TOP 10 Smart Home Devices For Alexa and HomeKit!

[@CraigsTechTalk]

🔴 CHECK OUT 🍿 10 Apple TV TIPS You Need To Know! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mme9ZZhpl82YaZI 🍿 Top 10 Everyday Apple Watch Uses! Why You Need One - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGmag5udfKyGn7s

[@pug_63]

I do love when the smart home KZbin creators disagree with each other. Was watching this thinking “[insert name] would disagree with that”. Of course it’s down to personal preference, but some of these products are (using a British saying) like Marmite. Some people love; others …. not so much. Keep up the good work!

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Thank you very much. It is funny how we do see things differently. I think we can agree on things when it really sucks (Hue strips)🤫

[@tobyevans78]

Paul Hibbert has entered the chat.

[@BreakTime10101]

I love your videos. Because of you I got into Ring alarm/cameras and 7 (yes 7) Echo Dots throughout the house. Still debating on getting a HomePod Mini. I use the Ring solar panels on my outdoor cameras, I never have to recharge the batteries. And the Ring alarm system is easy to hook up as well, and has battery and cellular backup. What Ring needs though is cellular backup for its cameras as well. Thank you for what you do.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Thank you very much. Bring someone who wants to tinker, I would say get one to try it and see how it can offer value too. If you are an Apple user, you can tell Siri to add a reminder for BLAH BLAH. That puts the reminder in the app I use. The echos are a great too with the Echos. I say take advantage of each strength. You can try it, if you’re not satisfied you return it.

[@jasperfredrickson4420]

Awww yeah! Love your Homekit videos. Another great video Craig. Keep em' coming. I also had no idea about the Hoobs which sounds like a godsend since I can't find a decent Homekit doorbell that doesn't require a hardwire (apartment living, am I right?).

[@neekster28]

I don't think that it works with video doorbells, but I use a Raspberry Pi (~$50) and HomeAssistant to run my Govee lights in HomeKit.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Thank you very much Jasper, it does not give you any doorbell rings. But when my doorbell rings anyways I’ll open up the app. I’ve never been one to open up my ring video doorbell on my echoes. The benefit of Hoobs is being able to bring in the camera side of the ring doorbell. You can get motion notifications on your phone. I like it for being Apple to pull up the cameras on the TV and in the Home App. For anything more I am going to want to into the Ring app. A cheaper affordable option is doing a raspberry pi home assistant. Similar idea, but capable of much more than Hoobs. Also a lot cheaper.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Neekster Man - good call. Hope you are doing well.

[@bealzibub4002]

Check out eufy doorbells

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Nice suggestion. Eufy doorbells are great for that flexibility and real HomeKit support. First Eufy I tried had very in accurate zones and triggering compared to my ring doorbell. That was a couple of years ago that I last tried one.

[@myHomeKithome]

It could just be me, but I've not had the best experience with Hue stuff in the long term. The bulbs seem to be dimming and even the motion sensors just aren't responding as they did 2 years ago. The combo HomePod Mini and Apple TV setup is amazing. I'm super excited about being able to assign HP MIni as a default speaker in iOS 15. Thank you for yet another great video Craig!

[@monas.6839]

I agree with the Hue stuff. I just switched my bulbs to Novostella - they’re so much brighter….I’m really happy with them!

[@CraigsTechTalk]

That interesting. Haven’t thought about mine. I can see over time losing brightness. Surprised about the motion sensor. I wish mine was a slower. I leave the room turn off the lights and walk right back in and they pop on. Their cool down period is one of the lowest at 30 or 45 seconds. I haven’t bought anymore bulbs, but have picked up more sensor because of that. For new bulbs I still go LifX.

[@myHomeKithome]

@@monas.6839 I'd be interested to see how the newer Hue hulbs stack up, but as for now, I'm completely phasing Hue out of my setup.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

That makes sense. I like what they have done and the value they have had where I have them. But I am going to keep trying things and using the strips I still have to put up. But, I am kind of on hold until we see some matter or more thread devices. I will try devices, but I believe there are going to be better options that work with both Alexa and HomeKit. Or they will be thread and matter ready for Apple and Google. When Amazon want to join the new way, they can.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Craig. Great list.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Thank you Ron, I appreciate that. Hope you’re doing well.

