Category Archives: Home

Invoxia Smart Dog Collar: Get smarter about your dog’s health @ CES 2022

January 22, 2022CES 2022, Health, Homeces2022, gadgets, gps, Health, petPLUGHITZ Live

Do you worry about your dog’s health? You should be because heart conditions in dogs are more common than you think. However, with the Invoxia Smart Dog Collar, you can monitor your dog’s heart and respiratory rate with medical accuracy. This collar also tracks your dog’s activity levels and daily routine, so you can share this data with your veterinarian. By establishing a diagnostic baseline, you can keep tabs on your dog’s health and prevent any serious problems from developing.

Who is Invoxia?

Invoxia is a French company that specializes in the development of innovative telephony solutions. In addition to their Smart Dog Collar, they also make a large collection of other GPS-enabled products for business and industrial purposes. With products like these, it’s no wonder that Invoxia has been awarded seven CES Innovation Awards!

What is the Smart Dog Collar?

The Smart Dog Collar is a device that monitors your dog’s heart and respiratory rate, tracks their activity levels and daily routine, and sends all this data to the cloud. Once this data is available, it can be used to track activity and behavioral changes, and even location, all from a convenient mobile app. You can even share the data with your veterinarian.

Combining GPS tracking with biometric data, the collar is able to monitor your dog wherever they are. On a normal day, it tracks movement, behavior, heart conditions, and even pulse. This can give you a better idea of what is going on with your dog, and whether or not something has changed in their daily routine. Big changes in things like sleep patterns or respiratory rate can indicate that something bigger is going on, giving you an early warning sign.

Not only is the collar good for heath reporting, but it’s also good for general safety, as well. On an unusual day, let’s say your dog gets out of the yard and disappears. The active tracking GPS built into the collar will give you the ability to find where they have gone and hopefully get them back.

Who is the Smart Dog Collar for?

The Smart Dog Collar is for anyone who loves their dog and wants to keep them healthy. This collar is perfect for dogs who are at risk or already suffer from heart conditions, as it provides accurate medical information that can help with diagnosis and treatment. The collar is also a great way to keep tabs on your dog’s health and prevent any serious problems from developing.

How does the Smart Dog Collar work?

The Smart Dog Collar works by monitoring your dog’s heart and respiratory rate, tracking their activity levels and daily routine, and sending all this data to your veterinarian. This collar is perfect for dogs who are at risk or already suffer from heart conditions, as it provides accurate medical information that can help with diagnosis and treatment. The Smart Dog Collar is also a great way to keep tabs on your dog’s health and prevent any serious problems from developing.

Summary

The Smart Dog Collar is expected to launch in Summer 2022. To learn more about the company, the product, and to be notified when it becomes available, head over to the company’s website.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch.

Sponsored by:
Get $5 to protect your credit card information online with Privacy.
Amazon Prime gives you more than just free shipping. Get free music, TV shows, movies, videogames and more.
The most flexible tools for podcasting. Get a 30 day free trial of storage and statistics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Homey: Control all of your devices from anywhere with Flow @ CES 2022

January 21, 2022Accessories, CES 2022, Homeces2022, connected device, connected home, gadgets, smarthomePLUGHITZ Live

Homey connected home companion Connected homes have become a normal part of our lives, but they can be more frustrating than helpful. This is because not all of our devices work together. Unless you go out of your way, every item you add to your home uses a different app and runs on a different platform. You might get lucky and have access to them through a service like Alexa or Google Assistant, but that’s not guaranteed. Luckily, Homey is here to help literally bridge that gap.

What is Homey?

Homey is the one-stop-shop for all your smart home needs. With this system, you can control all your devices from one central place, no matter where in the world you are. Homey also allows you to automate just about anything with its powerful Flow feature. Flows are simple to create and use and allow you to automate your entire home with ease.

This is all accomplished with a small spherical device that looks like it’s on wheels (though it’s not). It features a colored LED ring around its center to indicate power and activity. This unassuming little device is part of a system that is able to take all of the many connected products on various platforms and give you a single entry point for all of them.

How does Homey help?

If you have a connected home, you know that the disconnected platforms make things incredibly difficult. You’re incapable of combining a light bulb from one company with a speaker from another into a single routine – everything has to be in one system. Homey bridges the gap between these different platforms, allowing you to combine devices into a single scene.

