HomeTech.fm

On this episode of HomeTech: We are joined by James Ratcliffe, owner of Homeplay, for a special edition of our “Projects Project”. A custom integration company based in the UK, Homeplay just wrapped up construction on a stunning new showroom. James join us to discuss their beautiful new facility which features the latest in high-end home technology solutions. Tune in to hear about this unique and challenging project!

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: the latest home tech headlines plus our annual Black Friday roundup! There are great some really great deals on home tech this year. Don’t waste your time scouring the internet. We’ve done the hard work for you!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Legrand acquires smart home startup Netatmo
  • SnapAV Acquires Volutone, Adding 7 Distributor Locations
  • SnapAV Now Sells Nest and Google Smart Home and Pro-Monitored Security Systems
  • Huawei Working on New Digital Assistant to Take on Google and Amazon | Digital Trends
  • Alexa can wake up more of your smart home devices
  • Google Assistant Adds Smart Home Bells and Whistles | Digital Trends
  • Roku's wireless TV speakers will begin shipping on November 16th
  • ESPN, HGTV, TBS and more jump into HDHomerun's new $35/month streaming TV package
  • DirecTV to Launch Android TV-Based OTT Set-Top Box (EXCLUSIVE)
  • Apple Stops Selling AirPort Devices, Gets Out of the Router Business | Digital Trends
• Pick of the Week
  • OLED Digital Signage

Black Friday NotesGoogle

• Google Black Friday deals
  • Nest Cam Indoor $129 ($70 off)
  • Google Home Hub $99 ($50 off)
  • Google home mini $25 ($24 off, half price)
    • 3-Pack at Costco for $70 ($23/mini)
  • Google Home $79 ($50 off)
  • Chromecast $25 ($10 off)
  • Good package deals too
    • Google Home Hub + Google Home + Wifi 3-pack (save $129)

Amazon

• Amazon Echo Sub Bundle with Two Echo Plus Speakers for $330 ($100 off).
• Echo Dot and Tile Mate Bundle for $50 ($50 off).
• Echo Dot Kids + Fire HD 8 for Kids for $150 ($50 off).
• Echo Look $50 (Normal $200?!)
• Smart Plug - $5 with purchase of any Echo device
• Bundle Deals
  • https://www.thrifter.com/echo-dot-sengled-color-starter-kit
• Via Thrifter: Sonos currently has an ongoing promotion with Amazon where you can get a smart bulb or smart plug for just $10 if you own a Sonos One. Hopefully that deal is still happening when these speaker prices go live so you can save even more.
• Ring
  • Deals with bundled devices
  • $99 for Ring Doorbells

Apple

• HomePod
  • Best Buy will be dropping the price to $249.99 (~$100 off)
    • The second best price that we’ve seen all-time.
• Best Buy - up to $250 off MacBook Pros
• iPad
  • Target, Walmart, and others will be marking the 9.7-inch iPad Wi-Fi 32GB to $250 (Reg. $329), one of the best prices that we’ve ever seen.
• Apple Holiday gift guide

Ecobee

• Ecobee announces Black Friday deals on smart thermostats and smart switches
  • Ecobee4 $50 off
    • $199 down from $249
    • Buy on Amazon
  • ECOBEE3 LITE SMART THERMOSTAT: SALE PRICE $139 ($30 off)
  • ECOBEE SWITCH+ SMART LIGHT SWITCH: SALE PRICE $79 ($20 off)

Sonos

• Sonos’ Black Friday deals feature the One and Beam speakers
  • Sonos One - $175 ($25 off)
  • Sonos Beam Soundbar - $349 ($50 off)
  • Sonos Sub - $500 ($100 off)
  • Prices good on Sonos.com and Amazon.com

Best Buy

• Best Buy offers a slew of Black Friday deals for smart home, security, and Wi-Fi
  • Amazon – Echo Show (1st Generation) $100 ($130 off)
  • Ring – Video Doorbell Pro and Chime Pro Bundle: $180 ($120 off)
  • Lenovo – 8-inch Smart Display with Google Assistant $100 ($100 off)
  • Arlo – Pro 4-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Camera System $445 ($150 off)
    • Arlo Pro 3-camera Kit at costco for $300 ($170 off)
  • Also a bunch of Philips Hue discounts. Check them out if you’re in the market

