeTech: Jason takes a rare solo flight as Seth enjoys hard-earned vacation. He dives into the latest home tech headlines including: A look at Crestron’s expanded DM Lite product being shown at InfoComm. CEDIA Expo 2019 extends early bird registration deadline. CEDIA Unveils Home Technology Professional Award Finalists. AT&T's DirecTV reportedly considering a merger with Dish satellite. AT&T's streaming bundle with HBO could start at $16. Amazon offers some good Father’s Day deals on Ring hardware. And more…

On this episode of HomeTech: WWDC 2019 is in the books and Apple wildly exceeded our (admittedly low) expectations. Tune in as we dissect all of the biggest stories from the event. We discuss HomeKit’s new Secure Video offering, HomeKit-enabled routers, significant updates to the Home App, new HomePod functionality, and much more. You don’t want to miss this one! That plus the latest home tech headlines including: AT&T set to launch a new IP- based version of the full DirecTV product. SnapAV’s plan to begin distributing Yamaha products, complete with “deep” OvrC integration. Ecobee officially unveils its newest smart thermostat. Ikea’s new physical remote for Symfonisk and Sonos speakers. And more… PS - if you’re a fan of the show and a home tech pro, check out the new “Reimagining Service” webinar series from OneVision Resources

On this episode of HomeTech: We welcome Chris Carney, CEO and co-founder of abode systems, onto the show. Chris joins us to discuss abode’s robust and highly customer-centric approach to DIY home security. We cover everything from abode’s flexible pricing options and smart home integrations, to the exploding popularity of DIY security and the challenges faced by consumers in today’s evolving connected home market. Don’t miss it! That, plus the latest home tech headlines including: Control4 lifts the veil on their new OS3 software. New insights from Best Buy on their Total Tech Support program. Hubitat introduces a mobile app. Amazon expands its Alexa Announcements capabilities. A new ecobee thermostat rumored to be coming very soon. And more…

On this episode of HomeTech: We explore the current state of remote systems management (RSM). Not long ago, four major players existed in the market—BakPak (Control4), Domotz, Ihiji, and OvrC (SnapAV). Control4, who acquired Ihiji back in 2018, has now merged with SnapAV, potentially bringing a market of four RSM platforms down to two. What will this consolidation mean for the future of remote tech support? What can be done to take this category to the next level? Tune in to get our take. That plus the latest headlines including: Lutron announces a clever new product to work with Hue lighting. Savant rolls out HomeKit support ahead of LightFair. Samsung reportedly working on a smaller Galaxy Home. The U.S. might blacklist China’s Hikvision (and why this is a big freakin’ deal). Marantz and Denon roll out new receivers with built-in RSM software. And more…