So it’s no surprise to find all sorts of creations providing shade and solar power more efficiently through the study of sunflowers. The “Sunflower” umbrella by Shadecraft is just the latest object to follow the sun as it arcs across the sky each day. Extending the “internet of things” smart home system to the outdoors, this umbrella does a lot more than you might imagine. For starters, the shade it provides moves to keep you cool all day long, so you’ll never have to get up and move yourself.

In addition to tracking the sun, the Sunflower harvests solar energy via photovoltaic panels and stores it to power itself. It fully charges within two hours, and thanks to its incredible battery capacity, it can function for 72 hours without sunlight. The Sunflower connects to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data to offer users a strong internet connection outdoors.

You can use the Sunflower as a charging hub for your devices, and it’s got built-in lighting and speakers, too. That’s definitely a bonus for those of us who tend to lug a lot of stuff outside when we want to spend some time reading and relaxing. An integrated 360-degree high-definition camera captures security footage in the form of video and still images, so you can connect it to indoor security systems and keep an eye on your yard when no one’s home.

An accompanying app allows you to control all of the Sunflower’s functions right from your smartphone, or you can use voice control to deliver verbal commands. Talk directly to the Sunflower to control its movement, lighting, speakers, and other features. You can even use it to video chat with friends or livestream your activity. To top it all off, the Sunflower also functions as a weather station. Embedded sensors and motion detectors allow it to monitor weather conditions like humidity, wind, and even air pollution levels, sending alerts to your phone to keep you updated.

“Through the SmartShade app and integrated Wi-Fi, Cellular, or Bluetooth connectivity, you can play your iTunes library or jump to your favorite music app and stream directly through your SUNFLOWER,” explains Shadecraft. “Audio books, podcasts, live events, all at the touch of a button or via simple voice commands. SmartShade also controls SUNFLOWER’s lighting system. Four powerful LEDs with intensity settings you can control and schedule for optimum outdoor experiences.”

“With SmartShade, you can access insights into your outdoor world, and set up notifications & alerts — so you’ll know when to seek shade or ‘step outside’ and experience a perfect day.”

Winner of the IDA Gold Award 2017 and nominee of the Twice VIP Awards in outdoor automated devices, the Shadecraft Sunflower made its public debut at CES 2017. The company has already raised $2 million from private investors to fund production, and the Sunflower is set to be available for pre-order this fall for around $2,700, with orders expected to start shipping sometime next year.

The post Shadecraft Sunflower: High-Tech Umbrella Serves as an Outdoor Smart Home Hub first appeared on Dornob.

Though you can take steps to limit their presence, like buying less toxic products and washing your bedding at least once a week, an air filter is probably the best way to breathe cleaner air at night. A new product called the AirTulip Sleep may be the best solution yet, building a high-powered air purification system right into the headboard.

Fluid dynamics and aerodynamics expert Arjen de Jong teamed up with Raoul Valstar to design the AirTulip Sleep in response to COVID-19. The duo wanted to offer advanced air filtration technology in a new form that wouldn’t just take up a bunch of space in the home. The AirTulip Sleep replaces a conventional headboard, directly shielding you from contaminants in your most vulnerable state, and it’s virtually silent to boot.

How the Air Purifying Headboard Works

AirTulip Sleep uses a unique type of airflow to reduce contaminants. Fans, hairdryers, A/C vents, and even the wind spread contaminants through the air in a motion called turbulent airflow. The blowing motion stirs up pollutants and mixes particles and gases with clean air, which makes it hard for most conventional air purifiers to work efficiently.

The AirTulip uses laminar airflow instead, creating a chamber of clean air directly around the headboard where you need it. Laminar airflow is used in hospitals, medical labs, and other scientific facilities that require a sterile environment. The AirTulip Sleep uses it to create an output of clean air without the kind of blowing motion that brings in pollutants from elsewhere in the bedroom.

The product has been tested and verified by the Eindhoven University of Technology, which confirmed that it’s able to reduce the air particle count to zero. The AirTulip sleep also uses Ultra-Low Particulate Air Filters (ULPA) that filter 99.9997 percent of air particles, making it 100 times more efficient than a standard HEPA filter.

Even More Benefits

The AirTulip Sleep is a smart headboard, so you can use the accompanying app to track your sleep quality on your Apple Watch, Fitbit, Oura Ring, or Garmin Fitness Watch. It also offers dual-zone temperature regulations.

The addition of active cooling and heating options on each side of the bed allows you to individually control the temperature between -7 degrees Fahrenheit cooler and +7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the bedroom itself. The laminar flow feature ensures that you won’t feel the temperature difference on the other side of the bed.

Other features include a “day mode” for more powerful air filtration when whisper-quiet operation isn’t as important, a storage shelf along the back for plants or other objects, two integrated wireless smartphone chargers, a reading lamp, a USB charger, and ambient lighting.

How to Order One for Your Home

The AirTulip Sleep comes in all common bed frame sizes, including US twin, full, queen, and king sizes, and European 80/90cm, 140cm, 160cm, and 180cm mattresses. It integrates seamlessly with existing bed frames with the same mounting points. Available colors include mint fabric with a light oak frame, pearl fabric with a birch frame, stone fabric with a titanium-colored frame, and anthracite fabric with a black wood-colored frame.

AirTulip just wrapped up a successful round of crowdfunding on IndieGogo and Kickstarter, with rewards shipping now. It’ll soon be available for retail purchase for $1499 and up; subscribe to the AirTulip newsletter for updates.

The post Air Purifying Headboard Creates a Bubble of Clean Air Around You As You Sleep first appeared on Dornob.

Announcing its vision for “ambient intelligence” at a device event on October 5th, the tech giant described a home in which artificial intelligence machines and services sense the state of the residents’ environment to help in every situation when assistance is needed, either initiated by the occupant or automatically by the AI algorithms.

