Amanda Blum
Freelance writer
Amanda writes about smart home technology and gardening.
MORE BY Amanda
How to Choose the Right Soil for Your Garden
If all those bags at the big box store confuse you, here's how to determine what kind of soil you need for your garden project.
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni Is a Pretty Good Mid-Priced Robot Vacuum
The X10 offers spectacular navigation and edge mopping, but struggles to recover from errors or vacuum larger debris.
These Are the Best Vegetables for a More Vibrant Spring Garden
Think outside the stereotypical color profile for your favorite vegetables, and plant some fluorescent orange cauliflower.
Wyze Had a Security Breach (Again)
For the third time in as many years, vulnerabilities at Wyze have been exposed, along with customers' live feeds.
Three Reasons to Upgrade Your Mesh Wifi System for Wi-Fi 6
Newer mesh devices with Wi-Fi 6 promise better coverage, higher security standards, lower power consumption and the ability to support more devices at once.
These Smart-home Upgrades Are Worth the Money
Even if you were a smart-home early adopter, it's time to reevaluate your devices.
You Can Grow Mushrooms Indoors Using Smart Home Automation
Using sensors, cameras, and plugs, you can automate the process of growing fungi inside your home.
The Jura ENA8 Isn’t Exactly the ‘Smartest’ Smart Coffee-Maker
This mid-range smart coffee maker tried, but missed on key areas like touch screen usability and drink selection and temperature.
Why You Should Start Planting Peas Right Now
The under-appreciated pea is easy to plant, early to sprout, and can fill vertical spaces with delightful blooms and pods.
'Square Foot' Gardening Is a Shortcut to Spring Planting
If you're freaking out about what to plant and where, these pre-planned garden grids can take the guesswork out of the process.
The Five Gardening Tasks You Should Complete in February
Take steps now to ensure a great fruit crop, give your roses ready, and prepare to start seeds.
LG's Smart Washer and Dryer Uses AI to Make Laundry Less of a Chore
If you hate doing laundry, these machines might change your mind.
Every Type of Smart Home Sensor (and How to Use Them)
Sensors for vibration, moisture, your mailbox, and more.
The Best Ways to Lay Out Your Vegetable Garden
Before you start seeds, plan your garden design using one of these two methods.
All the Ways Smart Sensors Can Help Automate Your Home
These tiny devices stand ready to alert you to changes in temperature, vibration, light, and air quality.
How to Set Up Routines in Alexa
Use Alexa to easily create routines using an impressively long list of triggers and events.
This Coffee Maker Makes Great Coffee, but It's Way Too Expensive and Complicated
This machine produces coffee drinks that'll knock your socks off, if you can figure out how it works.
What to Know Before You Start Your Own Plants From Seed
Starting your garden from seed instead of buying nursery starts is not for the faint of heart.
How to Reset Any Alexa Device
Alexa devices are easy to reset, once you know how to do it.
The $3,000 Samsung 8K QN900C Is Worth the Splurge
With a host of features and spectacular picture quality, this is one truly smart TV.