Nick is a Features author who's been writing for fellow tech geeks since 2011. While he's mostly focused on phones, he's also thrilled by cameras and audio gear of all shapes and sizes. On weekends, ...

Chris Wedel is a seasoned technology journalist with a rich background writing for top publications like CNET, Android Police, and Digital Trends. His work spans the consumer electronics landscape, ...

Like many, I enjoyed using Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple’s Siri to work with some off-the-shelf devices. But when I noticed the lack of deeper control and the cloud's dependency, I hoped for ...

Imagine walking into a room that automatically adjusts its temperature and humidity to your comfort level, no apps, no manual adjustments, just seamless automation. Sounds futuristic? Not anymore.

If you love tinkering, ESPHome is a fantastic way to build custom smart home devices. This open-source firmware framework gives you local control over smart home devices that support open standards.

If setting up smart devices feels daunting, here are three simple steps I’ve learned to build a functional smart home. Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with ...