A Home Security System for the Smartphone Generation

Tori Lewis
Jul 23, 2013

We’re huge fans of making our homes smarter, but what if we could make them safer? The newest player in the home automation game, Canary, promises to do just that. Looking for funding over on Indiegogo, the device is looking to position itself as an affordable home security system — that you control with an app!

The Canary is a small device that packs a big punch. It has a wide variety of sensors, including HD camera, motion detector, microphone, and air quality, all designed to measure and report the most essential aspects of your home safety.

Once you plug it in, you can operate it totally via your smartphone. You’ll get alerts when something’s amiss and then you can decide what to do — call the police or text your next door neighbor so they can go check things out. Whether there’s an intruder, an unexpected change in temperature that may indicate a fire, or simply a false alarm, you can respond in the way that makes most sense to you for your home.

Canary also learns as it works. If you have specific habits or routines, it will learn them over time — no more accidentally setting off the alarm because your kid forgets to disarm the system when he gets home from school!

I think one thing that sets this device apart from traditional home security systems is how mobile it is. Because the only thing you need to do to hook it up is plug it in, you can set it up anywhere you are. So if you’re renting an apartment or tend to move a lot, no worries: you can still have a home security system, without dealing with the headache of trying to install one several times. As people who just moved offices, we can totally appreciate that feature!

On top of all that, it’s well designed. The device itself is unobtrusive and with its simple white and black design will definitely fit in with all your other tech gadgets, especially if you’re an Apple geek like us. It’s just six inches tall and three inches wide, meaning that it takes up very little space even while offering you a lot of function. The app has a friendly user interface and is easy to understand and use.

It’s still available over on Indiegogo for a pledge of $199 – snag yours today if you’re interested!

Would you use Canary to secure your home? What kind of smart devices do you use around the house? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

This Battery Pack Is Basically an Upgrade for New MacBook Pros

If you waited for months — if not years! —for a new MacBook, you got what you were waiting for. However, is it everything you were hoping for? Probably not. Although the new smart touch bar and fingerprint ID are really rad new features, is that enough to make up for the loss of some of your ports? Well, turns out they could be, if you’re willing to shell out for this cool new add-on.

A new Indiegogo campaign, called Line Dock, is an aluminum base that sits at the bottom of your laptop. It not only adds 15 hours of battery life, it gives your computer back all of the ports that went away in the update (3 USB, HDMI, MiniDisplay Port and an SD Card Reader). And if you need any more storage for your computer, the Line Dock will provide that too — up to 1 terabyte of storage.

However, there’s just one setback to the dream machine: It won’t ship out until June 2017. If you can wait that long, the Indiegogo campaign is accepting orders until December 16. Prices start at $149 and go all the way up to $599 for a premium version.

Did you get one of the new MacBooks? Let us know how you feel @BritandCo!

(h/t 9-to-5 Mac; photos via Apple)

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17 Vegan Starbucks Drinks & Foods Plant-Based Eaters Need To Know About

Eating out as a vegan can be a true challenge, especially if you don’t exactly know that what you’re ordering is 100% vegan. Fast food faves like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are secretly packed with vegan items, and Starbucks is no exception. From oat milk coffees to satisfyingly savory snacks, you’ve actually got plenty of plant-based choices when you pull up at your local Starbucks.

Scroll on to explore every vegan Starbucks drink and food item you can add to your order!

Vegan Starbucks Drinks

Starbucks

1. Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado

This new-to-the-menu espresso drink combines brown sugar syrup and oat milk to balance out the punchy coffee notes.

Starbucks

2. Latte (Iced + Hot)

You can totally enjoy a latte at Starbucks if you're vegan. Their oat, almond, coconut, and soy milks are vegan, plus many of their syrups qualify as vegan, too, if you want to flavor up your drink. According to this Starbucks supervisor, all of Starbucks "clear" syrups are vegan and dairy-free. Starbucks' regular and white mocha sauces and caramel drizzle are also vegan and dairy-free.

Starbucks

3. Americano (Iced + Hot)

Starbucks' Americanos are just water and espresso, so you don't have to worry about any dairy being in there. Optionally, you could ask for a splash of non-dairy milk and pumps of your fave syrup.

Starbucks

4. Brewed Coffee (Iced + Hot)

Same goes for their brewed coffees, including iced coffee. Easily ask your barista to add in some non-dairy milk and a few pumps of syrup if you desire!

Starbucks

5. Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew

This vegan cold brew drink is crafted with non-dairy cold foam that's flavored with salted caramel – and it's delish!

Starbucks

6. Nitro Cold Brew

A plain nitro cold brew from Starbucks is fully vegan and dairy-free. You can choose to add a splash of non-dairy milk, if you wish your sip to be a bit smoother and creamier.

