Archos' awkward answer to home automation
Archos' awkward answer to home automation
2:26

Archos' awkward answer to home automation

Smart Home
Hey, I'm Megan Wollerton for CNET here with a review of the Archos Smart Home starter pack. It includes this Android tablet, two mini cameras, two weather tags, and two movement tags. You can place the accessories around your house and pair it to the tablet using bluetooth. You can also program the accessories to say, if the store opens, then take a picture or record video and you can also opt to receive emails or push notifications when an activity event occurs. So let me start with the good stuff. The set up was pretty straightforward, pairing it to the tablet was very simple, and the performance is pretty good too. I never lost connection between the devices and the tablet. And, I got an alert every time an event took place. My main concern is with the execution with this whole package. The Argos tablet is really the hub of the whole system, and it claims to function like a regular android tablet, which it does in terms of software. It has all the components, you can check your email, browse the internet, listen to music, all of that. But, it has this odd stand in the back. They're taking a basic Arcos, android tablet, and giving it all of these smart home features, and the execution just feels really, really clunky and confusing, because the whole point of a tablet is its mobility, right, you can take it from room to room maybe even take it on a trip with you. But using this tablet as the core component that has to stay at home, and really can't leave your side table, or your coffee table is really confusing. So, I just wish that Arkose would offer these accessories separately for a more entry level option that makes a little bit more sense. That way you can use the Android app on your tablet, or phone. And access everything the way you can now, just without this odd, stationary tablet. Another thing I don't like, is, that the app has two different connection options. One if you're on your home Wi-Fi, where the, tablet is located. And another if you're on a remote connection. So, if youre heading out for the day and want to monitor whats going on at your house on the app., you have to go through a completely connection process than you would when youre at home. And that really just over complicates things. Thanks for watching this review of the Archos Smart Home starter pack. I'm Megan Wollerton for CNET. [MUSIC]

Up Next

Amazon's Echo Show 8 Photos Edition Highlights Your Memories
screenshot-2023-09-20-at-17-07-50.png

Up Next

Amazon's Echo Show 8 Photos Edition Highlights Your Memories

Amazon's Alexa Gets More Conversational With AI
screenshot-2023-09-20-at-16-31-29.png

Amazon's Alexa Gets More Conversational With AI

Connecting Your Smart Home: Samsung Reveals SmartThings Station at CES 2023
ces23-samsung-smartthingsstation

Connecting Your Smart Home: Samsung Reveals SmartThings Station at CES 2023

Best Philips Hue Lights -- 2022 Roundup
philips-hue

Best Philips Hue Lights -- 2022 Roundup

Philips Hue's Festavia Christmas Lights Shine Bright
1203512452114853-bcyxgjtaiv3zupirxdx9-height640.png

Philips Hue's Festavia Christmas Lights Shine Bright

Google Nest Wired Doorbell and Nest Wifi Pro Hands-On
topic-ddmmyy-land-copy-01-00-00-14-25-still004

Google Nest Wired Doorbell and Nest Wifi Pro Hands-On

Apple Could Be Ready to Launch the Next HomePod
homepod-b-roll-mp4-00-00-22-04-still001.png

Apple Could Be Ready to Launch the Next HomePod

The Revolution R270 Is a Smart Toaster With a Screen
revolution-toaster-orange-promo

The Revolution R270 Is a Smart Toaster With a Screen

Erasing Our Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant Smart Homes
resetting-the-smart-home-3

Erasing Our Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant Smart Homes

Amazon Glow: An interactive projector for kids
amazonglow-cnet

Amazon Glow: An interactive projector for kids

Tech Shows

The Apple Core
apple-core-w

The Apple Core

Alphabet City
alphabet-city-w

Alphabet City

CNET Top 5
cnet-top-5-w

CNET Top 5

The Daily Charge
dc-site-1color-logo.png

The Daily Charge

What the Future
what-the-future-w

What the Future

Tech Today
tech-today-w

Tech Today

Latest News All latest news

PlayStation 5 Pro Leaked: Everything We Know
playstation5pro-leak-clean

PlayStation 5 Pro Leaked: Everything We Know

Everything Just Revealed at Nvidia's GTC AI Conference
nvidiastill

Everything Just Revealed at Nvidia's GTC AI Conference

Nvidia Reveals Omniverse Cloud Streams to the Vision Pro
nvidia-vision-pro-image

Nvidia Reveals Omniverse Cloud Streams to the Vision Pro

Nvidia Shows Project GROOT and Disney Bots at GTC Conference
robot-2

Nvidia Shows Project GROOT and Disney Bots at GTC Conference

Expert vs. AI: Is Now the Time to Buy an EV?
gettyimages-1178244881

Expert vs. AI: Is Now the Time to Buy an EV?

The PlayStation Portal Built-In Volume Is too Loud: Here's How to Keep It Low
playstation-portal-audio-options-thumb2

The PlayStation Portal Built-In Volume Is too Loud: Here's How to Keep It Low

Most Popular All most popular

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
innovation

First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
240123-site-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-review-4

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
circlesearchpic

'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
asus-preces-00-00-25-11-still003

Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
samsung-galaxy-ring-clean

Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
240111-site-best-of-ces-2024-1

Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024

Latest Products All latest products

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
240304-site-nothing-phone-2-first-look-v3

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
240229-site-best-of-show-at-mwc

Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
240225-site-lenovo-translucent-laptop-concept-v3

This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
240225-site-motorola-rollable-concept

Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist

See Adobe Lightroom on the Apple Vision Pro
adobe-lightroom-00-02-58-03-still006-1

See Adobe Lightroom on the Apple Vision Pro

This $400 Cane Has a Built-In Phone
p1022441-mp4-15-35-32-23-still001

This $400 Cane Has a Built-In Phone

Latest How To All how to videos

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
240311-site-windows-11-hidden-tips-and-tricks-v2

Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
VisionOS 1.0.3

Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
240216-site-galaxy-s24-ultra-tips-and-hidden-features-2

Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
tiktok-on-vision-pro-clean

TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
superbowl-tv-settings-thumb1

Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro
240202-site-spatial-computing-on-meta-quest-3

How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro