Around The Home

Voice-activated smart speakers can be handy around the house, but they come with a privacy trade-off. Appropriately named start-up Paranoid has unveiled a set of devices that can make sure smart speakers are only listening when you want them to.

MB&F and L'Epee 1839 have teamed up again to make another quirky timepiece that's part desktop clock and part space station. The Starfleet Explorer boasts a more compact design as well as bright colors and an eight-day power reserve.

Razor companies seem to have the research budgets of NASA or Tesla. We were curious about just how well what seem like innovations-for-innovation’s-sake actually stand up, so we grabbed the Gillette Labs Heated Razor and headed for the bathroom.

Video conferencing calls have quickly become a mainstay of socializing in 2020, and now Facebook is throwing its sizeable hat in the ring with a new service called Messenger Rooms, which will be able to accommodate up to 50 people.

A new startup called Yeeuu Tech has thrown eight different unlocking methods into one device. The S1 Smart Lock can be unlocked through passcodes, NFC, an app, fingerprints, or Bluetooth, among others, and can be fitted into most existing locks.

The AiT Smart One desk can be controlled via smartphone and offers a few well-considered bells and whistles, including a built-in air quality sensor that alerts the user when it’s time to crack a window.

Scientists at Purdue University are putting forward another interesting proposition in the realm of home automation, developing a cheap sensor that can detect when a person enters a room via carbon dioxide levels in the air.

Amazon's Ring has announced that the second generation of its home security system is now available for pre-order. The Ring Alarm comes with sleeker sensors and a keypad that offers quick access to emergency services.

Growing your own veggies doesn't necessarily mean getting your hands dirty. We've seen a number of indoor gardening devices over the years, the most recent being from LG. Bace has launched its take on year-round growing with the Rotofarm.

While smart door locks do have some useful features, swapping your existing locks for smart ones certainly is a hassle. Yeeuu's K1 Smart Lock Box offers an alternative, by bringing smart functionality to "dumb" locks.

Malessa Studio has revealed its foldable and compact furniture collection, especially designed for students and renters who frequently move homes. Nest features everyday furniture pieces that can be dismantled, packed, moved and re-assembled.

Lighting a candle is not that difficult to do, although if you have to light a bunch of the things on a daily basis, it could be a bit of a hassle. That's where Candle Touch comes in, as it's an actual flame-and-wax candle that's lit by Bluetooth.