Deal Seeker: Deals for the Home of the Future
In my favorite science-fiction futures, houses are a lot smarter than the one I live in. The doors know to open for me, no one ever has to spend a day cleaning, the kitchen cooks the meals, the lights have a mind of their own, robots take out the trash, and — until the machines become sentient and rise up — it’s a tidy spandex-clad bliss of productive work and clutter-free living.
The future home that’s coming at us right now isn’t quite as science-fiction writers imagined it would be. But it’s got some good stuff. And, better still, I rounded up some great deals on futuristic smart home tech that you can buy — and afford — right now. Some of these are exclusive to the Deal Seeker.
Smappee
Smappee gives you a handle on your power consumption. It watches when something in the house uses power, identifies the appliance that’s using it, and then keeps tabs on how much that appliance costs to operate. You can see exactly where there’s waste in your system simply by looking at your phone. You can also see — if you aren’t home — when the garage door opens, the Xbox turns on, or the dishwasher or other electrical appliance is in use. So you can keep a casual eye on the activities of kids or a home-alone elder without installing a bunch of doodads. Smappee can identify appliances from their power signature so you install just one gadget. I got you an exclusive 10 percent off deal. Go to the Smappee store and use the discount code “SaveEnergy” — it’s valid from today (June 19) through June 30.
Izon
Got a kid, cat, fish tank, or prize action figure collection that you worry about when you are away from home — or in the other room? Put Izon on that! Install this simple Web camera, download the app, and all you have to do to see if the fish are swimming and the cat is snoozing (or creating YouTube gold with her antics) is glance at your phone. I got you an exclusive deal: 30 percent off anything in your cart through July 31. Use the code “YAHOOTECH” at checkout or — even easier — click here to shop.
Tri Cascade i-Bright7x Smart Surge Protector
This might look like a power strip, but it’s actually a masterful way to get your kids to do the dishes. Plug the gaming system or Wi-Fi router into this connected source of power. And when you hear the inevitable “Just a minute!” (that stretches to an hour) in response to your request that chores get done, open the app on your iPhone that controls this bad boy and turn off the signal. That will get results. Ironically, it is also a signal booster, so you can save money on one of those, too. I got you a 20 percent discount, just for Deal Seekers. Buy it from Tri Cascade's site and use the code “YAHOO20.”
WeMo
Want to turn the lights off without getting out of bed? Light the garden without trudging through the shrubbery? The Belkin WeMo home automation system is a series of plugs, lights, appliances, and sensors that let you control your home. All you need is Wi-Fi in the house and the right WeMo plug or sensor to control everything from the lights to the coffeemaker from your phone. Right now, the WeMo LED Starter Set is down to $49.99 (from $99.99), so this is a great time to get started on your own slick, app-controlled home lighting system.