TV Specials

• LG's OLED TVs get modest discounts for Black Friday
  • Discounts available now through December 1st.
  • OLED C8
    • LG is discounting the 55-inch and 65-inch models by $800, bringing them to $1,700 and $2,700, respectively.
  • Super UHD SK9000 series of LEDs.
    • You can save $600 on the 55-inch model, which now costs $900,
    • You can also save $900 on the 65-inch model, the price of which is knocked down to $1,300.
  • Additionally, you can save up to $2,000 on LG's UHD 4K LED TVs.
    • 70-inch - $900 ($600 off)
    • 75-inch - $1,400 ($800 off)
    • 86-inch model - $2,500 ($2,000 off!)
  • NOTE: All these discounts are off LG’s suggested price and some may not be priced much lower than you could have otherwise found by shopping around
• TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2018 Model)
  • $629 on Amazon
• VIZIO - You can get a top-tier Vizio P Series TV for a song this Black Friday
  • The 70-inch D-Series models
    • Recently priced at $800, can be had at Walmart, Costco, and Target for just $470 - SCREAMING DEAL
    • P-Series models.
      • $300 off the 65-inch and 75-inch P-Series models, bringing them down to $899 and $1,699, respectively.
    • 65-inch P-Series Quantum (flagship model)
      • $600 off of its usual $2,100 list price, bringing the TV down to just $1,500.
      • That’s an astonishing deal for a TV with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and 2,000 nits of brightness.
• Sharp - 55-inch 4K Roku TV: $250 (save $200)
• Sceptre 55-Inch 4K UHD TV for $250 ($150 off).
  • Never even heard of this company but $250 is crazy cheap

Gaming

• The best Black Friday video game console deals
• GameStop’s pre-Black Friday deals discount games, PS4 and Xbox One consoles, and accessories
  • 1TB Xbox One X will be available at Walmart for $399.
    • Usually priced between $450 and $500, the
  • Xbox One S 1TB Minecraft Creators Bundle will be $199 ($100 off)
  • Nintendo Switch
    • Target - $300.
      • Normal cost but also includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
  • PS4 Slim 1TB with Spider-Man will be $199 ($100 off)

Jay’s Picks

• Keurig launches a cocktail-making pod machine
• This alarm clock uses targeted light and sound to wake you, but not your partner
• 13 SMART STEM TOYS FOR THE TECHIE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE
  • GeoSmart Flip Bot - $59.99
  • Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit - $99.99
    • “Build a wand. Learn to code. Make magic”
  • Drone Builder Kit - $99.99
    • “Build and fly your own drone”
  • Makeblock Neuron Explorer Kit - $199.95
    • Kids can create almost anything using a series of programmable electronic blocks that function as sensors, lights, sounds, and motors.
    • Designed to make learning Swift coding fun and engaging, the kit encourages exploration through building, programming, and creating.”
  • Toybox Starter Bundle - 3D Printer - $299 ($100 off)
    • Toybox
    • Free 500+ Toy Digital Catalog
    • Access to our Creator Space
    • One roll of Coconut Printer Food (makes 100-300 toys)

Seth’s Picks

• Lego Architecture
  • https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Architecture-London-Skyline-Collection/dp/B01KJENN0U?tag=mbnx3-20&ascsubtag=UUthUdUnU12808YYdYd
  • (more examples on amazon)
• Vector Robots
  • (website with video)

Extra Links

• All the best tech deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2018
  • good link, running updates
• Best of Black Friday 2018 – Apple: HomePod $250, $400 gift card w/ iPhone, MacBooks, iPad, more
  • Scroll down for a bunch of links to guides by category
    • TV’s, Home Theater, Smart Home, Etc
• Black Friday 2018 deals at Best Buy: OLED TVs, Sonos, Google -- and the best HomePod price ever
  • Scroll down for a bunch of links broken out by category, store, etc
• Save Smart: The Best Black Friday Smart Home Deals
  • Good smart home-specific roundup
• Thrifter - https://www.thrifter.com
  

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: the latest home tech headlines plus our annual Black Friday roundup! There are great some really great deals on home tech this year. Don’t waste your time scouring the internet. We’ve done the hard work for you!

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Ashish Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Caavo. Ashish discusses the company’s novel approach to simplifying the TV-viewing experience. Caavo is an innovative and affordable product which solves a growing challenge for viewers today—the cumbersome and complicated experience of accessing content across multiple apps and disparate devices. Tune in to learn more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • IKEA Smart Shade Pricing
  • Disney+ streaming service will launch in late 2019
  • AT&T CFO says new DirecTV service will be self-installed box instead of truck roll
  • TiVo Releases New DVR
  • Set-Top Box for T-Mobile’s Upcoming TV Service Surfaces Online
• Interview: Control Center Universal TV Remote and Home Theater Hub
• Picks of the Week
  • VHS Classic
  • Pockethernet - Smartphone connected Cable tester & Ethernet network analyser

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Ashish Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Caavo. Ashish discusses the company’s novel approach to simplifying the TV-viewing experience. Caavo is an innovative and affordable product which solves a growing challenge for viewers today—the cumbersome and complicated experience of accessing content across multiple apps and disparate devices. Tune in to learn more!

