This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen examines Apple’s new push into great-sounding, yet affordable smart home tech. He and his guest, John Chase, smart home technology editor at Wirecutter, talk about the brand new Apple HomePod Mini…which promises to deliver great audio quality, at an affordable price. Plus, you can use it for listening to music – and also with your TV! Should the Amazon Echo, and Google Home platforms – be nervous?

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks making your time at home – better – by using smart home tech! His guest is an expert in both smart home tech and real estate. Realtor Angel Piontek is associate broker and vice president of marketing at Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She's also the author of the “Mostly Smart Home Blog.”

On this week’s edition of Smart Home Today, Stephen examines the new generation of hot water heaters, which use no tank at all! His guest is Mary Farrell with Consumer Reports, who discusses whether these ‘instant-on’ hot water systems are right for your home – or not!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about the brand new tech that’s expected to fly off the shelves – literally! Because Amazon’s new in-home drone is coming soon! Stephen’s guest is Andrew Gebhart, Senior Associate Editor at CNET, who discusses the brand new smart home devices from Amazon, Google and Apple. And here’s a preview: different shapes, better audio quality, and lower prices!  

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about Smart Plugs – with Rachel Cericola of Wirecutter. They explore the ways Smart Plugs can make almost any electrical device – smart! From fans, to coffee makers, to exercise bikes – even outdoor pumps! Smart Plugs allow you to control those devices with your phone, or with Alexa, Googe or Siri. Just another way the best things come in small packages!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at the huge array of 5G phones on the market – and wonders why hardly any of them, can find 5G service! His guest is Sascha Segan, lead mobile analyst from PCMag.com, who explains just why the actual 5G signals are lagging far behind the rollout of 5G phones. Sascha offers a timeline on when you might finally see your phone’s ‘5G’ indicator light up….yay! And, why getting a 5G phone might be a good move - even without 5G service! Really?

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about how to get more bars on your cell phone – without switching carriers! His guest is Sascha Segan, the lead mobile analyst at PCMag.com, who describes the dazzling array of cell-phone boosters in today’s market. With a booster, you create a virtual cell phone tower in your home – adding one, two, three, even four more bars of service! They’re not cheap, and they require lots of tweaking, but wow! They really work!

On today’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks smart door locks with Jon Chase, from Wirecutter. With so many brands to choose from - which smart lock is right for you? Plus - can you install one yourself - without a locksmith? And when your WiFi goes down, and your Bluetooth won’t pair - are you locked out of your own house? 

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at smart Thermostats! What they do, how they work, and what what a smart thermostat could mean to your utility bills! Stephen’s guest is Jason D’Aprile, one of the nation’s top smart home technology writers! And they discuss installation, ‘teaching’ a smart thermostat about your temperature needs, and - can it still work without WiFi? 

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at smart bathrooms! That's right! Smart tubs and toilets, mirrors and whirlpools. Can those features increase the value of your home? And make it more attractive to potential buyers if you're going to sell? His guest is an expert in both smart home tech and real estate. Realtor Angel Piontek is associate broker and vice president of marketing at Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She's also the author of the “Mostly Smart Home Blog.”