CNET: Creative uses for connected gadgets in a smart home

Want to unlock your smart home's hidden potential? Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

iDevices iGrill Mini

The good: The iGrill Mini is simple to set up on your iOS device. It lets you cook your food to temp without the bother of having to check on its progress manually.

The bad: iDevices claims that its probe has a 150-foot range via Bluetooth Smart, but we had connectivity issues at shorter distances. It would benefit from a backup charger for those times when you don't have a CR2032 coin battery handy.

The cost: $39.95 to $40.00

The bottom line: The $39.99 iGrill Mini is a well-designed gadget that works. If you like the idea of hands-off cooking, this pint-size probe is for you.

CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

Piper

The good: There are a ton of useful home security and home automation features squeezed into Piper's compact frame. It looks great, too, which doesn't hurt.

The bad: The app design is a little busy, and I wish it had night vision. If you don't like Z-Wave, you're kind of out of luck in the accessories department.

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CNET: Creative uses for connected gadgets in a smart home