Each year at CES, before the actual show opens, the media has multiple opportunities to get ahead of the show’s news. Three “preview” events and numerous press conferences offer journalists, bloggers, podcasters, and influencers a peek under the tent— mostly before the show even starts. Smarthome influencer and DMZ contributor Jimmy Hawkins joins Richard in person for this episode to talk about the companies and products that caught their attention in their CES pre-gaming. Listen to the episode ...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Allison Sheridan from Podfeet Podcasts joins us to discuss the more problematic side of home automation—when things don’t work as expected or desired. What’s annoying us in our respective smart homes and how do we deal with problems when they arise? Why do we even put ourselves through all this? We also touch on a few interesting smart home stories from the past few months. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep158.mp3 You’ll al...
Jul 05, 2024•48 min
Jeff Butts, Managing Editor at The Mac Observer joins us. We ponder why Signify would want to get into the security game (and why consumers would want them to), discuss some updates on previously reported news, and dive into a discussion about the current state of HomeKit. New architectures, Shortcuts, and Matter…and what’s with this Works with Apple Home thing? It’s all getting kind of messy. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/homeon...
Aug 28, 2023•58 min
MyHomeKithome YouTuber and podcast host Dustin Boggus joins Richard to talk about accessibility in the smarthome. Sure, it’s fun and futuristic to have lights and digital assistants that obey your commands and react to your presence…but what if your ability to work and live safely in your own environment depended upon it? Dustin shares his experiences with specific technologies and products and shares some thoughts about what more the industry could be doing. Oh, and this episode was recorded so...
May 30, 2023•43 min
Amazon makes an infuriating money grab for Ring app features you’ve been using for years, Sonos is expected to use a product launch as an opportunity to raise prices again, and Leviton will be rolling matter support out to 2nd generation Decora Smart products with a firmware update. Finally, several quarters in now, what’s Insteon Technologies up to? Co-founder Richard Sudek joins us to share the latest on Insteon products and services, talk about some new products, and give us a glimpse at what...
Mar 06, 2023•45 min
Richard once again joins other hosts from the Technology.FM podcasts to share in their annual tradition of the fireside chat. What caught their attention this year, what do they think will be big next year, and how did they fare with last year’s predictions? As always, this special DMZ mix offers fewer ums, fewer digital assistant triggers, and–perhaps most importantly–blocks Mike’s valiant attempt to trick your Echo into sending something very expensive to your home. Listen to the episode here ...
Dec 25, 2022•48 min
Chamberlain killed its overpriced, unreliable HomeKit Home Bridge, Tado has a money-saving program that might actually use more energy, Lutron adds to its Caséta lineup, and everyone’s getting into Matter (hopefully). We review all this and more with HomeKit developer Matt Corey, then talk with Matt about some of the ways he’s using HomeKit, Shortcuts, and even the Mac to help HomeKit users do more with lighting in their smart homes. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.lib...
Oct 22, 2022•59 min
You’re moving into a new home, and you want to do things right from the start. Where do you begin? This is the situation Richard’s friend Kent Fellure finds himself in, and we’re delighted to talk with him about some options for security, lighting, HVAC, and more. And of course, Kent joins in some banter about this month’s smart home news from Wemo, Twinkly, and LIFX. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep152.mp3 You’ll also fin...
Aug 29, 2022•59 min
What do you do when you hit a wall on your smart home projects? You can’t do something, don’t know something, or just don’t have the time. Robert Spivack of DoItForMe Solutions is here to help! That plus, of course, we discuss the latest news and updates from Philips Hue, Insteon, and Wink. Yep, Wink. They’re down. Again. Is it for good? They say No. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep151.mp3 You’ll also find the show in thes...
Jul 18, 2022•49 min
IKEA has a new smart home hub in the wings with yet another name we’ll all be trying to pronounce, Amazon ditches its old Cloud Cam but makes good on customers’ investments, and Insteon is back and under new management. Greg Rhoades from Leviton joins Richard on this episode to discuss all this plus his company’s recent push into the smart home with its latest generation of Decora Smart products. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/hom...
Jun 21, 2022•1 hr
With Insteon gone, companies are stepping up to fill in the gaps for thousands of smart home customers. Rohan Karamandi, co-host of the Home Assistant Podcast joins us to discuss all of this. And we dive into why Home Assistant might just be the perfect solution for DIYers looking to give new life to their Insteon products. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep149.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Go...
Jun 02, 2022•46 min
Seth Johnson is here to help make sense of some of the latest smart home news. While it’s a slow product season, two brands, iHome and Insteon, have gone dark with little to no notice! Meanwhile, IKEA’s new cellular shades have arrived in stores, and Seth and Richard try their hand at pronouncing those product names before talking about their latest respective smart home projects. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep148.mp3 You’ll al...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 6 min
After a year’s hiatus, we are back to catch up on some of the recent news: A new smart switch from ORRO, more delays in the Matter standard, and a retail pioneer says goodbye. Erik Glassen joins us to discuss what Kwikset’s been up to in the smart lock space, including a new biometric lock that lets you open your front door with your fingerprint. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep147.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: A...
Apr 07, 2022•33 min
RESET podcast’s Dave McCabe helps us reset our own show as we prepare for a new year of smart home products and services. We discuss new Ring and Philips Hue products plus a new feature from Ring and Amazon that may just freak you out a bit…but it’s pretty cool. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep146.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Pandora Our RSS Feed Did you like it? Please rat...
Mar 29, 2021•27 min
It’s that time of year again! It’s time for the Technology.FM year-end fireside chat, featuring HomeTech hosts Seth Johnson and Jason Griffing plus Richard’s Smart Home Show co-host Adam Justice. And this is the DMZ’s um-free super-edit with 12 fewer minutes of vocables. What are you going to do with all that extra time! Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep145.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podca...
