Technology advances at breakneck speed, making it a challenge to keep up with the latest gadgets. Worse, it can become a money pit—devices like smartphones often need replacing every two years. How often do you update your smartphone? Many rely on them daily for calls, texts, and apps, fueling the urge for the newest model. Read More
This issue hits smart homes harder. Upgrading a phone is simple—here's how—but overhauling home tech is costly. Follow these expert strategies to invest wisely and build a resilient smart home.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are inevitable. A study shows driverless EVs could slash emissions by 90%. Read more Global EV sales surged 65% in 2016, with 550,000 sold in the US. By 2022, EVs will undercut gas cars in price; by 2040, expect 41 million on US roads, 35% worldwide.
Prepare by adding a home charger. Soon, 200-mile range EVs will charge overnight. Read More Affordable options: ClipperCreek LCS-20P ($379), JuiceBox Pro 40 ($599), ChargePoint Home 25 ($499). ClipperCreek LCS-20P on Amazon
Wireless isn't the future for everything. High-bandwidth AV demands wires. Printers stay wireless, but 4K TVs, game consoles, and security systems need more. Gartner predicts 500 smart devices per home by 2022.
During renovations, install conduit for cables. For new builds: power, dual CAT6 Ethernet, HDMI, coax, phone jacks per entertainment spot—plus spare conduit.
Beyond entertainment, automation needs robust cabling. Install CAT7 at every sensor: thermostats, motion detectors, smart switches, water sensors.
CAT7 outperforms CAT6 with higher power delivery, lower voltage drop, better interference resistance, and dual data types per twisted pair.
Smart home control is fragmented across apps and ecosystems. It worsens with more devices. Solution: wall-mounted all-in-one panels in key rooms.
Brilliant Control integrates Nest, Sonos, Philips Hue, Ring, SmartThings, Wink bulbs, Honeywell, IFTTT, Alexa, plus camera and speaker. 5-inch display installs in 5 minutes for $199.
Tech shrinks in some ways but grows in others. TVs jumped from 'huge' 30-inch to standard 70-inch; 100-inch screens loom. Choose TV stands that accommodate giants aesthetically and structurally.
Allow room for VR and motion gaming—essential for immersion without mishaps.
Smart homes thrive online, but outages could cripple lights, alarms, appliances. Speedify bonds Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3G/4G, smartphones into one resilient connection via channel bonding—seamlessly rerouting if one fails.
$49.99/year subscription future-proofs your setup now.
In an always-online world, proactive upgrades pay off. We can't predict every innovation, but these informed steps ensure longevity. What measures are you taking? Share your tips in the comments.
