Megan Rose Dickey/Business Insider
Connected home startup
SmartThings provides a platform so that manufacturers can make everyday objects like light bulbs, door locks, and alarm systems, smart.
At CES, SmartThings launched a new category within its mobile app called "Labs." Labs makes it possible for customers to try out new third-party devices and services that work with SmartThings.
Our favorite is the Sonos integration. With SmartThings, you can program your Sonos to greet you when you wake up, tell you the weather for the day, and then start playing your favorite news radio show. You could also protect your home by programming Sonos to play a loud siren or a the sound of a dog barking if your door opens when you're not home.
With the Belkin WeMo switch, you can also automatically get the coffee machine brewing when you wake up.
Megan Rose Dickey/Business Insider
Megan Rose Dickey/Business Insider
Megan Rose Dickey/Business Insider
Megan Rose Dickey/Business Insider
A tricked out home like the one SmartThings had in Vegas might cost you a few thousand dollars, Hawkinson says. But it's important to keep in mind that it was a massive, 7-bedroom house.
"The core scenario for the average homeowner, you can get great value out of a couple hundred dollar kit," SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson tells Business Insider. "But if you spend about $500 to $1000, you'll have a very well-fitted home."