Smart home systems have taken the country by storm, and every year there are more and more companies entering the arena. It gets to the point that you start to feel that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. But Geeni by Merkury Innovations made us do a double take for sure.

Their smart home components are much simpler to use and compared to most other systems out there as they do not require hubs and they don’t break the bank. They are the perfect way to enter into this type of technology. You can get started with one or a few of pieces or you can build an entire system for your home. Either way, you access the components via one easy to use app and control everything from your smartphone or even with the Amazon Echo.

The product line starts with single wall plugs that fit into your standard wall outlets that allow you to turn your existing appliances on/off remotely. There are also surge protectors that allow each plug to be controlled independently. All you have to do is plug these in and they will quickly and automatically connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and be available on the app. Next up are the line of smart lights that have all of the energy saving features of current LED bulbs with the added bonus of smart connectivity through the app. The bulbs range in size to easily replace all of the bulbs that you currently use and come in white or fun changeable colors.

Another amazing addition is the line of home security cameras. Color choices are white and grey and come in both 720P or 1080P High Definition models that all record to SD cards. Monitoring is a breeze with the sharp and clear images. You’ll also get alerts to your phone whenever any motion is captured on the cameras. You can access the Geeni app and live stream whatever is happening in the home at any time of the day or night. And you can set the sensitivity to fit the specific needs of your household. The app offers snapshots on a timeline so you can easily choose the scenes that you want to watch without having to sort through hours of footage. Set up is easy as well. You can place cameras anywhere in a room: flat surfaces, the wall, or even the ceiling. Multiple cameras can be added and they will all work together on the same Geeni app.

We’re really excited to see where this company goes from here. The products will begin rolling out at the end of the 1st quarter with some coming in the 2nd. Prices for the light bulbs range from $25 to $35, the plugs range from $25 to $20 and the cameras start at $69.99. To get more information and to purchase, visit their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Griffin is widely known for their lines of cases, cables, adapters and mounts for Apple and Samsung smart devices. We love their style and the many conveniences that they offer. We also rely upon their quality and look forward to new additions to the product lines. Their latest tech, however, is not so much about them just supporting our smart devices. It’s more about them diving right into the tech itself and in a really interesting way.

Introducing Griffin Home, a new line of smart, app powered appliances that are designed to help simplify and enhance our everyday routines. We can all use a little extra help to make our mornings run a more smoothly, especially those of us with very active families. And we all have our own preferences that so many times do not match the preference of anyone in the house. That’s where Griffin is coming onto the scene. Their new app is designed to not only remember everyone’s specific preferences but also assist in the follow through.

The most impressive piece in the lineup is their Connected Mirror. This item will make a great addition to anybody’s morning. It has a digital display built in and will offer information that can help us get our day started, such as the time and weather. It can easily be customized with the Griffin Home App and also connects to your Wi-Fi network to allow the notifications from your phone to appear in the digital display. You’ll be able to stay connected to the things that you find most important without disrupting your morning routine.

And that’s not all: they have also developed Connected appliances, including a toaster and coffee machine. Using the same phone app, everyone in the home can create a profile to customize their personal toast and coffee preferences. This way, you always get your items cooked exactly the way you like them, without having to worry about who may have changed the settings on the appliances to their favorites. You will also get notifications on your cell phone when your toast and coffee are ready. And in case you were wondering, yes these notifications will also appear on the Connected Mirror. Other additions to the Griffin Home line are the PowerBlock Beacon and the PowerJolt Beacon which remind users to plug in and charge before they run out of power.

The Blocks and Appliances will be available in Q2 with prices ranging from $29.99 to $99.99. The Connected Mirror will run $999.99 and be available in late 2017. Find out more and sign up for launch updates on their website.

You can also check out their line of accessories on Amazon.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Polaroid is very well known for their fun point and shoot cameras that instantly print out the pictures. Nowadays, this company is so much more than that. The latest creation to be introduced is their new home security camera. The Hoop is a wireless 1080p intelligent home camera with a cool, funky design, just like the name suggests. Two way audio is built in, so through the accompanying app, you are able to speak with the people (or pets) that are in view. They are also weatherproof making them perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Other features include night vision, motion detection and you can pair as many units together as you would like. The auto pairing is very simple via the app and your Wi-Fi connection.

The Hoop really gives everybody the chance to add security cameras to their home. They could not be more simple to use. Set up takes just three easy steps: 1) turn the camera on, 2) download the app, 3) pair the camera to the app. And there’s no tricky wiring and mounting process. They can sit on a shelf or table, or be quickly attached to the wall with the two prongs on the base. The battery packs last approximately 5-6 months, depending upon actually recording time, and only takes six hours to charge back up.

Want to personalize your settings for your specific household needs? No problem. The settings are easy to adjust and you can even set up several “zones” inside of one camera angle. This allows you to customize the recording based upon the dynamics in your home. For example, if you want the camera to record when the door opens, you can also set the specific zone that will still allow your pets to move around the house freely without triggering the camera to record. And let’s not forget the smart features. They actually learn your ways and patterns and adapt to ensure you get the performance from them that you want. To top it all off, they will sort the recorded files based upon the type of setting or activity in them so that you won’t have to sift through hours and hours of video to find something specific. They are also compatible with all other smart home devices. For instance, if you already have Alexa in your home, you don’t need to worry about having to change anything out or add a second system to the mix.

The Hoop will be available at retailers in the spring with an expected price of $199.99. For more information and to check out their other great products, you can visit their website here.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Some of the products presented at CES are so inventive that they receive special recognition at the show. This year Samsung received a CES Innovation Award for their new FlexWash & FlexDry washer/dryer set.

You might think, “OK, a new washer and dryer, what could be so special about that?” Well, Samsung has been a real trailblazer in this area for a few years now. And the Flex Series is no exception. The FlexWash is two independent washers in one. The upper washer is one cubic foot and is perfect for those smaller loads. The lower washer is the largest in the market at five cubic feet which can tackle extra large comforters, etc. without a problem. But that’s not all, other features include Super Speed, which cuts the wash time by 45% without cutting any of the wash performance. This enables you to run a full load of laundry in just 30 minutes.

The FlexDry isn’t any less impressive. There is an upper unit for drying delicate items and the regular large tumble dryer below for everyday items. FlexDry also has MultiSteam technology with customizable temperature zones built in to assist with taking care of those wrinkles and also refreshing/sanitizing.

The Flex Series is expected to be available for purchase in the first half of 2017. The pricing is still yet to be determined. You can get more information and even sign up for updates on their website.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events for the Tech Podcast Network.

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