IoT Core is a fully managed service for managing IoT devices. It supports registration, authentication, and authorization inside the Google Cloud resource hierarchy as well as device metadata stored in the cloud, and the ability to send device configuration from … Continue reading →

OwnTracks (and its Android fork NextTracks) is a free and open source application for iOS and Android that allow you to track your location and send it directly to Home Assistant. By default the integration will listen for incoming messages … Continue reading →

You might have a question about whether it’s okay to delete and clear storage? Yes – it’s perfectly fine and does not result in any data loss. Just that the static files like images, CSS, JS, etc. will reload on … Continue reading →

Geofencing is a feature offered in most of the smart thermostat models like Nest, Ecobee & other popular thermostats. ‘Geofencing’ feature in a thermostat tracks the homeowner’s location (via GPS in his/her smartphone) and adjusts the thermostat settings based on … Continue reading →

Home Assistant acts as a central smart home controller hub by combining different devices and services in a single place and integrating them as entities. The provided rule-based system for automations allows creating custom routines based on a trigger event, … Continue reading →

With a simple voice command, Alexa can set alarms, reminders, play music, answer questions, search the internet, and control smart home devices. She can also tell you jokes, provide interesting facts, and even play games with you. This, however, is … Continue reading →

In order to get started with Alexa, the only cost you should really worry about getting started is your smart speaker or display. Usually, this will be an Amazon Echo. Most of Alexa’s functionality is 100% free. The only thing … Continue reading →

Home Assistant helpers to the rescue! They are basically small variables (data storage) that you can create. You can find them via Configuration -> Helpers or add them directly to your sidebar. In the new menu you will see an … Continue reading →

Google Assistant offers voice commands, voice searching, and voice-activated device control, letting you complete a number of tasks after you’ve said the “OK Google” or “Hey Google” wake words. It is designed to give you conversational interactions. Google Assistant will: … Continue reading →

Home Assistant Operating System (formerly HassOS) is a Linux based operating system optimized to host Home Assistant and its Add-ons.Home Assistant Supervisor in turn uses the Docker container engine to control Home Assistant Core and Add-Ons in separate containers. What … Continue reading →

Your Google Wifi or Nest Wifi network uses the same name for both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Both radio bands are active simultaneously.So it’s possible that your phone connects to the 2.4 GHz band, while your laptop connects … Continue reading →

The Bottom Line. TuneIn Radio is one of the best streaming-radio apps available for when you want to listen to local or national radio. Most will be able to get by with the free version, but for DVR-like recording capabilities … Continue reading →

Sound Quality – Wifi has a much larger bandwidth than Bluetooth, giving it the ability to stream lossless audio.Zones – Through the use of software and multiple receivers, WiFi gives you the ability to set up different audio zones that … Continue reading →

Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals use the 2.4 GHz band. When both are turned on, the data throughput of Bluetooth will drop sharply, the paired devices will be difficult, the Wi-Fi will be intermittently interrupted, and the network will be … Continue reading →

Echoes can be heard in small spaces with hard walls, like wells, or where there are lots of hard surfaces all around. That is why echoes can be heard in a canyon, cave, or mountain range. But sounds are not … Continue reading →