Articles by Michael Brown

Michael BrownExecutive Editor, TechHive

Michael is TechHive's lead editor and covers the smart home and home entertainment markets. He built his own smart home in 2007, which he uses as a real-world test lab when reviewing new products. Michael also reviews routers and networking products for TechHive and PCWorld.

Nov 19, 2019 6:00 AM | By Michael Brown

Amazon’s Fire TV Blaster lets you use Alexa to control the rest of your entertainment center

When paired with an Echo smart speaker and a Fire TV device, this infrared transmitter can send command signals to your TV, soundbar, A/V receiver, or set-top box.

updated Nov 13, 2019 3:00 AM | By Michael Brown, Jon L. Jacobi

HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which display interface reigns supreme?

HDMI and DisplayPort are both capable of sending high-definition video and high-res audio from a source to a display. We compare their feature sets and typical use scenarios.

Nov 7, 2019 3:00 AM | By Michael Brown

Serena Motorized Shade by Lutron review: A step up in sophistication, but also in price

Lutron’s solution is more proprietary than many, but the compatibility trade-off is worth it.

updated Oct 28, 2019 4:00 AM | By Michael Brown

Best smart speakers: Which deliver the best combination of digital assistant and audio performance?

With models based on Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and others to come, we’ll help you find just the right model.

Oct 25, 2019 3:00 AM | By Michael Brown

Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Shade review: Deliciously decadent lighting control

Want to set your house apart from the other smart homes in the neighborhood? Consider investing in smart window coverings.

Oct 23, 2019 5:00 AM | By Michael Brown

TP-Link goes vintage with Kasa Smart filament LED smart bulbs

Smart bulbs with exposed filaments are the hot new smart home trend. TP-Link Kasa Smart LED bulbs want in on the action.

Oct 21, 2019 3:00 AM | By Michael Brown

Ring Smart Lighting Motion Sensor review: A useful accessory, but not an essential one

Do you really need a stand-alone outdoor motion sensor when all of Ring’s outdoor lighting products have one built in?

Oct 15, 2019 10:53 AM | By Michael Brown

Nest Aware plans will be much less expensive in 2020

Google is switching from per-device pricing to a whole-home service plan.

Oct 15, 2019 8:54 AM | By Michael Brown

Nest Wifi's integrated smart speakers could give it an edge over Amazon Echo

This mesh router’s satellites, dubbed Points, house Nest Mini smart speakers.

updated Oct 11, 2019 9:47 AM | By Michael Brown

Best mesh Wi-Fi routers: Reviews and buying advice

Few elements of your home’s infrastructure have a bigger impact on your tech life. We recommend mesh Wi-Fi routers for most people, and we’ll help you find just the right one for your needs.