Take, for example, wanting to trigger a Monster Smart Illuminessence Prism to change to green and an Amazon Echo to play a particular sound every time someone subscribes to your Twitch channel. For the Monster Prism, you would have to use the Razer Chroma platform and the Echo speaker would require an Alexa integration. But assuming there are connectors for both platforms and an app for Twitch, you would be able to create a single routine to trigger everything at once.

Expanding the Homey system

The Homey App Store also provides access to a wide range of apps that can be installed on your device, making it even more versatile and customizable. There are tons of apps at your disposal, and you can install those applications similarly to how you install apps on your smartphone. With over 750 apps available, finding the app to pair with the brand of your devices shouldn’t be a problem.

Not only that, but you can also find apps for other familiar services like Twitter and Discord. So, this experience can be broader than one would imagine initially. These applications pair with your devices for the purpose of teaching Homey how to control your device. Once your Homey understands, set up those Flow Cards for easy access to your preferences.

Summary

Whether you’re looking to control your lights, thermostat, or any other devices, Homey has you covered! To learn more about the product or get one for yourself, check out the company’s website.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Picoo: World’s first game console designed for outdoor play @ CES 2022

January 21, 2022CES 2022, Entertainment, Homeces2022, consoles, education, gadgets, gaming, outsidePLUGHITZ Live

Picoo game console In a world where technology is constantly pulling us indoors, Picoo has created a game console designed to get kids outdoors and active again. The system is a portable, screenless console that requires no access to Wi-Fi or mobile networks during playtime. This makes it perfect for outdoor use, as it eliminates the need for any connectivity. It is also Bluetooth enabled, so parents can use the accompanying app to control gameplay.

How does Picoo work?

Picoo is comprised of two main parts: the console and the controller. The console attaches to a belt worn by the child, while the controller can be used either in hand or attached to a stick for further reach. Both are water-resistant, making them perfect for outdoor play in any weather condition.

Games on the console are designed for gross motor skills development, social and communication skill-building, creativity stimulation, and imaginative play. The style of gameplay helps to foster something that traditional videogames cannot: discovery. Because the kids are outside, they are exploring and discovering new aspects of their world. This exploration encourages and improves imagination, which is the key to personal development.

Being outside and moving around is also great exercise, something that can be lacking in kids’ routines. This has been even more evident in the past few years with things shut down in parts of the world. Exercise will help with physical development as well as building strength.

With over 25 games currently available (and more being developed all the time), Picoo has something for everyone.

Who is Picoo for?

Picoo is for kids aged three and up. It’s a great way to get younger children active and engaged in outdoor play, helping them work on essential skills and have some fun along the way. By eliminating the screens, the game becomes more about playing rather than focusing on something external. This helps to foster social interactions that get lost in traditional video games.

Because of the wide range of games that come with the console, plus the additional games that are available, Picoo really can be enjoyed by everyone. While asking most adults to go outside and ply tag results will result in confusion and answers of no, this product can provide the perfect way to break down that barrier and get adults running around like children having fun outside.

Summary

Picoo is available now in a variety of options. The primary kit is the Starter Set, which includes 4 Picoo controllers, 5 games, 4 helper cards, and 2 USB-C charging cables. The included games are Lightning Bolt, Whack-a-mole, Zombierun, Hide-and-Seek, and Kaleidoscope. Many more games are available to extend the fun.

For educational and group settings, Picoo can be purchased in larger sets. Rather than 4 controllers, the educational set comes with 12 controllers, plus the accessories to make them work, including games and chargers.

All of these options are available now. To learn more about the product, the games that are available, and purchase one for yourself, you can go to their website.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Morphée: a brand that designed a better night’s sleep @ CES 2022

January 18, 2022CES 2022, Health, Homeces2022, gadgets, Health, meditation, sleepPLUGHITZ Live

Morphée sleep aides Many people struggle with getting good sleep. Whether it’s stress or noise, guests or lights, lots of things can affect your patterns. A lot of research has been done on how to improve sleep, but it is usually confined to sleep clinics. The problem is that you don’t live at a sleep clinic – you live at home. Morphée brings the results of sleep research into your home to improve your sleep quality.