“Today, ambient intelligence comes to life across all of our devices and services, working behind the scenes on customers’ behalf, so they can focus on the here and now, and the people and experiences that matter most to them,” said Amazon’s head of Devices and Services Dave Limp at the event.

As a Star Trek fan, Amazon Devices & Services VP and General Manager of Consumer Robotics Ken Washington foresaw the future of ambient intelligence back in 2016 when he bought his first Amazon Echo smart speaker.

“I started building these scripts — a series of instructions — in my home so that when I walked into a room, lights would come on, when I left the room, lights would go off, when I turned on my stereo or my TV, the lights would dim,” he said on the company website. “Back then, that was really novel. It made my home feel like I was living on the starship Enterprise.”

While Washington had the personal know-how to create the scripts, Amazon has since brought that level of functionality to the everyday consumer. “Alexa is really core to our journey around ambient intelligence,” explains Amazon Vice President Heather Zorn. “This is really about creating an intelligent AI that works on your behalf out of the box, so you don’t have to have any specialized knowledge to get real value.”

She said she uses ambient intelligence technology to wake up her boys for school with lights that turn on at a certain time and a peppy morning song played by Echo.

Amazon has over 300 devices that can connect with Echo, including the just-launched Halo Rise, a non-contact bedside device for monitoring your sleep each night, and the Fire TV Omni QLED Series, which will automatically adjust its display based on the amount of light in the room, is voice controlled, and can essentially act as a giant Alexa. And of course, there are the favorites like Ring doorbells, smart thermostats, and even Amazon’s Astro robot-dog, which can follow you around and bring you household items.

Amazon’s internet-blanketed houses can also utilize a new “Hunches” feature to sense if things are off from normal routines. “[Hunches] can be super powerful,” Zorn adds “If every night you turn off your kitchen light before bed at 10 p.m. and then one night you don’t, Alexa can ask if you want the light off and, if you want, turn it off on your behalf moving forward.”

While a home that does everything for you does sound incredible, critics point out that users who buy into the ambient intelligence pitch are exchanging their privacy for convenience. Although Amazon continually promises that “customer trust is paramount in everything we do,” the company has a long history of privacy violations. In 2021, for example, Amazon earned the biggest privacy fine ever issued for breaching the EU’s regulations on how to process personal data.

It will ultimately be up to Amazon customers to ask themselves whether having a fully automated, environment-sensing home is worth being spied on at every moment of the day. For many, the answer is already a resounding yes.

The post Amazon’s Ambient Intelligence Takes Homes into the Realm of (Dystopian?) Sci Fi first appeared on Dornob.

Dubbed the “world’s first eco-restorative homes,” SeaPods are the brainchild of the company’s Head of Engineering Rüdiger Koch and Chief Executive Officer Grant Romund. The two partnered with Dutch architect Koen Olthuis and his firm Waterstudio to design a home suited for an aquatic lifestyle.

The pods’ floating capabilities were inspired by the physical properties of an iceberg. Just like most of the mass of an iceberg is underwater, the SeaPods have over 1,688 cubic feet of buoyant, air-filled steel tubes that rest below the surface, pushing the spherical living spaces almost 10 feet above the water.

Each Pod offers 833 square feet of living space within its three-and-a-half floors, including a master bedroom with stunning panoramic views, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The entire space is futuristically simple with hidden light switches, power outlets, and lightbulbs. LED light strips that can provide either blue-toned daytime or yellow-toned nighttime lighting are tucked within floor and ceiling grooves for a true minimalist look. Even cooler, all functions are controlled by “smart rings” worn by the residents, allowing them to turn on their music or unlock a door with just a wave of their hand.

“If Apple had built a home, I think you would end up with the SeaPod,” said Romundt in an interview with CNN. “…There’s a lot of technology built into the homes. I like to think of it as, instead of having a phone as a digital assistant, your home actually becomes your assistant, and you can use it to optimize your life.”

The pod structure is crafted to grow with changing technology. “We have designed Pods to be easily upgradable,” the company writes on their website. “There are set locations behind walls where new devices and components can be plugged in like LEGO pieces for upgraded functionality as technology improves.”

The software controlling the Pods can also be updated remotely. It will be like “a mobile phone where you can install new ‘home apps’ that are constantly being developed.” New automations and sensors can be hot swapped as needed.

Perhaps the best part of the SeaPod lifestyle is the symbiotic existence with the natural world. Instead of destroying natural habitats when a traditional house is built, “when you build a home on the water you actually create a habit for ocean life to thrive,” Ocean Builders said. “…Anytime you put something in the water that makes shade it attracts sea life. It often starts with barnacles and other life starts to grow on the underwater surface of your Pods. This can lead to coral growth and eventually homes for fish.”

The first set of pods are already under construction in Panama’s Linton Bay Marina and are scheduled to be completed and revealed online in late September. They’re expected to sell for between $295,000 to $1.5 million each, with potential buyers being able to move in at the end of 2023. An additional 1,000 pods will go into production by 2024.

Also in the works from Ocean Builders are two other pod models: the land-based GreenPod, and the eco and budget-friendly EcoPod.

The post SeaPods Provide Oceanfront Living While Restoring Life Below the Surface first appeared on Dornob.

Originally coming on the scene with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019, the SwitchBot Curtain Rod is a small device that can open and close almost any type of curtain. Attaching to the curtain rod between folds of fabric, it can be controlled via the SwitchBot phone app for individual movements or on preset schedules. From the app, users can program the curtains to open as a wake-up call in the morning, to close when they leave the house for work, or even just to open up for more backlight while on a virtual call. A built-in light sensor even allows the curtains to open and close automatically at sunrise and sunset based on the amount of light outside.

The tiny gadget packs a mighty punch, pushing up to 17 pounds worth of curtains across a rod. Tab, grommet, and ring top curtains are all no problem, and the SwitchBot wheels are designed to easily glide over the bump of telescopic rods. The smart mover can also be modified to fit into curtains attached to tracks.

