Kitchen of the Week: Streamlined and Smart in Montreal
8 Hot Gadgets for Your High-Tech Home
Nest Thermostat
Home thermostat that learns your behavior and adjusts itself accordingly. The Nest Thermostat has been called the “iPod of thermostats,” because it was designed by the same man who helped design the iPod. That means it also has the same elegant design and easy user interface we’ve come to know. It has a round shape with colors that are designed to blend into whatever color wall you install it on.
The thermostat is intended to save you energy and money by automatically learning your patterns and behavior and adjusting itself accordingly. For instance, if you regularly come downstairs at 8 a.m. every day and set the temp to 70 degrees, it stores and learns that info. Then, using motion sensor technology, if it doesn’t sense your presence every morning, it will figure out you’re away and will adjust the temp to save on energy.
Nespresso Maestria
The Nespresso Maestria is a single-serve coffee machine that uses a high-pressure pump and Thermoblock heating element to deliver a perfect cup of coffee each time you use it. Barista wannabes will enjoy the professional-style steam wand that lets you control the temperature and frothiness of the steamed milk in your cappuccino. The Maestria will automatically test the water and adjust it for hard or soft, and will shut itself off after a certain period of inactivity.
Roku 2
An incredibly simple way to stream video to your TV. The Roku 2 is one of the easiest ways to stream media to your television. It’s a tiny box that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi, letting you watch both free and paid (subscription) content, ranging from Netflix to Hulu to news and tech TV channels. The remotes that come with the Roku 2 feature bluetooth, something that previous models were lacking.
iRobot Roomba 790
This vacuum has a wireless command center that schedules cleanings and allows users to control the device from anywhere in the house. This is one high-priced vacuum, but oh, the things it can do! Using a touchscreen remote, you can steer your Roomba to any spot in the house. The remote is called a Wireless Command Center, but works much like an RC toy, meaning it might make cleaning fun for the videogame set. You can also use the Command Center to schedule cleaning for when you’re not home, or on a different floor of your home. Roomba can handle most any job; it has a three-stage cleaning process to vacuum carpets, hardwood, tile and linoleum floors, and it will automatically adjust to the different floor surfaces. Unlike you, who may be easily distracted, Roomba will thoroughly clean each room in the home before moving on to the next.
Sonos Play:3
Powerful all-in-one wireless speaker for the home. The Sonos Play: 3 is a smaller, less expensive version of Sonos’ Play: 5 wireless speaker system, which makes it a great fit for the home. Sonos speakers stream your music library throughout your house using a wireless Internet connection, meaning you can control the music from one room, via an iOS or Android app, while sending it to a different room in the house.
The Sonos speaker can also connect with iOS devices, mobile phones, music players, Android phones and tablets. The Play: 3 come in black or white and has a sleek design that lets it fit in tight spaces. The Play: 3 is rocking three drivers inside; two woofers and a tweeter, along with three digital amplifiers.
Belkin WeMo Switch
WeMo uses Wi-Fi to turn an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into a remote control for household devices. WeMo makes home automation simple. The WeMo switch, used in conjunction with the free WeMo app, lets you control any appliance that plugs into an electrical outlet. It runs over your home’s Wi-Fi network and can be controlled with any iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. You can use your phone to start your coffee maker as you come down the stairs in the morning, or turn on the lights before you get home. The app will also let you schedule devices to go on and off at pre-set times.
RoomMates Augmented Reality Wall Decals
These wall decals feature special augmented reality technology. You’ve heard the saying, ‘if walls could talk?’ Well what happens when walls can play games and interact? It’s all possible with the introduction of Augmented Reality Wall Decals from RoomMates. They’re removable, reusable peel-and-stick wall decals your kids can play with. They can be removed without damaging the walls, and they can we wiped clean. Download the BoostAR app from the iTunes store or Google Play and then point your phone or tablet up to the wall decal. The device will unlock and display interactive features and videos or games. There are six AR-enabled Disney wall decals to choose from and more on the way.
Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System
Video security system with wide-angle night vision and remote viewing. With all the electronic goodies in your home, you’re going to want to keep a watchful eye on things 24/7. The Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System offers powerful wide-angle night vision and a free remote viewing account so you can check in from afar. Motion-triggered recording can be set up to send you notification via email or SMS if movement is sensed. If you do get an alert, you can use the Logitech Alert Web and Mobile Commander service to access all the controls, as if you were running on a home PC. Logitech Alert is easily expandable, so you can add cameras throughout your home, inside and out.
Source: Mashable
5 Ultra Geek Chic Items for Your Home
Let’s face it. Geek is the new chic. Or at least that’s what tech-focused, Star Wars loving, graphic novel reading, Syfy watching folks would want all of you to believe. Ok, it’s what I want to. You have to admit that geekdom has taken over pop culture lately with super hero movies becoming critically acclaimed entertainment and ComicCon somehow entering the mainstream.
What about at home? Xbox is no longer for gamers as it is used more for entertainment than gaming. Phones, tablets and apps can control our heat, A/C and even security systems. But today we wanted to take a look at some ultra geek chic items for your home that you won’t find in just any home.
Tweet-a-Pot
Hmmm, what’s the one thing your morning is missing? How about a coffee pot that starts brewing when you send a tweet. Yes, that’s what my home has needed for quite some time. Come to think of it, it’s probably easier to hack your coffee pot to work through Twitter than it is to figure out how to set the auto-brew timer. For those who have yet to discover the wonder of Keurig, check out the video above on Tweet-a-pot.
Tetris Cushions
Tetris Cushions
I discovered these on Etsy.com from the Star Gallery shop while perusing the site for a mother’s day gift. At $279 for the set, you will truly have to be a committed game boy (pun intended) to have these on your couch at home. Is it just me or did you always hate that square piece? Never fits anywhere…(Image courtesy of Star Gallery on Etsy)
The Burritob0t
The Burritob0t
I’m pre-ordering this today. This magical device has been built to construct the perfect burrito. Using proven scientific and chemistry tactics, the burrito bot will layer on just the right amount of flavor to create the ultimate burrito. Burritobot is also expected to come with an iPhone app that allows you to adjust they layers of goodness on your burrito to meet your specifications including levels of guacamole, salsa, sour cream, etc. No price has been determined for this yet, but can you really put a price on burrito goodness? (Image courtesy of y marko.manriquez)
Samsung Smart Window
What this product does is basically project an interactive, touch-based interface onto any window and allow you to make Minority Report-esque movements on the screen to serve up tweets, videos, weather and more.
The smart window is a one way display so while you see this virtual interface, others looking in won’t see it. No word yet on pricing or when it would officially roll out to the public, but I’ll be chomping at the bit to find out more details. Check out this video demo above.
R2D2 Entertainment Center
Move over Luke Skywalker. R2D2 can live in your home and become the sickest TV projector in the galaxy. With plugins for gaming consoles, Blu Ray players, iPod, satellite and cable, this R2D2 entertainment center can project a 260″ size screen onto any wall or ceiling. I’m not sure if it can be used to hack into the Death Star, but any home with this in it is quite possibly the king of the geek chic. Sadly, this projector made by Nikko is no longer in production so you’ll have to resort to finding one on eBay.
True Cost of Lighting
Looking for a simple way to save money? And we aren’t going to tell you to cut back on activities you love to do. Just change the way you light your life! Changing the light bulbs in your home or office will save you money. Lower your expenses and reduce waste all at the same time! Check out the facts on how to save on your lighting costs over the long haul.
11 things to never put in the dishwasher
A dishwasher is a beautiful thing, so handy and convenient, so wonderful for preventing a pile of moldy dishes when life loses all inertia, but there are certain things that should never enter that cave of convenience if you want them to live to serve another day.
Crystal/Hand-blown glass
Crystal and hand-blown glass are sensitive to heat so they run the risk of cracking in the dishwasher; but that’s not the only risk. Detergents can chip at them, causing them to lose their shine.
