The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

On the hottest days of the year you can transform your backyard and patio from unused waste of space into a relaxing environment. Enjoy the outdoors all year round with the Orbit® Professional Outdoor Mist Cooling System. It is an all-in-one kit designed to cover up to 10 feet of space, expandable up to 125 feet, cooling the air by as much as 20 degrees. The kit comes with everything you’ll need to feel cooler, no power is required, it even has an automatic drain valve. Simply attach the pieces together, install the mist line to any outdoor area, adjust the nozzles and connect the hose. The cooling process will start immediately, just sit back and enjoy!

• Bring down the outdoor temperature by up to 20° F
• Provides 10 feet of cooling coverage, expandable to 125 feet
• Attaches to any standard garden hose
• Drain valve included
• Price: $47.99

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Setting up a watering system for your yard can be a somewhat daunting task. However, Orbit® has taken all of the guesswork out of this and put together a complete kit for getting you started on your very own irrigation system. There are no timers to install or electricity involved. Just layout a watering system according to the included instructions, and once everything is attached and in place, you simply connect a standard garden hose and turn on the water. The Drip Irrigation Kit for Dummies makes installation and maintenance a breeze, so that watering the garden, potted plants, shrubs and trees is no longer a chore, its fun. Not only is it enjoyable, but using a drip irrigation system also reduces water usage by up to 70% over traditional sprinklers by focusing water directly to the roots. With the included equipment and detailed instructions, you are sure to make a great system that will let you sit back and watch your yard flourish.

• Hands free irrigation for gardens, potted plants, shrubs and trees
• No programming or electricity required, just connect a hose
• Drip irrigation can reduce water consumption up to 70%
• Watering directly at the roots promotes healthier plants
• Price: $39.99

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Standard computer monitors often don’t have enough room to display all of the information you wish to view. This affordable adapter has a simple USB connection that will let you enjoy the benefits of having multiple monitors without the need to purchase an expensive video card and open up your computer casing to install it. The hot-plug technology built in to this device lets you add or remove a monitor at any time without the need to perform a reboot of the system, just plug-in or remove the USB connection. There are numerous benefits to enjoy with the addition of a second monitor. If you happen to have purchased a new monitor with a higher resolution, you can simply connect it to this adapter and set it as your primary monitor. As a extended display, you will gain more desktop area so you can have multiple applications open, with different applications on different monitors. As a mirror display, you can view the exact image on both monitors, which is great for broadcasting video or conducting presentations and seminars. This display adapter offers resolutions up to 1600×1200, a lower resolution USB to DVI Display Adapter (1280×1024) is also available, sold separately.

• Quickly add a monitor to your computer without opening up the casing
• Included cable is USB to VGA or DVI (with the adapter)
• Can be configured so that the new monitor is a primary, extended or mirror display
• Price: $119.99

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Exterior appliances generally require more power to operate than standard indoor appliances. Items like pool pumps and heaters can really run up your electricity bill each month. By using a timer to regulate the use of some of these outdoor appliances, you can considerably cut down on the amount of energy being used, saving the environment and helping you out in the pocketbook. The beauty of this product is that it is rated to handle 120V or 240V loads and has a weather resistant casing. You can mount the timer outside and program the on time and off time of your fountains, garden lighting, pool and spa lights, pool and spa pump or pool and spa heaters; so you no longer have to worry whether or not you accidentally left an appliance on. There is an easy to follow owner’s manual that takes you step-by-step through using the 120V and 240V setting and four large buttons for programming, Up to 14 programs can be entered by day of the week, all days of the week, Monday through Friday, Monday through Saturday or Saturday and Sunday only. Additionally it comes with a built-in re-chargeable battery so you won’t have to worry in the event of a power failure. You can manually override a program if you need to turn an appliance on or off, or even disable a program if you wish. The large LCD display makes viewing your programs and options a cinch.

• 120V or 240V operation
• Weather resistant casing for outdoor applications
• 14 On/Off time periods (programs)
• Large, easy to read LCD screen
• Setting automatic cycles (programs) promotes energy conservation
• Price: $94.99

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If you have new video components that support HDMI inputs for high definition (HD) resolution, this is a high quality and affordable transfer cable. It is ideal for HDTV sets, Blu-ray players/recorders, DVD players/recorders, gaming systems and set-top cable/satellite receivers. This HDMI cable is specifically designed to carry audio and video signals (eliminating the need for multiple cables) along with multimedia or device-controlling signals. The compact size of this cable makes it perfect for use in equipment racks and tight spaces. Additional cables are available in 6 foot and 15 foot lengths, each sold separately.

