Reviews

REVIEW: Sonos PLAY:3 Wireless Speaker

December 19, 2014 1 Eric Murrell

High fidelity sound with no strings attached. Disclaimer: The folks at Sonos very generously provided a PLAY:3 for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. If you’re taking a first look at the Sonos system (a standout in…

Audio/Video

REVIEW: Sonos PLAY:1 Wireless Speaker

December 17, 2014 2 Eric Murrell

Big sound in a small package. Disclaimer: The folks at Sonos very kindly provided a PLAY:1 for this review. As usual, the opinions are my own. As we discussed recently, we live in a time when there are countless ways…

Reviews

REVIEW: Kwikset Kevo Bluetooth Deadbolt

December 15, 2014 1 Eric Murrell

Step away from the keychain. Disclaimer: The folks at Kwikset very kindly supplied a Kevo unit for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. As I mentioned in my First Look at the Kevo, I really hate carrying…

Gadgets

REVIEW: Twelve South HiRise Stand for iPhone

December 12, 2014 0 Eric Murrell

Put yourself on a pedestal. If you’re like me, you have trouble leaving your phone in random spots around your home and office. I’m normally a creature of habit, but for some reason I can’t seem to keep track of…

Lighting

REVIEW: LIFX WiFi Light Bulb

December 1, 2014 0 Eric Murrell

Party in a box. Disclosure: The folks at LIFX very kindly provided a bulb for this review. As always, the opinions are my own. “Honey, you have to come see this, right now!” That’s what I was yelling at Lauren…

Automation

REVIEW: GE Link LED Smart Bulb

November 24, 2014 3 Eric Murrell

Goldblum would never lead you astray. In our journey to find the right lighting for our new place, I’ve already worked my way through a few of the most popular “dumb” bulbs on the market. Those bulbs are great, but…

Lighting

REVIEW: Philips SlimStyle LED 60w Replacement Light Bulb

November 13, 2014 0 Eric Murrell

Good light; right price. As I research lights for our house, I thought it would be helpful to continue to reviewing the most common players lining the store shelves. I covered the excellent Cree LED bulb last week, so lets…

Gadgets

REVIEW: Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries

November 10, 2014 3 Eric Murrell

Secret little money savers. We knew having kids would be expensive, but one expense we didn’t account for was keeping batteries in dozens of electronic toys. Every birthday and each Christmas brings with it a new family of chirping plastic…

Heating/Cooling

REVIEW: Nest Learning Thermostat

November 6, 2014 6 Eric Murrell

The smart home’s gateway drug. When they first unveiled the Nest thermostat, I laughed. Who would have guessed that such a strange, “niche” product would kickstart the modern smart home revolution. Even my nerdy little brain couldn’t wrap my mind…

Lighting

REVIEW: Cree 60w LED Light Bulb

November 3, 2014 0 Eric Murrell

Incredible efficiency at an affordable price. Light bulbs aren’t exciting, but they’re one of the cornerstones of home life. They light your way in the dark, define the mood of a space, and make your home more secure. They’re also…