Kim Wetzel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before joining Digital Trends as Home Editor, Kim was an adjunct journalism professor at Linfield College and high school journalism and English teacher. She spent several years writing for several publications, including U.S. News and World Report. She enjoys camping, running, and just about anything outdoors.
Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen) Review
With smart displays powered by Google now in play, the pressure was on for Amazon to make a better Echo Show device. There's no denying Amazon did it.
Google Nest Hub review: A refreshing take on the smart display
What’s small, simple, cute, and lacks a camera? The Google Nest Hub is the latest smart display (a smart speaker with a screen) to hit the market.
Google Home Mini review: Smart home, smart price
The Google Home Mini is an AI assistant that’s far more capable than its small size would suggest. With Voice Match capabilities and smarter than the Echo Dot, you'll like this impressive little speaker. Here are some other things we like about the device, and a few things we don't like.
Chamberlain garage door opener protects your Amazon packages from porch pirates
Tired of porch pirates swiping packages off your property? Chamberlain's B181 garage door opener works with Key by Amazon, letting you get your Amazon packages delivered directly inside your garage. The opener has lots of other great features, as well as one flaw that can be frustrating.
Grow it, cook it, smoke it: Marijuana tech gadgets for your home and kitchen
Do you take your weed seriously? Then we have the marijuana tech and devices for your home. When you love cooking, growing, or just enjoying, you'll find cool cannabis devices on our list to help make your experience even better. Take a look and find the perfect addition to your home.
Amazon workers listening to Alexa recordings isn’t a big deal. Here’s why
Thousands of Amazon workers are reportedly listening to recorded conversations between Alexa and voice assistant speaker owners. The idea that humans are listening to our conversations is an outrage and unacceptable. Or is it? This author doesn’t think it’s such a big deal.
Amazon Echo Spot review
The Amazon Echo Spot, the newest member of Amazon’s smart speaker family, is cute, fun, sleek, and the perfect little alarm clock. With this little device, you'll be snoozing the alarm just for fun.
Whatever happened to those dumb smart products we wrote about in 2017?
As manufacturers rush to get the next new smart gadgets out there, we wonder if all these inventions are necessary. We compiled this list of 10 of the quirkiest smart home products available in 2017 and decided to return to them in 2019 to see if they're still in existence. Here's what we found.
Ring Stick-Up Cam Battery review
Doesn’t it feel good to be detached from the wires in your life? You can be with Ring’s Stick Up Cam Battery, a smart home security camera that you can put literally plop anywhere. We got the chance to review the device, and it helped us catch some strange activity in our yard.
Hate poop? Then $500 may not be too much to pay for this toilet-cleaning robot
Which is better for cleaning your toilet: A good, old-fashioned toilet cleaning brush or a $500 robot toilet cleaner? We decided to take the Giddel robot by Altan Robotics for a couple of test runs to see whether the device is actually worth the cost. Here’s how things went.
Living in a pipe doesn’t sound so bad with this amazing design
We’ve seen tiny homes with retractable roofs, ones that run on coffee grounds, and even ones decked out with smart home products. Now, a single mom has designed a tiny home built inside of a 16-feet-long concrete storm drainage pipe. It’s surprisingly functional for just 100 square feet of living space.
Stainless steel is so last year. In 2019, it’s all about colorful appliances
For the past couple of decades, the color of choice for appliances has been stainless steel. Now, makers are introducing ovens, fridges, and dishwashers in vibrant hues to give customers a more customized, refined look in the kitchen. From royal blue stoves to deep green fridges, consumers have more choices than ever.
Champagne-colored fridges? Talking toilets? All the appliance trends in 2019
Ever wished you had Amazon Alexa-enabled toilet in your bathroom or a brightly colored appliance instead of boring old stainless steel? The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) starts today, and here are some of the trends we expect to see at the show and for the rest of year.
4 small appliances that have changed the way we cook food (for the better)
Ever heard of a sous vide machine? How about an air fryer? These are exciting times for home cooks seeking to advance or simplify their technique in the kitchen. That’s thanks in part to four small appliances that have made a splash over the past few years. Here’s why you should consider buying them.
Ring Stick Up Cam Wired Review
Ring’s latest home security camera offers more versatility than ever before, with the ability to mount it, set it on a table, or put it inside or outside. With 1080p high definition display, the Stick Up Cam is one of Ring’s best offerings to date. Here’s what we learned through testing.
Blink XT One Camera System review
With a two-year battery life and a strong app, Blink’s XT outdoor camera could be the introductory home security system you’re looking for. And with more Amazon Alexa integration and activity zones, the camera is smarter than ever. Read our review to find out more.
Will everything from lamps to fridges be spying on me? Yes, and I’m creeped out
With the debut of Panasonic’s HomeHawk lamp with built-in video camera, should we be concerned that everything -- from couches to dishwashers – could soon be spying on us? New surveillance technology could mean we could all be caught dancing in our underwear in a hotel room, or worse.