• Bandwidth to support all SDTV, EDTV and HDTV video signal transfers
• HDMI rating of 1.3
• Type-A to Type-A connectors
• Compatible with single-link DVI-D
• Price: $12.99

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If your current high-definition television (HDTV) only has one HDMI input, or if you simply don’t enough HDMI inputs, this economical switch will allow you to connect up to three different HDMI sources through one output to your display. Now you can take advantage of the multiple HD accessories available, delivering high-definition video (up to 1080p) and multi-channel audio by connecting multiple sources to the switch. The included remote control allows you to change from one source to another without needing to get up and manually change it every time. It is ideal for connecting Blu-ray players/recorders, DVD players/recorders, gaming systems and set-top cable/satellite receivers.

• Switch between three different high definition (HD) sources via remote control
• Supports high definition HD resolutions up to 1080p
• Receives and transmits video and audio signals up to 20 meters
• Price: $104.99

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If you have an old PC running on the Windows XP operating system and want to transfer data over to your new PC running on Windows Vista operating system, use the Vista USB Computer Link Adapter. Additionally, you can move information between two computers running Vista. By using the Easy Transfer feature built-in to the Vista operating system, users can transfer files, user accounts and program settings without the need to be part of a traditional server-based network or use an intermediary storage device. The adapter is a host-to-host connector that directly transfers information between computers via USB Type A connections. It has a hi-speed USB 2.0 rating, which allows for data transfer speeds up to 480 mbps, which is faster than a regular Ethernet connection, while being backward compatible with older USB 1.1 devices. Common used include transferring documents and spreadsheets, updating and synchronizing calendars and contact lists, and instantly transferring songs and photos. This product is an excellent choice for your home network and for small workgroups.

• Uses Windows Vista Easy Transfer feature
• Allows for file sharing, transfer of user accounts, and settings, without intermediary storage
• USB Specification Version 2.0, also backward compatible with USB 1.1 devices
• Ideal for bulk data backup, restore, synchronization or file sharing
• Price: $29.99

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Nearly all modern gadgets attach to your computer through a USB connection. However, not all computers have enough USB inputs to manage all of these devices, and even if they do, the locations of these inputs are often difficult to get to. With the USB 2.0 Manual Share Switch Hub, you can make quick and convenient connections with up to four devices, and each of those devices can be connected to two computers. In the same fashion that you would add a power strip for additional outlets, simply link the hub to a computer (or two computers) with the included USB cable(s) and add power by connecting the AC adapter. With no software needed, once the hub has been connected and powered up there are multiple USB ports available for one or two computers to share. Connecting a flash drive, camera, card reader, keyboard, mouse, memory stick, or MP3 player is accessible and easy, and because this unit is powered, higher end peripherals like external hard drives, printers, scanners or fax machines can be connected as well. The hub has a hi-speed USB 2.0 rating offering data transfer speeds up to 480 mbps while being backward compatible with older USB 1.1 devices. Adding a compact and lightweight USB hub is an inexpensive and handy solution that will allow two computers, even laptops, quick access to the same files and peripheral devices.

• Connects multiple USB peripheral devices to multiple computers
• Plug-and-play installation, no software required
• USB Specification Version 2.0, also backward compatible with USB 1.1 devices
• LED indicator for bus-power/self-power and upstream/downstream port status
• Price: $29.99

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The USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter can transform your standard desktop or laptop audio into a quality surround sound system without the need to purchase or install a new sound card. Simple plug-and-play technology allows you to insert the Adapter into any free USB 1.1 port and the drivers will load automatically. The compact USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter is a multi functional device that supports rear audio, center / sub woofer, front audio, microphone in, line in, LED Power indicator, and easy to use plus and minus volume controls. Use a 1/8″ mini-jack plug to connect your powered speakers into the appropriate speaker input and your adapter is ready to provide an instant boost in clarity and performance that music, movies and video games are intended to deliver. By using the 1/8″ mini-jack microphone and line in, you can also connect additional audio equipment such as a microphone, home stereo, musical instrument, or portable music player. A CD is included with a program for advanced surround sound and recording functions. No external power supply is required.

• 5.1 surround sound technology over USB cable
• Simple to install plug-and-play operation for PC and Mac
• No sound card required for full-duplex playback/recording
• Auxiliary inputs for microphone, stereo, and other analog sources
• Volume controlled through your computer or manually on the adapter
• Price: $34.99

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