Smart Home Hardware

Today Nintendo announced…no, not the Switch 2 yet. They announced an alarm clock called Alarmo! Nintendo announced Alarmo, a sound alarm clock today. It will cost $99.99 (US). The clock will make sounds from various Nintendo games from Super Mario Odyssey to Breath of the Wild and will be able to get free updates via the internet such as Mario Kart and Animal Crossing New Horizons. As basically a $100 item, the clock is for people who have a lot…

Back in November of 2021, we took the Roomba j7+ for a spin, and loved how well it worked in our home. You can read that review here which we recommend as many of the vacuuming features of the Roomba j7+ Combo haven’t changed. For all things about the application, smart detection, and overall vacuuming quality, please refer to that review. We also reviewed the iRobot Bravva Jet M6 robotic mop as well, and while we were not as impressed,…

During today's Google showcase, fans of the tech giant were not only treated to new information about the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but also Google's upcoming Google Pixel Watch. With a sleek design that would fit any professional look, Google is looking to compete with Apple in the smart watch space, and perhaps dethrone Smasung as the leader in Android smart watch technology. Was what they showed today enough to convince you? Let's take a look!

For the past month, I have had the opportunity to use the Braava jet m6 robotic mop in collaboration with my Roomba j7+ robot vacuum. I have raved about how much I’ve loved using the Roomba, but have always been skeptical of the Braava line of products. A robotic mob? Have we taken things just a bit too far? Let us dive in to the review, and see whether this is a match made in heaven, or something to avoid.…

In late 2019, my wife and I had the pleasure of reviewing the Roomba i7+, a fantastic little robot that was billed as a product that would free us up to do other things rather than vacuum. And with a self-empty system in the charge base, it was supposed to be a hassle free addition to our home. And once we figured out how to properly use the Roomba, it really was. When iRobot came back to us this year…

The concept and importance of STEM - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - is becoming increasingly more popular year over year, and parents are clamouring to find the latest and greatest STEM products, camps, and more for their kids. So many companies now advertise STEM friendly activities for kids, but in my home, we've found that most of these companies are profiting off the philosophy, as opposed to actually providing engaging, STEM products. Our kids are currently using the SPHERO MINI set, and we've been more impressed with that product ...

When Google first announced the nest hub a few years back, I had to have one for my kitchen - putting it in my room as an alarm clock never really crossed my mind, despite many folks doing it. But then we upgraded the kitchen display to a Nest Hub Max, and well...you can imagine how that was a big improvement with the bigger screen. That ultimately pushed the original Nest Hub to my wife and I's room, and while we liked having that, it started to feel a bit short on features and quality compared to other Google products we were adding to our home (like the ...

We have been fortunate to review a ton of tech over the past year, and wanted to highlight our favourite items in this years Top Tech guide for 2020! All of the times on this list have been personally used by our staff, and come with our highest recommendations. We have everything from TVs, to mobile phones, to vacuum cleaners, so lets get started!

Our home is just a few short weeks away from being torn apart and opened right up, but until then, Robby the Roomba is zooming around some fairly cramped quarters, most notably in our dinning room. Until today, anytime I sent Robby on a cleaning run in my dinning room, I would lift the chairs up onto the table as I would when I normally vacuumed the room by hand. Today after lunch, I decided to leave the chairs on the floor, and see how Robby navigated this mess.

Over the past few weeks, we have been using and reviewing the Pixel 4a, our pick for the best mid-market smart phone in 2020. While it wasn't a secret, it was good to see the 5G Pixel 4a today, as well as the brand new Pixel 5.