Appliances and smart-home tech to watch for this fall
Here are the end-of-year gadgets we'll be keeping an eye on.
Autumn brings end-of-year tech
Fall is upon us, and you know what that means -- tons of new tech to whet your holiday shopping appetite.
Check out some of the smart-home devices and appliances that were recently introduced to the retail market as well as others that will be available soon for your buying pleasure.
BedJet 2.0
Price: $500
Availability: December 2015
The outlook: An update to the original BedJet, version 2.0 brings auto-adjusting temperatures into the fold. This new feature means that the hot-and-cold-air-blowing-fan should change on its own so that you get great sleep with minimal fuss.
Butterfleye
Price: $199
Availability: December 2015
The outlook: Butterfleye is a rechargeable, battery-powered camera complete with live streaming, free 24-hour rolling storage and built-in Bluetooth and heat-sensing tech designed to help distinguish between people and even between people and pets.
We've only reviewed a couple of products -- ArcSoft's Simplicam and the Netatmo Welcome -- that claim facial recognition functionality.
FirstBuild Paragon Induction Cooktop
Price: $249
Availability: TBD
The outlook: FirstBuild took two hot pieces of kitchen tech -- induction and sous vide -- and combined them into a single cooking powerhouse.
Not only does the FirstBuild team get kudos for creativity, but they're also offering it at a very reasonable price, given that the going rate for most induction tech is at least $1,000.
LG Twin Wash Washing Machine
Price: TBD
Availability: TBD
The outlook: This LG washing machine not only looks neat, but it also offers a double-decker experience so you can run a regular load of laundry up top while simultaneously cleaning your delicates below.
Neato Wi-Fi BotVac
Price: TBD
Availability: TBD
The outlook: We've been waiting for an app-enabled robot vacuum from Neato for awhile now, especially since brands like Dyson have already introduced connected versions of their own. This move should push Neato bots over line from simple automated cleaners to true smart-home devices.
Nest 3.0
Price: $249
Availability: September 2015
The outlook: Nest is introducing yet another revamp of its popular Learning Thermostat, a sleek, app-enabled climate control device with built-in motion sensing tech as well as an algorithm that automatically adjusts your heating and cooling based on your schedule.
Philips Hue Wireless Dimming Kit
Price: $40
Availability: September 2015
The outlook: We like Philips' collection of ZigBee-enabled Hue products, but you have to fork over at least $100 for a starter pack, complete with LED bulbs and the requisite ZigBee hub.
But Philips is changing all that with its $40 Wireless Dimming Kit, which includes a dimmable, white-light LED and a wall switch/magnetic remote (and doesn't need a hub to operate).
SmartThings 2.0
Price: TBD
Availability: September 2015
The outlook: SmartThings announced that it would be replacing its original hub and sensors with new models at CES 2015. While these white plastic smart-home devices will still look a lot like the previous iteration, it's what's inside that counts.
Specifically, the hub is supposed to gain Bluetooth 4.0 tech, a more powerful processor, a backup battery and more cellular backup options.