LaView Security: What Are They? LaView is a budget security camera manufacturer that sells primarily through Amazon. They focus exclusively on video surveillance — IP cameras, PoE NVR systems, and Wi-Fi cameras — at prices 40-60% below Ring, Arlo, and Nest. But budget cameras come with trade-offs, and in 2026’s crowded market, those trade-offs matter […]
Home Security Reviews
myQ Smart Garage Review 2026: No More HomeKit, No Home Assistant — Is the $30 Hub Still Worth It?
The Chamberlain myQ hub costs $30 and works with most garage openers made after 1993. But Chamberlain killed HomeKit support in late 2023 and blocked Home Assistant integrations — locking the device into their own app. The myQ app works fine for open/close and scheduling, but there is no local API, no Z-Wave, and the $1/mo Premium plan adds almost nothing. 5 alternatives: Meross ($40, HomeKit native), Tailwind iQ3 ($80, HomeKit + Home Assistant), Nexx ($40, Alexa/Google), ratgdo ($30 DIY, local control), or adding a Z-Wave relay to your Abode/Ring system for full alarm integration.
Novi Security Review 2026: Raised $200K on Kickstarter, Dead Within 3 Years — The All-in-One Security Startup Graveyard (7 Products That Failed the Same Way)
What Was Novi Security? Novi Security was a crowdfunded home security startup that launched on Kickstarter around 2015-2016, promising a revolutionary all-in-one security hub. The concept was compelling: a single device with a built-in 720p camera, motion sensor, smoke/CO detector, temperature/humidity sensor, 100dB siren, and two-way audio — all for around $149-199. Detail Novi Security […]
GE Simon XT Review 2026: Discontinued Panel — Why You Must Upgrade Now (Complete Migration Guide)
The GE Simon XT is discontinued with no manufacturer support. Complete guide to what happened, why you should upgrade, 3-year cost comparisons, step-by-step migration, and the best replacement systems in 2026.
Tyco Integrated Security Review 2026: The Tax Inversion Scandal, Johnson Controls Merger & What Happened to Your ADT Alternative
If you’re searching for Tyco Integrated Security, you’re looking at a brand that no longer exists. It was absorbed into Johnson Controls through a $16.5 billion “merger” in 2016 — one of the largest corporate reshuffles in security industry history. Here’s the full timeline of what happened, where Tyco’s security services ended up, and what […]