Tech Talk

Pretty colors without the hub LIFX Z LED Strip $99 at Best Buy $112 at Walmart $84 at Home Depot Pros Way more affordable No hub needed Millions of colors Individual color zones Extendable Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit Cons Doesn't change color based on what's on TV LiFX designed the Z LED Lightstrip to set the mood in any room, with a special emphasis on providing brilliant lighting behind a TV or monitor. Control the colors and brightness from the LiFX app, or connect to your favorite virtual assistant and let your voice make the commands. Extremely nice, for a price Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip Preorder from Best Buy Preorder from Philips Pros Can change color based on what's on TV (with sync box) Easy installation brackets included Blends light perfectly with other Hue lights Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit Cons Very expensive Requires a hub and a Hue sync box Designed fo

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Kids Edition Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Kids Edition, an Echo designed for kids with parental controls - Blue List Price: $69.99 With Deal: $39.99 You Save: $30.00 (43%) Designed with kids in mind - They can ask Alexa to play music, hear stories, call approved friends and family, and explore a world of kid-friendly skills. Buy from USA Buy from UK .

Source: Android Central The Ring Doorbell and Amazon's Echo Show are a match made in heaven. The Ring Doorbell offers a smart doorbell experience that'll let you know exactly who's at the door without having actually to answer it. You can then use that cross-functionality to manage visitors by viewing them through the Ring Doorbell's camera and communicating with them using the Show's microphone. Thanks to Amazon Alexa, you don't even have to use your hands. How to connect your Ring Doorbell with Amazon Echo Show Connecting your Ring Doorbell with your Amazon Echo Show is easy. It'll just involve adding the Ring Alexa skill through the Amazon Alexa smartphone app. Here's how: Open the Amazon  Alexa app . Tap the  three lines in the upper left-hand corner  of the app to open the side menu. Tap  Skills & Games . Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central On this screen,  tap the search button  in the upper right-hand corner. Type  "Ring"  and

Many homeowners are moving to a more hands-on security setup because excellent products that are easy to set up are readily available. Just mount it, plug it in, and your home is good to go. We think the Ring Alarm Home Security System is the best you can buy because of its great features, amazing Amazon Alexa integration, and easy setup, but there are plenty of others that might fit your needs. Here are some smart home systems that can get you started. Best for Alexa: Ring Alarm Home Security (2nd Gen) This five-piece Ring Alarm security system comes with a base station, contact sensor, motion detector, keypad, and range extender. You can control it all from one central location — your phone. If you have an Alexa-enabled device, that's even better. You'll be able to do it solely through your voice and check your system through any Alexa device. The tight integration with Alexa is because Amazon owns the brand, but the Ring app for your phone also works well for those

While you might not initially think that you need voice control in the kitchen, it can be a game-changer. Your hands are probably dirty while you're in the kitchen cooking up a storm, or, you're busy multitasking as you prepare a meal. Imagine still being able to adjust songs on your playlist, pause a recipe video you're following to grab the ingredient you need or find out how many ounces are in a gram without having to tap the screen on your phone. There are plenty of products you can use in the kitchen that come with Google Assistant built-in. Here are some great ones to consider. Your guiding chef Google Nest Hub Smart Display Staff pick Imagine having your own assistant in the kitchen. While this smart display can't stir sauce or chop veggies, it can playback cooking videos for you to follow along with, let you add items to a shopping list, play music, do measurement conversions, set timers, and more, and it's all controllable with your voice. $80 at

You're probably well aware of Alexa even if you're yet to add a smart speaker to your home. Whether you're just getting started with smart home stuff or want to have access to Alexa's smarts in more rooms, this one-day sale on Amazon Echo devices at Woot is for you. Almost all of the devices are offered in new condition which means the only thing you're missing out on is paying full price. The Echo Show 8 on sale is offered open-box which means they have a shorter warranty, though they remain unused. Shipping is free if you use your Amazon Prime account, otherwise it's $6. Possibly the best deal in the sale is on the latest Echo Dot . The 3rd-gen model goes for up to $50 at Amazon, but is down to only $24.99 today at Woot. With the Echo Dot you can control your smart home gear, as well as have measurements converted, find out the local weather, set timers, stream music, and more. If you're already all-in on Echo hardware, it's totally worth add