Latest Smart Home News
SEE SMART HOME STORIES BY CATEGORY
Cord-Cutter Confidential
Fire TV banner ads are about to get worse
Amazon's Fire TV will soon advertise physical products on the home screen, while mixing sponsored tiles into search results.
News
The Psync Camera Genie S is an AI-powered security camera
This inexpensive motorized pan/tilt camera is interesting even without the GPT angle.
News
Alexa’s generative AI preview for kids is both safe and boring
Now anyone can take Alexa's new generative AI chatting abilities for a spin, but the kid-oriented "Explore with Alexa" preview is so safe it’s a snooze.
News
Wyze Video Doorbell v2 offers 2K resolution for $39.99
The revamped version of Wyze’s budget video doorbell ups the resolution to 2K, boosts the field of view, and supports local storage.
News
Matter standard adds 9 new device types, with more to come
Refrigerators, dishwashers, robot vacuums, and air purifiers are among the new device types supported in the updated Matter specification.
News
Samsung's 98-inch 8K mini-LED TV is big, bright, and expensive
The largest 8K TV from Samsung is a sight to behold, and so is its price tag.
Deal
Sonos chops price of first-gen Move speaker by $100
Following the arrival of the redesigned Move 2, the original Move speaker is getting a 25% price cut to just $299.
News
Smart thermostat maker Ecobee ships its first video doorbell
The company that makes our favorite smart thermostat is shipping its second security cam: The wired Ecobee Smart Video Doorbell.
News
Netflix drops support for more streaming devices
Another wave of Netflix subscribers just learned their streaming players won't work with Netflix anymore. We can help you pick a new one.
News
Google still "exploring" bringing Nest Protect into its Home app
Looks like we'll have to keep waiting for Google's popular smoke and carbon monoxide detector to make its way to the Google Home app.
Cord-Cutter Confidential
For the love of all that is holy: No more Micro-USB ports on media streamers
Roku and Amazon keep using the outdated Micro-USB connector on their streaming devices.
Deal
Amazon's new Echo Show 5 is 56% off for October Prime Day
You can grab the latest version of Amazon's five-inch Echo Show display for a mere $39.99 for October Prime Day, but time is running out.
News
Google rolls back Nest speaker group restrictions after legal win
Following another twist in its spat with Sonos, Google will once again allow certain Nest speakers and Chromecast devices to join multiple speaker groups.
News
Is this handy Apple tvOS 17 feature about to get better?
For now, the Apple TV 4K's new Enhance Dialogue feature only works with the latest HomePod, but there are signs it could soon support the first HomePod and HomePod mini, too.
News
The Tapo Wire-Free MagCam can stand up to a pressure washer
The latest outdoor camera in TP-Link’s Tapo line boasts IP66 weatherization, meaning it’s impervious to dust and that it can withstand powerful jets of water.
Deal
Best Fire Stick deals for October Prime Day
Looking to save on a Fire TV stick? Prime Big Deal Days just started, and we've got killer streaming stick discounts from both Amazon and Roku.
Deal
Best October Prime Day air purifier & air quality monitor deals
Amazon Prime Day is a great time to score an excellent deal on smart appliances that can monitor and clean your air to help protect your respiratory health.
Deal
Best October Prime Day smart thermostat deals
Get ready for winter by picking up a great deal on a smart thermostat.
News
Google’s Home app is joining the generative AI party
With the help of generative AI, the Google Home app will help you sift through your smart home events, as well as respond to natural-language queries.
News
Now Google Assistant is getting a generative AI boost, too
The long-anticipating pairing of Google's voice assistant with the search giant's generative AI-powered Bard will arrive in the coming months.
News
Roku players add Google Photos support, expert picture settings
Roku's Photo Stream feature will finally hook into Google Photos following a slated Roku OS update. On-screen picture settings are coming, too.
News
DisplaceTV retools its stick-to-the-wall smart TV's safety features
During a live demo in San Francisco, the Displace V team showed off the latest prototype of its fascinating and completely wire-free, battery-powered 4K TV.
News
Amazon might charge extra for a “remarkable” version of Alexa
Today's Alexa will remain free, but you might have to pay up for a new version of Alexa powered by generative AI, Amazon's outgoing hardware chief says.
Updated
Can Microsoft's Panos Panay right the Alexa ship at Amazon?
A 19-year Microsoft veteran who ran the company's Windows and Surface divisions, Panay comes to Amazon at a challenging time for its Alexa group.
