Consumer Reports 59d ago

We have dozens of smart home innovations capable of everything from remotely watering your plants to automatically tracking the inventory inside your refrigerator. But are smart devices genuinely making our lives better, or are they just inviting new layers of complication into the home? In this episode of the Talking Carts podcast, we explore connected living with CR’s Senior Home & Appliances Writer, Daniel Wroclawski. Daniel doesn’t just report on smart technology—he lives with over 70 active smart devices in his own home! We tackle the practicality of smart appliances: Do your essential appliances really need to be connected to the internet? We also discuss the frustrating reality of technology breaking down and what consumers can do when their integrated systems fail. Most importantly, we learn crucial tips from Daniel on how to secure your entire smart home ecosystem from potential hackers and malicious attacks. Don’t buy another smart device until you check out this smart talk on smart homes! The best deals on smart home devices: https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/smart-home/best-smart-home-deals-a3525616797/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Our top smart home options for 2026: https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/smart-home/best-smart-home-devices-of-the-year-a5691424633/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT How to get smarted with your smart home: https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/smart-home/guide-to-smart-home-devices-tech-a1007276600/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT #SmartHome #ConnectedLiving #SmartDevices #SmartAppliances #HomeSecurity #SmartHomeHacks #GoogleHome #AmazonAlexa #AppleHome