Belkin shows off WeMo line of products, more home connectivity at CES

By Kelly Montgomery January 16, 2012

Keeping with the popular CES theme of home connectivity, Belkin announced several products that expand consumers’ opportunities for creating something of a “smart home,” including the WeMo line of products. Smart technology for homes has been around for some time, but it usually comes with an outrageous price tag and requires some form of custom building or designing. These factors make it not an easy (or inexpensive) task. The new WeMo line from Belkin aims to give consumers custom-configurable technology for home electronics without the high price tag or commitment.

WeMo products will all be available for individual purchase to give users flexibility and the devices will all be controllable via a free app for smartphones and tablets. The first product is the WeMo Home Control Switch ($50), which allows users to remotely turn on and off anything that is plugged in (like a lamp) via the WeMo app, or schedule the item to be turned on and off at specific times. Users can buy one of these or many to create their own personlized home system.

The second product in the new line is the WeMo Motion Sensor ($60), which is pretty self-explanatory; it will turn a light or other device on and off when motion is sensed or the room is empty. This can be used by itself or in tandem with the Home Control Switch to create a system of home connectivity. Both of these products will be available in March along with the free WeMo app, with more products launching in the fall of this year.

Other additions to the WeMo line will likely include a garage door opener, a door lock, a baby monitor, and light controls, all of which are still in development but may launch by the fall.

In other areas of connectivity, Belkin also showed some products that help users make the most of their media, like the Screencast AV4 ($250), which will wirelessly connect up to four home theater devices to your TV via a transmitter. The idea here is that you can connect all of your home theater devices to this unit and hide them away in a closet or cupboard not to be seen, and the transmitter will do the rest.

The company is also working on a unit that would allow remote control, recording, and viewing of DVR content on mobile devices, but no word yet on the specifics of this.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Kelly Montgomery

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…

Smart Home

Are robotic pool cleaners worth it?

The Airper Seagull SE robotic pool cleaner at the bottom of a swimming pool.

The worst part of owning a swimming pool is taking care of it From filter maintenance and skimming debris from the surface to managing chemicals and more, you'll likely find yourself hanging out around the water more often than you're actually in the water. Robotic pool cleaners are designed to alleviate this pinch point of pool ownership by giving you back your time and automating most of your tasks.

But are robotic pool cleaners worth it, or are they a gimmick that still require heaps of manual input? Here's a closer look to help you decide if one would be a good addition to your backyard.
Budget-friendly devices are often a hassle

Smart Home

Best Buy cut this air fryer’s price in half, down to just $25

The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer near food.

If you want your food crispy all over without having to deal with draining a ton of oil, your best bet is to use an air fryer. They're never too expensive and there are always great air fryer deals going on, but you'll rarely find one with a price like this. Right now, the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Analog Air Fryer is half off, moving its price from $50 to $25. To pick yours up today all you need to do is tap the button below. If you're interested in our take, however, be sure to keep reading.

Why you should buy the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer
The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer holds up to about 2.5 pounds of food, heats up to 400 degrees, and has easily-removable dishwasher-safe parts. If you notice it is "analog" that is because it has a 60 minute shut off timer to give you peace of mind and an easy way to time your cooking. Of course, this means there aren't a ton of digital options, buttons, and settings. However, this can be a plus for some and possibly you. Not every item in the home needs to be "smart" and less can certainly feel like more.

Smart Home

Revolution Cooking’s high-speed smart toaster is $100 off today

Someone using the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster in the kitchen.

If you're thinking about getting a new toaster for your kitchen, why not go with a high-speed smart toaster? Best Buy is currently selling the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster with a $100 discount, slashing its price to $250 from $350 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before this offer expires though, so if you're interested, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right now in order to secure the savings.

Why you should buy the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster
Are smart kitchen gadgets worth it? The answer is a resounding yes, and the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster will show you why. With this kitchen device, you'll no longer suffer from burnt or uneven toasts as it's powered by the brand's InstaGLO heating system. The technology will start toasting your bread in just two seconds without any need for preheating. You'll get bread that's crunchy outside and moist inside every single time, which is a huge upgrade over the inconsistencies of traditional toasters.