We’re already at Day 8 of Tech Guide’s 2022 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas to help you find the ideal gadget gifts to put under the tree for your loved ones.
Smart home devices and IoT (Internet of Things) products are among the most popular and fastest growing tech category.
Christmas offers customers a chance to use these devices to realise their goal of making their home smarter.
Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas:
DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices
DAY 9: In-car gadgets
DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K
DAY 11: Appliances
DAY 12: Computers
DAY 8: SMART HOME/IoT DEVICES
ARLO PRO 4 SPOTLIGHT WIRELESS SECURITY CAMERA – $369
The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Wireless Security camera combines excellent video quality and ease of installation to offer customers a great way to keep an eye on their home or business.
Arlo has a range of security cameras with varying video qualities – Full HD, 2K and 4K.
The Arlo Pro 4 sits right in the middle with 2K video resolution.
Choosing a camera resolution depends on the area you want to cover and how much detail you’d like to see.
With the 2K Arlo Pro 4, it is ideal for monitoring medium to larger spaces and includes HDR (high dynamic range) so you can zoom in and make out more detail in the brighter and darker areas of the video.
WITHINGS BODY CARDIO SMART SCALE – $249
Discover Body Cardio, the most advanced personal smart scale in the market powered by MED.TECH which performs during every weigh-in an advanced cardio & body check-up. It is also packed with features to help people achieve their weight loss and maintenance goals – in addition to weight and BMI readings, Body Cardio also provides a full assessment of body composition.
Using a scientific technique called biometrical impedance, it computes the body’s percentage of fat, muscle, water, and bone mass. It is also able to take a user’s heart rate.
EXCEL LIFE SMART – from $450
If you are looking for entertaining efficiency that is twice as enjoyable but takes half the effort then Excel Life Smart is perfect for you.
Impress your guests and replace existing switches and power points within your home to allow for automation and control via switch, mobile device or voice activated digital assistants.
The easy-to-use interface via a smart device, allows users to create scenarios to make day-to-day activities easier including asking Siri or Alexa to turn on the lights without leaving your chair, or set up alerts on local weather or the temperature, and air quality within the home.
Set up scenarios such as ‘welcome home’ to automatically activate certain lights and appliances simultaneously on command.
Available online at Legrand Australia and leading retailers
ECHO DOT WITH CLOCK
The new Echo Dot with Clock have been redesigned to offer better audio quality.
It now includes a custom full-range driver for clearer vocals and double the bass response.
And it’s all contained within the same spherical form factor.
The Echo Dot with Clock has an improved LED display with high density dot technology for a more vibrant result and an easier way to see the information.
As well as seeing the time, Echo Dot with Clock will now display song titles and artists names, the weather and the result of a calculation you asked for.
ARLO ESSENTIAL WIRELESS VIDEO DOORBELL – $299
The Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell lets you can keep an eye and ear on the front door while enjoying the same security and peace of mind provided by the company’s internet connected cameras.
The doorbell can be installed whether you have power to the front door or not thanks to its wire-free design.
The conveniently wire-free, battery-operated video doorbell provides full coverage view of the front door from anywhere, with live audio and video. The most convenient way to set families up for a safe Christmas.
CONNECT SMARTHOME GARAGE DOOR OPENER – $49.95
Using the Connect SmartHome APP to control your garage door from almost anywhere has many benefits. For straightforward convenience automate the door with your smartphone, or simply use voice commands with Google Assistant integration.
Alternatively, you can use the ‘geofencing’ function to open or close your garage door when entering/leaving a set geographic area. Use your garage to receive deliveries in a secure location when you’re not at home.
Check the status of the door anytime or receive alerts for peace of mind. Available from JB Hi-Fi
LASER SMARTHOME RANGE – From $10
Laser SmartHome’s range features an array of lighting options, and smart power solutions for every Australian household.
These include smart bulbs that offer a wide range of colour customisation and scheduling options or smart power solution including a Smart Wi-Fi Plug which can make any appliance into a smart appliance.
