32 / matters magazine / home&garden 2018 Some locks have amazingly complex technology in them but can actually be picked quite easily. Another way to add smart control to your house is via Wi-Fi enabled out- lets. I use Wemo Mini Smart Plugs, which are truly plug-and-play. The Wemo goes into your outlet, almost like plugging in a USB adapter. It’s got a button on the side for manual con- trol, while the phone app allows you to assign names and set up routines. We use one in the den to turn the TV off after a certain amount of time. This ends the arguing with our child over when TV time is done. And, of course, Amazon Echo will detect the switches, so you only have to say “Al- exa, turn the TV on.” (Just don’t tell your kids!) Logitech’s Harmony Hub and Re- mote can be programmed to take con- trol of your entertainment center. “Al- exa, turn the TV on…turn to HBO… make the TV louder.” It takes some tedious programming to get it all working, but once you do you’ll have total voice control of your home en- tertainment center. Nanscawen loves his Harmony Hub: “Initially, I want- ed a universal remote to control the stereo and TV. But as the Harmony kept updating, I found myself being able to do things like have the lights Logitech’s Harmony Hub and Remote lets you take control of your entertainment center, controlling TV, stereo and lights. dim when a movie starts, and so on.” Now his Harmony remote serves as the nerve center of his home, controlling lights, TV and, of course, music. One of the great things about all of these smart speakers is the ability to ask for music and have it start playing. The speaker inside your Amazon Echo or Google Home device might be enough for many. I’ve opted for placing a series of tiny Echo Dots around the house. The internal speaker of the Dot isn’t much better than the speaker in your smartphone, but they can be connect- ed to your stereo or other speakers via Bluetooth or a simple cable. Sonos is a popular wireless speaker that is around the size of a tissue box. You can place one anywhere and con- nect them to each other to stream mu- sic throughout your house. The new Sonos One speaker even has Alexa built right in. The Echo recently took a cue from Sonos by offering synchro- nized playback across all of its speakers. You can create groups within the Alexa app, and say things like “Alexa, play classical music on the first floor.” Now every room in that group will play in sync. It’s really handy, whether you’re throwing a party or cranking tunes on cleaning day. This barely scratches the surface of smart home tech options but it should be enough to get you thinking about NEW KIDS CAMPS: JUNE 25–AUGUST 24 Online registration will open on March 5, 2018 for Museum members, March 12, 2018 for nonmembers. Visit montclairartmuseum.org or call 973-259-5139 to register. BASS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC 491B Valley Street, Maplewood • 973-378-BASS (2277) • www.BassFamilyChiro.com DR. WAYNE BASS Treatment and Rehabilitation for Headaches • Neck Pain • Back Pain Sports/Gym-Related Injuries Disc Problems • Pinched Nerves Auto Injuries • Pregnancy-Related Aches MostInsurancePlansAccepted Add smart control to your house with Wemo Mini Smart Plugs that fit in your outlets. This phone app enables you to assign names and set up routines for wireless control of lamps, TVs, fans, and more.