Starbucks

7. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This one's a classic: shots of espresso get shaken up with ice and brown sugar syrup to create a frothy foam, then the drink is topped off with oat milk to cut the bitterness. It's quite a delectable order, even if you're not eating fully vegan.

Starbucks

8. Starbucks Refreshers

All of Starbucks' fruity Refreshers are vegan. Plus, you can can add lemonade, tea, other flavor inclusions like strawberry and peach to add some extra oomph.

Starbucks

9. Iced Black Tea

Their refreshing iced black tea is certifiably vegan, too.

Starbucks

10. Iced Green Tea

If you prefer green tea, Starbucks' offering is vegan-friendly. If you tend to take your tea a bit sweeter, just order it with however many packets of your preferred sweetener, and your barista will add it in.

Starbucks

11. Lemonade

You truly can't go wrong with a lemonade!

Starbucks

12. Hot Teas

Starbucks' hot teas are totally vegan, too. If you want to make them fancier, ask for an additional splash of your go-to non-dairy milk!

Vegan Starbucks Foods

Starbucks

1. Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Now onto the food! First up is Starbucks' oatmeal, which you can fancy up with nuts, berries, and brown sugar. Make sure to order it with water to ensure it stays vegan.

Starbucks

2. Plain Bagel

Surprisingly, Starbucks' bagels are also vegan.

Starbucks

3. Everything Bagel

The plain and everything bagels will work for any vegan eater.

Starbucks

4. Avocado Spread

Plus, you can order your bagel with a side of this delicious avocado spread for a nutritious boost!

Starbucks

5. Spicy Falafel Pocket

This 100% vegan snack pocket is new to the Starbucks menu, but it's already become a fan-favorite amongst vegans and non-vegans alike.

Starbucks

6. Chipotle Almond Dip

You can order the Spicy Falafel Pocket with a side of this fully-vegan Chipotle Almond Dip (AKA Bitchin’ Sauce). Yum.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more amazing Starbucks orders!

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10 Crowdfunds of the Week That’ll Make You Say “Take My Money”

Okay, guilty pleasure announcement: We LOVE browsing through Kickstarter and Indiegogo for the latest and greatest finds (don’t worry, even Taylor Swift does it). From girlboss films to multi-functional workout gear, there’s always something new to discover. Plus, supporting innovative small businesses is definitely a bonus. Here are 10 cool crowdfunds that we definitely can’t wait to support.

1. Toasteroid: Jazz up your morning routine with this cool toast tech (yes, that’s actually a thing). The Toasteroid allows you to burn designs, messages and drawings into your toast using their complementary smartphone app. Can you say best brunch plans ever?!

2. Pilot Smart Earpiece Language Translator: If you’ve ever met a cutie that doesn’t speak the same language as you, this new earpiece translator just might be the lifesaver you’re looking for. Say goodbye to awkward Google translate conversations — the Pilot Smart Earpiece will instantly translate your conversations for seamless small talk.

3. LVL: We’ll be the first to admit that there are tons of health wearables on the market, but this chic bracelet stands out for one major reason. LVL is a wearable hydration monitor that scientifically measures how much you need to drink to stay at peak capability (plus it tracks activity, sleep, mood and heart rate too).

4. MOTI: Everyone wants to be able to say that they actually stuck with their New Years resolutions this year, but breaking a bad habit can sometimes feel impossible. Meet MOTI, the habit breaker extraordinaire. Based on the latest insights from behavioral science and social robotics, MOTI sets reminders, celebrations and accountability all through the cute-sized device.

5. Hustle: There’s no question that we love a good planner (we even have adorable planner stickers to really get creative with it). Hustle takes everything we love about planners, but instead of using tons of traditional paper, it’s made entirely from stone paper (AKA no water, acid or airborne, water-borne or solid waste is used to make it).

6. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Inspire the young lady in your life to live boldly with this awesome collection of 100 bedtimes stories about 100 extraordinary women, illustrated by 100 female artists.

7. Keep Pursuing Project Zero G Backpack: If you’ve ever gotten a backache from carrying around too much stuff in your bag, you have to check out this new product from Keep Pursuing, pronto. Claiming to be the first backpack designed to make 20 pounds feel like 10, it’s perfect for the over-packer and long-haul traveler.

8. OLO: There’s no question that 3D printing is the must-have tech of the future, but many designers can’t actually use it properly because it is just too darn expensive. OLO is the first ever smartphone 3D printer that costs just $99. It’s portable, multi-material… and definitely on our Christmas list.

9. BioRing: As much as we love our wearables, most of them are chunky and, to be honest, just plain ugly. BioRing is a simple wellness wearable that automatically measures everything you could ever want (calorie intake, calorie burn, heart rate, sleep) while looking cool on your finger.

