Best smart bulbs

April 17, 2024

You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to make your house (and your lighting) a little smarter. I found options for any budget. Seriously, one is under $5.

High end: Wait, $29.97 for two lightbulbs? People do it gladly when it’s the Philips Hue. These top-of-the-line smart bulbs have a stellar glow. Control them with Alexa, Google Assistant or the Hue app.
Bargain: Give the smart bulb a whirl with a basic Alexa-compatible bulb from Sengled. At 61% off ($3.93), it’s a total steal.
Nightlight: The Echo Glow is a multicolor smart lamp that works with Alexa and makes a perfect nightlight. And right now, it’s 33% off ($19.99).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Tags: Amazon Alexa, apps, bargain, Budget, control, Google, Google Assistant, lighting, options, Philips Hue, Smart, smart bulbs, steal

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Hiring? 5 LinkedIn myths debunked

Fact: Hiring the right person can be challenging. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. With the right tools, hiring can be simple.

Kim’s pick when it comes to adding to the team at Komando HQ? LinkedIn. Keep reading to find out why LinkedIn can help businesses of any size add the right people. Visit LinkedIn.com/Kim.

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Review: Best drones for any budget

It’s official, folks: Barry and I are expecting … a drone in the mail! Whoops, did I give you a heart attack? 😅

Yep, Barry bought a fancy-pants drone. And you know me, that means I’ve been scouring the web comparing drones and deals for the past week!

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Many big tech brands sell refurbished gadgets — not brand-new but fully checked and working. Apple has refurbished MacBooks, computers and AirPods with a one-year warranty. Amazon Renewed has everything from the 2022 Apple Watch model to Beats headphones and smart TVs.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Amazon sellers are up to their necks in scam returns. Buyers scoop up premium products, then they send back cheap lookalikes (like old hats with Nike stickers slapped on) and keep the refund. Expect a major crackdown on Amazon’s return policies soon.

2.6M fewer Amazon shoppers

Are active each month compared to two years ago. During that same stretch, the Chinese-owned shopping site Temu has grown to 54 million active users. Maybe that’s why Amazon’s pulling out all the stops for its Big Spring Sale. (FYI, I won’t use Temu. Here’s why.)

Cheap tech upgrades anyone can do

Reading this on a two-year-old iPhone SE 3? Go ahead and make those over-the-hill jokes — it’s reaching the average smartphone lifespan of 2.5 years.

Upgrading your laptop or smartphone is inevitable. But wait before you throw out that clunky computer. Even when a piece of tech starts showing its age, you’ve still got options to give it a new lease on life.

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OK, it’s really cold: 11 tricks and gadgets to keep you warm

Yesterday, my Daily Tech Update heard on 350+ radio stations about how EVs don’t like cold weather hit home with a ton of folks. You see, even if you charged up to prepare the night before, the battery could be dead or pretty close to it when you wake up. Wow, so many people told me they had no idea this would happen when they bought an EV.

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Unlock the secrets of your slumber: Best sleep-tracking tech

Ah, sleep — the one thing we all love but never seem to get enough of. You’re tossing and turning, counting sheep, or maybe out like a light but still wake up feeling like you’ve pulled an all-nighter. How can you crack the code of quality slumber?

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10 tech freebies everyone should know about

The iPhone 15 Pro Max with tons of storage costs $1,599. The Razor Blade 18 gaming laptop starts at $2,899.99. Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay H95 over-the-ear headphones? $999.

You get the point. Tech can set you back a whole lot of money. That’s why you should take every freebie you can get — with one caveat. Security programs, antivirus and VPNs are common honeypots for scammers. This list, though, you can trust.

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Ask Kim: 'Can you help me choose an Echo device?'

Absolutely! First things first, here’s how I like to use mine:

Both are totally solid, but I would go with the Echo Show 10. It’s bigger, faster and newer, and just about every spec is upgraded. The Echo Show 8 is certainly more affordable, but this is something you want to buy once and forget about for a few years. This model is already over two years old.

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We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.