This little device obviously fulfilled a latent public need, as it raised nearly $1.5 million during its first fundraising campaign. The product was shipped out to customers in early 2020 and quickly garnered praise from users, earning the Good Design Award and going on to become a finalist at the IDEA 2020 awards. In 2022, it also received the Red Dot Design Award as a simple yet extremely efficient gadget.

The SwitchBot Curtain Rod got a more recent update this year. Instead of removable clips that had to be separately attached with the first iteration, the SwitchBot 2 is self-contained with spring-loaded clips. The wheels also got an upgrade, being enlarged by 1.6 times — and taking inspiration from off-road vehicles — for smoother travel along the rod.

New add-on devices are also available to increase the SwitchBot’s productivity. A SwitchBot Hub Mini (available for $39) allows the bot to bridge to a home Wi-Fi network, allowing users to control the curtains outside the house, too. By itself, the SwitchBot connects via Bluetooth. Using the Hub Mini, users can also pair the bot with devices like Alexa and Google Assistant for easy voice control.

A hanging solar panel (available for $19) is also newly available as a compatible device. While the bot itself has a 3350 mAh battery big enough to control curtains for up to eight months, attaching the solar panel provides virtually unlimited power, eliminating the need to bother with changing batteries.

While some reviews complain about the bulky shape of the SwitchBot and its inability to blend in with most curtain fabrics, the overall product gets plenty of thumbs up from customers for its smart functionality and ease of use. The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is currently on sale for $99 on the company website.

The post The Latest in Smart Home Technology: Smart Curtains first appeared on Dornob.

The Astro (yes, that’s a nod to The Jetsons’ beloved dog) is part home monitor, part home assistant. The rolling robot can provide live views of your home while you’re away using two handy cameras. One is even mounted on a periscope for looking into higher spaces, allowing the bot to do things like make sure the stove’s turned off. Ring Protect Pro subscribers can even schedule house patrols while they’re away and have Astro keep track of everything it detects.

These cameras can also identify your family and friends through opt-in facial recognition software. You and any other willing parties can submit your biometric information to be instantly recognized by the pint-sized robot, allowing it to spot intruders and sound alerts. Amazon says this data is processed only on the device, not sent to the cloud, and that any scans of people who haven’t been encountered in the last 18 months will be automatically deleted, but any recordings or conversations with the built-in Alexa will go straight to the company’s servers.

When you’re home, Astro can find you to deliver calls, alarms, and reminders. This could be especially helpful with elderly people who need to take medication at certain times but may not always have their phone with them. Astro can also follow its owner from room to room playing music, podcasts, or movies. Even better, the robot has two drink holders and can be directed to deliver items to someone in the house. It has no arms, though, so real people are required to place items on top and retrieve them.

Astro was specifically designed to have a man’s best friend feel. While taller robots “came off as more imposing or intimidating,” Anthony Robson, a product lead for Astro, says that “people really appreciated the smaller, more pet-like form factor we ended up with.” The animal concept also helps keep expectations more realistic. People wouldn’t expect their dog to do the laundry, for example.

The robot’s swiveling head and expression-changing eyes have already proven to be a big hit with kids, who can ask Astro to follow them around the house, dance with them, or play their favorite shows.

Of course, you have to consider that bonding with a data collector might not be such a good thing for owners and their kids. The device requires a ton of personal information for day-to-day functioning. In addition to facial scans, it also stores scans of the owner’s entire home for its mapping and movement purposes, and sends voice and video recordings to advertisers.

The company promises that it has implemented safety checks to keep that data more secure. “At Amazon, customer trust is at the center of everything we do and is critical to inventing devices and services that help make our customers’ lives better,” reads an official statement. However, if hackers were to get access to Astro’s stored information, it could leave owners vulnerable to some dangerous attacks.

You could argue that people already regularly turn similar household data over to their vacuum robots, but because the Astro has cameras and microphones, the potential for personal information collection is much greater.

Amazon’s new home robot is only available for purchase by invitation (interested consumers can request an invite) for $999, but the price will increase to $1,450 when it becomes available to the general public.

The post Amazon Astro Robot: Cute or Creepy? first appeared on Dornob.

Sennheiser HD 450SE Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

Listen to your favorite tunes in style with these wireless headphones from Sennheiser. Boasting Bluetooth connectivity, noise cancellation features, and an impressive 30-hour battery life, you can snatch these up for 53 percent off this Cyber Monday for just $94.95.

Shark IQ Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base

Why waste your precious downtime cleaning when you could have a handy robot helper do it for you? This robo-vacuum from Shark cleans up dirt and debris from all kinds of surfaces, can be controlled from your phone or through voice commands, and even maps out your home’s layout so you can choose which rooms you want it to clean first. Grab it now for just $299, 50 percent off the original price.

Tineco Pure ONE S11 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

If you’re not totally sold on the idea of a robot doing all your cleaning for you, here’s a super-smart manual alternative. The cordless Pure ONE S11 is super lightweight and easily converts to a handheld vacuum with versatile attachments to clean stairs, furniture, the inside of your car, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Grab one today at 39 percent off for just $244.99.

ASUS Chromebook CX1

When else can you get a great laptop for less than $100? This notebook from ASUS features 32 GB eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) memory, 4 GB of RAM, and an 11.6-inch NanoEdge display. Grab one now for $84.99 before they’re all gone!

Amazon Fire TV 65″ Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Dolby Vision

Amazon’s newest TV series offers 4K Ultra HD like you’ve never seen it before. This particular model offers 3 HDMI inputs, built-in microphones for voice command capabilities, and uses smart tech skills to constantly integrate new Alexa skills, features, smart home capabilities, and voice functionality. Talk about a “fire” deal! Save 28 percent off the original $829.99 by ordering today.