Ready to set up and go, the range can be placed in any room and integrated through the Laser SmartHome app. The range is ideal for every Aussie family to automate their lives.
The selection includes Laser Smart 10W LED Light Bulbs –$10 (WHITE) or $15 (RGB) and the Laser Smart Wi-Fi Plug with Dual USB and Power Monitor – $29. Available from Big W.
PHILIPS SIGNE FLOOR LAMP – $469.95
Complement your home’s décor with the slim, stylish black design of the gradient Signe Floor Lamp, which blends multiple colours together to paint the walls with a unique gradient of light.
With the Hue Bluetooth app, you can amp up the ambience of special moments with living lights, using dynamic scenes to create the perfect mood in any situation. Available online and at JB HIFI.
CONNECT SMARTHOME WATER CONTROLLER – $179.95
Maintain your lawn or garden intelligently with the CONNECT Smart Water Controller.
Simply install the CONNECT SmartHome app and you can ensure your plants receive the right amount of water from anywhere and anytime at the touch of a button.
Set smart schedules and timers to not only keep your plants healthy, but also minimize water wastage.
The CONNECT SmartHome app also allows you to automate watering based on your local weather conditions, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the results. Available from JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman
AMAZON FIRE TV CUBE – $159
Fire TV Cube has a new octa-core 2.0 GHz processor that makes it two-times as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
The supercharged device increases app launch speeds, making for a smooth viewing experience for consumers.
It also harnesses the power of Alexa allowing for hands-free voice control, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio for the true cinematic experience.
SWANN WI-FI WINDOW/DOOR ALERT SENSOR – $44.95
Worrying about the safety and security of your home shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the sunshine and quality family time this festive season.
Let your loved ones kick back this Christmas with the Swann Wi-Fi Window/Door Alert Sensor, a smart sensor which can send notifications to their phone whenever a door or window has been opened or left open.
This smart sensor is renter friendly to install and easily connects to any smartphone to allow for push notifications to be shared when activity is detected, making this the ideal low-cost gift this Christmas. Available at: Bunnings Warehouse, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and other authorised retailers, as well as online at www.swann.com/au/
NETGEAR ORBI WI-FI 6E MESH SYSTEM – $2,799
How do I improve my Wi-Fi? That is the question we get asked quite often and our answer is always the same – with a mesh system and Netgear’s new Orbi Wi-Fi 6E is the best you can buy right now.
Having solid wi-fi at home is so important whether it’s to work or learn from home or to enjoy your favourite streaming services and play competitively online anywhere in your home.
The real issue most Australians face is their NBN-issued modem/router is not always near their most important connected devices.
The modem part is fine, but the reach of the router part is useless unless you’re standing next to it.
A mesh wi-fi system like the new Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6E is the solution to this common problem.
UNIDEN APP CAM SOLO PRO 2K – $279.95
Uniden has released a new outdoor security camera – the App Cam Solo Pro 2K – a wirefree spotlight and security camera in one that’s designed for Australian homes and weather conditions.
The weatherproof camera has 2K resolution with a 120-degree wide angle field of view to view and record even more in greater detail.
And at this resolution it’s possible to zoom in to view objects even closer.
Uniden’s App Cam Solo Pro 2K works effectively day and night.
The Uniden App Cam Solo+ Solar Panel is available for $99.95.
AMAZON ECHO SHOW 15
Amazon has released its latest Echo product – the Echo Show 15 – a stylish 15.6-display that can be wall mounted to help you stay organised, stay informed and take complete control of your home’s smart devices.
The Echo Show 15 has a full HD display which can rest on a bench or be mounted on the wall in either portrait or landscape orientation.
Echo Show 15 looks like a large digital photo frame with a dark bezel and a white inner bezel which houses the 15.6-inch display.
The device is 40.1cm by 25.2cm and comes with a mounting bracket which works if you mount it portrait (so it looks like a phone screen) or landscape (so it looks like a TV screen).
