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Apple's HomeKit has made setting up home automation a simple affair. However, some products still require additional hardware bridges and networking knowledge to implement effectively. Koogeek's Smart Light Bulb ($54.99) attempts to solve those headaches by including all the HomeKit connection hardware in the base of the light bulb itself. Read on to find out if this bulb is smarter than all the rest.

With the warm and sunny days of summer on its way, broadcasting your iTunes music library and podcasts outdoors for yourself and others to enjoy while working in the garden or playing at the beach would be really nice. But unless you have a spare generator to power your portable Bluetooth speakers and have it protected against unexpected water events, such a configuration could prove cumbersome and expensive. Ecoxgear has solved this dilemma with its SolJam HD Solar waterproof Bluetooth wireless speaker ($149.99).

In the Spring 2017 of iPhone Life magazine, I wrote a roundup of HomeKit-compatible home-automation gear, which included Elgato's Eve Room indoor temperature and humidity sensor, its Eve Door & Window wireless contact sensor and the Eve Energy electricity toggle switch. This brief post reviews two more members of the Eve family, the Eve Motion ($49.95) wireless motion sensor and the Eve Weather ($49.95) wireless outdoor sensor.

After awhile, the Apple lightning cable is bound to fray. Finding the best durable lightning cable for charging your iPhone is a must. Apple switched to lightning cables with the iPhone 5, which means iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 users will be searching for a strong lightning charging cable too. You can get another one from Apple or put that money towards a third-party lightning cable that will be more likely to last a lot longer. We’ll cover the best, most durable lightning cables, the best short lightning cable, and multiple other categories. If you need a new charging cable, this is the roundup for you.

We all want to keep our iPhones protected. Though the iPhone has gotten stronger over the years, it’s far from indestructible. Getting the toughest, protective case for your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus is a good idea, especially if you lead a rugged life. We’re looking at waterproof, drop-proof, and shock-proof cases. Only the strongest, most durable will do. Whether you’re planning to hit the slopes this Winter or you simply have a toddler, these heavy-duty iPhone cases will protect your iPhone from mishaps and the elements. Here’s the best protective cases for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

When you have an iPad, knowing a few keyboard shortcuts for your external keyboard is essential. Unless you enjoy touching the screen every two seconds, keyboard shortcuts are great for completing common tasks in a second. This tip will focus on two. Once you’ve used them a few times, they’ll become habit. Here’s how to Spotlight search and return to Home screen with keyboard shortcuts on iPad.

The biggest gripes about the Apple Watch are that it's too bulky for exercise, it's expensive, and the battery life is poor. I would add that accessing your heart rate takes longer than it should.  Enter the A360 Fitness tracker ($199.95) from Polar. These folks have been making "wearables" since 1977, specializing in heart rate chest strap devices. In fact, the A360 bracelet can link up with Polar's H7 chest strap to get a more accurate measurement of your heart rate. This makes it one of the best fitness trackers for hardcore athletes.