History

Morphée is a brand that was created with the intention of designing better nights. The company’s story started in 2016 when flatmates Charlie and Guillaume decided to combine their talents. Charlie is a born entrepreneur and Guillaume is a marketer with a creative spirit. They set about to help improve the quality of sleep for people around the world.

The parent company, Audiozen, has done extensive research into sleep and design to create products that promote sleep and relaxation. They have partnered with designers, doctors, sophrologists (sophrology), and sleep centers to develop their nighttime lineup for adults as well as children.

In 2020, Morphée welcomed My Little Morphée which introduces meditation to children. They also partnered with new collaborators and expanded abroad in 2020. Foreign distributors have joined the team, and the brand is continuing to grow. They offer their products in new countries through partners and dedicated online shops.

The solutions

The company offers a couple of different Zen products. The original Morphée device is designed for adults and brings a sense of elegance to its design. The new My Little Morphée is designed for children and has a fun and whimsical design instead.

One of the common traits between the products is the lack of a screen. Everything is controlled mechanically so that there is nothing obvious and visual to distract your attention. It also means that, without digital components, there are no additional electromagnetic waves in the room and near your head. Everything is controlled by keys on the surface of the device.

Both products also focus on personal meditation. The goal is for the user to be able to enjoy “quiet breaks” away from external stimuli. This quiet time helps put the user into a state of calm, allowing for easier and more restful sleep. It also sets the user’s emotional state into a place of personal confidence and encourages emotional versatility.

The products

The prime device, the Morphée, is a puck with three key-like dials. The first key chooses a theme between 8 choices. The second key chooses your session, with each theme having 8 unique sessions. The third key allows you to determine the length of your session, either 8 or 20 minutes. Altogether there are 210 possibilities.

The kids’ device, My Little Morphée, works similar to its more advanced sibling. There are 2 keys and an hourglass in this case, however. The first key once again sets the theme, while the second key sets the universe in which they want to travel. They can choose desert, forest, island, and more. The hourglass on the side is used to determine the length of the session. Altogether there are 192 possibilities on this device.

Summary

Everyone can do with a better night’s sleep, and Morphée is here to help. Both products are available now for $99.99. To learn more about the product or to purchase one for yourself, you can head to the company’s website or Amazon.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

On2cook: The world’s fastest countertop cooking device @ CES 2022

January 15, 2022CES 2022, Gadgets, Health, Homeces2022, cooking, gadgets, home, kitchenPLUGHITZ Live

On2cook world's fastest cooking device Do you ever wish that you could cook a delicious meal with minimal effort? Have you ever felt like cooking is an impossible task and wished there was someone who could do it for you? Well, wait no longer! On2cook is the world’s fastest at-home cooking device.

How it Works

It works on the revolutionary Combination Cooking Technology which simultaneously combines induction, heat, and microwaves to cut your cooking time by up to 70% and reduce energy consumption by up to 40%. If this idea sounds familiar, you must be a fan of 30 Rock, because it’s very similar to the Trivection Oven that was introduced by Jack Donaghy on the show. The best part of On2cook? This one’s real!

Not only does this product make it possible for anyone to be able to cook a healthy meal in just minutes but it also preserves water-soluble nutrients, retains color and texture as well as consistency.

At-Home Use

Everyone has a night where they think, “Maybe I’ll just order out because I can’t be bothered to cook.” But ordering Uber Eats or DoorDash is expensive adds up quickly. With On2cook, you get the speed of delivery with the cost and quality of home cooking.

This device, which is slightly larger than an air fryer and looks similar to a waffle maker, can serve multiple purposes. It can be used as a traditional oven. It can be used as a convection oven. It can be used as an air fryer. It can even be used as a microwave. It can prepare rice in just 5 minutes, or chicken in just 15 minutes. With the Ai-powered app, you can get recommendations on how to use it better.

It’s also able to go the other way and replace slow-cookers. It can be set to slow cook, replacing a crockpot or sous vide cooker.

The On2cook also improves energy efficiency. The device is able to produce faster results and still uses 40% less energy to get the job done. All without losing the nutritional value of the food.

Because everything is self-contained, it also means less mess to clean up. There’s no splashing or massive cleanup.

Commercial Use

On2cook isn’t just for the home kitchen. The device can also be deployed in commercial kitchens, improving efficiency and costs. A restaurant could deploy several of these in a row and cook multiple meals at once, all improved by the built-in AI. However, if the chef wants to determine the specs on their own, that’s possible, too.

