Meet Bob. He's devoured a few magazine articles on wireless devices and dips into MakeUseOf's Smart Home section now and then. Bob adores the smart home vision—a fully automated haven—but he's stuck. Not tech-savvy, he's wary of wasting money or chasing poor advice.
Bob needs guidance. Start with our Complete A-Z Glossary for Smart Home Automation. New to smart products? Baffled by jargon on gadget packaging? This is your ABCs of smart tech. Read More.
If you're like Bob, dive in. As experienced smart home enthusiasts, we've curated the best online resources for practical inspiration and reliable advice.
Podcasts are booming—exactly how popular are they right now?—and smart homes plus IoT get stellar coverage. Here are four top picks:
Hosted by industry expert Michael Wolf, The Smart Home Show stays laser-focused on smart homes—no off-topic filler. Episodes cover interviews with leaders, news analysis, Q&A, and product reviews. New shows drop monthly.
A passion project from the Smart Home HQ team, this podcast pairs with their active Twitter and YouTube. Episodes tackle news, products, and sector analysis. Releases are irregular—sometimes multiple per month, other times quiet spells.
Tech journalist Stacey Higginbotham brings infectious energy to IoT Podcast, exploring IoT, home automation, ethics, devices, and services. Does it lead to better lives or dystopia? Weekly episodes keep it fresh for all levels.
Hosts Ara Derderian and Braden Russell geek out on smart TVs, speakers, and home theater integration. For new homes, check our 6 Gadgets You Need to Install Right Away. Read More.
Podcasts paint the big picture; videos deliver hands-on tips. These four stand out:
With nearly 20,000 subscribers, Joe Dugandzic's channel (born from smart lighting roots—see our Bluetooth vs. WiFi vs. ZigBee showdown) offers reviews, news, how-tos, Q&A, and more. Two videos weekly.
Gear Live host Andru Edwards (135,000+ subs) curates 60+ videos: guides, unboxings, reviews. Updated monthly.
165,000-sub channel with review-heavy playlist. Highlights: The Best Smart Home Tech Vol. 1 and The Ultimate Smart Home. Monthly updates.
Polished tutorials, best-of lists, reviews, and budget hacks. Hosts demo products they've tested extensively—ideal for beginners.
Beyond MakeUseOf's smart home hub, try these:
Smart kitchens lead the revolution—7 gadgets for a futuristic setup or 15 weird ones to skip. Read More. The Spoon spotlights viable tech (plus a podcast).
Active since 1996, it delivers wiring guides, reviews, news, tutorials, and forums for community help.
These 10 trusted sources—podcasts, YouTube, blogs—equip anyone for smart home success. What's your favorite? Share in the comments. Spot Bob? Point him here!
