Commons Ground: Tech Ideas for your Apartment Home

 Technology doesn’t have to stop at your desktop. Indeed, techie smarts can enhance your apartment home in ways large and small. As the world waits for the futuristic landscape of the Jetsons to take hold, check out the following technologies, available now at your nearest internet-based retailer! 

The WeMo Switch

Home automation has never been easier thanks to Belkin’s WeMo Switch, which lets any0ne control appliances remotely. No more worrying about whether you forgot to turn off the coffee maker or curling ironing before leaving for work. Simply turn it off from your smartphone, tablet, or any device that’s connected to the Internet.

(image via blessthisstuff.com)

From lamps to crockpots, plug any appliance you’d like into the Belkin WeMo Switch to control it remotely. PC Mag has all the details on this neat home lighting system.

Hue Light Bulbs

Mood lighting always should match the occasion. With Philips Hue Light Bulbs, setting the stage for a romantic dinner is as easy as setting the lights to concentrate on work or study. Just open the app and use the color wheel to select match tint with temperament.

(image via hisconsumption.com)

The Hue Light Bulbs are energy efficient (they use 80% less power than traditional light bulbs) and work with most existing light sockets. Read more about the light bulbs here.

Waterproof Shower Speakers

Singing in the shower sounds better with some background accompaniment. Thanks to the Abco Tech Waterproof Shower Speaker, your private concert will air in stereo. The Abco system uses suction cups attached to shower walls and allows for seamless streaming of music from any Bluetooth enabled phone or media player. The system even pairs automatically when it’s in range of a device. 

(image via the-gadgeteer.com)

The Abco system works in every wet condition – from the pool to the beach to the Jacuzzi. Learn more at The Gadgeteer.

Picopix Portable Projector

Say that three times fast! The Picopix Portable Projector, a Phillips product, is small enough to fit in a pocket but powerful enough to project images and videos up to 1o feet in height! Weighing in at less than one pound, the Picopix projector can be paired with a mini spider tripod to project movies, games, streaming videos and other media onto any wall surface in your home. The Philips Projector offers an incredibly sharp image with vibrant colors and high contrast. Check out Tech Radar for details on specifications and performance.

(Image via amazon.com)