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Lots of folks consider getting a professionally-monitored home security system to protect their house -- but consider this: A new study from Parks Associates found that twice as many consumers intend to buy a standalone smart security gadget like a video doorbell or a smart lock, instead.

Specifically, 16 percent of respondents plan to buy a gadget like that in the next year, compared to 8 percent who plan to buy a home security system.

"These smart products address the ...read more

A survey released Thursday by market research firm Parks Associates suggests that the popularity of connected locks will expand in the next few years from early adopters to households with moderate incomes and smaller homes.

Smart locks are internet-connected locks that are designed to be controlled with an app or via a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

From the article "Smart locks: One in four households intend to buy this year" by Ty Pendlebury.

The market for video streaming devices is exploding. The number of households with a streaming player has quadrupled in the last five years, according to Parks Associates, and Roku and Amazon have been competing for market share since Amazon launched the Fire TV line in 2014. 

From the article "Amazon Fire TV tops 30 million active users, seeming to beat Roku" by Joan Solsman.

The number of households with a streaming player has quadrupled in the last five years, according to Parks Associates, but Apple trails Roku and Amazon in market share, and it seldom discounts its pricey Apple TV. That means its Apple TV costs at least $149, or as much as $200 for a 4K version with lots of space for downloads. Roku and Amazon streaming sticks are available for as little as $20, and some people rely on their smart TVs for accessing content.

From the article " ...read more

Sixteen percent of US households with broadband connections report owning at least one smartwatch, according to data from Parks Associates, a market research firm. That's up from 4 percent in the first quarter of 2014. Another 13 percent of households say they intend to buy a smartwatch in the next year.

Kristen Hanich, an analyst at Parks, says smart technology that can more accurately collect and interpret the data smartwatches generate will boost adoption.

From the ar ...read more

Apple's commitment to the high end has crimped its market share of streaming players, preventing it from dominating an exploding market. The number of households with a streaming player has quadrupled in the last five years, according to Parks Associates, but Apple trails Roku and Amazon in market share and the company seldom discounts. That means its Apple TV costs at least $149, or as much as $200 for a 4K version with lots of space for downloads.

From the article "Apple e ...read more

There's a burgeoning market for DIY home security products, thanks to advances in smart tech and more robust, easy-to-install offerings from home security manufacturers. According to market research firm Parks Associates, up to 30 percent of new sales for home security are DIY. This figure is only expected to grow.

For consumers ready to do it themselves, DIY home security systems offer substantial value over professionally installed and monitored systems—value derived not o ...read more

Live video is a big deal for Facebook and the internet in general, especially when it comes to attracting the younger set, analyst firm Parks Associates found in a report published Wednesday. About 12 percent of broadband-equipped households watch live video streams from services like Facebook Live or Twitter Periscope, but the figure rises to 19 percent for people aged 18 to 24, Parks said.

From the article "Facebook watch party turns video into a group experience" by Steph ...read more