Ring Video Doorbell review
Along with the door itself, the doorbell is one of the first items most visitors will interact with when entering your home. The Ring Video Doorbell can show you who's at the door, whether they've actually rung the doorbell or not. Here's how it stacks up to the competition.
Booth babes, banned sex toys, and other mishaps at CES 2019
From female sex toys bans, to fake Tesla/robot collision stories, there was some weird stuff going on at CES 2019 this year. While nothing can top last year's show floor blackout, here are some of the biggest mishaps and flubs we saw this year at the world's biggest tech show.
Lenovo Smart Clock hands-on review
Move over Amazon Echo Spot: Lenovo’s Smart Clock With Google Assistant is coming for you. At just $79, the Smart Clock turns off the camera and turns up the cuteness factor for an enhanced alarm clock experience. We got a chance to test out the device at CES 2019 and came away impressed.
Genius or extraneous? We tried out a laundry-folding machine at CES to find out
It's CES 2019, which means lots of crazy gadgets. We got the chance to try out Foldimate, an automatic laundry-folding machine. After using the device, we came away both impressed and underwhelmed with the appliance, which will be available for $960 at the end of 2019. Here are some of our thoughts.
Five smart home trends we expect to see at CES this year
CES 2019 is finally here. So what smart home trends can we expect to see this year? Whether you're looking to find that beautiful Amazon Alexa-enabled toilet or that perfect home security system with bells and whistles, chances are you'll find it on the floor at CES 2019. Here are our predictions.
4 reasons you should buy the Amazon Echo Input
Do you have an older, great-sounding speaker that you want to add the Alexa voice assistant to? Amazon has got you covered with the Echo Input, a small, puck-like device that connects to non-smart speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary. Here are four reasons to buy the device.
Ring Alarm Security Kit review
Ring first made waves with its video doorbell, and now the Amazon-owned company is moving on to total home security with the Ring Alarm Security Kit. You can install the sensors and keypads yourself, then have Ring professionally monitor it from afar for $10 a month.
Amazon sent me a Christmas tree. Did it leave me pining for more?
Is driving to a Christmas tree lot or u-cut farm to get a tree a daunting task that you dread every year? Wish there was an easier way to get a tree to your house? Good news: Amazon is now selling real Christmas trees with free shipping. We decided to order one to see how it went.
Amazon has an even dozen new smart devices. Here’s how to order
Amazon's hardware announcement was in September which meant a whole bunch of new Amazon Alexa devices. Digital Trends attended the event, and will be updating you here as we learn more about the devices. From a microwave to stereo equipment, the number of new gadgets could total as many as eight.
LG XBOOM ThinQ WK9 smart display review
Introduced way back at CES in January 2018, LG’s WK9 smart display is finally on store shelves. But how does it compare to other smart displays on the market? We took a look and a listen to find out whether the device is worth its $299 price tag. Here’s what we learned.
Facebook Portal+ review
Facebook has jumped into the smart home game with the Portal+, a video-calling device featuring a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker and a screen. While the Portal+ has lots of cool calling features, we’re still a little weary of the social media giant taking up counter space in our home. Read our review to find out more.
AmazonBasics Microwave review
Amazon has added to its long portfolio of products with the AmazonBasics Microwave, a small appliance that works with Alexa. What business does Amazon, maker of Kindles, Fire TV devices, and Alexa voice speakers, have making a small appliance? We took the microwave for a test drive to find out more.
Picture this: The Aura packs thousands of photos in a single frame (for a price)
Are you one of those people who miss the good old days of flipping through photo albums to see each and every favorite photo? If so, you might love the Aura digital photo frame, a smart device that allows you to display thousands of pics on a single frame. We tested the device and came away impressed.
Amazon Echo review
Our Amazon Echo review reveals a shorter, cuter, speaker with several different color and fabric choices, and a firmware upgrade means improved sound. We took the device for another spin in November 2018 to see whether the speaker still measures up to the competition.
Can Aibo replace Fido? I fostered Sony’s robot dog for a week to find out
Can a robot dog replace a real dog? I set out to find the answer to that question by “fostering” Aibo, Sony’s robot dog. I came away from the experience with more questions than answers. While robot dogs are not for me, Sony sure did a great job of making just about the cutest artificially intelligent pup there is.
Husqvarna 315x Automower review
Imagine watching your lawn being mowed by a robot while you sit on the porch drinking a beer. That’s life with Husqvarna’s line of electric Automowers, which takes the gas and the manpower out of one dreaded aspect of yard work. While costly, the automated devices are really cool timesavers.
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen) review
Amazon’s second-generation Echo Plus speaker is the loudest, bassiest speaker in the Echo fleet. While featuring a smart hub with only Zigbee connectivity, other upgrades make this device a worthy smart speaker. We took the device for a whirl around the smart home to see how it fares against other speakers in the space.