[@terkfranks1538]

My fav is probably the Google TV and Firestick4K and then we have Google Home Nest screens in every room. (I normally watch news on it with morning coffee.) Then the outlets (turned coffee pot smart and fans. Then wyze color bulbs...and many more. I think next might be for my curtains 🤔

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Very cool. You have a nice setup going on. The nest hubs have a great screen interface. Those Wyze color bulbs are great. Let us know where you end up with curtains. Custom stuff gets expensive and off the shelf is hard to find for certain windows. The SwitchBot curtains are still opening my curtains daily with sunrise and closing at sunset

[@inderbuenrostro9511]

I’m not seeing a link for the flic switches. That’s a switchbot product correct?

[@ntechbuses]

I love your videos!

[@CraigsTechTalk]

You are too kind. Thank you very much. I appreciate you stopping by the Livestreams too.

[@asprywrites]

I know you're not going there 4:08 but the Atomi smart coffee machine has worked like a dream for me. Even though I'm more of a pour over fellow.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

That is good to know. Especially hearing you are a pour over drinker. When i hear pour over, I see a man who enjoys and appreciates coffee. I will have to check it out. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@inderbuenrostro9511]

No link for the flic buttons?

[@cesarguerilla]

So yeah, master of masters. Great video as always. But, there seems so be a loup on the web that won't let me found how to use the Amazon Echo Show 5 screen as a light! Here's the scenario..... I want to put an alarm on the Eco Show on the dresser, but I want the skill to be that the Eco Show turns it's screen in any given color I decide, with a gradual increment in intensity. That of course in order to save me a smart bulb. Is it possible to do this at all?

[@allanwhittle3041]

As Usual ..great vid ..Thanks 👍

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Thank you very much Allen. I appreciate you saying that. Thank you for checking it out. Have a great day.

[@Jaur-jaur]

I have had multiple models of LIFX bulb over time have their HomeKit functionality fail at random, several of which have refused to ever connect to HomeKit again. The colors are great, the compatibility is great, the ability to fade the lights in complex ways is excellent (I press a button to make a sunrise effect every morning), but they're horrible to troubleshoot, their customer service is slow and useless, and they seem doomed to fail one by one forever. I've had several other brands of HomeKit lights... They don’t have those issues.

[@cgreen3497]

Started watching your videos having recently bought my first Amazon Echo Dot I'm amazed with regards to how much equipment you've managed to build up. Is this just gradually over the years or have the likes of amazon, smartbot etc sponsored you / provided equipment to enable you to do the reviews for them. I'm British, living in France and had first issue with amazon connecting me to French Market Place and getting all the skills in French. No good with my current French Skills so they connected me to UK Market Place. That though seems to cause another issue. EDF Energy Skill (UK Market Place) connects me to EDF Energy in UK. My EDF account is with EDF Energy France and so doesn't link up

[@chrisedwards5447]

Flic buttons are just too expensive for what they do

[@BMar1andonly]

I have Ring Alarm System does Hoobs integrate Ring beyond the doorbells? Can I add the window/door sensors too?

[@CraigsTechTalk]

I dont know. I will be installing Ring alarm in a couple of weeks.

[@lynnchaffin5204]

Hi! I really enjoy your videos. Thanks. The Switchbot curtain in this video is something I have really wanted but didn’t know it existed. Woo Hoo!! I notice in the descriptions, it references the Seitchbot hub mini for the thermostat and the hygrometer but no mention of the curtain. I am heavily Alexa based. I have an Echo Plus which has a hub. I also have several other hubs. Do I need a Switchbot hub mini to control the Switchbot curtains with Alexa? And if so, do you know how many curtain units one hub will handle? Secondly, you mentioned that the website had something to add to make sure the drape pulled out evenly. I have not found that piece. Can you direct me, please. TIA for the info.

[@marcoontingco5370]

great product showcase. i haven't got much i just started setting up months ago, i'd say i love my Firestick 4K paired to my Echo Studio (my 1st Smart device) the Echo Show 10 is special for me because it's been touch by Stu (Stu's review) and Paul Hibbert. i am currently keeping eyes on Lifx bulbs, strip and beams if the price drops a bit i'll grab them.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Very cool Marco. That is a good start to your smart home. That’s awesome you got a Stu’s reviews/ Paul touched on. Are you sure you are ok with what the may have touch it with?😀👍

[@marcoontingco5370]

@@CraigsTechTalk 🤣 my only complain is that the echo show 10 is white i preferred black. tomorrow 🤞 my Eufy video doorbell 2k will arrive hoping for an easy straight forward setup.

[@davidmcintier128]

@@marcoontingco5370 so, Stu and Paul both touched your 10" ?