Percussion Massage Gun Deep Tissue Massager

After a long day sitting slouched in an office chair – or after a long, intense gym session – nothing beats a good massage. Darkiron’s Percussion Massage Gun boasts four adjustable speeds to give you exactly the rubdown you’re looking for each and every time. Grab one for just $79.98 (20 percent off the original price) this Cyber Monday.

Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker with Flame Torch Lights

Looking to turn your yard into a super-chill gathering place for your friends and family? These outdoor Bluetooth speakers from ANERIMST double as retro stake torches, hanging lanterns, camping accessories, night lights, and any other LED fixture you’re looking for! And don’t worry about them getting wet, because these bad boys are totally waterproof. For today only, Amazon’s offering them for just $29.99 each.

FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine System

Make your leftovers last longer with Foodsaver’s Vacuum Sealer and start saving some serious money on groceries. You’ll save even more if you grab one on Amazon today for $76.99 (31 percent off the original price!).

SAMSUNG Q Series Soundbar

Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a state-of-the-art sound system, but this Dolby Atmos-equipped model from Samsung is going for such a great price today, you’ll need to act fast to get one under your tree. It offers an immersive audio experience complete with 3 channels, 1 subwoofer, and 2 up-firing channels, and it can even be controlled with your voice via Alexa. Best of all, it’s available for just $397.99 this Cyber Monday – a whopping 43 percent off the original $799 price tag.

Instant 2-in-1 Multi-Function Coffee Maker

Are you team Keurig or team Nespresso? With this ingenious 2-in-1 coffee maker from Instant, you can be both! Brew coffee and espresso in one machine (compatible with K-Cup pods + Nespresso capsules) and give yourself the gift of a café-quality beverage each and every morning. If you’re more into sustainable coffee brewing, you’ll be pleased to hear that this coffee maker also comes with a reusable pod for you to fill with your own grounds.

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The post Take Advantage of These Amazon Tech Deals This Cyber Monday first appeared on Dornob.

The 2021 iF Design Awards welcomed innovators from around the globe eager to showcase their dynamic design concepts — and with an estimated 10,000 annual submissions from more than 60 countries, there was plenty to choose from. This year, however, the focus shifted somewhat among finalists to explore and create devices that bring the often lofty concept of automation closer to home.

AI, robots, and smart home technologies galore permeated some of the top winning designs this year, a shift that acutely represents our increasing reliance on technology within our homes as a way to make life more convenient. Taking Siri or Alexa to the next level, these designs show how sophisticated design technologies can be integrated into even the simplest daily tasks.

Below we highlight three of this year’s winners we were particularly impressed with, all of them devices meant to bridge the gap between automation and the home sphere.

Tokit Omni Cook Multi-Cooker

Home cooks everywhere will recognize this dilemma. Love that pressure cooker? Sure do! That slow cooker’s no slouch, either. But what about that rice cooker? Can’t live without it. The list goes on and on. Now more than ever before, there are all kinds of kitchen appliances built for specific purposes, each meant to fit seamlessly into your kitchen milieu — making life easier, yet somehow existing in their own autonomous space.

The reality is that many of us simply don’t have the space for all the kitchen appliances we need (or want). Enter the Tokit Omni Cook Multi-Cooker. Able to replace 21 traditional kitchen appliances all by itself, this little beauty combines precision and technology with a dash of digital flair to create the perfect cooking assistant. Throw in a smart display that provides recipes and video how-to instructions, and this winning entry from Shanghai Chunmi Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. hands down wins the kitchen appliance wars.

Kiwibot Plus

Robots delivering packages may seem like something out of The Jetsons, but thanks to innovations from tech companies everywhere, this tantalizing glimpse into the future is now right around the corner. While you may have heard of the “Amazon Scout” already, there are a host of other companies also working hard to develop this exciting new technology (Starship Robot, Buro, and AutoX, to name a few).

This winning entry in the 2021 iF Design Award competition is brought to you by Kiwibot, an already-established heavyweight in the world of robot delivery infrastructure. Affordable, accessible, and boasting zero carbon emissions, Kiwibot’s newest offering, the Kiwibot Plus, is tasked with becoming the tech company’s next-generation robot delivery superstar. Safe, effective, and most importantly, sustainable, the Kiwibot Plus is more than just a robot, it’s a bonafide member of the community.

Fit Bot

The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult (and sometimes impossible), for people to hit the gym, spurring a slew of technology meant to make the at-home workout more effective, and most importantly, more social. From apps to YouTube videos, Nintendo Switch games to Peloton, the field for at-home fitness has never been more packed with options for everyone from devoted gym rats to casual fitness experimenters.

Enter Fit Bot: an IF Design Award Winner developed by Samsung Electronics. But what sets Fit Bot apart, you may ask? Firstly, it’s a wearable technology, a “robot” meant to support the wearer and encourage safe, healthy exercise habits. Meant to “address the drawback of conventional exercise methods for the general population,” Fit Bot, through its built-in actuator, is intuitive and supportive. It’s designed to reduce the risk of injury for people everywhere, especially for those who may find more strenuous equipment or routines challenging, such as the elderly, or persons with previous injuries or health conditions.

Many of this year’s iF Design Award Winners hit closer to home, showcasing design technologies meant to bridge the gap between our daily lives and automation. As always, the designs were meant to inspire, and to make the world a better place through innovation. In 2021, that “world” just happened to include a little slice of home.

Want to know more? Visit the iF World Design Guide to learn more about his year’s winners.

The post These 2021 iF Design Award Winners Hit Close to Home first appeared on Dornob.

Although an exact date has not been announced, company officials have confirmed that the annual 48-hour mega sale will happen sometime in June this year. Even though Prime Day was postponed last year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it finally did happen in October 2020, people around the world bought a record $10.4 billion worth of goods, increasing global sales by 45.2 percent compared to 2019’s Prime Day event, according to Digital Commerce 360.

