In the San Francisco Bay Area, outdoor living is a year-round pleasure, whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or enjoying a quiet evening under the stars. Smart technology can make your outdoor spaces not only more convenient but also more enjoyable. From energy-saving smart lights to innovative sprinkler controller systems, here's how you can elevate your yard experience.​

Illuminate Your Evenings
Set the perfect ambiance with smart outdoor lighting. Imagine your backyard lighting up as you walk outside—no switches needed. Subtle path lights or smart floodlights, like the Ring Floodlight Cam, offer custom lighting schedules that can be controlled with a voice command or an app. Not only do they create mood, but they also provide added security for your home.

​​Music in the Open Air
No outdoor party is complete without great tunes. Smart outdoor speakers can bring high-quality sound to your backyard. Whether you're entertaining guests or just unwinding solo, smart speakers sync with your home audio system, delivering the soundtrack for every occasion.

Water Smarter, Not Harder
Water conservation is key, and smart sprinkler controllers like Rachio make it easy. Adjust watering schedules based on real-time weather updates, ensuring your plants get just the right amount of water without waste. It's a smart solution for the Bay Area's dry spells, keeping your landscape green and efficient.

Control it All, Effortlessly
Sometimes, the simplest upgrades make the biggest impact. Smart outdoor plugs let you control your outdoor devices—like string lights, garden fountains, or heaters—with just a tap on your phone. Automate your outdoor space without lifting a finger and enjoy the ultimate convenience.​

​Contact AvidWorks Technology
Want to create a smarter outdoor space? Our team can help you choose the right smart technology and install it for you. Get in touch today by sending email to [email protected].

​Every year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, manufacturers put their latest technologies on display. We attended in hopes of finding some cool smart home products we couldn’t live without.

• We were surprised at the sheer number of smart security cameras, video doorbells, door locks, and thermostats available from various manufacturers. There are far more choices than we realized from Samsung Wisenet, Honeywell, Ring, Blink, Zmodo, Somfy Systems, Sengled, Johnson Controls, RCA, Interlogix, Kwikset, Yale, Brinks, Schlage, etc.
• Voice control of smart home products was especially big this year with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant seemingly incorporated into just about every product we looked at.

We found several smart home products that we thought were noteworthy:

Bitdefender BOX
An absolute necessity rather than a frivolity,  Bitdefender BOX 2 is a smart home cybersecurity hub that protects an unlimited number of your internet-connected devices from malware, stolen passwords, identity theft, spying, etc. It helps manage all the devices in your home and includes parental controls to monitor your kids’ online activities and manage screen time. (We purchased Bitdefender for ourselves during the show!) ​

GarageSmart MyLifter
For anyone needing more garage storage space, this is one possible smart home solution. GarageSmart’s MyLifter is designed to lift bikes, a kayak or canoe, a storage platform, car roof rack, etc., enabling you to keep them off the garage floor. Additional products that can be attached to the GarageSmart track such as a spotlight, speaker, extension cord, fan, parking assist/camera laser, air hose, and battery backup are coming soon. Also, coming soon is a voice module so devices can be controlled with Amazon Alexa.

​For installation assistance for these products (or any smart home products), contact AvidWorks Technology at [email protected] or by calling (800) 701-9021.