Dec 28, 2020•52 min
There’s still time left to get a smart gift for the favorite geek in your life. Of course, nowadays smart home products are showing up everywhere—in bedrooms, family rooms, and kitchens—and becoming a part of more people’s daily lives. Author and blogger Marlon Buchanan joins us to share some recommendations for the best smart home gifts to give this season. Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep144.mp3 You’ll also find the show in the...
Dec 20, 2020•47 min
Wyze introduces even more new products at record low prices, Cree returns to the smart bulb market, and Amazon is ready to leave packages inside your garage. We discuss all this and more, plus we dive into some innovative Z-Wave products with Inovelli’s Nathan Harte. This episode is brought to you by LL Flooring . Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep143.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spo...
Nov 25, 2020•47 min
Apple’s Adaptive Lighting is finally starting to come to products in the U.S, Wyze’s new $20 camera works indoors and out, and get ready…because Richard spends the rest of the episode gushing over his new connected faucet with Moen’s Mason Hall. Mason provides some context around how the U by Moen faucet fits into Moen’s broader smart water strategy. This episode is brought to you by LL Flooring . Listen to the episode here or download it. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep...
Nov 15, 2020•44 min
Google discontinues Nest Secure while introducing new Nest products that feel a whole lot more Google than Nest. Plus product announcements from Feit, Yale, GE Lighting, and more…all with insights and perspective from The Verge’s Dan Seifert. This episode is brought to you by the new Ask This Old House Podcast . Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep141.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotif...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 1 min
On the eve of product announcements from Google and Apple, Consumer Reports’ Dan Wroclawski joins the show to run through the latest new products from Amazon, Ring, Wyze, and more! And if you’re interested in CR’s picks in eight different smart home categories, Dan has you covered. Find out what they think are some of the best security cameras, doorbells, smart speakers, and more…even irrigation systems. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/hom...
Oct 13, 2020•47 min
Level one-ups Kevo, Signify announces another expensive Philips Hue entertainment product, and Wink lets customers down…again. But the real news is IFTTT’s new Pro offering, and Linden Tibbets is here to tell us all about that and to advise Richard on how to properly pronounce IFTTT after all these years. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep139.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Pando...
Sep 14, 2020•47 min
It’s been a while since we’ve been joined by ConnectSense CEO Adam Justice, and it’s been a while since we’ve just had a heavy news show. Adam joins us to run through some recent industry news stories, and Adam and Richard both have some updates on what’s been happening in their respective smart homes—even since just discussing their own projects in-depth on The Smart Home Show. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep138.mp3 You’ll also ...
Sep 01, 2020•40 min
Chris Young, a.k.a. Homekitgeek, joins me to catch up on some smart home news from the past few weeks. We ponder the rash of products and services going away and Wink’s now-started subscription service, among other things. But the real meat of the conversation focuses around Apple’s and Google’s latest smart home announcements at their respective…and very different…virtual events. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep137.mp3 You’ll als...
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Sonos and Lutron deliver new hardware, Ecobee forces customers to enable its new Eco+ feature, and lots of companies deliver the products they showed at CES. Plus we talk with ConnectedYard founder Justin Miller about pHin, a connected pool monitoring system. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep136.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Radio TuneIn Radio Our RSS Feed Did you lik...
Jun 22, 2020•52 min
Adam Miarka Jimmy Hawkins Dave McCabe Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Josh Pollard We have a terrific lineup of guests for this long-overdue episode, and we’re talking with each of them about projects they’ve been taking on while hunkering down this Spring for COVID. For some, it’s Spring cleaning time—for others, it’s an opportunity to test out some new products! What have you been getting into during this time at home? Send us a message or leave a comment, below. We’d love to know! Listen to the episo...
May 22, 2020•56 min
Device manufacturers begin to roll out updates to enable HomeKit Secure Video and HomeKit router support, Level is shipping its stealthy smart lock, and Insteon’s long-awaited app update is now in public beta. Plus we’re joined on this episode by Samsung SmartThings product manager, Blake Arnold, discussing some of the latest platform updates and the company’s renewed push to move customers to the new SmartThings experience. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/th...
Mar 20, 2020•54 min
Some products we saw at CES are starting to hit the market while both Nest and Ring announce they’ll be requiring customers to use two-factor authentication. And Olibra’s founder and CEO, Zohar Shinar, joins us to discuss his company’s ingenious product, designed to solve a common problem in millions of households. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep133.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spo...
Feb 26, 2020•39 min
We’re finally over our CES hangover, so it’s high time to wrap up our CES thoughts and put a bow on ’em. The DMZ’s Josh Pollard joins us to review the smart home products we took most interest in at CES 2020, including some vendor interviews and our favorite picks. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep132.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Radio TuneIn Radio Our RSS Feed Did y...
Jan 28, 2020
CNET’s Molly Price joins the show to review the latest news and updates and to take a look back and ahead at CES. What was hot last year, which companies met the expectations they created, and which ones didn’t? And they look ahead, of course, at this year’s CES happening this very week in Las Vegas. Listen to the episode here or download it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/thedigitalmediazone/homeon-ep131.mp3 You’ll also find the show in these places: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Stitcher R...
Jan 05, 2020
It’s that time of year again. With the weather getting colder and the holidays right upon us, the Technology.FM hosts get together once again for their annual fireside chat. Now joined by Adam Justice, they discuss some of this year’s biggest smart home stories and consider what they’re each most looking forward to in 2020. So grab a warm cup of cocoa, sit down with them, and enjoy this digital-assistant safe edition of Technology.FM’s fifth annual fireside chat. Listen to the episode here or do...
Dec 23, 2019
