Building the smart home stuff nobody sells — custom hardware, creative automations, and my own AI assistant.
Lukas (hobbyblogging.de) and I have known each other for a while. Two builders, two smart homes, two evenings spent under similar AI rabbit holes. So when we sat down to record episode 28 of the Smart Home Maker Podcast, the question wasn't whether we use AI in our homes — it's how, why, and what still confuses us. Lukas dropped…
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Daniel
· 1 day ago
Have you ever wondered if you actually need a smart coffee mug? Recently, I received one as a gift from my colleagues, and I dove into exploring its potential. ☕ What Can a Smart Coffee Mug Do? At its core, a smart coffee mug connects via Bluetooth to an app…
🏠 Local First Strategy: Taking Control Into Your Own Hands When thinking about smart homes, a Local First strategy often comes up. The goal? To handle as much as possible on your own infrastructure, keeping systems operational even if a cloud connection fails. Consider this: Do you want your lights…
Have you ever felt that your home network setup is holding you back? For quite some time, I felt that my trusty Fritzbox was just not cutting it anymore. I needed something more robust and professional. So, I decided to take the plunge and transitioned to a full UniFi setup.…
If you're anything like me, you've got drawers full of resistors, ESP32 boards, sensors, and connectors — and you never know what you actually have. My AI assistant Nova now manages my entire electronics inventory. Snap a photo, and it identifies the component. Ask via Telegram, and it tells you instantly if…
That's exactly why I built the Smart Home Advisor – an interactive tool right here on the website that gives you an overview and personalized recommendations in just a few minutes. What can the Smart Home Advisor do? 🖥️ Platform Comparison Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, Homey, openHAB,…
The new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are not only stylish but also have the potential to be a real asset. However, in Germany, where Meta AI is not yet available, their functionality is significantly limited. In my latest DIY project, I developed a solution: I control my Home Assistant smart…