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Why consider the August over competitors like Lockitron or Goji? Yves Behar, the man behind the Jawbone Jambox speaker and the Jawbone UP, designed the August. The result is something that looks like the future, but is subtle enough not to distract from a door’s wood grain.
Why consider the August over competitors like Lockitron or Goji? Yves Behar, the man behind the Jawbone Jambox speaker and the Jawbone UP, designed the August. The result is something that looks like the future, but is subtle enough not to distract from a door’s wood grain.
Besides iOS 8 and iPhone integration, August is compatible with Android devices, as well. They have just started taking orders, with the first round of shipments coming in October 2014. You can buy it now for $199, or wait until then for the $249 retail price.
Besides iOS 8 and iPhone integration, August is compatible with Android devices, as well. They have just started taking orders, with the first round of shipments coming in October 2014. You can buy it now for $199, or wait until then for the $249 retail price.
Apple announced the August would be among the first devices to work with their forthcoming iOS 8 HomeKit system. That means the stakes are high enough for the designers and programmers to deliver something that’s seamlessly functional and actually pretty.
Apple announced the August would be among the first devices to work with their forthcoming iOS 8 HomeKit system. That means the stakes are high enough for the designers and programmers to deliver something that’s seamlessly functional and actually pretty.
The lock system works by using a device like an iPhone as a malleable and remote key. As the owner of the August, for example, you can be miles from home and unlock the front door for a repairman. Proximity sensors inside the device can also unlock the door for you as you approach.
The lock system works by using a device like an iPhone as a malleable and remote key. As the owner of the August, for example, you can be miles from home and unlock the front door for a repairman. Proximity sensors inside the device can also unlock the door for you as you approach.
The superimposed images of the furniture look slightly surreal, as expected, but the ability to furnish a room with multiple items and choose from such a large array of brands makes it superior to the Home Depot’s similar app.
The superimposed images of the furniture look slightly surreal, as expected, but the ability to furnish a room with multiple items and choose from such a large array of brands makes it superior to the Home Depot’s similar app.
Furnish says they are expanding to include furniture from brands like Restoration Hardware and Target.
Furnish says they are expanding to include furniture from brands like Restoration Hardware and Target.
If you fill a space with something that looks good, the app will direct you to buy it to the retailer.
If you fill a space with something that looks good, the app will direct you to buy it to the retailer.
The brushes works like regular electric toothbrushes, but they have embedded sensors that record your frequency of use, and even how hard you’re pressing against your gums.
The brushes works like regular electric toothbrushes, but they have embedded sensors that record your frequency of use, and even how hard you’re pressing against your gums.
Brushing, like exercising, is one of those habits we know we should do more of, and having empirical data can be helpful in fostering good behavior. Unfortunately, according to Endeavour Partners, about a third of fitness tracker owners have a habit of ditching the device after six months. A toothbrush, however, is not an optional device, so the unavoidable feedback might be helpful. The brush will be available in early 2015 in the United States.
Brushing, like exercising, is one of those habits we know we should do more of, and having empirical data can be helpful in fostering good behavior. Unfortunately, according to Endeavour Partners, about a third of fitness tracker owners have a habit of ditching the device after six months. A toothbrush, however, is not an optional device, so the unavoidable feedback might be helpful. The brush will be available in early 2015 in the United States.
Rather than having to bring your phone in the bathroom for every brushing, the toothbrush itself stores up to 20 sessions to sync when it next connects.
Rather than having to bring your phone in the bathroom for every brushing, the toothbrush itself stores up to 20 sessions to sync when it next connects.
Another selling point of the connectivity is that brushing data can be sent to dentists. Will you actually do that? Probably not, but if you’re serious about establishing better habits, accountability is a solid motivator.
Another selling point of the connectivity is that brushing data can be sent to dentists. Will you actually do that? Probably not, but if you’re serious about establishing better habits, accountability is a solid motivator.
Using the app, you can customize your cleaning cycle. Set the time per cleaning and intensity accordingly, which can be helpful if you find other electric toothbrushes’ intensity to be too much.
Using the app, you can customize your cleaning cycle. Set the time per cleaning and intensity accordingly, which can be helpful if you find other electric toothbrushes’ intensity to be too much.
At just under 15 inches tall, it takes up some counter real estate. At the rear, there is a space to hold the excess length of the 26.5-foot power cord.
At just under 15 inches tall, it takes up some counter real estate. At the rear, there is a space to hold the excess length of the 26.5-foot power cord.
