The Smart Home

[cany]

How Amazon Outage Left Smart Homes Not So Smart After All

The outage at Amazon.com Inc.’s cloud-computing arm left thousands of people in the U.S. without working fridges, roombas and doorbells, highlighting just how reliant people have become on the company as the Internet of Things proliferates across homes.

www.bloomberg.com

I lost my ring cameras for a few hours

 

[wader]

I lost my ring cameras for a few hours

did you eventually find them?

 

[cany]

did you eventually find them?

Yes Harley had them he was watching the cat

 

[george]

I actually had to use a switch to turn on my lights.

 

[cany]

I actually had to use a switch to turn on my lights.

Oh the Horror

 

[jpd]

I actually had to use a switch to turn on my lights.

How does that work? I would think the switch stays on all the time, and Alexa controls the light bulb by turning it off.
If you lose internet access, all the lights come on because the light switches are up?

 

[george]

@jpd The switch is Bluetooth and it can be controlled by a home device like Alexa. There are many bulbs that have built in Bluetooth which bypasses the need for the switch. My home is totally automated now. Is does make you lazy though for example my bedroom light is in reach yet I use Alexa.

 

[jpd]

@jpd The switch is Bluetooth and it can be controlled by a home device like Alexa. There are many bulbs that have built in Bluetooth which bypasses the need for the switch. My home is totally automated now. Is does make you lazy though for example my bedroom light is in reach yet I use Alexa.

Ahhh.....thanks. One thing I would find useful are thermostats for our place in RI, I could start heating or cooling it off before leaving NY.

 

[george]

Ahhh.....thanks. One thing I would find useful are thermostats for our place in RI, I could start heating or cooling it off before leaving NY.

I went ahead and did the same thing in my place in Narrowsburg NY. I found Bluetooth thermostats and I'm able to heat the house nice and toasty for when we arrive.

 

[LarrySchroeder]

So, guys, I've always dreamed of living in a smart home. That's why I think the time has come to make this dream real. What should I start with, guys? Yesterday I saw some smart plugs on amazon https://www.amazon.com/smart-plug-wifi-plugs-alexa/dp/B09KTYH3MJ. Maybe I should start with installing them? Btw, I've already bought Alexa. I really like it. I'd appreciate any of your recommendations and suggestions on what to start with, guys. Thanks a lot for your help. Best wishes to you all!!

 

[george]

This is right up my alley. I swap out the switches and sockets to zwave devices. https://www.amazon.com/UltraPro-Qui...930436&sprefix=ge+lightswitch,aps,176&sr=8-35

You also need a device to connect to these zwave devices. This one is like $30 and there's no monthly charge. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Smar...ung+smartthings+hub+kit&qid=1667931612&sr=8-3

A little bit at a time I now have much of my house automated. Alexa controls all my cameras - I also use Firesticks for my TV, so if someone rings the doorbell, I can watch them on the TV. I control many lights, my pool, and I have echoes in all rooms. They have a new cheap one for $15 that is great as part of an intercom system. I say Alexa good night and the system checks that all doors, including my garage doors, are locked. It turns off any lights it knows shouldn't be on. It also makes sure all of my cameras are working.

As it learns your habits, it becomes scary smart. Like "Did you mean to leave your office light on?"

 

[jpd]

How an explosion of ‘smart’ devices is threatening US households — and national security

US homes and infrastructure are increasingly outfitted with Internet-connected “smart” devices that are vulnerable to hackers — and lawmakers claim beefed-up security standards will be necess…

nypost.com

 

[Roccus7]

 

[jpd]

Ring will no longer allow police to request doorbell camera footage from users

The company did not provide a reason for the change, which will be effective starting this week.

nypost.com

 

[jpd]

This would sell really well - wonder if the local authorities would have an issue with it.
Probably would be a lot of blue deer up here.

Startup pitches a paintball-armed, AI-powered home security camera

PaintCam Eve also offers a teargas pellet upgrade.

www.popsci.com