This year’s deals, including those on smart appliances, are likely to be even bigger and better. While the company hasn’t released any hints about which brands and products will be offered in 2021, below is a list of kitchen and home appliance suggestions to look out for when Prime Day finally rolls around. All these brands have seen particularly big discounts in years past:

Smart Pressure Cooker

The 6-Quart Instant Pot with Smart Wi-Fi could be a great connected appliance to add to your cooking arsenal. In addition to all the standard features like slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, and yogurt making, this smart version can connect with an accompanying app and be controlled through your phone or Alexa. You can check the temperature and cooking progress remotely, choose from more than 1,000 pre-programmed recipes, and even receive alerts when your meal is done.

Smart Countertop Oven

Amazon’s own Smart Oven gets great reviews from customers and will more than likely go on sale this Prime Day. It’s a 4-in-1 microwave, convection over, food warmer, and air fryer. And because it’s an Amazon product, it can be voice controlled for over 30 different presets through Alexa devices. Have her notify you when the oven’s preheated or your food is cooked and never worry about watching a timer again. Best of all, if you scan select packaged items with the accompanying app, the Amazon Smart Oven will cook them automatically according to the manufacturer’s instructions. With an interior large enough to cook a five-pound chicken and an internal thermometer probe for perfect temperatures, this is definitely a product to keep your eye on.

Smart Air Fryer

If you only need an air frying function, the Cosori 14-in-1 Smart Large Air Fryer Oven might be one to search for on Prime Day. Featuring a seven-quart capacity and plenty of accessories, this model also connects to your Wi-Fi and allows you to check the cooking process on the company app. It can also be voice controlled through Alexa or Google’s Assistant device.

Smart Cordless Vacuum

This MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum comes fully equipped with the latest Smart Sensor chip, allowing you to adjust the suction with a simple touch. The proprietary battery-saving technology also provides it with up to 40 minutes of continual use, and it only takes a few hours to recharge.

Smart Robot Vacuum

The iRobot Roomba s9+ is the company’s smartest robot vacuum yet. The vSLAM navigation allows it to map out your home and learn to clean it better each time. It also uses PerfectEdge Technology with advanced sensors and a specially designed corner brush to clean better along edges and corners. You can even choose individual rooms to vacuum or set regular cleaning schedules through the accompanying phone app. Or, if you prefer, you can pair it with Alexa and control it via voice command.

Smart Air Purifier

Sure to be a popular item as COVID-19 continues to plague many parts of the world, the Winix AM90 Wi-Fi Air Purifier includes plasma wave technology that breaks down toxins like allergens, chemical vapors, and odors on the molecular level. It also includes True HEPA filters that capture 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen. Powerful enough to clean the air in a room up to 360 square feet, you can monitor your air quality and control the settings through the Winix Smart App. It’s also compatible with Alexa devices.

Fetting the best deal on smart appliances will require you to check the website often on Prime Day, but you should be able to find deep discounts on your wishlist items without going through too much trouble. And don’t forget that to participate in the event, you’ll need an existing Amazon Prime membership (though you can always just sign up for the 30-day free trial).

The post 6 Smart Appliance Deals to Look for This Amazon Prime Day first appeared on Dornob.

Since it’s (almost) impossible to know what’s going to be on deck this Prime Day, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you and created this handy guide to some of the best tech deals to expect this time around.

Amazon Goods and Services

Let’s begin with Amazon. Historically, many of the top Amazon goods and services (like Amazon Music) are discounted during Prime Day, so if you’ve been holding out on upgrading to services like Kindle Unlimited or getting some new Echo smart speakers, now is your time to shine. Here are some other great deals we are expecting to see on Amazon tech.

Kindle Paperwhite

It’s the Kindle of your dreams, all in one handy waterproof package that reads like a dream even under the bright summer sun. Imagine reading your faves by the pool without the fear of errant splashes (or spilled margaritas) trashing your gear. And with double the storage of older models, you can easily keep your complete collection of James Patterson books in one place (we’re not judging!).

Amazon Echo Dot

Siri is great and everything, but what happens when your phone isn’t nearby? Have no fear, Alexa is here! With the pint-sized Echo Dot speaker, you can have Alexa answer all your burning questions and do your bidding without needing to try and find your phone. The best part is that because of its size, you can keep one in every room without worrying about unnecessary clutter.

Echo Show 8

The stars may align this year if Prime Day falls after the release of the new Echo 8, which is set to be released in early June. Always wanted a little portable TV for your office, kitchen, or just to take with you when you don’t want to carry a laptop? Well, this definitely fits the bill. With a clear display that makes it easy to binge your fave shows, video chat with your BFF, and finally watch that tutorial about how to tie-dye at home, the Echo 8 is also compatible with Alexa and all her visual components. Pretty cool, huh?

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Many people are looking to add a Fire TV stick to their arsenal because it easily complements (or replaces) their existing cable by giving them access to the best streaming services. And the good news is, if you already have a smart TV, this will upgrade it to like, Stephen Hawking-level intelligence. Now who doesn’t want that?

iRobot Roomba 675

You know you want a Roomba, right? Well on Prime Day, you may be able to pick one up at a cool discounted price. Even better, these iRobot Roomba vacuums are Alexa-controlled and connect to your Wi-Fi to make cleaning a cinch.

These are just some of the amazing Amazon products and services you’ll most likely be able to find this Prime Day — and even if your aren’t interested in the newest tech available, you’ll probably still be able to find some killer deals on older goodies like the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Dot 3rd Gen Smart Speaker.

Home Tech

Let’s face it — Amazon Private-Label brands aren’t the only option around. However, during Prime Day, the online retail giant offers plenty of other top brands to add to your cart. Below are just some of the goodies we’ll be watching for:

Instant Pot Ultra Programmable Pressure Cooker

If you’ve been holding out on joining the pressure cooker club, Prime Day might be the prefect time to get on board. Instant Pot is the OG of pressure cookers, but this one is even better as it is multi-use (10-in-1!) and programmable for those days when you want to set it and forget it. Want to eliminate those unnecessary appliances gathering dust in your kitchen? Then be sure to add this little powerhouse to your Prime Day wishlist.

