In its essence, a home security system is a collection of interconnected devices that protect your property from danger. However, that’s a very broad definition, and as such, everything from home automation systems to pipe leakage detectors falls into the category. But what kind of home security system do you actually need?

As a rule, Apple is a company that is judicious about what opportunities it takes, and which ones it leaves to others. The company is famous for saying “no” to weigh more ideas than it says “yes” to, with the understanding that this process makes the products it does choose to build that much better.

Alexa users can customize the commands incorporated into Alexa routines. The new feature allowing users to write out their own additions to the combination of commands Alexa carries out when it hears a key phrase. Routine custom actions, along with personalized reminders from the voice assistant pushed to an individual phone, are part of the latest upgrade package for Alexa.

As anxieties connected to COVID-19 crawl into the fall and winter, the convenience and cost-savings that technology like Amazon Alexa and Google Nest provide is seemingly more appealing than ever. Those enticements should also be paired with some well-warranted concern. Cybersecurity is having a tough time keeping pace with the demand for smart technology, leaving users’ valuable personal information vulnerable to hackers.

Whether you’re an easily amused newb or a seasoned Google Home pro, I bet there are more than just a few of these charming little features you haven’t stumbled across yet. They just don’t make headlines like the release of the new Nest Audio speaker or the long-awaited arrival of Nest’s Home and Away routines on Google Home.

Modern smart home devices like smart locks, video doorbells, and smart lighting are an easy way to bring your living space into the 21st century while offering convenience and peace of mind.

None of Google’s changes and additions happen in a vacuum, but a good starting point is to look at how different the hardware supporting Google Assistant in some form looks compared to last year. As can be seen at the top of the piece, the official Nest catalog is almost entirely different.