Belkin Wemo: Smart Plugs, Switches & Home Automation Since 2012 Wemo (originally “WeMo”) was one of the first mainstream smart home brands, launching Wi-Fi smart plugs in 2012 before most people knew what a “smart home” was. Made by Belkin, Wemo products have been a gateway drug for home automation for over a decade. But […]

Cox Homelife Is Dead: What Happened & Where to Go Now Cox Homelife, the home security service from cable giant Cox Communications, was officially discontinued in 2023. If you’re still on a Cox Homelife plan, your system may still work for now — but Cox is no longer selling new systems, providing upgrades, or actively […]

Slomin’s Shield security review for 2026. Covers pricing ($33.95-49.95/mo), contracts (3-5 years required), equipment, pros & cons, bill pay info, and better no-contract alternatives for NY/NJ homeowners.

LifeShield Home Security no longer exists. ADT acquired it in 2019 and folded the technology into ADT Blue (now ADT+). If you are a former LifeShield customer or found an old review, here is what happened: DirecTV bought LifeShield in 2013, AT&T absorbed DirecTV in 2015, then ADT took LifeShield in 2019. The DIY tech survived but the brand is dead. We cover the full timeline and rank 3 replacements — Abode ($0-6/mo, no contract), Ring ($20/mo), and SimpliSafe ($18-28/mo).