Bissell 22543 Vacuum Cleaner

Historically, Prime Day is a great place to score deals on appliances like vacuums, and if you’re looking to replace (or upgrade) yours, then be sure to check deals on snazzy brands like Bissell. After all, who doesn’t want an appliance that’s both futuristic and functional?

Ultrean Air Fryer, 4.2 Quart

If there’s any trend that can compete with pressure cookers, it’s definitely air fryers. Traditionally, Prime Day has offered fantastic deals on this hot kitchen commodity, and this Ultrean air fryer is no exception. Easy to use, non-stick, and sleek design combine in this handy kitchen tool that’s both versatile and fun to cook with. Fries, anyone?

For the Office

Laptops, tablets, and phones, oh my! Prime Day is known for having the best deals around on pretty much everything you’re looking for, whether it’s an Apple iPad Mini, a Razor Blade Stealth Gaming Laptop, or the newest Samsung Galaxy. But there are other goodies that may also pop up during this year’s event. Lucky for you, we have a time machine called the Internet that allows us to predict the following fab finds:

Apple AirPods

These are some of the most popular earbuds on the market right now, and during Prime Day, you may be able to snag them at a great price. Sleek and comfy, these AirPods easily connect to all your Apple devices. Plus, there are options for adding a wireless charging case for even more cord-free convenience.

Bose Quiet Comfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

For the traditionalists among us who would rather rock headphones than earbuds, have no fear — there will most likely be some eye-popping deals in that department, too — such as these cool ones from Bose. An added bonus is that these beauties are Alexa-enabled, allowing you access to everything you need while working (or playing).

Belkin Wireless Charger

Everyone has to have one of these for their home office. Wireless chargers are convenient, eliminate clutter, and best of all, they look super high-tech. Snag one on Prime Day like this Belkin Wireless 10W to start cleaning up some of those pesky cords.

These are just some of the incredible deals you may be able to find during Prime Day 2021, and the list is by no means exhaustive. For example, if you’re looking for a TV, Prime Day is a great time to snag one, as there are usually tons of deals available. For example, check out this Samsung 43-inch Q60T QLED, or this LG OLED CX, and dig those crystal clear pictures!

Whatever tech you need or want, Amazon will be sure to have it this year on Prime Day — and now that you’re prepared, you’ll have no problems getting the absolute best deals. So get excited, and get ready to fill your cart!

The post Prime Day 2021 is On the Way: Our Guide to the Hottest Tech Deals first appeared on Dornob.

Led by principle architect Patrick Lam, the firm aims to challenge our perceptions of smart homes while exploring the many ways in which thoughtful design can maximize even the smallest living spaces. Lam brought his own experience living in a small tenement apartment in the infamously cramped district of Kowloon to this bright, airy, and absolutely brilliant renovation for a young family.

The narrow unit benefits from a wall of windows on one side facing a view of beautiful natural scenery. At first glance, the living area appears oddly empty. There are no appliances or furniture to be seen aside from an entertainment console and a television along one wall. Panels in the floor are the first clue that the space contains more than it appears to, concealing all manner of storage, pop-up tables, and more. All visible surfaces are covered in plywood and timber veneer for an even cleaner look.

“Eric and Lory moved to Hong Kong from Taiwan many years ago and have a son; Eric needs to travel frequently throughout the country, and Lory is a flight attendant,” the architects explain. “Their lack of time spent at home means they often need grandmother to [come over and] take care of the children. Eric and Lory often talk about the scenery and homestay in Taiwan, and how they miss them so much.”

“Sim-Plex lifts up the entire living room with a wooden platform so that every corner can also come down at will. In addition to a large amount of storage, the platform also hides the intelligent lifting coffee table, creating a gathering point, sometimes as a tea ceremony, and sometimes as a toy’s playground. The dining room is made up of an open kitchen with a quartz stone high-top dining table and two arc-angle storage chairs, so no matter [where you are] while cooking or dining, you could also enjoy the scenery outside the window. The windowsills of the two rooms are surrounded by wooden frames to match the natural scenery.”

Ancient principles of feng shui and the latest in smart home gadgets coexist peacefully throughout the home. The architects also made use of natural materials, Zen philosophies about layouts that promote the proper flow of energy, and adaptable features that can meet the family’s constantly changing needs. A sliding partition separates the living room and kitchen either for privacy or to create a fourth bedroom, and the master bedroom is a peaceful refuge full of built-in storage.

With Smart Zendo (named after zendo, a place for Zen meditation), Lam shows that high-tech home features like voice-activated lights, speakers, air conditioning, motor-powered furniture, and projection screens can actually be kind of poetic.

He notes that: “Haiku, the Japanese poetry, is deeply influenced by Zen. There are ‘seasonal languages’ in the haiku. The Smart Zendo in this case is just like the seasonal language, and the four seasons of the scenery outside the window are introduced into the room to make the perfect merging of home and nature, so that the emotions of the homestay can be fermented.”

The post Transforming Hong Kong Apartment Makes Smart Home Tech Downright Zen first appeared on Dornob.

That little detail changes everything. Not only were there less than half the total vendors from past years, but the 2,000 or so that did attend offered very different presentations. While this year’s event might have lacked the usual hum of activity, the products were still spectacularly cutting-edge. Here are some especially hot techy trends to keep your eyes peeled for in the coming months:

Pandemic-Related Products

Last year introduced a host of new challenges on the home and business fronts, but on the flip side, it also created lots of opportunity for new and necessary products. Expect to see inventive solutions for both work-from-home and homeschooling challenges. There’s also ample mask, air purifying, and germ-fighting technology on the horizon.

