Review: Nest Learning Thermostat

We can use Home Automation devices to monitor our homes, keep us secure and turn our lights on and off. So why not use technology to help monitor and control the energy used to heat and cool our homes? The Nest Learning Thermostat can do just that – on its own- via the web and also through an app. Nest isn’t totally new, but the latest version, the 2nd generation model, is certainly much improved and you don’t have to be a geek to make the most of it. Great news if you’re a resident of Alberta, you may have an opportunity to get one free from Direct Energy.

The biggest thing to appreciate is that Nest is more than just a programmable thermostat – setting the device to turn on and off at predetermined times. It knows when you turn it up and knows when you turn it down and even knows when you’re away. It monitors usage and learns your habits, when you want to be toasty warm and when you want it a little cooler. It does this for about a week or so after installation and then it programs itself. When you configure it upon set up, you also give it your postal code, so it knows what the temperature is like outside so it can also learn vis-a-vis your actual environment.

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Review: Dyson DC62 Animal cordless vacuum sucks like a corded one

Dyson Dc62

At first glance the Dyson DC62 Animal doesn’t look like much of a vacuum; in fact, it looks more like a metal detector than a vacuum cleaner. The first thing that came to mind was how such a small handheld unit, especially a cordless one, could do the job of a full sized vacuum. Fortunately for me, for today anyway, I live in a very dry area, almost back on to a transit station and have a significant amount of carpeting in my home, so there’s never any shortage of testing material – dust, sand and other sediment – that needed to be sucked up.

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CANOE Review: Y-cam Home Monitor security camera

HomeMonitor MainWhether you already have a home alarm system or not, if you are looking for an inexpensive way to beef up your indoor security, Y-cam has developed a low-cost plug and play home monitor system that helps you keep an eye out from any computer, tablet or smartphone and alert you to unexpected activity when you’re not there.

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Swann Wireless DJ Doorbell let’s you Rock the House!

SwannDoorbell2

If you can turn your favorite tunes into ringtones for your cell phone, why not do the same or your doorbell? Well, with the Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell, that possibility is just a push of a button away.

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