Jay Basen

Luxury residential technology is increasingly extending beyond the walls of the home. From private jets to vacation estates and now superyachts, homeowners are bringing the same expectations for premium entertainment wherever they travel. One recent installation aboard a 177-foot luxury yacht demonstrates just how sophisticated those experiences have become. Montana Pro Audio (MPA) recently completed […]

Robotic lawn mowers were one of the fastest-growing categories at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Nineteen companies unveiled new models focused on smarter navigation, stronger propulsion, and improved cutting performance. So, I’ve written several articles on different robotic mowers this summer. In review from my earlier article, for many homeowners, the question still remains, […]

Robotic mowers were one of the fastest-growing categories at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  Nineteen companies unveiled new models focused on smarter navigation, stronger propulsion, and improved cutting performance.  So, I’m working on writing several articles on them this summer.  But in spite of the showing of robotic mowers at CES, for many homeowners […]

The smart home is often a battle between proprietary ecosystems and complex, expensive custom installations. Standing at the intersection of these two worlds is Shelly, a brand that has quietly revolutionized the smart home industry by championing openness, affordability, and a “retrofit-first” philosophy. While many competitors try to lock users into specific hubs, Shelly’s core […]

It is amazing how much better a room will look when the TV is hidden away behind a framed mirror, framed artwork, or using a TV Lift.

The concept of climate control dates back to around 1620 when mercury thermostats were used to regulate the temperature of chicken egg incubators.  But it wasn’t until the late 20th century, long before smartphone apps existed, that the first programmable digital thermostats were introduced.  These devices were a significant advancement as they allowed homeowners to […]

For years, the Hubitat Elevation has been a favorite hub for smart home power users due to its “local-first” philosophy. Unlike many competitors, Hubitat processes automations inside the hub rather than in the cloud. This ensures the lights still be controlled in a smart home even if the Internet is down. With the release of […]

Here are a few additional products that I couldn’t fit into my first article on innovative smart home products shown at CES

Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are the primary voice assistants used for control of Crestron smart home systems.  However, the low cost of these assistants comes at a price, the loss of privacy.  Privacy concerns with voice assistants stem from several issues: An alternative approach is to leverage Home Assistant as a voice assistant platform […]

Explore the advantages of Meross smart thermostats for energy efficiency, comfort, and convenience in your home.