It’s also perfect for a portable kitchen, like a food truck. For a truck that takes orders and delivers the food to a location, the driver can set the cookers to prepare the food and, while it’s cooking, you can drive to the destination. For stationary food trucks, you could be preparing several meals at the same time, as opposed to a more one-on-one ordering process.

On2cook will address all gaps in the kitchen that impact work efficiencies, such as time management, recipe management, and ordering of ingredients.

Summary

The company expects the On2cook to be available on the market within the next 6 months, pending certifications. The device price is expected to be $500. Learn more about the product at the company’s website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Fixbid wants to save you from bad home renovations @ CES 2021

March 1, 2021CES 2021, Homeces2021, gadgets, home, mobilePLUGHITZ Live

Fixbid contractor hiring tool Finding a quality and trustworthy contractor can be an absolute nightmare. Almost everyone who has done home remodeling work has a story about someone involved in the project who was or caused a problem. When my family built an add-on to the house, we ended up with a large collection of issues (we still have one door we can’t use nearly 30 years later). But, the mobile app Fixbid wants those issues to be a thing of the past.

There have been contractor rating platforms before, but they never quite work. The problem has always been that the scores come exclusively from customers. And who takes the time to review someone? Unhappy customers or people being incentivized. Joe Lycett showed just how easy it is to become the top water purification system on Trust Pilot without ever having a product. The process is far too easy to game, making the scores fairly useless.

Fixbid set out to fix this problem by using actual certification metrics. Rather than just hoping that customer reviews are accurate (which they are not), Fixbid uses the American Rating Company as its basis. All contractors that are listed on the system are all Diamond Certified Contractors, giving a higher level of confidence in hiring them.

Of course, the goal of the platform is to help you pair up with a contractor that offers the service you need, whether it be electrical, plumbing, solar, and more. You can find, communicate, and even pay for the services all through Fixbid.

The service is currently available in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, with plans to expand that service area in the future. To learn more about the service or explore the available contractors, head to the Fixbid website. From there, you can register and download the app.

Interview by Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Baru allows you to customize your home and office furniture @ CES 2021

March 1, 2021CES 2021, Homeces2021, customization, furniture, home, home improvementPLUGHITZ Live

Baru custom furniture design Moving can be a stressful experience. Part of the stress is created by the desire to make the new place as nice as possible, but since every place is different, your old furniture just might not work. In fact, while moving is one of the most common times to replace your furniture. The process of choosing just the right set can be difficult and expensive, but Baru is here to make it an easier process.

Here’s how the system works. There is a large collection of furniture designs in categories like desks, dressers, armoires, beds, nightstands, and storage. Once you choose the piece that fits your needs, you get to customize it to your liking. First, choose your material. This can vary depending on the piece, but includes matte and gloss coverings, as well as natural woods like raven oak and smoked walnut. Once you’ve chosen your material you can customize the size. Obviously, the customizations will be different for different types of furniture but will give you a lot of capability.

Possibly the best part of the Baru process is the quick delivery time. If you are within one of the operating zones, you are guaranteed delivery of your custom-designed and manufactured piece within 2 weeks. The impressive turnaround time is possible because of an automated cutting process. Using a CNC machine, the pieces can be custom cut on-demand in partner shops, delivered to the address, and assembled – all within the short timeframe.

The service is live now, with dozens of pieces available for customization and order. Prices vary depending on material selected, and free delivery and 2 week timeframe are dependent on proximity to an operating zone. To check out what is available and to place an order, head over to the Baru website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Mercku M6 Mesh is an attractive, powerful Wi-Fi system @ CES 2021

February 28, 2021CES 2021, Computers, Home, Wirelessces2021, gadgets, wifi, wirelessPLUGHITZ Live

Mercku M6 Mesh Wi-Fi system Wi-Fi is an essential part of our daily lives, made even more important with the global lockdowns. But, many home wireless networks are questionable, which can cause a lot of problems working from home or watching content on your phone, computer, or tablet. A strong, powerful Wi-Fi system running on the most modern publicly available standard, can help address this. The Mercku M6 Mesh is just such a system.

