The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
18
That’s the number of devices in our home that make use of a wireless signal. While we aren’t officially one of those “homes of the future” there is no doubt that our home is deeply connectd to technology, and that number of devices that we have that make use of the internet or of remote control functioning by way of apps is only going to increase. Heck, by February I am going to have laundry detergent that has a wifi connection. True story! I know!
Maybe my number sounds high to you, but I want to encourage you to take moment to count your own devices, from your phones, to your computers and tablet, and even to your television (especially if you have Sling or something similar connected). How about your thermostat (we love being able to control our temps while we are out of town!)?
And what, dear friend, about your lighting? Most of you are probably confused about the lighting thing. How is it possile to connect your lightbulbs to an app?
Let me show you!
Check out the Philips hue A19 Starter Kit and the Philips hue Go, both available at Best Buy. These bulbs and accessory lights work with your Wi-Fi to let you create a customized ambiance in your home. From Halloween night to a lazy Saturday afternoon, just think about the fun possibilities for how you can light your home! We have been using our special lighting on a timer to help us wake up to a simulated sunrise effect, and I’ve been playing around with lighting that can help me feel more relaxed at the end of the day.
On a more practical note, because your lighting is connected to your Wi-Fi, you can control it remotely. This means you can alter the lights in your home when you are away on vacation to give the appearance that someone is, in fact, at home.
I’ve also been making great use of the portable Philips hue Go by using it to create just the right lighting for pictures and videos. It is such an easy way to add the light you might need when you are trying to capture a moment but you can tell that it’s going to turn out too dark (something we struggle with in our home, which doesn’t have a lot of natural light). The hue Go can be plugged in, or you can make use of its rechargeable battery (up to 3 hours) and truly take it anywhere.
When you find a mood that you especially love, you can save these custome creations and you can even take a photo that you love and use it as a palette for your lighting. How awesome is that?! And since you will want different lighting at different times of the day based on your schedule, you can create a program so that you can experience all those wonderful moments with just the right lighting, from waking up in the morning, to walking through the door at the end of your work day to preparing for bed. Or if your kids ask to throw a My Little Pony Pinkie Pie party RIGHT NOW, you will know exactly what to do.
Boom. This took 2 seconds. No changing light bulbs or anything!
My husband, in particular, has had such a blast playing with the lighting capabilities that the Philips hue products can offer. I would very highly recommend this for that special person on your holiday shopping list who loves technology.
And as your home become increasingly connected, you will definitely need to invest in a router that can keep up with all of your devices. Best Buy and Netgear has worked together to develop an amazing router, exclusive to Best Buy, that can give you the type of support your home either already needs, or will need in the near future as you get more connected. All those connections put a strain on your home network, which is why the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 is so awesome.
One of my favorite features of this router is that it comes with a DST, or “Dead Spot Terminator.” You likely have a spot in your home where the wi-fi just doesn’t quite reach, which is SO frustrating. This adapter extends the reach of your Wi-Fi!
Additionally, this router is designed to support 10 or more connected devices. And speaking of support, here’s another super awesome feature: you get one full year of Geek Squad support (as well as complimentary Geek Squad Set Up!) with this purchase via phone & web. YOu can dial in 24/7…no need to schedule an appointment! All the information you need to get started with the Geek Squad service is available to you in video format as well as in the quick start guid you’ll find in the box. You’ll be up and running in no time, and your connected home will have the support it needs to power through the day!