Smart Home

Can Alexa read books? Yes. And it’s not just audiobooks either. Alexa can read eBooks too (as long as you purchased it through Amazon or the Kindle Store). Having books read to you gives you more time and energy to focus on other tasks. Additionally, some books may not have audiobook versions. Here’s how to have Alexa read a Kindle …

VLC is one of the most popular media players among Mac and Windows users alike. This is because it can play almost every video and audio format with ease. And when your computer screen is too small to fully enjoy a movie, you can even use VLC to cast media to your TV. Here’s how to cast VLC to a …

Blink smart cameras give you a cheap and easy way to set up a security system in your home. These smart cameras from Amazon allow you to keep an eye on your home in real-time. Plus, you will get alerts whenever motion is detected, and you can record video clips locally or to the cloud. Here’s how to set up …

You keep track of your appointments using a calendar that auto-syncs across your devices, but you still forget important dates. You even write down some things to help keep your memory fresh. But some meetings still manage to slip through the cracks. Alexa can help you keep track of your schedule no matter where your calendar is hosted. Here’s how …

Installing a Nest Learning Thermostat will make your life a whole lot easier, but it can be complicated to set up correctly. If you recently got this smart thermostat, here’s everything you need to know about how to install your Nest Learning Thermostat and start using it today. Before you install your Nest Learning Thermostat: In order to install a …

Just because you install a smart speaker in one room, doesn’t mean you can’t use it in other rooms. All you need is a Bluetooth speaker, and you can carry Alexa with you and listen to your music around the home. Here’s how to connect Alexa to Bluetooth speakers and how to use an Alexa speaker to play music from …

There are lots of video doorbells that need to be hardwired, which means you will need to replace an existing doorbell to power them. However, Ring has a battery-powered doorbell that can be installed anywhere. Here’s how to install a Ring doorbell without an existing doorbell, and how to charge your doorbell.  Without wiring, your Ring doorbell will not have …

Amazon Echo devices have a very long list of things they can do. They can be used to control other devices in your home for entertainment, temperature and light, and many others. And yes, Alexa can be used to manage communication, too.  If you’ve been wondering how to send and receive text messages with Alexa, we this guide will teach …

By default, all Amazon Echo speakers will constantly listen for their wake word, “Alexa.” When your device hears this word, it will wake up and listen for questions and commands. However, if you have someone named “Alexa” or “Alex” in your home, or you just don’t want to say “Alexa” anymore, you can always change it. Here’s everything you need …

A Ring Video Doorbell lets you see who’s at the door even before you answer. This smart device will send a notification to your smartphone every time someone rings your doorbell or sets off the built-in motion detector. Then you can talk and listen to your visitors with the two-way audio system. However, your Ring Video Doorbell isn’t a plug-and-play …