Peer into the smart home of Lowe's Iris (pictures)

The Iris by Lowe's Second Generation system promises faster response time and easier device pairing than its predecessor.

We primarily tested the Automation Pack, which includes a plug, a motion sensor, two contact sensors and a smart button.

The smart outlet lets you connect anything you want with a plug. It'll also monitor the energy usage of whatever you have plugged into it.

You can use the smart button as a panic button, so the system's alarm sounds when you press it. Or you can assign it to a variety of different rules. For example, you can turn on a lamp plugged into the smart outlet when you press the button.

Place the contact sensor on your door, and it'll tell you when the door is open or closed. It also tracks the temperature.

The motion sensor caught all movement in the family room of the CNET Smart Home over the course of a couple of weeks of testing.

Get your devices set up, and you can create rules tying them together.

You can also customize your alarm. When it sounds, you'll get a push notification, an email and a phone call.