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Top ways smart tech can save Thanksgiving dinner

Erin Lawrence
Erin has over 20 years of experience as a journalist in the media and news industries, with time both on camera and behind…
The smart home market might see big changes in 2023
Apple HomePod 2023 next to a TV.

The smart home market is arguably the strongest it’s ever been. Apple recently reintroduced the HomePod to rave reviews, Roborock is gearing up to launch its new lineup of powerful robot vacuums, and nearly half of U.S. households interact with a smart home gadget every month. That’s an impressive number, and it’s an increase from 2022 -- meaning the market is trending in the right direction, and folks seem to be buying into the dream of an interconnected household.

This incredible market saturation means it’ll take a long time for the smart home market to completely vanish -- and its death probably isn’t going to happen this year (or anytime soon). But the rest of 2023 will be an interesting year for the smart home industry, as Amazon and Google have run into financial issues with their smart home offerings, while Apple finally seems to be gaining momentum.
Money trouble at Amazon and Google

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Rachio debuts affordable, water-saving smart hose timer at CES 2023
The Rachio Smart Hose Timer installed on an outdoor spigot.

Installing a smart sprinkler in your yard is a great way to cut down on water waste and lower your utility bills -- but it’s also a pricey (and time-consuming) investment. Rachio is looking to change that, as the company debuted a $99 smart hose timer at CES 2023.

The gadget is surprisingly simple, yet offers impressive versatility. After attaching the smart valve to your existing outdoor spigot, you’ll be able to monitor your water usage, create watering schedules, and use the Rachio app to get detailed stats about how much water you’re saving. And since it connects to your network via Wi-Fi, you can schedule a watering or check its status regardless of where you are.

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How smart water management can protect against damage and save money
Roost Smart Water and Freeze Detector

The world of smart home plumbing is still relatively small, but the benefits of hooking up your home's pipes with sensors can save you loads on repairs by catching leaks early. Managing your water usage can be vital if you're living in a drought-prone area, while smart water heating can save a few bucks on your monthly bills, too. Let's take a look at some of the smart home water management system types available, and what they can do for you.
Smart leak sensors

Water leaks account for 10,000 gallons of lost water each year per home. About 10% of homes leak more than 90 gallons a day, adding up to a whopping one trillion gallons of leaked water nationwide each year. It's a big problem, but highly fixable. For starters, it's easy to get into smart leak sensors and use them in your home. There are a couple of ways these can work.

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