Category Archives: smart home

Review of the Epson FastFoto FF-680W

Posted on 9 February 2019 by Stewart Wolpin

Let’s face it. The process of digitizing photos is mind-numbingly slow: the laying of each photo on the scanner and waiting the agonizing minutes for each to be scanned, then saving each photo. And many of these photos are likely … Continue reading →

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High-End & High-Tech Comfort In Every(!) Room Of The House

Posted on 4 February 2019 by Stewart Wolpin

Considering the high number of intensely personal activities performed behind their closed doors, it’s somewhat surprising that the bathroom is seen as the last high-tech-free bastion. But bathroom fixture and accessory suppliers are making up for lost time by creating a wide … Continue reading →

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High-Tech Luxe Beds Know How You’re Sleeping (And Snoring)

Posted on 4 February 2019 by Stewart Wolpin

A high-tech bedroom used to mean a rotating or vibrating bed (or both), strobe or not-too-subtle colored lighting, and perhaps Barry White sensually crooning from in-wall speakers. But at least three bed makers — Sleep Number, Magniflex and Duxiana — are … Continue reading →

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Wi-Fi 6 Routers: The best internet connection you can buy today

Posted on 31 January 2019 by Stewart Wolpin

A new age of speedy wireless internet connectivity is upon us, thanks to not only the possibly over-hyped 5G (mass rollout of which is not really due until next year) but the next generation Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6. … Continue reading →

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My CES 2019 Coverage

Posted on 17 January 2019 by Stewart Wolpin

Here’s some of my coverage of CES 2019 for the TWICE Show Daily, distributed daily on the show floor. CES 2019 Was The 8K TV Show – For 8K TV Vendors CES 2019: TV Makers Form 8K Association CES 2019: … Continue reading →

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A/V In ’18: 5 Foundational Changes & 11 Newsmakers

Posted on 14 December 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Traditionally, A/V product categories don’t tend to be very newsworthy outside of the latest updated versions of existing products and technologies. But 2018 unusually saw five major foundational changes in audio and video. See the rest of this 2019 recap … Continue reading →

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7 Companies That Owned The Smart Home Conversation In 2018

Posted on 6 December 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Two trends dominated the smart home category in 2018. On the product side, there is the growing battle for voice assistant ecosystem supremacy between Amazon and Google. Not only has there been hockey-stick growth in the number, as well as unit sales, … Continue reading →

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Bad Wi-Fi? How To Choose Between an Extender and Mesh

Posted on 21 November 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Most of us are, at one time or another, likely unhappy with our home Wi-Fi. Netflix buffers too often. Skype or FaceTime connections are blurry, and an online game stalls as a roommate streams video. Wi-Fi reception is great in … Continue reading →

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Review: Riva Concert Takes On Sonos One

Posted on 13 November 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

In the world of $200 Alexa-enabled smart speakers, everyone is competing with the acknowledged audio quality and multi-room king of this category, the Sonos One. The latest – and perhaps most worthy – contender is the new Riva Audio Concert ($199, due … Continue reading →

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Review: Netgear Orbi Voice combines a router with a smart speaker

Posted on 6 November 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Merging two different devices into a single product is not usually a good idea. If something goes wrong with one — the entire item is useless. That’s something Netgear has avoided with the Orbi Voice, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker that … Continue reading →

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