The coronavirus pandemic has really driven home the message regarding hand-washing and keeping surfaces clean, so it’s no surprise businesses have responded with a renewed emphasis on hands-free technologies and UV-powered germ killers, too.

The Smart Home

It’s a trend that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, smart technology in general is a growth market. Look back a few years to when the now-ubiquitous Ring doorbell camera was new. This year expect smaller and better equipped cameras inserted into more products than ever before. Smart features have already infiltrated the likes of TVs, watches, shower heads, thermostats, and vacuum cleaners. You can even check the contents of your fridge using a phone app, and we’re definitely look forward to seeing more remote-control options like that in the future.

Also in the mix here is the 5G technology that drives many of these smart gadgets, which is sure to remain a hot topic for at least the foreseeable future.

Electric Vehicles

EVs are consistently part of CES, but this year the industry had a lot to share. From Tesla reaching its 500,000 cars sold goal in 2020 to innovations around EV battery advancements and solar cars, there was certainly no shortage of engaging conversations regarding electric cars at CES 2021 (and not all of them are standard cars and trucks, mind you!).

Gaming

Another industry whose 2020 success could be attributed to the effects of the pandemic is gaming, which saw a big uptick amid waves of global lockdowns. Of course, the gaming industry has always leaned into cutting-edge technology to enhance the gamer’s experience visually, audibly, and interactively. And with last year’s biggest games eclipsing movie releases, it was only natural for graphics, VR, displays and monitors, and new gaming consoles to all be highlighted in spades at CES 2021.

TV Tech and Home Entertainment

In addition to working, gaming, and attending school from home in 2020, we also enjoyed the majority of our entertainment there, too. Listen: if ever there was a time to consider the options for a newer, fancier TV, it’s during a pandemic. With that in mind, LG just revealed an ultra-affordable line of OLED TVs, some of which can rise out of your bed’s footboard, among other things.

Check back with us soon for even more sci-fi-ish finds from from this year’s virtual CES.

The post The Top 5 Tech Trends at CES 2021 first appeared on Dornob.

So is it worth it to get Apple’s new HomePod Mini? The short answer is yes, especially if you already own a host of Apple products, because the Mini introduces some features the others just don’t have.

Unveiled last month alongside the new iPhone 12 lineup, the HomePod Mini ($99) is a smaller, more affordable, and more versatile take on the original HomePod ($299). It’s a lot more than just a speaker, though it does its primary job with surprising power for such a compact object. Diminutive enough to hold in the palm of your hand, the 3.3-inch acoustic mesh-wrapped (and appropriately apple-shaped) HomePod Mini is virtually unnoticeable on a table or shelf, and it’s available in white or space gray.

First of all, it’s brilliantly simple to pair two HomePods. They automatically recognize each other and separate into left and right channels for true stereo sound. Plus, they’re easily loud enough to fill a room, offering clear and distinct bass, treble, and mid sounds without distortion. Naturally, the HomePod Mini works with Apple Music, but also podcasts, radio stations, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn, with support for Amazon Music and Pandora coming shortly.

A three-microphone array listens for Siri commands while a fourth microphone isolates sound coming from the speaker so it can still hear you while music is playing. It’s even capable of providing a personalized experience, identifying the voices of up to six people in your household to tailor music and podcasts to their preferences and automatically connect to their phones through a U1 Ultra Wideband chip. Visual, audio, and haptic responses make it clear when the speaker has switched from one user to another.

It even functions as an intercom, allowing you to tell everyone in the house it’s time for dinner through a voice message and push notifications on iOS devices (activated by saying “Siri, tell everyone…”). Like the original HomePod, the Mini can also serve as a hub to control all HomeKit-compatible smart home accessories from within and outside your home. One drawback to Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem is the fact that it still offers fewer compatible smart home devices compared to Amazon and Google, though if you’re tech-handy you can use plugins from Homebridge to connect non-HomeKit devices.

Part of the reason the HomePod never took off like the Echo or Google Home was its considerably higher price tag, along with the fact that earlier versions of Siri weren’t quite as nimble as the competition. The Mini solves those issues, and it’s a great introduction to the HomeKit system. If you find you need more powerful speakers after all, the original HomePod features a high-excursion woofer and seven tweeters, a six-microphone array, and the ability to create a home theater effect with Apple’s 4K TV, so it, too, can still be a useful purchase.

The post Is Apple’s New HomePod Mini Worth the Hype? first appeared on Dornob.

Refrigerators have been an increasingly centralized component of the kitchen for decades now. Offering more than a cool space, refrigerator design has changed dramatically over the years, making room for gallon jugs of milk while adding temperature-controlled meat and vegetable drawers into the mix. But the most recent advances go well beyond condiment holders in the doors or built-in water filtration systems.

Today’s refrigerators have entered the realm of smart appliances, and today they’re quickly reaching kitchen assistant status, with the ability to inventory the contents inside and even make dinner recommendations based on the food you already have.

The Casarte IoT refrigerator does all of this and functions as a family health consultant. After providing your taste preferences and dietary restrictions, the fridge will automatically compose a weekly nutritional meal plan and customize recipes for you and your family. Shopping and cooking are streamlined with insightful information about the contents of your refrigerator available around the clock.

For example, you can manage ingredients through the refrigerator’s large front screen. When ingredients are about to expire, your fridge will let you know so you can consume or remove them to avoid waste and spoiled food.

The technology is based on the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), which basically means that the refrigerator is equipped with smart technology that allows it to connect with the internet, internal programs, software, and networks in order to exchange data. This human-free system makes the refrigerator more responsive to the needs of the user than any other model currently on the market.

The IoT concept has a variety of applications, and refrigerators are just the beginning, with the Haier Smart Home program dedicated to offering smart services in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and balcony. Haier wants to use the technology to provide users with conveniences and solutions covering clothing, food, housing, and entertainment.

