Smart plugs, bulbs give homeowners control remotely
Converting your home to a smart home allows you to remotely control your thermostat, lighting, appliances, security systems and many other features using an app on a smartphone or tablet.
The Home iSP5 SmartPlug offers a great, basic and easy way to enter the smart home world.
You can turn electronics on or off from just about anywhere with your smartphone or tablet. This includes controlling lights, appliances or air control systems.
The smartplug fits into any standard AC outlet and has a pass-through outlet to plug in the device you want controlled.
On your iOS or Android device, install the free iHome Control app, after which the setup take only a few minutes using your existing Wi-Fi.
You can use and control multiple smartplugs with a single command within the app and even grant permission for other users to control the smartplug with a PIN.
If you decide to relocate the smartplug you can do so without additional setup, as long you keep it on the same Wi-Fi network.
ihomeaudio.com $39.99
MIPOW's Playbulb line of smart LED color-changing lights lets you turn a lightbulb on and off, change its color and even light up your garden.
The Bluetooth Playbulb color ($69.99) has a standard lightbulb socket and works with a free Playbulb X app (Google play and the App Store) to let you control the light, the color it displays and a built-in speaker to hear music from your device's music library.
The setup takes seconds; just screw in the 3.1-by-3.1-by-5.4-inch bulb, download the app and pair the bulb with your device.
Once you open the app, a color wheel offers the choice of millions of colors for the light's glow. No matter what color you choose, it can instantly change the ambience of the room.
Pre-sets in the app let the color flash on or off in the color of your choice, fade from color to color, glow in rainbow colors or gradually have the brightness go up and down with a pulsing setting.
The app lets you set a schedule to go to sleep or be awakened by the music and color of your choice. It fits any standard E26/E27 light socket.
The Playbulb garden bulb ($39.99) is so smart it turns on and off on its own and you don't even have to charge it.
It's 5.8-inches in diameter by 1.8-inches deep. It is controlled by the same app and is water resistant (IP65) so you can leave it glowing outside.
The top has a solar panel to charge the internal 1,000mAh lithium-ion battery during the day allowing it to glow for up to 20 hours.
The app has pre-sets for different effects or it can glow in one color. An extension monopod holds it in place in dirt or grass.
playbulb.com
A smart home isn't really smart without a smart toilet from Toto.
At the recent Consumer Electronic Show, Toto toilets were a big attraction in the smart home pavilion.
A model, which will be available next year and does not require an app, the Internet or Bluetooth, will feature a smart home toilet sensor. This will automatically raise and lower the seat.
The toilet does all the basics (no description necessary) along with an integrated personal cleansing system with warm, aerated water, warm air dryer, a heated seat and an in-bowl catalytic deodorizer.
Energy and water-saving features let it only use 1.28-gpf for the full flush and 0.8 for the light flush.
This year's model will set you back around $10,000, while I'm told next year's is still being tested and isn't priced yet.
totousa.com
Gregg Ellman, gadget guru, can be reached at greggellman@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter@greggellman.
This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Smart plugs, bulbs give homeowners control remotely ."