Lifestyle Smart Home

Talking to Alexa has become so common that she has literally become a household name around the world.  From dinner recipes and corny jokes to podcasts and playlists – Amazon’s Alexa has the response for everything.  But what happens when you are trying to play some of your favorite songs through Spotify and Alexa won’t deliver your request no matter how many different ways you ask?

The Internet plays such a pivotal role in our everyday lives. One of the biggest modern inconveniences is when it stops working. Why does your Internet go out every night at the same time, and what can you do to fix it?

One of the great features of Samsung TVs s the HOME button on the Samsung remote control. Pressing this button allows you to your favorite entertainment channels, useful TV features, and much more from this option. However, when the HOME button on your Samsung remote quits working, you can reach frustration quickly.

Thermostats have as much of a variety and wide selection as any other household appliance. It can be difficult to navigate the world of thermostats with so many options between smart, analog, and programmable thermostats. So, what exactly is the less widely known millivolt thermostat?

Nest is famous for its learning technology. Its sole purpose is to learn your routine so you don’t have to worry about programming it. We as users are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning about our Nest. After all, we have many more things in our brains than just the workings of our thermostat.

Don’t blame the haunts of Halloween, the ghosts of Christmas past, or the specters of past residents when your Xfinity  cable box inexplicably reboots. That isn’t to say that those couldn’t be causes, or that the haunt of a former prankster or an agitated poltergeist couldn’t be the culprit. It might just be best to start with more earthly or grounded reasons – speaking literally and figuratively.

Having any sort of internet issue can be frustrating, mainly because we’re so dependent on it in this day and age. But luckily, we have up-to-date devices that can tell us what’s wrong with the connection. Take a Cox Panoramic, for instance– sometimes you will see the Wi-Fi blinking orange. But what exactly does that mean?

Ring doorbells have made countless homeowners feel safer and gain peace of mind. They require little to no maintenance and work reliably, although certain aspects can be confusing. So, what does a Ring light flashing blue when charging mean?

Ring doorbells are one of the most popular ways to keep a digital eye on your home, but they have one major issue: glare. Glare from sunlight can make it hard for your doorbell’s camera to do its job. In fact, it can even obscure an entrant’s face. That’s pretty bad for security. How can you reduce that glare?

Here’s the thing- there are several reasons why your US/DS Xfinity modem light could be blinking. Before you throw it out of the window, attempt to fix it yourself. Are you up for the challenge?

There are modern, smart equivalents to almost any household device, and that includes light switches. Wemo switches are smart light switches that are infinitely useful, that is unless it is blinking orange. So, what are the best ways to fix Wemo switches that are blinking orange?

It can be a bit spooky when your Vizio TV starts turning itself on by itself. Several issues can be at the bottom of a Vizio TV that seems to have a mind of its own. A Vizio TV that turns itself on isn’t a common problem. However, if you are experiencing these issues, there are some common causes.

In the United States, we are blessed with a very stable power grid. However, there are times when anyone can suffer a power outage. The sudden loss of power can have a devastating effect on sensitive electronic equipment. Often, this can result in a Samsung TV that won’t turn on after a power outage.

When your internet goes out, you may have a problem that you can fix from the comfort of your home. Cox internet is often very dependable, but like most companies, minor difficulties can occur. So, what do you do when Cox internet keeps going out on you?

Many people are hesitant to get a metal roof because they fear it will worsen their cell phone reception. Other related worries are that the metal roof will also impede homeowners’ satellite signals and WiFi connections. So, is it true that metal roofs can have a negative effect on cell phone reception?

If your Arris SURFboard modem is showing a “Sync Timing Synchronization Failure,” it can be confusing, to say the least. Why is this happening, and what’s the recommended plan to fix it?

Frequent ringing is a common complaint with Ring Video Doorbell owners. There are two ways in which the Ring doorbell may keep ringing, or ring too frequently. In the first case, the Ring itself is constantly sending alerts, even false alerts. In the second case, the house door chime keeps ringing when the Ring Video Doorbell is hooked up to it.

Making the move to a home security system is becoming a necessity these days. SimpliSafe, one of the top choices on the market, oftentimes ends up being one of the first names thought of by new customers. Setup is relatively easy and their products are reliable.

Comcast and Xfinity are the top most popular internet providers in the country. They have professionals that show up and a 24-hour help service line. But what happens if your modem starts acting up and blinks green?

Thermostats are a modern convenience, but they are only useful when you understand what they do. The fan setting on a thermostat can make all the difference when it comes to energy bills, air circulation, and indoor comfort. So, what does the fan setting on a thermostat do?

There has never been a time when more advanced smart devices are available for homeowners.