[@marcoontingco5370]

@@davidmcintier128 yes it was Stu's but during Paul's quick look/initial review he mentioned he "took" Stu's show 10 while waiting for his to arrive 😅

[@faengelm]

Great obverview. What was the previous mesh system that gave you probelms?

[@ROG956]

He had google nest if I recall correctly

[@faengelm]

@@ROG956 Thanks. I also switched out my Google Mesh for eero based on poor performance

[@CraigsTechTalk]

My previous system was the 2019 nest WiFi. Worked great for a couple years. If I didn’t notice an instant improvement in device reaction time, I wouldn’t be so excited for the eero. With my nest WiFi, I would see serious lagging with my LIFX bulbs. They would come on at all different times. Put in Eero, gave it the same network name and password, plugged in Eero and the LIFX bulbs are in sync. My thread Nanoleaf bulbs and LIFX stuff is reacting at the same speed.

[@faengelm]

@@CraigsTechTalk Thanks. I also just converted from Nest to Eero6 and have noticed a great improvement. I especially like being able to pause the 5GHz for those 2.4GHz devices that have a hard time connecting to a common network name for both 5Ghz and 2.4GHz

[@CraigsTechTalk]

@@faengelm very cool. Glad to hear you had a similar experience. I had not thought about pausing the 5ghz. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

[@AndrewDee]

Hey Craig why no Aqara here? Also works with homekit and Alexa but adequately priced

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Yeah, they seem like a great new option. I have not used there stuff yet to be able to put them on the list. But I do need to check it out.

[@fatpigleung]

I have a question. My smart devices will become off-line after using for like a month or two. I have to erase it and set up from beginning again. Some of them can be set up again, but some just cannot find anymore, like my Honeywell thermostat, my alexia wall plug. These made me hesitate to use more smart devices. I am sure it is not about poor internet connection. Does anyone have the same frustration?

[@CraigsTechTalk]

I have never heard of all different manufacturers devices being kicked off or affected to the point they all need a reset. The only common factor is your internet.

[@thomastevis8655]

Awesome videos sorry I’m sooo late

[@CraigsTechTalk]

You are not late. You are right on time. 😀👍

[@sattam31]

please explain hoobs how to use and is it good?thank you so much for your amazing videos

[@CraigsTechTalk]

I recommend visiting Shane Wheatley’s channel. He will give you a deep dive. I am just starting to use it more.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Also, thank you very much for the nice words and watching.

[@sattam31]

@@CraigsTechTalk thank you so much but I can't find the channel

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Sorry, auto correct changed his last name. Here you go. kzbin.info

[@MacYYur4me]

Let me know when the Echo Shows can display KZbin and stream my subscriptions. It would be perfect for my wife in the bathroom or kitchen.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

It would be nice. Currently KZbin through the echo show silk browser gives you more KZbin functionality than the nest hub.

[@4daluvofnikki]

The Echo Show can display KZbin using the Silk Browser. Same as you can on any computer.

[@jaimetarne9436]

Blink. I have 4 cameras outside at my airbnb rental. It is long distance and itvworks great. Downside, battery munchers ig peoplexare going in and out all day. After beinfvrobbed i needed something and thesevwork grat. On the newer ones i can even talk to wghoever is on camera. They are super affordable, and no monthly charge.

[@Sebadicus]

Hey Craig you kind of look like a hybrid of Elon musk lol

[@rickt140]

"Clicky Buttons" - You might want to copyright that. : )

[@CraigsTechTalk]

Unfortunately someone beat me to it ☹️ thanks for watching 😀👍

[@bobriemersma]

Yeah, I suppose if you set up a Homebridge server and can find the right set of plugins... HomeKit can talk to maybe 1/10 of what Alexa can. I suppose that's why Apple is spreading all of that cash around to get the Magic CHoIP off the ground.

[@CraigsTechTalk]

It does suck that there is only 1/10 of the devices. If anything the reason Apple would be spending so much money is they know once everybody adopt that people will be leaving their Google and Amazon products. HomeKit won’t be the barrier to entry anymore. Soon as they’re all using Matter and Thread and Watch a Apples share of the market go up. You are thinking they are spending money out of desperation. It’s brilliant, let you competition increase their security and privacy to a level you approve of. Then you take their customers. You think Apple change their privacy stance and lowered their standards. They are making google and Amazon raise theirs. Moment they all use the same protocol, Apple will increase share. Make sure to screen shot this for this time next year when Apples share has increased. I appreciate you Bob dislike for Apple. Your feelings are clear, yet not offensive. Thanks Bob.

[@ianlaughlin85]

Apple is overpriced and lousy. My whole family moved away from Apple on at a time over the years.