New Smart Home Tech Guaranteed to Make Life Easier
How to save time, money and hassle – and help reduce your environmental impact – with the latest smart home devices
You can now control almost every gadget and appliance in your house with a voice command or a swipe of a screen, from lights and security to the temperature of your morning shower. And it seems that a new product in this space hits the market each week. Here, we round up some of the most exciting releases that recently passed our desks, which can streamline your routine, save you time and money and even help reduce your carbon footprint.
Amazon Echo (fourth generation).
Smart home set-up made easy
If you want to make your home smarter but you’re not sure where to start or which products will best serve your needs, Optus has a new service that does the hard work for you.
With Optus Smart Spaces, you can choose curated collections of smart devices from brands such as Google, Ring, Amazon and Eero, which can help enhance your home’s security, elevate your entertainment experience or assist your efforts to be more productive when working or studying from home. For an added fee, the Optus O-Team will come and install the devices in your home, and you can subscribe to their after-care service.
Ready to upgrade to a smart home? Find electricians near you on Houzz specialising in smart home tech
Smart home set-up made easy
If you want to make your home smarter but you’re not sure where to start or which products will best serve your needs, Optus has a new service that does the hard work for you.
With Optus Smart Spaces, you can choose curated collections of smart devices from brands such as Google, Ring, Amazon and Eero, which can help enhance your home’s security, elevate your entertainment experience or assist your efforts to be more productive when working or studying from home. For an added fee, the Optus O-Team will come and install the devices in your home, and you can subscribe to their after-care service.
Ready to upgrade to a smart home? Find electricians near you on Houzz specialising in smart home tech
Morning Machine, AU$599.
Speciality coffee on the go
Do you take your coffee seriously but love the speed and convenience of capsules? The new Morning Machine lets you enjoy the best of both worlds – and it’s all connected to an app so you can customise your brew just the way you like it from your smartphone.
The Morning Machine is the first of its kind that lets you use capsules from a range of speciality roasters (via the Morning Marketplace), including local brands Allpress Espresso, Pablo & Rusty’s, Toby’s Estate and international ones, such as Coffee Roasters (Denmark), Colonna Coffee (UK) and Fritz Coffee Company (South Korea). It comes with 10 pre-set recipes, including espresso, filter brews and slow-drip coffee.
Speciality coffee on the go
Do you take your coffee seriously but love the speed and convenience of capsules? The new Morning Machine lets you enjoy the best of both worlds – and it’s all connected to an app so you can customise your brew just the way you like it from your smartphone.
The Morning Machine is the first of its kind that lets you use capsules from a range of speciality roasters (via the Morning Marketplace), including local brands Allpress Espresso, Pablo & Rusty’s, Toby’s Estate and international ones, such as Coffee Roasters (Denmark), Colonna Coffee (UK) and Fritz Coffee Company (South Korea). It comes with 10 pre-set recipes, including espresso, filter brews and slow-drip coffee.
Samsung Jetbot AI+ Robot Vacuum, AU$1,899.
Clean floors and happy pets
It’s no secret that robotic vacuums can be a lifesaver in busy homes, but Samsung’s new Jetbot AI+ Robot Vacuum takes things to the next level, with a function that lets you see what your pets are up to when you’re not at home.
The SmartThings Pet service allows you to stream a live feed from the vacuum cleaner’s front camera so you can check that your pets are safe and happy from wherever you are. You can even play music to help keep them entertained.
Clean floors and happy pets
It’s no secret that robotic vacuums can be a lifesaver in busy homes, but Samsung’s new Jetbot AI+ Robot Vacuum takes things to the next level, with a function that lets you see what your pets are up to when you’re not at home.
The SmartThings Pet service allows you to stream a live feed from the vacuum cleaner’s front camera so you can check that your pets are safe and happy from wherever you are. You can even play music to help keep them entertained.
Ecovacs Winbot W1 Pro, AU$799.
Eliminate streaky windows
Do you have the sea views but also the pesky streaks? Now there’s a robotic window cleaner to make your life easier. Ecovacs’ Winbot W1 Pro suctions onto your windows and moves in a back and forth motion using cross-spraying technology to clean large expanses of glass. Better yet it can be controlled by an app and has a feature that allows it to vocalise real time updates. It is a robot after all. And, it comes with three adaptive modes including fast clean, deep clean and spot clean. Easy.