When you install a smart lock, you expect it to work. I mean, they’re supposed to be the leader in security. This is doubly true if you got a smart lock from a company like Schlage. Schlage has been a major mainstay in the home security field for ages. So, how do you fix a Schlage smart lock that isn’t working?

Countless homeowners will do anything to update their technology and appliances. Smart technology has crept into every aspect of the home, and that includes lighting fixtures. So, can smart bulbs be used in any lamp?

So, getting an e-reader is kind of a big deal especially if you want to get a good scoop on the hottest new home improvement books. The problem with e-readers, even Kindles, is that they don’t always work. This is a particularly common issue when it comes to matters of sending guides to Kindle. So, what gives?

Those who have  Vizio TVs love their televisions. And there is a good reason for that because Vizio has become recognized as a leader in TV technology. Just ask the thousands upon thousands of satisfied Vizio customers, and they will tell you, from the screen quality to the interactive technologies, that these are wonderful TVs.

Nowadays, a home isn’t a home without modern technology infused throughout. There are smart thermostats, security systems, curtains, and even smart light bulbs. Smart light bulbs are becoming more popular these days. After all, they have several benefits, including increased security and lower energy costs. But if you are looking to install new lights outside your home, you might wonder if you can use smart bulbs outdoors.

Many Samsung smartphone users got the SmartThings App at the same time they got their phone. While the SmartThings app has a lot of great points for making your home life easier, not everyone uses or even wants its services.

Losing the sound for even a few seconds on your Samsung TV in the middle of your favorite show is frustrating. Invariably, the sound interruption happens at the most exciting or critical point of your show. There are several reasons your Samsung TV may intermittently lose its sound or volume.

There’s nothing worse than when your Vizio TV keeps turning off after a few seconds in the middle of Monday Night Football. It’s time to get to the bottom of this before you lose your cool.

Like any electronic device, your Wi-Fi router won’t last forever, and its performance will suffer as it ages. The average homeowner replaces their router every 3 years, but they can last 5 or more years. How long your Wi-Fi router lasts depends on factors such as its location, condition, and usage.

Alexa is one of the most popular smart home hub services in the world, with thousands upon thousands of different products being made for use with it. Hue is one of the most popular smart light series in the world, and of course, it’s designed by Philips. Having owned Hue bulbs, I can tell you that they can be pretty hard to pair with Alexa.

TVs are wonderful additions to your home — when they work correctly. There are many issues that can come up, from TVs being too loud or too quiet,  being too dim, all the way up to the dreaded ‘black screen of death’. But luckily, many of these issues are relatively simple to fix.

We have been taught to unplug electric items and appliances during storms. And we are advised to use power strips with breakers to help protect appliances and equipment from getting damaged. When the storms pass, and we get ready to turn everything back on though, there is always that moment of hesitation. Then we have those “what if” thoughts, such as what if the  cable box doesn’t turn on?

With the advancement of smart technology and software, smart homes are becoming extremely popular. Whether you want to go all out with a smart home or simply include one or two pieces of smart technology, a Nest thermostat is a great place to start. While they offer many advantages over other thermostats, Nest thermostats still have their fair share of problems. One of these problems is when you suddenly have no power to the Rh wire.

Ring Doorbells are an advancement in technology that many people want to get their hands on. Unfortunately, this has led to an uptick in the number of doorbells that get stolen off of doorsteps. If you are concerned about this or it has happened to you, you might be curious how you can prevent this case of theft.

As we continue to progress into the future, the regular use of smart technology throughout homes and businesses has steadily increased across the globe. In fact, there are around 40 million Alexa users in the United States alone and over 100 million around the world as of 2021.

Google Home is one of the most popular, most efficient smart home hubs out there…Until it’s not. It can be great unless it doesn’t work. A common glitch we often hear with it is the concern-raising “Something went wrong” error. This seems alarming, but in most cases, it’s not something to get too freaked out about.

I’ve often found myself going to ask Alexa a question only to realize I was nowhere near one. Smart devices make life much more convenient, don’t they? Ecobee is a home automation company that specializes in smart home devices. One such device is their smart thermostat.

You got your new Samsung HD Smart TV home from the retail store. You mount the new bracket on the way and get ready to hang your new Samsung TV on the bracket. It quickly becomes apparent that there is a problem. The screws that came with the bracket and the Samsung TV don’t fit.

POV: You just sat down to veg out on a Friday night, and unfortunately, Hulu activate isn’t working. What can you do to fix it?

Many people do not want to use cable anymore because of all the streaming options available to them. If you have decided to use an Amazon Fire Stick to do your streaming, you may have some questions. One question is whether you can use multiple Fire Sticks in one house.