Mesh systems, like the Mercku M6 Mesh, allow you to use multiple access points around your home or office, which all identity as the same wireless network. This allows you to walk around your home while maintaining your Wi-Fi connection. This can be almost required for a two-story building, like our offices, where you lose almost all coverage when you change floors. But, by placing a second device, which connects to the first and acts as a repeater, you can keep your signal strength at peak performance.

The Mercku M6 Mesh also features Wi-Fi 6, which is the current standard coming into CES 2021. This standard provides the fastest speeds and strongest signal available. With a faster maximum bandwidth, it allows for better speeds even with degraded coverage (such as in outer corners). Wi-Fi 6 also allows the mesh to have the best possible connection between access points.

Another big focus for the product is appearance. Unlike Wi-Fi routers of the past, mesh routers are designed to be placed out in the open to maximize signal strength. As such, appearance is an important aspect of the product. Many mesh routers take a minimalistic approach, looking like boxes or air fresheners. The Mercku M6 Mesh, however, is designed to be seen and to be a point of aesthetic pride.

The Mercku M6 Mesh is coming soon and will have a suggested price of $349. To learn more about the product and to find out when it comes to market, check out the Mercku website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

The Beeing B-BOX makes beekeeping at home safe and easy @ CES 2021

February 28, 2021CES 2021, Homeces2021, connected device, farm, food, gadgets, urbanPLUGHITZ Live

Beeing B-BOX beekeeping box Urban farming may be a concept that is foreign to many people, but it is quickly growing in popularity. From people turning their yards into full gardens that can produce food to full indoor hydroponics cabinets like our friends at Natufia, the idea has gained a lot of attention in recent years. But, one area that is gaining in popularity is beekeeping. The process can be rewarding but difficult, but Beeing is making it easier with the B-BOX.

Beeing produces a new style of bee box that is designed specifically for the urban farmer. Appropriately named the B-BOX, this box has a large focus on safety. It helps to maintain the simplest and safest interaction between humans and bees. This is because bees are not domesticated animals, meaning that they have no reason not to hurt someone, so always be careful (even with the safety precautions in place).

The B-BOX is also designed to make the experience exciting. The entrance point for the bees is just over 7 feet from the ground, making it perfect for watching without a heightened chance of getting stung. The side of the box also has a transparent side panel, so you can peek in and see what’s going on. Of course, since bees only feel safe and at home in the dark, the panel has a cover that should stay in place under normal circumstances. Honey collection is also made easy, with panels across the top that slide up and out.

In addition to the B-BOX, the company produces a number of connected devices to help manage your colony. Using sensors within the box, you can detect issues early, before they negatively impact the health of the bees.

The B-BOX is available internationally, while the connected devices are currently only available in Italy, with a wider rollout in the works. To learn more about the B-BOX, head to the Beeing website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Albi Home M makes the perfect wine pour every time @ CES 2021

February 28, 2021CES 2021, Gadgets, Homeces2021, connected device, gadgets, kitchenPLUGHITZ Live

Albi Home M wine system The popularity of wine has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. A recent survey showed that wine is preferred to beer for Millenials in everyday situations. With popularity comes a renewed focus on innovation in the space. One of the most interesting changes coming to the wine market is from Albicchiere – Albi Home M.

Albi Home M is designed to be the perfect wine companion. Depending on who you ask, the lifespan of wine, once opened, varies, but is usually very short. In Italy, they’ll tell you that it’s vinegar within 24 hours. General wisdom suggests that it should be used within a few days. With the Albi Home M, you can keep wine good for up to 6 months.

The extended life is accomplished through the combination of a couple of advancements. The most important is the transition of wine from a glass bottle to a bag. The company is working with brands to offer their wines in these bags, but you can also transfer your own wine into a bag at home. You then put the bag into the machine, which sits on your counter. The machine itself is then able to take all of the excess oxygen out, helping to preserve the wine.

From there, the machine takes over all of your needs. It keeps the wine chilled, with three cooling modes – allowing you to keep it quiet, keep it drink-ready, or optimize power consumption using an AI-powered energy saver. When you’re ready for a drink, the Albi Home M pours for you, resealing the bag and removing oxygen again. And, best of all, it’s always the perfect temperature.

The Albi Home M will be available starting at $349. To learn more about the product or to sign up to learn when the product becomes available, head over to the Albicchiere website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More