Eliminate streaky windows
Do you have the sea views but also the pesky streaks? Now there’s a robotic window cleaner to make your life easier. Ecovacs’ Winbot W1 Pro suctions onto your windows and moves in a back and forth motion using cross-spraying technology to clean large expanses of glass. Better yet it can be controlled by an app and has a feature that allows it to vocalise real time updates. It is a robot after all. And, it comes with three adaptive modes including fast clean, deep clean and spot clean. Easy.
Miele DO 7860 Dialog oven, AU$16,999.
Cook from the sofa
Forget opening and closing the oven door to check on the progress of your food – now you can do it all from your smartphone. The Miele DO 7860 Dialog oven has a built-in camera that lets you see food while it cooks through the Miele app. Turn your oven on and off or adjust the temperature with a simple swipe of your screen, all without having to get up from the sofa.
Cook from the sofa
Forget opening and closing the oven door to check on the progress of your food – now you can do it all from your smartphone. The Miele DO 7860 Dialog oven has a built-in camera that lets you see food while it cooks through the Miele app. Turn your oven on and off or adjust the temperature with a simple swipe of your screen, all without having to get up from the sofa.
Asko Wine Climate Cabinet, AU$14,999.
Connect with your wine
If you’re serious about wine, you’ll want to store and showcase your collection properly – and now you can, with the added convenience of smart home tech. The Asko Wine Climate Cabinet can hold up to 190 bottles and has three independent temperature zones so you can preserve, age or serve your tipple in optimal conditions.
Digitally scan and log each bottle with the built-in camera, use the app to keep an up-to-date inventory down to the bottle’s exact location on the shelf, and connect with Vivino (one of the world’s largest wine apps) for tips on tasting, storage and when it’s best to open and enjoy your wine.
Connect with your wine
If you’re serious about wine, you’ll want to store and showcase your collection properly – and now you can, with the added convenience of smart home tech. The Asko Wine Climate Cabinet can hold up to 190 bottles and has three independent temperature zones so you can preserve, age or serve your tipple in optimal conditions.
Digitally scan and log each bottle with the built-in camera, use the app to keep an up-to-date inventory down to the bottle’s exact location on the shelf, and connect with Vivino (one of the world’s largest wine apps) for tips on tasting, storage and when it’s best to open and enjoy your wine.
Husqvarna Automower 405X, RRP AU$2,679, for lawns up to 600 square metres.
Reclaim your weekends
Tired of spending hours every weekend mowing your lawn? Husqvarna’s Automower could be the answer. With models to suit different backyard sizes up to 5,000 square metres, this range of robotic lawnmowers can be connected to Amazon Alexa or Google Home so you can automatically mow your lawn with a simple voice command. You can also personalise settings to tailor cutting heights and set regular mowing schedules.
And if your home is powered by a sustainable energy source, these battery-powered mowers are kinder on the environment too, as they don’t generate direct emissions like petrol-powered mowers. Lawn clippings are also cycled back into your turf to act as a natural fertiliser.
Reclaim your weekends
Tired of spending hours every weekend mowing your lawn? Husqvarna’s Automower could be the answer. With models to suit different backyard sizes up to 5,000 square metres, this range of robotic lawnmowers can be connected to Amazon Alexa or Google Home so you can automatically mow your lawn with a simple voice command. You can also personalise settings to tailor cutting heights and set regular mowing schedules.
And if your home is powered by a sustainable energy source, these battery-powered mowers are kinder on the environment too, as they don’t generate direct emissions like petrol-powered mowers. Lawn clippings are also cycled back into your turf to act as a natural fertiliser.
Keep your home safe
Never again do you need to worry about leaving a window or door open when you leave the house or go to sleep; the Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 Pro (AU$79) is a small, battery-powered device that will send you an alert if one of the connected openings in your home has been left unsecured.
Never again do you need to worry about leaving a window or door open when you leave the house or go to sleep; the Aeotec Door/Window Sensor 7 Pro (AU$79) is a small, battery-powered device that will send you an alert if one of the connected openings in your home has been left unsecured.
