10 Internet of Things Devices Vying for Consumers’ Attention

From smart crock pots to garage door openers, these 10 devices are representative of the increasingly diverse range of IoT products available for consumers.

Consumer electronics manufacturer Belkin has partnered with some of the top device makers in the world to bring IoT to their products. One of those devices is the Mr. Coffee 10-cup Smart Optimal Brew Coffeemaker that runs on Belkin’s WeMo home-automation platform. The device, which costs $150, lets users start brewing coffee from their smartphones and watch the status as it’s brewing.

Canary attempts to deliver a new-age look at how security works in the home. The technology is a complete home security system that’s built into a single device. The Canary is a towerlike device that includes video support to see what’s happening in the home, as well as a siren, a microphone to listen in on a video stream, and both motion detection and night vision. The device will even monitor indoor temperature, humidity and air quality. The Canary starts at $249.

Honeywell is one of the largest companies in this roundup and has invested significantly in the smart home space. The company has a suite of services, called Total Connect, that allows users to do everything from manage security devices remotely to track the location of products. Honeywell also supports Z-Wave-enabled thermostats and lighting. Plus, Total Connect can control door locks.

Insteon is one of the first companies to support Apple’s HomeKit technology, which allows users to control a variety of devices in the home with their iOS smartphones and tablets. With the Insteon Hub Pro, users can access lights and devices, their thermostats, ceiling fans and other products from Insteon’s app. The app also includes the ability to turn appliances on and off and control multicolored lights. However, those home devices must be compatible with HomeKit to work with the Inteon Hub Pro. Luckily, Insteon also sells all of those products, which makes it easier to find compatible accessories. The Insteon Hub Pro costs $150.

Parents who would like a “smart” thermometer will find it with help from Kinsa. The company has built the Smart Thermometer and an associated app that allow users to not only take and record their temperatures on their Android and iOS device, but also suggest symptoms that might provide more information when going to the doctor. The Kinsa thermometer costs $30.

The Nest thermostat is arguably the most well-known of the products in this roundup. Nest, which is owned by Google, provides a smart thermostat that’s capable of learning a person’s activities and setting temperatures based on that. The idea behind Nest is to always keep a home comfortable while boosting energy efficiency. All in all, it does a good job at it. The Nest costs $249.

With Garageio, it’s possible to control a user’s garage doors with a device that connects to the opener and a smartphone. The Garageio black box is installed in the home garage and can control up to three doors. Users can then download the associated mobile app and swipe to either open or close the doors. The app will also alert users when the garage has been left open and supports unlimited users, allowing people to decide how and when a friend, babysitter or the kids can open the garage doors. The Garageio starts at $199.

In addition to its coffee maker, Belkin offers a smart crock pot. Like its smart coffee maker, the $130 Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker can be fully controlled from a smartphone and turned on remotely. With the associated app, users can control temperate and slow cooker functions. In order for it to work, however, customers cannot buy just any crock pot. Instead, they’ll need the WeMo-compatible option sold through Belkin’s Website and other stores.

The Philips Hue line of light bulbs is a wildly popular option for Internet of things enthusiasts. Customers buy the Philips Hue bridge that connects their light bulbs to their apps. From there, they can install as many bulbs as they’d like and control them through the application. All of the Philips bulbs are Internet-connected, and users can do everything from choose a color to pulse lights and more. It’s a neat way to control lighting in the home. But be aware that a “personal set,” which includes three bulbs and the Hub, sells for $199 on Amazon.

The Roost Smart Battery is launching on Sept. 1 for $35. But it deserves a spot in this roundup. The folks at Roost have found a way to essentially make a 9-volt battery smart. The battery tells users when it’s running low and can provide alarm notifications if there is a problem with smoke detectors. Roost promises five years of battery life on its device, making it even more attractive for IoT seekers.