Author Archives

Eric Murrell

Eric is the creator of At Home in the Future and has been a passionate fan of the future since he was seven. He's a web developer by trade, and serves as the Director of Communication and Technology for a large church in Nashville, TN (where he and his family are building a high tech home in the woods).

Automation

REVIEW: XY Find It Beacon

June 5, 2015 17 Eric Murrell

Disclaimer: The folks at XY Find It very kindly provided several bluetooth tags for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. It’s human nature to be forgetful. Although Evernote, Google Calendar, and 1Password have whipped my digital life…

First Look

24 Hours with the Apple Watch

May 13, 2015 2 Eric Murrell

The beginning of something great. After waiting for a nerd’s eternity, my hotly anticipated Apple Watch Sport arrived yesterday. I’ve spent the last 24 hours putting it through every kind of test I can think of. Here are a handful…

Audio/Video

How I Made My Internet Connection 10x Faster

April 28, 2015 9 Eric Murrell

Get what you’re paying for. Netflix was dropping out constantly, and that was the final straw. Like many of you, Netflix has become the focal point of entertainment in our house. It’s what the kids watch when they need a…

Gadgets

Apple Watch and the Smart Home

April 6, 2015 0 Eric Murrell

Yes, I’m getting an Apple Watch. It may not be the first “wearable” computer on the market, but it’s probably the first one that matters. The Apple II made computers accessible. The iPhone made them a constant companion. The Apple…

Audio/Video

REVIEW: Canary Home Security

March 30, 2015 8 Eric Murrell

Home security systems have almost become a joke. They come with most new home these days, but I can’t think of a single person I know who uses theirs on a regular basis. From false alarms to forgotten pass codes,…

Lighting

REVIEW: Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight

March 2, 2015 4 Eric Murrell

Both bright and smart. Disclaimer: The folks at Leeo very kindly provided a Smart Alert Nightlight for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. Everyone wants to keep their family safe. From security gadgets to smart alarms, home…

Automation

First Look: Chamberlain MyQ Garage

February 24, 2015 2 Eric Murrell

For the forgetful. Generally speaking, I’m a creature of habit. I try to keep the same morning routine. I like to leave work at the same time every day. I leave my keys on the same plate every time I…

Automation

REVIEW: Quirky+GE Tripper Door/Window Sensor

January 26, 2015 4 Eric Murrell

Always in the know. Sensors are a key component of the smart home. Almost every smart home gadget you buy these days includes at least a few sensors; thermostats can detect motion, locks detect tampering, and wall switches can detect…

Audio/Video

REVIEW: Dropcam Pro

January 16, 2015 1 Eric Murrell

Your eye in the sky (er, cloud). Disclaimer: The folks at Google very kindly provided a Dropcam Pro for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. Wouldn’t it be great to instantly know if everything’s fine at home?…

Gadgets

REVIEW: Seek Thermal Camera

January 12, 2015 1 Eric Murrell

It turns out my nose is cold. Smart phone cameras keep getting better and better. A device that used to take blurry images the size of a postage stamp can now take 40 megapixel panoramas, high definition video, and macro…