The iPhone X Review – Face the Future
It’s been a decade since the original iPhone was released. My own 2007 vintage handset has seen better days, but it’s still going strong. So 10 years…
Reviews
Drayton Wiser Smart Heating Controls Review Part 1 – Step by Step Installation
The recent launch of the Drayton Wiser from Schneider Electric was the trigger for Automated Home reader Mark Boyle to bite the bullet and install…
Review: Foobot is Your Smart Home Air Quality Monitor
There’s a lot of talk in the media these days about air quality. But who really has a clue how polluted the air is in…
Useful Gadget of the Week: Toshiba Canvio Connect II 3TB Portable Hard Drive
Whether its a garage or a hard drive, chances are if you’re like us you’ll always fill the available space. So when Toshiba asked us…
Mini Review: The Sengled Pusle LED Bulb + JBL Speaker
The guys from Sengled sent us over their ‘Pulse’ lights with built-in Wireless Speakers to try in the Automated Home. The Pulse uses an energy…
Going Solar Part 3 – I Traded in my Range Rover for a Nissan Leaf
So last month I traded in my Range Rover for a Nissan Leaf. No really. After my first 1,000 miles here are some rambling thoughts,…
Review: Appkettle – The World’s Smartest Kettle Connects to the Cloud via Wi-Fi
These days the strangest things have WiFi. So when the AppKettle turned up at the Automated Home we wondered if we really needed a Kettle that…
Review: Elgato Eve Energy Brings UK Apple HomeKit Socket
At last there’s a UK HomeKit socket module available. But is it any good? We plug in an Elgato Eve Energy at the Automated Home to…
Bargain: Mpow Mini LCD Portable Multimedia Projector (with Discount Code!)
Very few people consider setting up a projector for their house. We’ve had one on the ceiling of the AV Room in the Automated Home since…
Going Solar Part 2 – Costs, Incentives & Payback Time
Last month we Installed a 4kW Solar Array at the Automated Home. The first thing everyone asks is how much it cost and what the payback time is….
Devolo Home Control Review Part 4 – Smart Home Heating
Welcome to the fourth part in our Devolo Home Control system. In this instalment we are going to review the heating control components, a TRV…
Going Solar Part 1 – Installing a 4kW PV Array at the Automated Home
Having watched the price of photovoltaic solar panels steadily fall over the last few years and seeing a drop in incentives looming on the horizon,…
Devolo Home Control Review Part 3 – Safety & Security
Welcome to the third instalment of our review of the Devolo Home Control range. So far we have the starter pack up running with some additional…
Husqvarna Automower Review Part 8 – A Tesla for Your Garden
After several months with the Automower it’s time to look back and take stock. But first here are a couple of things we’ve not covered yet. Running…
Video: The Best Universal Remote You Can Buy
Last week Dan from The Verge proclaimed “a really good universal remote can really make your life a lot easier”, and who doesn’t want that…
Review: UK Ring Video Doorbell
The Ring Video Doorbell has been available direct from the USA for a while now but last month saw its official launch in the UK. The smart…
Husqvarna Automower Review Part 7 – I Messed Up
We’re getting close to the end of our Husqvarna Automower Review series. Here’s the latest update from the last two weeks. Secondary Area The Secondary…
My Belfast Test Drive in a Tesla Model S P90D Ludicrous
If you’re a regular Automated Home reader you’ll have noticed a few electric car stories creeping in over the last couple of years along with…
Husqvarna Automower Review Part 6 – Stolen?
So far living with the Husqvarna Automower has been an overwhelmingly positive experience as I think you’ll agree if you’ve watched all the previous videos. However one…
Husqvarna Automower Review Part 5 – Rain or Shine
Normal service has been resumed at the Automated Home in terms of summer weather. After a couple of fine weeks in May, June ended cold…