Nest is one of the most trusted smart thermostat brands in the world, and it’s a reliable one at that. That’s why people tend to freak out when they notice their Nest thermostat not cooling. Could it be a busted Nest or something worse? Oh, it all depends on what your diagnostic reveals.

With the advancement in technology, many businesses are starting to accept a wide variety of payment options including Apple Pay. While Home Depot did accept Apple Pay at one point, many people are wondering if they still do.

Thermostats are a modern luxury and lifesaver when you need to quickly adjust your HVAC system. They generally run on batteries, but modern smart thermostats are wired directly to your grid because they require so much power. Considering how advanced modern thermostats are, will one work without batteries?

Verizon is a great service provider, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be free of problems when it comes to their internet. There are many things that can happen when you have hardware or wireless service involved, which is why there are indicator lights on the router and modem. But what if there is a red globe on your Verizon router? How do you fix it?

Every  cable box has some type of minor variation, from its appearance to how they operate. One example of this is the boot process. Some cable box panels will have lettering and number sequences. The Time Warner Cable box, for example, uses an L- numeric series to indicate and reflect the cable box booting process.

One of the most commonly praised aspects of  Vizio TVs is the experience they offer. From excellent picture screen quality to great sound quality, Vizio TVs have found a home in homes all across the country.

Magnavox universal remotes simplify your life by combining controls for all of your audio-visual equipment in a single device. As convenient as this is, when the remote stops working, things get a bit complicated. You have to juggle individual remotes or manually adjust each piece of equipment.

All Ring doorbells, except for the Ring Doorbell Pro and the Ring Doorbell Elite, run on batteries, even if they are hardwired to the home. The battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion pack that charges via a USB cable. The battery charge should last an average of 6 to 12 months, but frequent use discharges them sooner.

An Echo remote is a pinnacle of convenience. It allows you to communicate with Alexa and easily control your home entertainment system using only your voice. But what do you do when the remote you use to make modern life more convenient stops working?

Life is good until our Internet or cable, or both stop working. Yes, we know, that is your life. And in today’s world, that isn’t so far from the truth. For many of us it is our connection to work, to each other, how we shop, how we pay, oh no, the bills! Don’t worry, for every  TV and cable problem, there is a solution. Even for that orange data light on the Xfinity cable box.

Seeing a yellow light on your Verizon router may seem like the start of a long, complicated issue, but the truth is it’s a pretty straight forward fix. The loss of internet connection on a router can really only be caused by a few different things. Typically, it will either be a problem with your internet service or the router itself.

RiteTemp is a new name in HVAC tech at just under 10 years old. Their thermostats are easy to use, energy-efficient, and reliable. With that said, what could be the problem if your RiteTemp thermostat suddenly isn’t working?

Honeywell has been manufacturing thermostats for decades, and it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the older models are different from the ones that are being made today. Despite their differences, every Honeywell thermostat can be reset, it’s just a matter of how.

If you’re like me, your wi-fi is your life. You want to make sure that your router gives the best signal possible. Unfortunately, routers don’t exactly look stylish. They can be a major eyesore. That’s why people often try to make them easy to hide. Cabinets are a common method, but is this really the best possible method?

A Smart Life outlet is a device used to control the state of an appliance, i.e. turning a light off and on, from a user’s cell phone. It is also commonly referred to as a smart plug, These types of plugs came into existence in 2015. Since then, there have been other related products launched, such as smart light switches, smart bulbs, and even  smart doorbells. You can even control your space at a granular level by linking Smart Life outlets to your existing smart home hub, such as Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa.

When it works perfectly, AirPlay allows users to stream content from Apple devices to other multimedia devices. If you have a Vizio TV, you can display audio, video, photos, and anything else from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop directly to the TV. Unfortunately, technology rarely seems to work perfectly. That’s why we’re going to talk about what to do when Vizio AirPlay is not working.

Having a smart home means that you’re going to need to find software that helps manage your safety and security. Blue Iris is one of the top home security camera software kits out there, and it lets you see all the things that go on in your home. Every feature comes at a fee, though, and those fees add up. Did you ever wonder what the most popular alternatives to Blue Iris are?

Ring’s surveillance doorbell is a nice system that gives us a sense of safety and watches over our houses even while we are gone. We can see what’s going at our front door from the Ring app on our phone. Still, one of the mysteries of this piece of technology is the ring tone of the outside doorbell. We hear it play outside, but can we customize the chime?

Alexa is one of the most convenient technologies in our world today. However, the system can be challenging for some people to use. And that’s especially true when the reminders don’t work. So, what’s going and how do you fix it?