According to the company’s official website, the Casarte brand is set for continued innovation well into the future, with the goal of eventually providing luxury products aimed at improving the user experience. The company explains that: “Casarte is an international premium brand fashioned after Italian elegance, and its core product lines include artistic consumer electric appliances and integrated kitchenware.”

The brand name “Casarte” is derived from the Italian words “la casa,” which stands for “home”, and “arte” meaning “Art.” Casarte is thus a combination of both words: “art of home.”

The CES Innovation Awards is an annual competition at the show that honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. Judges recognize honorees in a number of categories and highlight the top-rated products in each. The selected products are judged on specific criteria attached to each category, including engineering design, usability, aesthetic appeal, and uniqueness or innovation.

In addition, the products entered in the competition must be available for sale to the public in U.S. retail outlets or online between April 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020. Entrants must have a product sample available for judging and complete an application, pay an entry fee, and provide photos.

The post China’s Haier Wins CES Tech Awards for Casarte IoT Refrigerator first appeared on Dornob.

GE Kitchen Shift

This design concept sees a “shift” in the kitchen to suit the needs of all cooks. With countertops that raise and lower automatically, the kitchen easily accommodates people of all heights, including kids and chefs with walking disabilities. Even the upper cabinets in this system slide down for easy access.

Sepura Automatic Composting System

Composting is nothing new, but Sepura makes the process a lot easier and less messy. Replacing the traditional garbage disposal, Sepura cuts down on food waste with a two-part unit that sits below your kitchen sink. The upper portion diverts liquids as they head down the drain, while the lower portion collects solid foods. The system also provides an alert when the food bin is full so it can be taken to your backyard compost or streetside bin.

Smart Fridges

No CES would be complete without a display of the new advances in refrigerator technology, most of which center around convenience. While Bosch showed off their two-camera system, LG promoted its InstaView clear front door. Several companies now incorporate inventory management, too, creating alerts and automatically reordering foods as needed. Samsung even premiered software that will suggest recipes based on what’s currently in your fridge. It’s safe to say the marriage between smart tech and refrigerators is here to stay.

PantryOn Food Inventory Control

Speaking of inventory management, PantryOn keeps an eye on your pantry inventory to keep you stocked at all times. By installing the app, you’ll always know if the kids took that last box of cereal or if you’re out of flour. It’s a bit of a luxury, of course, but that doesn’t make the technology any less interesting.

Julia the Assistant Chef

An all-on-one product by CookingPal, Julia can weigh your food, chop, steam, knead, and perform many other functions. The blending component even works as a self-cleaning mechanism at the end of the meal. Julia also comes with a separate tablet screen that allows you to control your smart appliances, find and adapt recipes, use voice commands, and monitor your meal through a central hub.

Simplehuman Voice Activated Trash Can

Sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones. Anyone who’s attempted to throw something away with greasy fingers understands the struggle of traditional garbage receptacles. Although the convenience will cost you $200, the Simplehuman 58L sensor can opens with an easy wave of your hand or voice command.

GE Kitchen Hub

Everyone knows that the kitchen is the hub of the household, and now GE is launching a smart system to help cement that status. The Kitchen Hub mounts above the cooktop and features a built-in microwave and exhaust fan. It also allows you to look up recipes, monitor ingredients, turn the oven up or down, play music, identify when the meat is cooked to the proper temperature, and even connect a camera to your meal to share with others.

The post Our Favorite Kitchen Appliances from CES 2020 first appeared on Dornob.

Pudutech’s BellaBot

You’ll never have to wait around for everyone in your party to be served when PuduTech’s new BellaBot is tending to you. The bot has an affable feline face that changes expressions during human interactions, the ability to meow, and, best of all, it can carry 120 small plates, 39 large plates, and 33 bowls in a single trip from the kitchen. No word on how this will affect tipping practices.

Charmin’s RollBot

Solving a problem that haunts everyone from time to time, the RollBot delivers toilet paper to those stuck in frustrating positions with no conventional cleaning tools around. Procter & Gamble and Charmin’s GoLab prototype looks like a cartoon bear on wheels. Infrared sensors guide the bear to the person in need with a roll of TP fastened to its head. You have to keep the bear stocked with a fresh roll, of course, as it’s not equipped to rummage through cabinets.

Agility Robotics’ Digit

Instead of people moving and stacking boxes weighing up to 40 pounds in factories and plants, Agility Robotics’ Digit robots do the job faster, cheaper, and with no risk of injury. They each have two pedals, sensors, upper torsos, and arms that allow them to recover from falls, wave to restore balance, and push open doors. The Ford Motor Company already has two on staff to assist with warehousing.

Sarcos’ Guardian XO Robotic Super Suit

Having incredible strength like the superheroes of films, comics, and graphic novels has been a dream of many for nearly a century now. Robotics company Sarcos has come closer to making that a reality with the Guardian XO Super Suit they introduced at CES 2020. The robotic exoskeleton transforms an average worker into a person who can lift and maneuver loads that weigh over 100 pounds using innate body movements, thereby drastically reducing injury to employees. Delta is one of the first companies to put the suit to work.

Raclette Robot

The world’s first raclette-making robot comes courtesy of Eddy Baillifard, founder of Raclett’House, and the “Robot Learning & Interaction” group that is the Idiap Research Institute. Made in Switzerland, this pair of robotic arms performs the ancient art of raclette by heating up a wheel of semi-hard cheese and scraping the top layer of viscous goodness onto a plate — all without any person suffering burns.

Samsung’s Ballie Robot

Need a little help around the house? Or maybe just someone to keep you company while you putter around? Samsung’s Ballie is a tennis ball-sized friend intended to sustain, identify with, and respond to the needs of its owner, particularly in household environments. With on-device AI aptitude, Ballie uses sensors and personal information to produce immersive practices for the user. It can also interact and control other smart devices in the home to enhance day-to-day domestic living.

The post Our Favorite Robots from CES 2020 first appeared on Dornob.