The Best Smart Home Devices From CES 2022
Here’s the tech you’ll be coveting in the year to come.
Here’s the tech you’ll be coveting in the year to come.
It may have been a smaller CES this year due to the ongoing and evolving coronavirus pandemic, but that didn’t stop developers from going big on innovation. The annual affair is a smorgasbord of high-tech gadgetry—some conceptual, some on their way to market—and 2022 was no different.
And as happens each year at the convention, smart-home products take centre stage, giving us a glimpse of what the home of the future may look like.
Here are the in-home, intelligent devices that caught our eye.
Kohler
Once merely a CES concept, Kohler is finally ready to roll out its PerfectFill bathtubs. As you might have guessed these are tubs built to alleviate the worst part of the bathing experience—waiting for the basin to fill at the appropriate temperature. PerfectFill technology allows users to dictate—yes, you can speak the command to your tub—your ideal temperature and depth, and the Kohler bath will begin filling, alerting you when the ideal settings have been achieved. For owners who feel awkward talking to appliances, the same features, and additional monitoring, will be available via the Kohler app. Getting out of bed on a cold morning may be more acceptable if you knew you could slip right into a warm bath.
Kohler PerfectFill Bathtubs will be available in May 2022 and costs $3742
Toucan
As the ongoing pandemic has made work from home the new norm, video conferencing has grown in importance, and for workers who are looking—finally—for a decent setup, Toucan is coming to the rescue. The Toucan Video Conference System HD is a desktop smart speaker with removable 1080P camera attachment that allows users to present themselves in professional quality video and audio, wherever they may have set up to work in the home that day. The Toucan System features four built-in echo-cancelling microphones and a camera with an 89-degree field of view, allowing for multiple, socially distanced, parties to be captured on screen. Toucan makes connecting to your computer a breeze, with a simple plug-and-play interface, as well as the option to connect the speaker via Bluetooth, or the removable camera via USB, if you’d like to try out some different angles. And while Toucan can’t do anything about the piles of laundry or screaming children in your background, it can ensure that they are faithfully rendered to all your co-workers.
Pricing and release date for the Toucan Video Conference System HD have yet to be announced.
Samsung
Of course, it’s not just the realm of work that has been transformed by the pandemic—trying to find some downtime while surrounded by family every moment of the day can also be a tricky affair. Fortunately, Samsung is bringing forth the ever-flexible Freestyle. Looking something like a stage lamp, the Freestyle is an ultraportable mini projector that lets you turn any surface into a TV screen. The Freestyle’s cradle stand provides 180-degrees of rotation (yes, you can turn your ceiling into a TV), while the device itself can project anywhere from 30 to 100 inches at 550 lumens, complete with 360-degree sound. Best of all, however, the Freestyle is outfitted with Samsung’s smart TV platform, allowing users to stream Netflix (or dozens of other services) directly from the device. And at under two pounds, you won’t find the Freestyle cumbersome to lug around your home to whatever space is empty at that given moment.
The Samsung Freestyle is currently available for pre-order for $1246
Evovacs
CES is never complete without a new crop of floor-cleaning robots—and this year’s class shows promise, particularly the Deebot X1 Omni from Evovacs. Not only does the Deebot compose intricate and detailed maps of your home’s floor plan, but you can tell it to focus on those especially tricky spots, like the hard-to-reach patch under the couch or a stretch beneath the cabinets and refrigerator. In addition to the standard robo-vac features we’ve become accustomed to (voice command, on-demand cleaning, app control, scheduling), the Deebot features one potent new addition—it vacuums and mops. And it takes care of itself. When the Deebot is full of dust and debris it will take itself back to its charging station and unload. When it’s finished mopping, it will return to the dock and have its mop heads washed and its dirty water replaced with clean water (thanks to built-in water reservoirs) so it’s ready to go for the next job.
The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni will be available in March 2022 for $2145
Reprinted by permission of Mansion Global. Copyright 2021 Dow Jones & Company. Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Original date of publication: January 11, 2021.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
There’s a famous scene in Love Actually where actor Rowan Atkinson goes through a convoluted exercise to gift wrap a piece of jewellery for fellow actor Alan Rickman. Quite the performance, Atkinson’s embellishments have become the benchmark of experiential Christmas shopping by which all others are judged.
And for good reason.
Jewellery is a deeply personal gift meant to last a lifetime, whether the someone special you’re buying for is a significant other, or even yourself. And the experience of purchasing is all part of the enjoyment. The Swarovski range is designed to elevate the everyday to the extraordinary with an enviable array of earrings, necklaces, rings and wrist wear perfect for a day with friends, the office or even an extravagant night out. Whether in store or online, skilled sales consultants are on hand, ready to assist every step of the way, from selecting the perfect pieces for you through to the final flourishes of gifting. It’s all part of a commitment to quality and service that brings lovers of beautiful jewellery back year after year.
While others have tried to emulate them, Swarovski crystals are unmatched. Since founder Daniel Swarovski opened for business in Austria in 1895, they have become known for their exceptional cut and brilliance, literally outshining the competition. Known as the masters of light, Swarovski crystals are still crafted in Wattens, Austria, although the range has expanded to Christmas ornaments, decorations and figurines, spreading the sparkle at this festive time of year.
Here are our favourites from the latest Swarovski releases:
What can we say about this classic necklace, bracelet and earring set? This timeless trio moves effortlessly from office and client meetings to after work celebrations. Finished in classic white crystals and Rhodium plated it’s the set you’ll return to again and again. If you’re looking for the failsafe gift, this is it.
Don’t want to wait to embrace the Christmas season? Treat yourself, a loved one or even the whole family to something special leading up to the big day. The Swarovski Advent Calendar features a sparkling crystal Christmas decoration behind each of its 25 doors, ensuring your tree becomes a glittering centrepiece. Count down the days with style.
Swarovski aficionados will already be on the hunt for this year’s official ornament but it’s never too late to start your own tradition. The beautiful snowflake creation has been designed with 133 facets and is available in clear or gold tone finish. It is complete with a gold tone metal tag engraved with the year. Ideal for hanging on the tree, it also looks stunning hanging on a door or in the window.
When too much sparkle is never enough, this beautiful range of earrings, bracelets, necklaces and more offers a glittering array of choice. The delicate collection is an easy wear range, perfect for casual Christmas lunches, work outfits or any event where the desired look is sophisticated, stylish and completely put together. With a range of colours and finishes available, the greatest challenge with the Angelic range is deciding on your favourite — and knowing when to stop.
Don’t miss out on our Holiday Styling promotion. Choose TWO items to style your look and receive a THIRD to complete. Shop Now
Includes Jewellery, Watches, and Home products only. Gift can be chosen from a defined product selection.
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Offer ends 16th December 2024.
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This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.