Meet Bob. Bob has read a few magazine articles on wireless devices and occasionally browses the Smart Home section of the MakeUseOf website. Now he is hurt. He loves the idea of a smart home and dreams of living in a fully automated home..
But there is a problem:Bob is not technologically savvy. He is not sure how to put the theory into practice within his own abode. He doesn't want to lose money, and he doesn't want to accidentally follow bad advice..
Bob needs some help. He could start by reading our A-Z of smart home lingo. The Complete A-Z Glossary for Smart Home Automation. The Complete A-Z Glossary for Smart Home Automation. New to smart home products? Overwhelmed by confusing jargon? Can't understand the words on the packaging of your new gadget? We are here to help. Consider this the ABC's of smart home technology. Read More If you're like Bob, read on. We're going to introduce you to some of the best online resources for smart home inspiration.
As podcasts become more and more popular, how popular are podcasts right now? Exactly how popular are podcasts right now? Read More
Unsurprisingly, smart homes and the Internet of Things are well covered. Here are four of the best smart home podcasts:
The smart home show it is hosted by Michael Wolf. The content is exclusively focused on smart homes, you won't find any “filler” episodes that veer off topic.
A typical show revolves around one of four key themes:interviews with smart home leaders and influencers, smart home news analysis, Q&A with Michael himself, or product reviews.
You can expect a new show every month.
The Smart Home HQ podcast is a side project of the company of the same name. You can also find more information in the Smart Home HQ Twitter feed and YouTube channel are very active.
I like The smart home show , The shows themselves typically focus on news, certain products, or analysis of the smart home sector.
The only drawback is the erratic release schedule. Sometimes you'll be able to enjoy two or three new shows in a month, but other times you'll find radio silence for a few months at a time.
the IoT Podcasts Look at the Internet of things and home automation. Host Stacey Higginbotham is a technology journalist and has a wealth of knowledge in the field. Knowledge of it results in a fast-paced, enthusiastic show that is enjoyable for beginners and experts alike.
She delves into the IoT sector to discuss smart home issues, ethics, devices and services. Her goal? To establish if the IoT is moving us towards safer and healthier lives or a dystopian society.
This show also has the most frequent release cycle:a new episode every week.
New Smart Homes 6 Gadgets You Need to Install Right Away in a New Smart Home 6 Gadgets You Need to Install Right Away in a New Smart Home What are the top gadgets you need to turn your home into a 21st century residence? These gadgets are your best place to start. Read More They can also be fun. The area where this is most apparent is the home theater. As TVs and speakers get better, they are becoming more and more integrated with other smart devices in our homes.
No one discusses this meshing in more detail than Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, the two hosts responsible for the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast .
Podcasts are great for helping you understand the "big picture" of things, but for more practical tips, you often need a video to help you follow along.
Fortunately, there are also several YouTube channels and playlists dedicated to smart homes and the Internet of Things. Here are four of our favorites.
With nearly 20,000 subscribers at the time of writing, Smarter Home Life has become one of the top YouTube channels for smart home lovers. It started life as a channel focused exclusively on smart lighting. Smart Lighting Showdown:Bluetooth Smart vs. WiFi vs. ZigBee Smart Lighting Showdown:Bluetooth Smart vs. WiFi vs. ZigBee. There are many smart home lighting solutions on the market, and it can be overwhelming! Here are the main differences between smart lighting standards and some key considerations when making a purchase. Read More
If you subscribe, you'll find an extensive collection of videos covering a wide range of smart home topics. Videos are often categorized into one of four main categories (product reviews, industry news, how-to content, and audience-based Q&A), but you'll also find plenty of images that don't categorize so easily. /P>
Host Joe Dugandzic regularly adds new content. You can expect two new videos per week on average.
For those of you who don't know, Andru Edwards is the host of Gear Live, a YouTube channel that discusses the latest happenings in consumer electronics and has over 135,000 subscribers.
Andru has made a playlist dedicated to smart home automation. All the videos come from his Gear Live channel. He'll find how-to guides, unboxing videos, product reviews, and even the occasional freebie..
It's important to note that this is not a set-and-forget list. Andru updates the playlist regularly (at least once a month). At the time of writing, he includes more than 60 videos, but the number is constantly increasing.
Like Andru Edwards, Kevin maintains his own tech-based YouTube channel, with over 165,000 subscribers.
And like Andru, Kevin also regularly updates a smart playlist with homemade tunes from his own videos. He's mostly review-based, but if he's looking for inspiration, be sure to check out The Best Smart Home Tech Vol. 1 video, as well as The Ultimate Smart Home:The Best New Smart Home Technology .
Kevin updates his playlist once a month..
As you might expect, BRUH Automation follows a very similar pattern to the content we've already discussed. The videos are typically tutorials, “best of,” and reviews, although videos looking at the cheapest way to do a smart task are also valuable for beginners.
The channel is worth watching for its polished presentation and informative yet easy-to-follow approach to storytelling. The hosts are knowledgeable and unlike other YouTube channels, they have clearly spent time using the products they are discussing.
Finally, let's take a look at a couple of websites. If you can't find what you need to know in MakeUseOf's extensive smart home section, maybe these two blogs will give you the answers you're looking for.
The room in the house where the smart revolution has made the greatest strides forward (and may have the most significant impact on our daily lives in the future) is the kitchen.
Not All Smart Kitchen Tech Create a Futuristic Kitchen With These 7 Smart Gadgets Create a Futuristic Kitchen With These 7 Smart Gadgets It's hard to know where to draw the line between useful and gimmicky when it comes to smart home gadgets for the kitchen, but these devices are sure to impress! Read More For every gadget worth its salt, there are plenty of weird gadgets out there. 15 Weird Smart Home Gadgets Nobody Should Want 15 Weird Smart Home Gadgets Nobody Should Want There's a lot of technology out there that makes our lives better. There are also these gadgets, which could be the weirdest inventions in recent history. Read more . Fortunately, The Spoon filters out all the useless crap and only talks about cutting-edge kitchen gadgets that are likely to interest you.
The site also publishes a regular podcast.
The Automated Home blog has been active since 1996. Wiring guides, equipment reviews, news, and tutorials are their bread and butter.
In addition, the site has an extensive forum section. If you're not sure where to go for help, one of the users almost certainly has the answers you're looking for.
These 10 resources should be more than enough to get you started on your smart home journey. Between four YouTube channels, four podcasts, two blogs, and our own MakeUseOf smart home section, anyone can learn about the benefits of a smart home and get tips on getting your own home online.
What smart home resources do you turn to for help and inspiration? You can let us know in the comments section below. Oh, and if you see Bob anywhere, tell him to read this article!
