2016 Holiday Gift Guide

• Who do you know that would like to have a personal home assistant?
• What about someone who would like to control their thermostat from their phone?
• Maybe, you want to see who is at the front door when you aren’t home.
• Do you want to bring better sound and music into your home?
• Anyone who is using more than one remote to watch their favorite movie!

Using Alexa is as simple as asking a question. Just ask to play music, read the news, control your smart home, tell a joke, and more—Alexa will respond instantly. Whether you are at home or on the go, Alexa is designed to make your life easier by letting you voice-control your world.  Alexa lives in the cloud so it’s always getting smarter, and updates are delivered automatically. The more you talk to Alexa, the more it adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences. Alexa comes included with Echo and other Alexa devices. The Echo Dot has all the Alexa functionality, but just a tiny speaker not designed for music listening. The Dot is designed to be connected to external speakers through Bluetooth or an aux-out port.

 

Nest Thermostat

After installation, you spend a few days/weeks adjusting the thermostat normally and before you know it, the Nest will learn your habits and start adjusting itself.  The Nest Learning Thermostat learns from you, creates a schedule and is proven to save energy. And now, its ring comes in stainless steel, copper, black and white.  In independent studies, the Nest Thermostat saved an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. So in under two years, it can pay for itself.

DoorBird

Answer your door anywhere and never miss a visitor at your front door!  You can see your visitors, speak with them and open the door by smartphone or tablet – from anywhere in the world.  DoorBird also gives you the ability to use your current door chime and integrate with your Smart Lock of Choice.   It can work with your gate or garage door system. 

Sonos Speakers

Upgrade any TV in the house to a simple Home Theater that can also stream your favorite Music.  By adding a Sonos PLAYBar and Wireless HiFi Subwoofer you will never have to reply on the TV Speakers again.  While the Sub and PLAYBar will certainly upgrade the audio in your favorite viewing area, we recommend adding a couple of PLAY:1 speakers to round out your surround-sound setup.  When you're not using them for your TV, placing the small speakers around the house is fun for your Holiday parties.

Control4

A lot of Home Automation Technology is meant to make our lives easier, but sometimes it can be a challenge to get these Systems working together the right way.   Designed as the ideal starter system for an exceptional family room entertainment experience, the Control4 Processor and Remote deliver a fast and responsive on-screen experience and the ability to control the entertainment equipment for any TV in the house.  This solution can orchestrate over 9,500 connected products, including a wide range of entertainment devices comprising of Blu-ray players, satellite or cable boxes, game consoles, TVs, and any product with infrared (IR) control. It features IP control for Apple TV, Roku, or other network connected devices, and wireless control for lights, thermostats, smart locks, and more.

It seems like everything today is getting us and our homes “smarter” and more “connected”, but it can be overwhelming for some.  We have been a reliable resource for all our customers when it comes to new and cutting edge technology that save them time and money.  Let us take the time to share our experiences with the above solutions and provide our recommendations for similar solutions not in this guide. 

We sincerely hope you enjoy the Holiday season and a Happy New Year!

If you would like more information on these gifts, please contact us.