You can set the schedule up to a week in advance, and get push notifications when a fresh pot is ready. It brews at about 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can adjust the strength. You can also pause in the middle of the cycle in order to pour a cup.
You can set the schedule up to a week in advance, and get push notifications when a fresh pot is ready. It brews at about 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can adjust the strength. You can also pause in the middle of the cycle in order to pour a cup.
The decanter holds up to ten cups of coffee and can keep the contents warm for two hours after brewing. The water container holds just over six cups worth.
The decanter holds up to ten cups of coffee and can keep the contents warm for two hours after brewing. The water container holds just over six cups worth.
Timer-activated coffee makers have been around for years, so it's almost hard to believe it took this long to make the device smart. Finally, Belkin made one from a partnership with Mr. Coffee, and it goes beyond scheduled brewing.
Timer-activated coffee makers have been around for years, so it's almost hard to believe it took this long to make the device smart. Finally, Belkin made one from a partnership with Mr. Coffee, and it goes beyond scheduled brewing.
The device has two physical buttons: one to start/stop the brewing or cleaning cycle, and another to link the machine to Wi-Fi. The rest of the interface is controlled via Belkin’s WeMo app.
The device has two physical buttons: one to start/stop the brewing or cleaning cycle, and another to link the machine to Wi-Fi. The rest of the interface is controlled via Belkin’s WeMo app.
At $150, you pay a premium for being able to control the device from your phone — for comparison, a regular programmable Mr. Coffee costs around $40. However, if you already have the WeMo system from Belkin, which allows users to control smart devices around their home, this is a logical extension.
At $150, you pay a premium for being able to control the device from your phone — for comparison, a regular programmable Mr. Coffee costs around $40. However, if you already have the WeMo system from Belkin, which allows users to control smart devices around their home, this is a logical extension.
TapPainter also takes the wall’s current paint color into account when rendering what the new shade will look like.
TapPainter also takes the wall’s current paint color into account when rendering what the new shade will look like.
When you find a color scheme that resonates, the app will find brand-specific color codes that you can bring to the hardware store. Currently, it only works on interior spaces.
When you find a color scheme that resonates, the app will find brand-specific color codes that you can bring to the hardware store. Currently, it only works on interior spaces.
What sets this app apart from the dozens of others like it is the complex algorithm that detects the edges of walls and differentiates shadows from true paint colors.
What sets this app apart from the dozens of others like it is the complex algorithm that detects the edges of walls and differentiates shadows from true paint colors.
An exterior switch pops the bottom of the bin open to let out the debris. It holds 0.12 gallons, or just under 16 ounces, of waste.
An exterior switch pops the bottom of the bin open to let out the debris. It holds 0.12 gallons, or just under 16 ounces, of waste.
The high price of a Dyson goes towards having the best aesthetics of any vacuum in the industry and the most powerful motors. However, those elements are beyond what’s necessary for most people in need of a portable vacuum for a small cleanup. Something like a Black & Decker 20V Max or Pivot Vac will have plenty of power to clean up animal hair and dust, so long as you have a dedicated upright for heavier cleaning jobs.
The high price of a Dyson goes towards having the best aesthetics of any vacuum in the industry and the most powerful motors. However, those elements are beyond what’s necessary for most people in need of a portable vacuum for a small cleanup. Something like a Black & Decker 20V Max or Pivot Vac will have plenty of power to clean up animal hair and dust, so long as you have a dedicated upright for heavier cleaning jobs.
As the name implies, the DC59 is unique because it has a motor in the carbon fiber cleaning head. The idea, according to designer James Dyson, is to make it as good as a dedicated plug-in vacuum on carpets.
As the name implies, the DC59 is unique because it has a motor in the carbon fiber cleaning head. The idea, according to designer James Dyson, is to make it as good as a dedicated plug-in vacuum on carpets.
The whole rig weighs just under five pounds, which means it can be held upright to vacuum shelves and corners of rooms. The main tube is detachable, which means the main unit can be fitted with smaller nozzles for use in a car or small closet. It comes with a wall-mount cradle, which holds the various attachments and charges the battery. The nickel manganese battery gives 24 minutes of cleaning, which sounds like a short amount of time, but power is only drawn when the trigger is pulled.
The whole rig weighs just under five pounds, which means it can be held upright to vacuum shelves and corners of rooms. The main tube is detachable, which means the main unit can be fitted with smaller nozzles for use in a car or small closet. It comes with a wall-mount cradle, which holds the various attachments and charges the battery. The nickel manganese battery gives 24 minutes of cleaning, which sounds like a short amount of time, but power is only drawn when the trigger is pulled.