News
Eufy’s X8 Pro robot vacuum cleans the hair off its own brush
Got pets? If so, the detangling brush on Eufy’s new Clean X8 Pro can keep pet hair from robbing the vacuum of suction power.
News
New Yale Assure Lock 2 smart deadbolts hit stores today
They have keypads, wireless connectivity, and HomeKit compatibility, but support for fingerprint recognition and Apple “home key” tech are mutually exclusive.
News
Eufy's latest cams boast dual lenses, cross-camera tracking
Eufy's security cameras will soon be able to track you from one cam to another, and then splice the footage into a single video.
News
Leviton debuts a smart GFCI outlet
Smart outlets are as common as dirt these days, but this is the first one to include a GFCI feature.
News
Amazon’s Echo Hub is a wall-mountable smart home control panel
There have been Echo smart home hubs since the first Echo Plus. What makes this one different?
News
Amazon’s new Echo Frames offer better battery life, more styles
The third-generation Echo Frames come with battery battery life, improved audio, and seven new frame designs.
News
Amazon gives us a peek at a generative AI-fueled Alexa
Alexa sounds much more natural with the backing of Amazon’s new LLM, although it also gives off some serious HAL vibes.
News
Amazon announces 3 new accessories for its Blink Outdoor 4
The budget-priced Blink Outdoor 4 home security camera will soon get new add-ons that will extend its range, add battery life, and outfit it with floodlights.
News
Amazon updates its Fire TV sticks, dials up LLM-aided search
Alexa, what’s the name of the comedy show with that guy from “Breaking Bad”?
News
Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 gets spatial audio, smart home hub
The third-gen Echo Show 8 will sound better and control Matter devices, as well as adjust its interface depending on how far away you are.
News
Arlo’s latest security cams aim for lower price points
With its new generation of Essential security cameras and doorbells, Arlo looks to compete with the likes of affordable cam makers Wyze and Blink.
News
Google Nest Hub Max losing support for joining Meet and Zoom calls
If you've been using Google's largest Nest Hub display to join Zoom and Google Meet video calls, you'll need a new option by the end of the month.
News
October Prime Day 2023: What we know so far
Amazon has finally revealed the dates for Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day 2023. Here's the latest.
Feature
iOS 17 StandBy mode adds smarts to an iPhone's locked display
The new StandBy mode in iOS 17 brings cool interactive widgets to your iPhone's locked screen, including smart home controls.
News
Ring’s new Pet Tag can help lost furry friends find home
A QR-stamped Pet Tag can make it easier for good samaritans to guide wayward dogs and cats back home.
News
Apple snuck some smart home news into its iPhone event
The Apple Home app is getting a handy clean-energy feature, while Thread on the iPhone could lead to some intriguing possibilities.
News
iRobot says its new Roombas focus on your home's dirtiest floors
The Roomba Combo j9+ robot vac/mop combo and Roomba j9+ robot vac promise more intelligent automation via Dirt Detective and SmartScrub technologies.
News
Lutron’s Pico Paddle remote matches its Diva dimmer's aesthetic
The company’s original Pico remotes aren’t going anywhere, but they now look nerdy and needlessly complicated in comparison.
News
Sonos Move 2 with stereo sound, better battery life unveiled
The widely anticipated Sonos Move 2 will arrive later this month with stereo sound, simultaneous Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, and improved battery life.
News
Google’s Nest Aware service for Nest cams gets a price hike
Get ready to pay more for Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus coverage for your Google Nest security cameras.
Cord-Cutter Confidential
Tablo’s new over-the-air DVR is a total reboot
Details on Tablo's fourth-gen DVR, which records over-the-air and free streaming channels with no subscription fees.
News
Philips Hue debuts security cameras and a contact sensor
After weeks of rumors, Philips Hue officially made its move into home security, announcing a trio of security cameras plus a contact sensor.
News
Philips Hue unveils new lights, plus news about its Matter update
Besides its new security cameras, Philips Hue had some new smart bulbs on display at IFA, along with word about its delayed Matter update.
News
Alexa and Google Assistant play nice on new JBL smart speakers
With the arrival of JBL's new Authentics speakers, you can finally use both Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously on a single device.
News
Roborock boosts new Q-series vacuums with S8 series-level features
Unveiled today at IFA, Roborock's latest mid-range vacuum/mop hybrids are getting some of the same features as its higher-end models.
News