We all love the new inventions that automate the existing gadgets in our apartment, but how about new technologies? Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to listen to music? Secure your home? Control the temperature? Check out six of our favorite gadgets that will make your apartment now feel like a futuristic home.
1. Chromecast
The Google Chromecast will change the way you watch TV. For just $35 (one time), you can watch and play all of your favorite online entertainment on your HDTV. The simple plugin device that looks like a flash drive lets you watch movies from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Google Play, or YouTube, while also listening to music or getting automatic updates from apps. Chromecast works with devices you already have, like your tablets or smartphones, including your iPhone. Chromsecast is also remote free and can connect to Wi-Fi.
2. The Nest
The Nest is simply a “smart thermostat.” That means you can control the temperature of your home from any wireless device. The Nest is programmable, which can help you save on energy costs, as well as heat and cool your home while you are away. This thermostat, unlike others on the market, has a sleek design and keeps tracks of your data to help you make better decisions. It’s a learning thermostat, which means that it senses whether someone is at home, if the air is getting humid, if the oven is on, or if the house is empty, and then adjusts itself accordingly. The device is connected to Wi-Fi and can be monitored and controlled via a remote app. You can also check stored data, or the “learning features” to auto-program based on your individual habits. The Nest retails for around $250 and can easily be self-installed.
3. Sonte Digital Shade
Sonte Digital Shade started as a Kickstarter project and has gained considerable attention since being introduced in the summer of 2013. Simply put, Sonte designs app-controlled digital shades for your windows. It’s a self-installed shade that is applied to windows. The shade can be opaque, clear, or color, all controlled with the tap of an app. The digital shade works through a Wi-Fi-enabled transformer and a small cord that connects your iPhone with your window film. You can use the film on any glass surface and there’s no need for complex wiring or tools. Sonte Digital Shades also increase privacy, help save energy, protect the inside of your home from UV damage, and provide consistent temperatures in your home.
4. SmartThings
SmartThings adds intelligence to your home. It’s a simple, easy 15-minute set up that is run completely through the SmartThings app and hub. With SmartThings you can:
- Monitor doors, windows, or the temperature inside the home
- Control appliances, like the furnace or the air conditioning
- Automate lights, fans, or the TV
The open source platform works with ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi devices and can be found on Amazon or in most home improvement stores. The cool thing about SmartThings is it connects to just about anything: door locks, air conditioning controllers, light switches, TVs, to name a few. Basically, anything that can be controlled, monitored, measured, or automated can connect to SmartThings. You can monitor and control the devices the SmartThings hub and app are connected to, giving you peace of mind when you are away from home.
5. iDoor cam
Have you ever been watching TV when the doorbell rings and you don’t want to get up to see who’s there? We’ve all been there and the iDoor Cam can help you with that problem. The iDoor Cam starts at $130 and lets you monitor your door from anywhere, even the next room or miles away. It is Wi-Fi enabled and comes with a day and night vision camera, speaker, motion sensor, microphone, and button letting you communicate with any visitor at your door. The device works on an iOS app.
6. ADT Pulse
With all the cool gadgets inside your home, be sure to protect your apartment with the ADT Pulse security system. From just about anywhere, you can monitor your home through a wireless device. The system is completely customizable, depending on your needs and budget. It’s remote home management that fits your lifestyle and brings you greater peace of mind. ADT has been a trusted home security company for more than 135 years, so you can trust the knowledge and expertise that comes with your home security system. Enjoy continuous security with “always there” monitoring, remote security, customized programs, door lock control, and thermostat adjustment as well as security alerts if something doesn’t look right inside your home.
The future lies in new technology and innovative gadgets. Try one of these new tools in your apartment to see what it’s like to belong to the new age.