The light comes from a concentration of LEDs in the middle of the unit, which diffuse evenly across the surface below.
The light comes from a concentration of LEDs in the middle of the unit, which diffuse evenly across the surface below.
The cooling structure is made of extruded aluminum, stamped aluminum fins, and copper heat pipes. It has optional wireless connectivity so you can dim it with an Android or iOS device.
The cooling structure is made of extruded aluminum, stamped aluminum fins, and copper heat pipes. It has optional wireless connectivity so you can dim it with an Android or iOS device.
The 66-watt LEDs in the Ariel lights are rated to last for up to 13 years with continuous use.
The 66-watt LEDs in the Ariel lights are rated to last for up to 13 years with continuous use.
The engineering behind the housing was taken from technology used on satellites. The suspension cables are made from insulated copper and grounded with stainless steel fixings. No pricing has been announced, but expect it to be expensive.
The engineering behind the housing was taken from technology used on satellites. The suspension cables are made from insulated copper and grounded with stainless steel fixings. No pricing has been announced, but expect it to be expensive.
A knob on the top of the unit adjusts the suction according to the child’s age. To make the device kid-friendly, the designers made the motor operate silently, and gave the exterior a pastel color scheme.
A knob on the top of the unit adjusts the suction according to the child’s age. To make the device kid-friendly, the designers made the motor operate silently, and gave the exterior a pastel color scheme.
The collection receptacle gets suction from the main unit’s motor. The patented nozzle extends into the nasal cavity all the way to the maxillary sinus.
The collection receptacle gets suction from the main unit’s motor. The patented nozzle extends into the nasal cavity all the way to the maxillary sinus.
There are other options for the same purpose, almost all of which are significantly cheaper—about $15 is the starting point for models like the BabyComfyNose. They’re usually manual, a minor upgrade from a standard bulb syringe, but cheap electronic models also exist. At that price, though, the devices make vibration noises, and the manual models often require two hands for use.
There are other options for the same purpose, almost all of which are significantly cheaper—about $15 is the starting point for models like the BabyComfyNose. They’re usually manual, a minor upgrade from a standard bulb syringe, but cheap electronic models also exist. At that price, though, the devices make vibration noises, and the manual models often require two hands for use.
The Nosiboo comes from a design and product engineering firm who, alongside pediatricians, spent two years developing the device. It is, at its core, an electric vacuum for the nasal passages. The mucus ends up in the reservoir attached to the cone, which separates in half so it can be rinsed and cleaned.
The Nosiboo comes from a design and product engineering firm who, alongside pediatricians, spent two years developing the device. It is, at its core, an electric vacuum for the nasal passages. The mucus ends up in the reservoir attached to the cone, which separates in half so it can be rinsed and cleaned.
A single ergonomic rake, though tedious in practice, will usually suffice for most urban or small land plots, so it's worth considering whether you get enough leaves to justify a dedicated tool like the Jet. If you decide to take the plunge, consumer leaf blowers don’t look better or provide more power than the Jet.
A single ergonomic rake, though tedious in practice, will usually suffice for most urban or small land plots, so it's worth considering whether you get enough leaves to justify a dedicated tool like the Jet. If you decide to take the plunge, consumer leaf blowers don’t look better or provide more power than the Jet.
The engine in the Jet is “two-cycle” or two-stroke, which means it combines intake and exhaust during the same crankshaft revolution. Simply put, this action makes the device more polluting, which is why two-stroke engines on all but the smallest motorcycles are illegal. The Jet’s 27-cc motor is legal, but eco-conscious homeowners who don’t need to clear large lawns should look to electric models like the Stihl BGA 85.
The engine in the Jet is “two-cycle” or two-stroke, which means it combines intake and exhaust during the same crankshaft revolution. Simply put, this action makes the device more polluting, which is why two-stroke engines on all but the smallest motorcycles are illegal. The Jet’s 27-cc motor is legal, but eco-conscious homeowners who don’t need to clear large lawns should look to electric models like the Stihl BGA 85.
The Jet moves 650 cubic-feet per minute of air, which comes out at up to 130 miles per hour. Though other, more expensive models claim faster air speeds, the cubic-feet performance of the Troy-Bilt puts it at the top of the product sector for debris-clearing products.
The Jet moves 650 cubic-feet per minute of air, which comes out at up to 130 miles per hour. Though other, more expensive models claim faster air speeds, the cubic-feet performance of the Troy-Bilt puts it at the top of the product sector for debris-clearing products.

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