Honeywell’s Smart Home Security System gives you an easy way to guard your home

Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe shouldn’t be a complicated endeavor, especially with the plethora of smart home devices on the market today. But as useful as many of these products may be, setup can sometimes be something of a doozy. Not so with the self-installed Smart Home Security System from Honeywell, an Alexa-enabled defense system that just about any homeowner can figure out and use. This all-in-one, self-monitored, and most importantly, easily installed security system revolves around an intelligent, portable camera station that promises to help you keep an eye on just about anything thanks to its 145-degree, 1080p HD camera. There is also a speaker, microphone array, and additional indoor and outdoor sensors that you can add to your doors, windows, and more. The entire system is ready to use once it comes out of the box, and can be synced to Alexa so that you can not only keep yourself safe, but also comfortable — even without an Echo device, you can have Alexa play music, adjust your smart thermostat, or control your smart lights. If you would rather not control the Honeywell system with your voice, you can also turn to the companion app, or even a key fob to help enable or disable the system. Audio and video self-monitoring can be found within the Honeywell app, which also boasts object recognition and audio analytics, all secured with 24 hours of cloud storage. “More than 150 million homeowners already trust Honeywell with their safety, comfort, and security,” Michael Flink, president of Honeywell Security and Fire, said in a statement. “Right out of the box and enabled by Amazon Alexa, our system allows customers to keep an eye on what’s happening in and around their homes. As is the case with all of Honeywell’s Connected Home offerings, the system can be enabled by location-based geofencing, which means it knows when you are at home or away.” In 2018, Honeywell plans to add facial recognition updates as well as audio analytics to the Smart Home Security System. And because the product is launching first on Indiegogo before going to CES early next year, early backers will have the opportunity to give feedback to Honeywell, and hopefully, improve upon the product. You can pre-order the system now, with a starter kit priced at $375 (the bundle is slated to have a $499 price tag once it goes on sale more broadly). This particular bundle comes with the camera base station, window and door access sensors, and a key fob. Delivery is expected in January. After spending a bit of time in Public Preview, Google is rolling out its Google Home extension for the Gemini app to everyone. This will allow you to control smart home devices using Gemini, including tasks like turning on smart lights, checking your smart thermostat, or adjusting the volume on your speakers. The Google Home Extension will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and once you’ve made the update, any compatible devices synced to your Google account will be accessible via Gemini. If you try using commands in the Gemini app that aren’t supported, your smartphone will automatically launch the Google Home app to complete the command (such as accessing camera actions and smart lock features). Ulticam, the new security camera brand of Xthings, revealed a lineup of three AI-powered cameras at CES 2025. The Ulticam IQ, Ulticam IQ Floodlight, and Ulticam Dot offer not just cool AI capabilities, but also free seven-day cloud storage — which could make them a solid choice for value-minded shoppers leery about signing up for monthly storage plans. The Ulticam IQ and IQ Floodlight are the main attractions, as they’re packed with features that should pose solid competition for the best smart security cameras from Arlo, Nest, and Ring. The duo uses edge AI to quickly identify people, vehicles, and packages without needing to upload the video for server-side processing. This onboard processing should result in faster performance — it’s also great for privacy and security, as your footage doesn’t have to leave your device. Home gyms have come a long way over the past few years. Instead of a simple workout bench and some weights, you’ll now find smart home gyms that can provide custom workouts tailored to your needs. They can also track your stats, provide advice, showcase lessons, and even sync you with a larger community of users working with the same gear. However, many smart home gyms also require a subscription — which can range from $15 to $50, making them an expensive proposition. So, should you invest in a smart home gym or stick with a traditional gym membership? That’s not an easy question to answer, and the truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some folks might benefit from the ease of access offered by a smart home gym, while others might enjoy the motivation and socialization provided by a traditional gym.