LOCAL Houston | The City Guide FEBRUARY 2015 | Page 72

Local February 2015 final.qxp_002houston 1/26/15 1:58 PM Page 72

TOOLS+GADGETS

RING VIDEO
DOORBELL

OORT SmartLED
The OORT SmartLED is based on Bluetooth technology, allowing users to
manage the bulbs in their home from their smartphones or tablets without
an Internet connection. Put the bulb in a standard socket and download the
app. You can schedule actions up to one week in advance such as turning
on and off the light. With a SmartHub connection, you can create custom
actions, such as triggering blue light to flash when you receive a Facebook
message or red when your child comes home. You can also change the
atmosphere of your home or office within seconds – 16 million different colors are available. The SmartLED is energy efficient as the company claims
it will last up to 40,000 hours. $40

Home security products are
popping up everywhere and
many of them are do-it-yourself
devices. A video doorbell
named Ring is the latest offering on store shelves, and it can
not only enhance your home’s
security but also let visitors
know you have a high-tech
home at the push of a button.
The device streams live audio
and video of a home’s front
doorstep directly to a smartphone or tablet. Built-in motion
sensors detect activity on your
property and trigger instant
mobile alerts, giving you the
ability to know what’s going
on even if you’re not there. The
doorbell comes with everything you need for installation.
Once installed it connects to
the Internet via WiFi. You can
sync an unlimited number of
smartphones and tablets. The HD night vision camera works well
in any light and can be customized with four faceplate finishes.
$199

XY FIND IT BLUETOOTH
SMART BEACON
We lose things – keys, purses, wallets and even pets. Here is a smart little gadget
that can help track those lost items. The XY Find It Bluetooth Smart Beacon
helps find nearby items just by attaching it to your valuables, your possessions and your pets. Download the app, remove the battery protector and then open the app to sync it. You can assign each
beacon a name and a picture, to make it easy when using
multiple devices to track multiple objects. It has a 150-foot
range and tells you how close the selected beacon is.
You can also set a function to alert you when you move
out of range of the tag. 3-pack $60; 6-pack $100
Michael Garfield is known as “The High-Tech Texan®.” His radio program airs on
KPRC and iHeartRadio every Saturday 11am–1pm. See the full review of these
products at www.hightechtexan.com and follow him at @hightechtexan.

72 L O C A L | february 15