Tyler Lacoma

Bend

Home Security Editor at CNET

Writer - but like a really good one, not the weird cafe kind. That too, though.

Articles

The Smartest Thing to Do With Your Old Phone? Spy on Your House

2 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma |Jen Karner |Megan Wollerton

Keeping your home safe doesn't mean that you have to shell out for a pricey security system. If you're working with a tight budget, there's an easy DIY option you might already have lying around, and it involves that old smartphone in your junk drawer. With the right app and a simple phone mount, you can turn an unused phone into a functional indoor security camera.
The Smartest Thing to Do With Your Old Phone? Spy on Your House

2 days ago | flipboard.com | Tyler Lacoma |Jen Karner |Megan Wollerton

7 hours agoIt sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it actually comes from a lab in Maryland. In 2018, Liangbing Hu, a materials scientist at the University of Maryland, devised a way to turn ordinary wood into a material stronger than steel. It seemed like yet another headline-grabbing discovery that …
Don't Mess It Up: 7 Places to Never Install a Security Camera

3 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

If you're ready to set up a security system at your home, the good news is that it's cheaper and easier than ever to add security cameras to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. Home security cams are simple to install, with a wide variety of wireless, battery models and practical video doorbells to watch over your home, porch, packages, pets and much more with only a quick DIY setup.
4 Effective Tricks to Stop Getting Too Many Home App Alerts

3 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

As smart home and home security technology gets more intelligent and packed with AI features, an interesting problem has developed: We're all getting too many alerts. From joggers and cars to falling leaves, approaching friends and even weird sounds, devices are pushing a barrage of notifications at us. It's exhausting and frustrating to find what you're really looking for.
Your Pet Cam Questions Answered: Safety, Cost, Installation and More

3 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

With Amazon's big Pet Day sale on its way this week, it's the ideal time to think about adding tech like a pet cam to your home. When I talked to Andrey Klen, co-founder of Petcube, he mentioned how he uses his pet cam: "My Pomeranian has separation anxiety but honestly so do I. Leaving home for longer stretches of time gets tough for both of us. Interactive cameras prove to be very handy," he told me.
The New Home Hack Stopping Porch Pirates in Their Tracks

5 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

Whether you're buying products ahead of a 2025 tariff price hike or finally getting that new release you've been waiting for, the worst result is a porch pirate theft that strikes around one in six US adults, according to our own surveys. When these expert thieves are too fast for video doorbells to help much, one new product enters the spotlight.
The Best Early Deals For Furry Friends During Amazon Pet Day

6 days ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

Amazon Pet Day is May 13-14, one of the best times of the year to nab discounted pet devices and pet-friendly technology for your home. But where should you begin? First, check out our full pet cam FAQ to learn everything you should know about more advanced devices for our four-legged friends. Then we're rounding up some of the best pet product deals with early discounts that you can take advantage of now through May 14. These picks in particular caught the eyes of our CNET pet owners.
The Best Early Deals For Furry Friends During Amazon Pet Day

6 days ago | yahoo.com | Tyler Lacoma

Amazon Pet Day , one of the best times of the year to nab discounted pet devices and pet-friendly technology for your home. But where should you begin? First, check out our full pet cam FAQ to learn everything you should know about more advanced devices for our four-legged friends. Then we're rounding up some of the best pet product deals with early discounts that you can take advantage of now through May 14. These picks in particular caught the eyes of our CNET pet owners.
9 Unexpected Things We Discovered Monitoring Our Air Quality in 3 Locations

6 days ago | cnet.com | Anna Gragert |Aly Lopez |Tyler Lacoma

As wellness experts, we care about living our healthiest lives possible. But what about the health issues you can't see, hear or smell? I'm talking about your home's indoor air quality. Without an air purifier or air quality monitor, you usually can't tell if your indoor air quality is off. When three CNET experts began monitoring their air quality and noticed certain alerts going off, we started asking questions as to why.
Apple Watch Shipments Sharply Decline, Dropping Nearly 20% in 2024

1 week ago | cnet.com | Tyler Lacoma

Things are not looking great for Apple's smartwatch line. Market research company Counterpoint has released its latest report on Apple Watch performance, and it found that Apple Watch shipments, after dropping by 10% in 2023, fell sharply by almost 20% year-over-year in 2024. The drop in shipments is attributed to a variety of factors unique to Apple, since its competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi saw growth during the same period, Counterpoint said.