Pawport brings security (and smarts) to your existing pet door

Of all the wild smart home gadgets on display at CES 2024, few are as quirky as Pawport. This unique gadget is a motorized pet door cover that’s programmable via an accompanying smartphone app and works in conjunction with a collar tag — allowing it to automatically open when your pet approaches. Pawport is built to bring added security to your home, giving you a simple way to monitor your existing pet door. Using the app, you can control the door remotely, set curfew times, schedule when the port can open or close, and even issue voice commands with Alexa, Siri, or Google. Other cool features include pet tracking and usage data, letting you know exactly when your pet is walking into (and away from) your home. If you don’t have your phone with you, the unit has a control panel that lets you quickly lock or unlock the door, close or open the door, toggle its light, and more. Constructed from steel and aluminum — and with deadbolt locks — it should provide a nearly impenetrable seal that keeps out would-be pets like raccoons and coyotes. Despite its heavy-duty construction, Pawport looks surprisingly sleek, thanks to vibrant LED lights and a variety of available patterns such as glacier, expresso, napa oak, and brushed nickel. To power the unit, you can use swappable battery packs or solar charging panels. Pawport even offers ramps to help elderly pets navigate the pet door. The company will even be offering complete pet door systems, so if you don’t have an existing pet door, Pawport can help you get one installed that’s fully compatible with its technology. Pawport won’t start shipping products until the second quarter of 2024, but some products are now available for preorder.  Prices start at $459, but quickly inflate if you bundle in additional accessories. We’re about halfway through 2025, and it’s a year that’s been filled with cool smart home products. From a robot vacuum with a robotic arm to a portable misting fan that’s perfect for the impending summer heat, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out dozens of truly unique products. Yet somehow, my favorite smart home gadget of 2025 (so far) is the Aera Smart Fragrance Diffuser — a tiny little device that sits in the corner of my home and works tirelessly to fill my home with invigorating scents. Living in a small space has its drawbacks. Scents from the kitchen, bathroom, and my makeshift home gym all comingle to create an environment that can sometimes be… uninviting. I’ve used candles and found them to do a good job of refreshing my home, but they need to be constantly monitored and aren’t the best way to keep a home smelling clean every hour of the day. The Blink Video Doorbell just hit the market, and at just $60, it’s a frugal option for shoppers interested in bringing smarts to their front door. Featuring a two-year battery life, person detection, and an improved field-of-view, it’s a well-rounded device given its low price tag. However, the Ring Battery Doorbell is a perennial favorite — it’s not quite as new, but it’s loaded with premium features that have made it a common sight on porches across the planet. But is it the best option for your home? Here’s a look at the Blink Video Doorbell and the Ring Battery Doorbell to help you decide which to purchase.
Design The Ring Battery Doorbell is built with its iconic black and silver design. The top portion of the rectangular device is black, and it houses the camera unit. The larger lower half is silver, and it’s where you’ll find the doorbell button with its cool blue glow. It’s a great-looking device, and it looks remarkably similar to all the other video doorbells in the Ring lineup. Alternatively, you can pick up a Venetian Bronze model that’s a bit darker. Wyze has just launched one of the most bizarre-looking smart home devices I’ve ever seen. The Wyze Bulb Cam is a combination smart light bulb and smart security camera, and it’s every bit as wild as you’d expect. However, it also packs in some really cool functionality, as it’s entirely powered by your light fixture. Jokingly referred to as a “cambulbera” by Wyze, the Bulb Cam is an outdoor security camera that doubles as a smart light. Featuring a fairly standard bulb format that screws into most fixtures, an adjustable camera is attached to the bulb that can manually extend, rotate, and tilt to help you find the best view for your property. A 160-degree field-of-view gives you impressive coverage, while the dimmable 800 lumen LED bulb lights up your property.