Good knives
Good knives should never be put in the dishwasher — they’re more fragile than you might think. The agitation of the dishwasher’s cycle turns the blade dull; and it can get dings and scratches from hitting other objects.
Bottles and cans
If you want to rinse cans and beans to recycle or reuse, it’s best to wash them by hand. Labels attached with glue can loosen and clog the spray arms or pump and affect dishwasher performance.
Full story at Huffington Post.
Time to Go Tankless? The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
We often take for granted the fact that heating up water — for use in sinks, showers, dishwashers and elsewhere — accounts for an estimated 30 percent of an average home’s energy consumption. Add in concern over carbon dioxide emissions by gas-powered water heaters and you begin to understand why budget- and eco-conscious homeowners have begun to question whether it’s time to go tankless.
What is a tankless water heater?
A traditional boiler, whether gas or electric, continuously heats a volume of water within a storage tank all day and night, every day and week throughout the year.
There’s a logical disconnect here, isn’t there? Why would you pay to heat water even when you’re asleep or away from home, and especially when that water is being heated by burning fossil fuel?
Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, only heat up water when there’s demand for it. Those who have traveled in Europe may already be familiar with tankless systems, especially “point of use” setups.
Of course, the technology has improved and now manufacturers claim that whole-house heaters of adequate size can provide a steady flow of water at a set temperature to multiple fixtures at once. But instead of storing water and actively heating it, tankless models only switch on when there is water moving through the unit on its way to the source, be it a shower head or laundry machine.
More Cost Upfront, Cheaper To Run
A tankless gas water heater takes up a lot less space.
Because they require less energy to run, tankless heaters are significantly cheaper to operate. Although upfront costs can be high (for the unit itself plus installation), payback arrives over the long term, usually after a few years, with homeowners saving 24–34 percent annually, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.
Another reason to like tankless water heaters is the units’ compactness. They can be mounted on a wall, tucked under stairs, or placed inside a closet, making them appropriate for a range of applications.
A large family house with lots of kids may require two units to produce enough hot water to meet demand, but operating within capacity, a tankless heater should be able to provide unlimited hot water — a relief to anyone used to running out mid-shower. Plus, leaks are much less likely with a tankless, because, well, there’s no tank.
Is it time to go tankless?
An increasing number of homeowners around the country have already made the switch. This year, when my wife and I needed to replace the boiler at our home in Florida, we asked, “Is it time to go tankless?”
We assessed our options and answered “Yes.”
“Time to Go Tankless? The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters” was originally run as “Time for Tankelss? The Next Generation of Boilers” and was written by Bob Vila for Zillow.com.
5 Tips to Turn Your Basement into a Media Room
Sometimes it’s just not possible to share the TV. What’s a family to do when one member is pulling for reruns of Seinfeld, and the other is rooting for the Kardashians? If you’re finding that remote-control wars are becoming common in your family room, it may be time to transform that unused space in your basement into a media room. On the rare occasion that everyone agrees, a media room can be the perfect home theater for movie nights.
We asked Deborah Wiener, owner of Designing Solutions, to give us her best tips to help you start planning a media room in your basement. I have a post 8 Home Theaters, here.
Don’t Waste A Drop With A Plant Holder Dishrack
Those with a particularly acute eco conscience have likely already bid farewell to their energy-wasting dishwasher, but have they really gone the green distance?
Now, one doesn’t have to waste a drop of that rinse water with the Fluidity by DesignLibero.
The water that trickles from the washed dishes irrigates the plants. The base, thanks to its fluid form, directs the wastewater into the sections where are plant containers placed. Each container is perforated at the bottom for water passage. The containers are filled with clay pellets and coconut fiber, to control the water environment of the plant on the one hand and to keep clean the dish drainer base on the other hand.
This might almost making doing the dishes worthwhile, or, barring that, have two pots of dying herbs to serve as some much-needed motivation.
Full story at DesignLibero via LikeCool.