This week’s Smart Living roundup features a new wireless dimming solution from Philips’ Hue line of smart lighting solutions, an improved version of a connected object tracker, an upgrade to Amazon’s voice control speaker, and the latest data regarding smart home adoption.

Philips Hue’s new wireless dimming kit

Royal Philips introduced its Philips Hue wireless dimming kit that works straight out of the box — no complicated wiring or hired electricians needed to install it. Each wireless dimmer kit comes with a Philips Hue white light bulb and a portable battery-operated dimmer switch that has four buttons to control on, off, and dim up or down. Just screw in the Philips Hue  and use the dimmer switch to create your own personal dimmable glow. You can place the dimmer switch on your wall or take it from the base plate and use it as a remote control and carry it with you anywhere.

Unlike traditional LED dimmers, Philips assures that its wireless dimmer will change the brightness without any flicker or buzzing. With the new dimmer kit, you can control up to 10 Philips Hue white lights at the same time making it easier to change and adjust the brightness of a whole room.

The best part about the new wireless dimmer is that it delivers the dimming experience to renters, and you can use your Philips Hue bridge to connect existing Philips Hue products to the wireless dimmer.

The Philips Hue wireless dimming kit will be available in North America by September 2015 for $39.95, and each Philips Hue white bulb costs $19.95.

Tile Gen 2 adds ‘Find Your Phone’ feature

Tile, Inc. has released the Tile Gen 2, the second generation of its Bluetooth connected object tracker. The new hardware now features a louder tone at 90 decibels and a new Find Your Phone feature.

Using the Tile itself, you can find your smartphone by double clicking the “e” on the device to make it ring, as long as you are within the 100-foot Bluetooth range. You can also use a web or mobile app to make your smartphone ring to track it down if misplaced.

Tile is one of the most successful self-starter projects, having raised $2.6 million in 34 days. It released its Android app last December and has forged a partnership with Blunt Umbrellas UK, Ltd. in early efforts to team up with non-connected objects for tracking some of the most easily misplaced items in our daily lives.

Those interested in purchasing the Tile Gen 2 can visit any of the 3,000+ T-Mobile stores in the U.S. You can also find the device at T-Mobile.com, Amazon.com and at thetileapp.com. You can also download the new app at DownloadTile.com.

Amazon Echo now compatible with SmartThings devices

SmartThings, Inc. recently announced that its connected devices are now compatible with the Amazon Echo, a standalone device that interacts through audio cues to answer questions (what’s today’s weather?) or control other devices in the home (turn up the TV volume, please). According to SmartThings, Amazon Echo works with its existing smart hub, as well as with its upcoming smart hub, and can control any device plugged into its SmartThings Power Outlet.

Amazon Echo is powered by Alexa, a cloud-based voice service that provides information, answers questions, plays music, reads the news, checks sports scores or the weather, and now controls connected devices such as a Cree bulb, an Osram Lightify bulb, a SmartPower Outlet, and a Sonos player, in an instant. Just say “Alexa” followed by your command, and it will done. To learn more how to integrate SmartThings and the Amazon Echo, check out the step-by-step instructions found here.

Smart home adoption causing trouble for users

According to Internet of Things market research and consulting firm Parks Associates, as more households invest in smart home devices, the need for support requests will also increase. The firm estimates that support requests will reach 7 million this year alone.

Parks Associates recommends that smart system providers put in place proper solutions to identify “top call drivers, as well as common conflicts, between new devices and then develop strategies that proactively address these issues before they negatively impact the customer experience.”

“Even though 60 percent of consumers now install traditional connected devices on their own, the potential for conflict and interoperability challenges increases as more devices enter the connected home. The support relationship that providers must have with their customers is changing dramatically,” Patrice Samuels, research analyst at Parks Associates, stated.

Image source: Royal Philips