Hands-free garage control
Gone are the days of fumbling around in the depths of your bag for the garage door controller. These days, it’s possible to open and close your garage door with a simple voice command via the Zimi app on your mobile, which connects with the Zimi Powermesh smart garage door controller.
It also lets you check on the status of your garage door remotely and open your garage door at different heights so you can safely accept deliveries when you’re not at home. Compatible with all motored garage doors.
Browse more images of Australian garages to inspire your own
Gone are the days of fumbling around in the depths of your bag for the garage door controller. These days, it’s possible to open and close your garage door with a simple voice command via the Zimi app on your mobile, which connects with the Zimi Powermesh smart garage door controller.
It also lets you check on the status of your garage door remotely and open your garage door at different heights so you can safely accept deliveries when you’re not at home. Compatible with all motored garage doors.
Browse more images of Australian garages to inspire your own
LG Styler, AU$3,999.
Clean and sanitise clothing
Those who are keen to save money on dry cleaning or time spent ironing may want to consider the LG Styler, which uses moving hangers to gently shake clothes and reduce wrinkles, plus steam technology to dispel odours and refresh fabrics. It can also gently dry clothes using LG heat-pump technology, and sanitise and remove allergens from bedding and items such as children’s plush toys.
Download LG’s ThinQ mobile app and you can monitor the machine’s progress, start a cycle or track energy consumption on your smartphone.
And the app is not just confined to the LG Styler, but other products too. For example, choose a compatible LG dryer and you can set the machine to keep tumbling to prevent your clothes wrinkling when you can’t unload them straightaway; or, with a compatible LG refrigerator, you can automate the interior lighting level to soften at night.
Clean and sanitise clothing
Those who are keen to save money on dry cleaning or time spent ironing may want to consider the LG Styler, which uses moving hangers to gently shake clothes and reduce wrinkles, plus steam technology to dispel odours and refresh fabrics. It can also gently dry clothes using LG heat-pump technology, and sanitise and remove allergens from bedding and items such as children’s plush toys.
Download LG’s ThinQ mobile app and you can monitor the machine’s progress, start a cycle or track energy consumption on your smartphone.
And the app is not just confined to the LG Styler, but other products too. For example, choose a compatible LG dryer and you can set the machine to keep tumbling to prevent your clothes wrinkling when you can’t unload them straightaway; or, with a compatible LG refrigerator, you can automate the interior lighting level to soften at night.
Grohe SmartControl Concealed Thermostatic Mixer at Reece, from AU$1,570.
Showers just the way you like them
Today you can even get your day off to a good start with a shower that’s custom-set to your ideal water temperature and pressure. The Grohe SmartControl Concealed Thermostatic Mixer from Reece lets you set your personal preferences and removes fluctuations in the shower temperature when water is in use throughout the home so you’ll never fear a toilet flush again.
Showers just the way you like them
Today you can even get your day off to a good start with a shower that’s custom-set to your ideal water temperature and pressure. The Grohe SmartControl Concealed Thermostatic Mixer from Reece lets you set your personal preferences and removes fluctuations in the shower temperature when water is in use throughout the home so you’ll never fear a toilet flush again.
And here are a couple of smart-home products currently being developed that we’re curious to see hit stores soon:
- The wellness toilet: A smart toilet that analyses your urine and faecal matter to check your health and sends you recommendations via your mobile to help improve your health.
- Pollution-fighting indoor plants: USA-based company Neoplants is currently developing genetically modified indoor plants that absorb the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) used in many paints and glues in our homes, furniture and interior finishes, which are hard to capture by air purifiers. They’re less gadget and more organism, but they’re just as smart.
Your turn
Have you embraced smart home technology? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
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Want more on smart home tech? Don’t miss this story: What’s In a Smart Kitchen (and What Can We Expect Next)?
Banish bill shock
With the rising cost of living, we’re all looking for ways to reduce our monthly outgoings. This Electricity Advisor from Emerald Planet is a clever device that lets you track your household’s real-time energy usage as well as peak, shoulder and off-peak tariff times from an app on your mobile. It also allows you to set energy-saving goals and receive weekly personalised email reports.
According to Claire Day, general manager of Emerald Planet, using these insights to adjust your energy usage can help you shave up to 35 percent off your electricity bill. The device costs AU$129 but is free to those living in Victoria with state government subsidies.