10. BiCable: Although we still don’t know how we feel about Apple nixing the headphone jack, we do understand their point about cords being a pain. The BiCable is a cord hater’s dream, as it’s basically an all-in-one cord that can charge just about anything (Android, iPhone, Beats Headphones… you name it).

Are you currently supporting any crowdfunds? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Jenna Bush Hager's New Book Club Pick Is A Family Drama That "Will Sweep You Off Your Feet"

What is it about family sagas that seem to make book clubs more interesting? Maybe it's because we know interpersonal relationships can be a little dysfunctional. It could be that we still don't know how to communicate with the people we love the most. Even if we love our parents and siblings, reading about other families' fictional twists and turns gives us a rush of adrenaline.

So it's no wonder Jenna Bush Hager's January book club pick feels like something we can read without putting down. It's full of complicated relationship dynamics, love, and reconciling one's identity with their past. You can say it's the perfect read to kick off your 2025 reading goals!

Learn more about Jenna Bush Hager's 2025 book club pick and fall in love with one character's journey of self-discovery.

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The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.

Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.

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Jenna Bush Hager's Thoughts About The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

Jenna Bush Hager thinks readers will love The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus because "it's a rich novel" with themes of "friendship and motherhood" (via Instagram). It's so good, she's sure "it will sweep you off your feet (via Instagram).

We hope you enjoy reading about Penn's journey in The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus and encourage you to check out Reese Witherspoon's January book club pick next!

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7 New Trader Joe’s Items Under $5 You Need To Try In January

Trader Joe’s loves to keep us on our toes when it comes to their new arrivals. We’re constantly monitoring the aisles to discover all the new TJ’s sweet treats and savory snacks they launch – and these 7 new picks for January 2025 are not to be missed! All of these Trader Joe’s products will run you less than $5, which only makes sealing the deal on your grocery bill easier.

From delicious dips to a very enticing new frozen meal, these are the 7 best new Trader Joe’s finds you absolutely need to try in January 2025.

Trader Joe's

1. Teensy Candy Bars

These tiny little candy bar bites ($2.99) resemble Snickers in the best way possible: layers of nougat, caramel, and peanuts are enveloped in a delicious chocolate coating for maximum snackage. We're gonna have to resist eating the whole bag! TJ's even suggests using these bits as decoration for other desserts, like sprinkling some on a scoop of ice cream or baking them into some cookies.

Trader Joe's

2. Olive Tapenade Hummus

Trader Joe's array of dips is simply too good to resist, and this newcomer hummus ($3.49) is no exception! It's a tub of "smooth and nutty" hummus topped with a tapenade comprised of black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil to give it a salty effect. It's gonna taste so great as a dip for crackers or as a spread on a Mediterranean pita wrap.

Trader Joe's

3. Organic Concord Grape Jelly

This squeezable grape jelly ($3.49) is nothing short of nostalgic. Trader Joe's says it's "super smooth, joyously juicy, and potently purple," which immediately has us sold on making PB&Js every day now.

Trader Joe's

4. Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Oh, yeah. Bring on the spice with these spicy nuggs ($3.99) that make the perfect easy meal no matter the time of day! Made from all-natural chicken breast and rib meat, breaded with wheat, rice and corn flours, then covered in hot sauce and lightly fried, TJ's has their texture down to a tee. You can easily cook 'em in the air fryer, oven, or microwave before chowing down!

Trader Joe's

5. Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos

These halved and fried frozen tacos ($4.99) will totally crush your Taco Bell cravings, since they come together super quickly and contain flavors with mind-blowing authenticity! Each taco is filled with a blend of seasoned mashed potatoes and some "ever-so- slightly spicy" poblano peppers that'll work so well with any dipping sauce, from TJ's salsa to their creamy Jalapeño Sauce.

Trader Joe's

6. Strawberry Mini Hold The Cone!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Trader Joe's is debuting a new flavor ($3.99) of their classic Hold The Cone! frozen dessert: strawberry! These tiny, chocolate-covered cones are lined with even more "rich" chocolate on the inside, then packed with strawberry ice cream, which TJ's says is crafted with plenty of strawberry purée.

Trader Joe's

7. Caesar Salad Dip

Trader Joe's shoppers have said this new Caesar Salad Dip ($3.69) makes a perfect girl dinner addition– which, if you get it, you get it! The tub starts with a "creamy" base that's then loaded up with Caesar-seasoned sour cream, mayo, anchovy paste, Parmesan, and finely shredded Romaine for the crunch. It's best enjoyed with crackers or veggie sticks to dip, but you could also smatter fried chicken or seared steak in it for some ahh-mazing flavor!

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