Articles by Alistair Charlton

Alistair Charlton is based in London and has worked as a freelance technology and automotive journalist for over a decade. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Alistair has written extensively about dash cams and robotic vacuum cleaners for TechRadar, among other products. As well as TechRadar, he also writes for Wired, T3, Forbes, The Independent, Digital Camera World and Grand Designs Magazine, among others.

Articles by: Alistair Charlton

Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch review

By Alistair Charlton published 17 August 23

The Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch shifts smart lighting control up a gear, with four programable buttons and a rotating dimmer dial.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 3: which drone should you buy?

By Alistair Charlton published 13 August 23

Comparing the DJI Air 3 and DJI Mini 3

Smart speaker vs smart display: Which is best for you?

By Alistair Charlton published 6 August 23

Explaining the differences and similarities between the two most common types of smart home controller

Rename your smart home devices and rooms

6 things you need to know before starting your smart home

By Alistair Charlton published 5 August 23

Read these tips before starting your build

How to control your smart home with IFTTT

By Alistair Charlton last updated 4 August 23

Get non-communicative smart home devices working with each other.

A beginner’s guide to smart lighting: everything you need to know

By Alistair Charlton published 1 August 23

Want to get a jump-start on your smart lighting journey? We've got you covered, from how they work to how to choose your bulbs.

Adobe FireFly AI showing Spice Girls at Apple Park

Adobe Firefly delivers the AI wow-factor, but soon reaches its creative limits

By Alistair Charlton published 1 August 23

AI-powered text-to-image is quick and clever, but isn’t going to replace humans any time soon.

Has Apple just turned the iPhone into a smart display with iOS 17?

By Alistair Charlton published 5 June 23

WWDC 2023 Announced at WWDC, the iPhone gets new StandBy interface with smart home controls and more.

Kingslim D4 on a wooden side table with rear-view camera

Kingslim D4 review

By Alistair Charlton published 24 February 23

The Kingslim D4 is a well-priced 4K dash cam system with an optional rear camera shooting at 1080p. It also benefits from GPS and Wifi, but the smartphone app could be better.

The Viofo A129 Pro Duo on a table with screen and user interface

Viofo A129 Pro Duo review

By Alistair Charlton published 30 January 23

An aggressively priced dash cam from an unfamiliar name, the Viofo A129 Pro Duo lacks finesse but records excellent 4K video

Thinkware X800 review

By Alistair Charlton published 14 November 22

The Thinkware X800 is a simple dash cam that gets the basics right, and gives you the options to upgrade later.

Nextbase 522GW

By Alistair Charlton published 20 September 22

A top-end dashcam with lots of useful specs - the Nextbase 522GW is a solid all-rounder

Do home security cameras record all time?

By Alistair Charlton last updated 16 August 22

Thinking about beefing up your home security but unsure if a home security camera constantly records? Here’s what you need to know.

Thinkware T700

By Alistair Charlton published 21 July 22

The Thinkware T700 is a 4G dash cam with impressive connected features, but it also comes with a monthly charge, too.

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem mounted inside a windshield

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 27 June 22

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem is one of the best dual-lens dash cams you can buy – just make sure you really need that extra in-car lens.

The Vantrue N2 Pro dash cam mounted inside a car windshield

This simple dash cam makes me wish they'd all quit feature creep for good

By Alistair Charlton published 30 April 22

Vantrue has made a simple dash cam that makes me wonder if others should learn from its refreshing simplicity.

Do home security cameras invade your privacy?

By Alistair Charlton published 11 March 22

Analysis Home security cameras provide a great way to check in on your property but there are also some privacy considerations when it comes to the area in its field of view.

The front view of the Hive Active Smart Plug connected to an electrical outlet

Hive Active smart plug review

By Alistair Charlton published 31 January 22

A well-designed smart plug with deep voice assistant integratio

How to use Alexa to make phone calls on an Amazon Echo

By Olivia Tambini, Alistair Charlton published 17 December 21

Updated No matter where in the world you are, you can use Amazon Echo smart speakers and smart displays to make calls to friends and family, including those that don’t have an Echo in their home.

What is Alexa Conversation Mode and how does it work?

By Alistair Charlton published 25 December 21

Alexa has the ability to converse with more than one person at once on the Echo Show 10, making it far easier to include Amazon's voice assistant in your chats.

CCTV vs smart home security cameras: What’s the difference and which is best?

By Alistair Charlton last updated 1 December 21

Thinking about beefing up your home security but unsure if you need a CCTV system or a home security camera? Here’s what you need to know.

Where is the best place to install my home security cameras?

By Alistair Charlton published 2 November 21

Home security cameras provide a great way to check in on your property but deciding where to locate them may leave you feeling confused. Here’s everything you need to consider.

Wireless electric vehicle charging explained

By Alistair Charlton published 18 October 21

Updated How wireless electric vehicle charging lets you charge your car without plugging it in.

What is Alexa Drop In and how to use it on an Amazon Echo

By Alistair Charlton published 13 October 21

Alexa Drop In can turn any Amazon Echo into an intercom or be used as a hamdy way for checking-in

A woman in a lounge controlling Philips Hue smart lights that are compatible with Zigbee

What is Zigbee, and why it’s a must-have for your smart home

By Alistair Charlton published 24 September 21

Zigbee is one of an array of protocols built in to smart home gadgets, but just how does it work and why should you consider it for your home.

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