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: The Dish Network-HBO feud that hurts no one but consumers. Did you catch the first-even National #SmartHomeDay? Samsung opens Bixby to third-party developers. Sonos delays their Google Assistant integration. Ring pushes some significant app updates. Great 5G commentary from the HomeTech mailbag. And much more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• National #SmartHomeDay Features Facebook Livestream From Industry Faves
• Bird launches UK's first scooter sharing service on one London path
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Samsung opens Bixby to third-party apps and devices
  • One Hacker is 'Shocked' at Vulnerabilities in the Google Home Hub | Digital Trends
  • Google refutes reported Home Hub security flaw
  • Spotify gives away Google Home Minis to US family plan subscribers
  • Google wants to improve your smart home with iRobot’s room maps
  • Amazon Black Friday 2018 Prices Revealed — Fire TV Stick 4K for $34.99, Echo Dot 3 for $24, and more
  • Amazon's Alexa and Echo launch in Mexico
  • New Ring app updates coming soon
  • Sonos delays Google Assistant support until 2019
  • Netflix Unveils Six Animated Films, Shows (EXCLUSIVE)
  • Comcast is developing a video-streaming box for broadband-only customers
  • HBO Goes Dark for First Time in Its History Due to Standoff With Dish
  • AT&T and Dish’s HBO battle is the bleak future of cable and streaming
  • Dish’s Charlie Ergen says HBO blackout is ‘purely anticompetitive play’ by AT&T
• Mailbag
  • What is CBRS? - LTE in 3.5 GHz Shared Spectrum and What it Means for IoT
• Pic of the Week
  • Netgear’s first Wi-Fi 6 routers look like sci-fi spaceships
  • HomeRun: Quickly Trigger HomeKit Scenes on Your Apple Watch
• Announcing r/hometech - HomeTech's new home on Reddit

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: The Dish Network-HBO feud that hurts no one but consumers. Did you catch the first-even National #SmartHomeDay? Samsung opens Bixby to third-party developers. Sonos delays their Google Assistant integration. Ring pushes some significant app updates. Great 5G commentary from the HomeTech mailbag. And much more!

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We wrap-up the biggest stories from Apple’s hardware event, share what’s on our current streaming watch list, ponder the oft-forgotten value of hardwired connections, discuss useless voice control capabilities, dispel some of the 5G-hype, and more…

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Sonos One limited edition arrives with five new colors - 9to5Toys
  • Amazon Fire TV Cube gains hands-free voice navigation in Netflix and other 3rd-party apps
  • New maxed out iPad Pro hits $1900, Mac mini up to $4200, MacBook Air to $2600
  • 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T - Wikipedia
  • Here's Why We May Not Need 5G at Al | Digital Trends
• Pic of the Week
  • drunk peeing in public vs. motion activated sprinklers and bucket boobie trap montage part 2

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We wrap-up the biggest stories from Apple’s hardware event, share what’s on our current streaming watch list, ponder the oft-forgotten value of hardwired connections, discuss useless voice control capabilities, dispel some of the 5G-hype, and more…

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

On this week’s episode of HomeTech: We say goodbye to the Alexa buzzer. Streaming TV services on pace to grab 25% of the market by 2022. Google Play lowers the price of 4K content and offers free upgrades. Amazon participates in a $50 million funding round for German smart thermostat maker Tado. Netflix to raise a staggering $2 in debt to fund original content and more. Apple’s long-awaited streaming TV subscription service rumored to be launching soon in more than 100 countries. And much more…

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Alexa’s new Whisper Mode goes live
  • Amazon invests in $50M funding round for German smart thermostat startup tado
  • Sonos may add Roku's entertainment platform to its speakers
  • Spotify Premium redesign borrows one of Pandora's best features
  • Google Play is upgrading your movie purchases to 4K for free
  • Google apologizes for YouTube TV outage, offers free week of credit
  • Streaming TV services will nab 25% of video market by 2022, analyst says
  • PlayStation Vue is now integrated with Apple’s TV app
  • Sling TV exec: Our vMVPD competitors are ‘repeating the sins of pay TV past’
  • Apple’s Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the ‘data industrial complex’
  • Netflix will raise $2 billion to pay for more original content
  • Apple to Launch TV Subscription Service Globally
  • Big Mouth | Netflix Official Site
• Pic of the Week
  • Hands Free Phone Ad - 1993
  • The First | Hulu
  • Patriot | Prime Video