Voice Assistants

Smart voice assistants are the foundation for building a voice controlled smart home system in your home.

The top smart speaker systems allow everything from voice-activated control of your entire smart device ecosystem through to providing updates on news, weather, sport, and more. On top of all of this, the best smart assistants double up as excellent wireless speaker systems for high fidelity audio and music playback.

A Connected Start to Every Day – The Best Smart Alarm Clock Devices and Speakers

It's little surprise that the humble alarm clock is currently undergoing something of a renaissance as we enter the age of the connected home. With smart displays, and voice controlled smart assistants becoming more sophisticated by the day, it was only going to be a matter of time until the tech transitioned to our bedside tables. While smartphones hooked up to a wider … [Read more...] about A Connected Start to Every Day – The Best Smart Alarm Clock Devices and Speakers

How to Delete Your Amazon Alexa Voice Recordings History

There's no doubt about it, smart speakers and voice assistant systems like the Alexa-enabled Echo and its extended family are a game-changer when it comes to complete smart home control. However, with any web-based voice controller like those from Amazon and Google, every time you speak to your device, there's a good chance that the data is being collected for use … [Read more...] about How to Delete Your Amazon Alexa Voice Recordings History

Let There be Light – The Best Smart Lighting and Smart Light Bulbs for use with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit

Possibly more than any other device, the humble smart bulb could be considered as a prime candidate for 'most essential item' when it comes to the building a fully responsive smart home or home automation ecosystem. In fact, whether you're just starting out, or are already well underway on your smart home journey, the chances are smart bulbs are the first devices that make … [Read more...] about Let There be Light – The Best Smart Lighting and Smart Light Bulbs for use with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit

The Best Smart Home Ecosystems for Creating a Connected Home

If you're looking to set up a smart home, the good news is that it's never been easier to get started and some of the best smart home ecosystems are now available to help you get it done. In fact, with so many devices, platforms, and protocols out there, the biggest challenge can be finding the best gear for the job and making sure it all works together as … [Read more...] about The Best Smart Home Ecosystems for Creating a Connected Home

Google Home Mini vs Amazon Echo Dot – Which Compact Smart Speaker is Better?

If you're exploring the miniaturized smart speaker market right now, the chances are that you're either looking at Amazon's Echo Dot or Google's rival, the Home Mini as your next pocket-sized voice assistant. But what are the major differences between these two entry-level smart speakers and does one offer significantly more advantages over the other? In this guide, we've … [Read more...] about Google Home Mini vs Amazon Echo Dot – Which Compact Smart Speaker is Better?