If you’re planning to give your home some upgrades, think beyond a new coat of paint.
Smart and affordable home improvements can help you make the most of today’s technology to keep your home comfortable — from automating cooling and heating, to connecting your computers, televisions and mobile devices to the Internet to maximize their usefulness and your enjoyment of them.
With the right tools, you can reduce energy costs and optimize the way you work and play.
Start with the right infrastructure: Your family may have the latest and greatest gadgets, but if your wireless router uses older technology, your system could be overloaded.
Routers are the centerpiece to any advanced home technology ecosystem, so it’s important to opt for a router that supports a seamless online experience no matter how many devices you have. For example, the AC1000 DB and AC1200 DB routers by Belkin run on advanced next generation Wi-Fi and operate at twice the speed of current ‘N’ routers. Your mobile devices will operate more efficiently, and thanks to faster streaming, you’ll also conserve battery power.
Upgrade your home theater: TV screens keep getting larger and their prices smaller. You can emulate the movie theater experience at home by investing in a high-quality system at a price that meets your budget. Just make sure to choose an HDTV with Internet connectivity and to mount it at a comfortable sightline.
And take your media room’s acoustics into account when setting up your speakers.
Maximize your cable or satellite subscription: Television junkies can now get off the couch. New technology is going beyond simply allowing you to record shows to watch later. A product like @TV links your home theater to your mobile devices, so you can watch and control live TV from smartphones, computers and tablets from anywhere. You can even record and store shows and movies to your mobile device. Enjoy your backyard and the big game simultaneously!
Protect your investments: Don’t spend a fortune on electronics only to mistreat them. One of the easiest ways to extend the lifespan of devices is by preventing them from overheating. Be sure electronics are well-protected with sufficient cooling fans.
Put your home at your fingertips: Save time and money by putting your devices on a schedule. From your air conditioner to your iron, if you can plug it in, there are affordable tools to control it remotely.
Choose a home automation system that lets you take control exactly as you see fit and doesn’t require customized installation. For instance, the WeMo switch by Belkin is modular, allowing you to control as much or as little of your home as you like via a free app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The WeMo Switch + Motion adds a sensor that reads motion within 10 feet and turns devices plugged into the switch on and off based on motion. The app also allows users to create rules or schedules based on customized intervals.
More information on optimizing your home’s technology can be found at www.belkin.com.
“In today’s digital era, we’ve come to expect instant gratification. Unfortunately, not everyone’s home is equipped to support that.” said Chet Pipkin, president and CEO of Belkin. “The right home improvements can help you maximize your mobile and entertainment devices.”
