We should all feel safe and sound in our homes. While many of us would love the idea of a 24-7 monitored security service, cost is often a barrier to getting a system installed. And on top of equipment and installation fees, who wants to pay yet another monthly fee? We highlight several simple techniques and tips to beef up your home security without spending an arm and a leg. More

Not everyone knows about the subculture of aquarium hobbyists. They're a passionate bunch who juggle science, mechanical know-how, a bit of artistry, and a lot patience, all with the goal of setting up miniature, precariously balanced living environments inside acrylic boxes...enthusiasts with a hobby ripe for the Christopher Guest/Wes Anderson treatment, if you ask us. More

You wouldn't expect a tech journalist to be the victim of hackers, but it happened to Mat Honan. His tale is a cautionary one that provides real insights into what you can do today to prevent a similar fate. More

Ah, the days of summer are upon us. For most of us that means it's time to pack up and make a well-deserved getaway. However, before setting sail or flying the friendly skies, you may want to look into having your home equipped with a camera monitoring system for that added little piece of mind. The good news is things aren't as hard as they used to be. The even better news is we're here to help you make the right choice. More

Insteon Networked Dimmable Light Bulb
• $29.99
• Insteon

Everything else seems accessible/controllable from your smartphone these days, so why not individual light bulbs? The Insteon LED uses only a fraction of an incandescent bulb at just 8W and rated for 52,000 hours of use, which is nice and dandy in the energy efficiency department. But the Insteon LED also includes the ability to turn on/off or dim from both a remote control switch or directly from an Android, iPad, or iPhone when partnered with a SmartLinc Hub (extra, of course), its true stand-out feature. Multiple bulbs can be controlled all at once wirelessly for lights out with one swipe. See it in action below. More

Back when car companies from Mercedes to Ford first implemented key-free unlocking of automobiles, we were quite excited with the convenience upgrade. Now Ford has decided to take the feature one step further and apply their key-free technology to unlocking online accounts we frequent - Facebook, Pinterest and the like. More

It's 2012 and we've yet to see flying cars or jetpacks. However, home automation options of the future are available now; with a smartphone it's currently possible to change the temperature, turn on/off the lights, check security cameras or even unlock the door for forgetful roommates wherever you go. More

There are plenty of times when you could probably use a heads up as to what is going on inside your home, like when the basement floods (again), or when the back door gets left ajar, and there are a slew of home automation solutions that can help with that - but none of them as simple as Twine. More

One often annoying, but critical necessity is our passwords. We use them several times a day, juggle through different ones for work and leisure, and have to change them often to keep our data secure. Have you ever considered making those series of keystrokes productive? Maybe even using them to serve as perpetual reminders? More

Derek Low, a student at Berkeley, set out to create the most ridiculously automated dorm ever. After watching the video of his room, we'd say he succeeded. From automatic drapes and a morning alarm to a lighting set-up that can be switched to party or romantic-mode, this dorm is like something out of the future. Check out the video after the jump… More