Smart Home News and Articles

Google's Pixel Tablet reviews are in: half tablet, half smart display

For anyone within the Google ecosystem, the Pixel Tablet is a competent device that will let you control your home and do tablet stuff – pricing it above an iPad will prove challenging to market though.

By Ivan Franco, June 20, 2023, 10:40 AM

Apple Software

iOS 17 could turn your locked iPhone into an always-on information hub

No additional hardware required

By Shawn Knight, May 24, 2023, 3:23 PM

Security Electronics

Roku expands smart home lineup with $99 alarm system

Save even more with self-monitoring

By Shawn Knight, May 10, 2023, 9:50 AM

Security Google

Google is killing older Dropcam and Nest home security products

TL;DR: Google is moving along with its plan to merge the competing Nest and Google Home smart devices. Some of the older Nest and Dropcam products will stop working in a year, while Mountain View is trying once again to convince users to keep spending money every month on its cloud offerings.

Full story By Alfonso Maruccia, April 10, 2023, 8:03 AM

The Web Tech Culture

Smart appliance buyers aren't keeping their devices connected to the Internet

Smart appliances aren't "connecting" with owners

By Shawn Knight, January 25, 2023, 12:53 PM 19 comments

The Web Electronics

This is what comes next for Amazon's Alexa

New developer tools to extend Alexa's reach

By Bob O’Donnell, July 20, 2022, 11:05 AM 10 comments

Google

Google TV may expand into fitness, improve smart home capabilities in the near future

Expansion of the Google TV device portfolio is also in the works

By Joao Silva, January 14, 2022, 1:26 PM

Wearable Tech Industry

Emerging tech categories expected to surpass half a trillion in combined value by the end of 2025

From early adopter status into the mass market

By Shawn Knight, October 4, 2021, 2:08 PM 8 comments

Electronics Industry

'Matter' is a new connectivity standard backed by IoT alliance, Google, Amazon and Apple

Connectivity Standards Alliance unveils Matter, a standard for making smart home devices work together

By Adrian Potoroaca, May 12, 2021, 4:51 PM

Electronics

Amazon may be developing a wall-mounted Echo device for the smart home

The Alexa-powered ecosystem is silently growing

By Adrian Potoroaca, February 9, 2021, 5:57 PM

Tech Culture Electronics

Get comfortable working from home with the Tech Bed

A grown-up version of that race car bed you always wanted as a kid

By Shawn Knight, December 18, 2020, 1:31 PM 11 comments

Electronics

Your Echo smart speakers may help Amazon build its Bluetooth-based 'Sidewalk' network

You could help your neighbors connect their gadgets

By Cohen Coberly, September 21, 2020, 6:37 PM

Electronics Industry

Wink issues an ultimatum: agree to mandatory subscription or be shut off

A surefire way to tick off your customer base

By Shawn Knight, May 7, 2020, 11:03 AM 15 comments

Google Hardware

Google disables Xiaomi integrations for all its devices after Nest device showed feeds from random homes

Xiaomi says it is due to a "caching issue"

By Adrian Potoroaca, January 3, 2020, 3:10 PM 10 comments

Electronics Industry

Apple, Google, Amazon, and the Zigbee Alliance will develop an open-source smart home standard

One standard to rule them all and in the smart home bind them

By Adrian Potoroaca, December 19, 2019, 6:15 AM

Electronics

Level Home introduces $250 smart lock backed by Walmart

A smart lock that won't ruin your home's aesthetic

By Shawn Knight, October 15, 2019, 3:27 PM

Electronics

Amazon's 'Certified for Humans' program makes smart homes more accessible to tech novices

Using the power of Alexa

By Cohen Coberly, September 25, 2019, 6:42 PM

Tech Culture Security

Amazon's Ring has partnerships with over 400 US police forces

The company calls it the "new neighborhood watch"

By Adrian Potoroaca, August 28, 2019, 7:16 PM 14 comments

Electronics

Wyze announces smart plug two-pack for $15

Compatible with Alexa and the Google Assistant

By Shawn Knight, July 30, 2019, 7:04 PM

Electronics

Philips Hue launches Bluetooth bulbs that work without a hub

As affordable as $15 a bulb

By Shawn Knight, June 27, 2019, 10:57 AM

Electronics

Check out what might be the weirdest demo at CES: a smart block of wood

By William Gayde, January 8, 2019, 3:34 PM 8 comments

Google

iRobot partners with Google, will use mapped data to improve the smart home experience

Would you share Roomba data with Google to help improve its smart home products?

By Shawn Knight, October 31, 2018, 2:29 PM

Electronics

Eight Alexa-enabled devices, including a microwave, will reportedly be unveiled this year

There will also be a subwoofer, receiver, and amplifier

By Rob Thubron, September 18, 2018, 8:59 AM 9 comments

Tech Culture Electronics

Samsung is putting a lot of tech into kitchens whether you like it or not

Video streaming in refrigerators and fancy oven displays

By Greg Synek, June 29, 2018, 8:40 AM 11 comments

Google AI

Google Assistant now supported on over 5,000 devices

Up from only 1,500 in January

By David Matthews, May 4, 2018, 6:08 AM