#smart home
All articles tagged with "smart home"
CultureMore in Culture→
Prime Big Deal Days: Best Under-$50 Tech and Home Deals
Key Takeaways
- Prime Big Deal Days runs Oct. 6-7 for Prime members.
- The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is $44.99, down from $84.99, saving $40.
- JBL Vibe Beam 2 noise-canceling earbuds are $39.94, saving $25.01.
- Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ is $40.98, saving $79.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via mashable.com
NewsMore in News→
Apple HomePad Setup Leak Ties New Hub to Foldable iPhone 'Duo'
Key Takeaways
- A leaker who previously found iPhone Duo references in Apple's code has reportedly found similar traces tied to the HomePad's setup process.
- The HomePad's onboarding is said to share a feature with Apple's foldable iPhone, though the leak does not explain what the shared element does.
- A Bloomberg report credited to Ben Lovejoy and dated September 30, 2026 says the HomePad launches October 13 with an iMac G4-inspired design.
- Neither Apple nor any other outlet has confirmed the leak or the reported launch timing.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via 9to5mac.com
InnovationMore in Innovation→
Samsung Smart Fridges Stop Cooling After a Faulty Software Update
Key Takeaways
- Samsung owners in South Korea reported refrigerators stopped cooling after installing software through the SmartThings app on Sept. 22.
- Symptoms included dark interior lights, screens stuck on an "updating" message, and a complete loss of cooling.
- Affected models were reportedly mostly Bespoke AI four-door refrigerators released since 2024.
- Samsung said an error during software testing caused power and screen problems, and South Korean reporting indicated an internal test build was sent to customers by mistake.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via mashable.com
InnovationMore in Innovation→
Turn Your Old Laptop Into a Smart Home Hub
Key Takeaways
- An old netbook or laptop can be repurposed as a smart home hub to automate devices that otherwise don't interoperate.
- Using an old laptop saves money, reduces e-waste, and offers more power and flexibility than many dedicated hubs.
- A hub acts as a translator and conductor, enabling cross-brand automations and local control for privacy.
- Practical considerations include keeping the laptop always on, managing power use, and securing the network.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via engadget.com
InnovationMore in Innovation→
Early Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals Put Roborock Models on Markdown
Key Takeaways
- Roborock robot vacuums are already discounted ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event.
- The Qrevo 2 Pro is listed at $550, down from $800, a 31 percent saving on Amazon.
- The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is $800 at Amazon (20 percent off) and $715 on Roborock's own store (28 percent off).
- Both models carry a 20,000 Pa suction rating but use different mopping systems.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via wired.com
NewsMore in News→
Apple Home's New AI Camera Features Cost Up to $60 a Month
Key Takeaways
- Apple Intelligence for Home arrives with the public releases of iOS 27 and tvOS 27, adding AI features to HomeKit Secure Video.
- New capabilities include AI-generated video summaries, a video search tool, and the ability to stitch footage from multiple cameras into one clip.
- Access starts at $9.99 a month for the 2TB iCloud Plus plan and covers only one camera, or $39.95 a month via Apple One Premier.
- A second camera requires the $29.99 monthly 6TB plan, while up to five cameras require the $59.99 monthly 12TB plan.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via theverge.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Sonos Tries to Reset With New Hardware, New Software, and Opt-In AI
Key Takeaways
- Sonos paired new hardware with a broader software and AI strategy it calls Sonos 27.
- The company is promising app improvements after the backlash tied to its 2024 software updates.
- Its new AI features, including voice control and custom agents, are described as opt-in.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via wired.com
NewsMore in News→
Schlage’s new Apple Home lock points to more seamless smart entry
Key Takeaways
- Schlage says its Sense Pro smart lock will launch this month.
- The lock supports Apple Home and HomeKit.
- Ultra-wideband is being used for hands-free auto-unlock and locking.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via 9to5mac.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Top Tech Gifts for Father's Day 2026: Gadgets Every Dad Will Love
Key Takeaways
- Curated tech gifts for Father's Day 2026 across multiple price ranges.
- Includes retro headphones, smart leak sensors, streaming sticks, and more.
- Gifts under $50, $100, $300, $500, and $1,600.
- Focus on utility, nostalgia, and upgrading dad's daily setup.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via gizmodo.com
NewsMore in News→
Consumer Tech Turns Backyard Birding Into an AI Product Category
Key Takeaways
- Birdfy’s smart feeder uses a camera and AI features to capture bird visits and send alerts.
- The product was featured in a Memorial Day sale at 35% off.
- The device reflects a broader trend of AI moving into hobby-focused consumer hardware.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via zdnet.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Solar power gives Oto’s smart sprinkler a cleaner pitch for home-tech buyers
Key Takeaways
- Oto replaces the usual outdoor power cable with a built-in solar panel and internal battery.
- The supplied review praises setup simplicity, app usability, and weather-aware watering controls.
- High price and potentially forceful long-range watering remain the key drawbacks cited in the review.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via wired.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Ecovacs Tried to Put On-Device AI at the Center of a Premium Robot Vacuum. The Hardware Still Got in the Way.
Key Takeaways
- The $1,500 X12 adds a mop shield and on-device AI to a design closely related to the earlier X11 OmniCyclone.
- Gizmodo praised the robot’s mopping, quiet operation, battery life, charging speed, and app usability.
- The review found poor object avoidance, hard bumps into furniture, clog-prone dust handling, and too many issues for the price.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via gizmodo.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Choosing a Smart Home Is Increasingly About Ecosystem Gravity, Not Gadgets
Key Takeaways
- WIRED recommends choosing a smart home platform based on devices already in use.
- Amazon still offers the broadest speaker and display lineup.
- Privacy and policing concerns remain part of the smart home decision.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via wired.com
EnergyMore in Energy→
Quilt pushes room-by-room heat pump control and installer software at Hawaii home electrification event
Key Takeaways
- Quilt is promoting a ductless heat pump system with room-by-room control and occupancy-based energy saving.
- The company also launched Toolbox, a technician-focused mobile workflow product for installers.
- The announcement highlights how HVAC competition is increasingly shifting toward software and installer experience.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via cleantechnica.com
NewsMore in News→
An Old Tablet Is Becoming the Smart Home’s Cheapest New Interface
Key Takeaways
- ZDNET says an old tablet can be repurposed into a central smart home control panel.
- The setup is positioned as a cheap, simple upgrade for homes with many connected devices.
- A fixed dashboard can make smart home controls easier for everyone in a household, not just the primary user.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via zdnet.com
CultureMore in Culture→
Smart Smoke Alarms Still Leave a Dangerous Gap, and That Has Become the Real Story
Key Takeaways
- WIRED says tested smart smoke alarms used photoelectric sensors but not ionization sensors.
- Photoelectric detection helps with smoldering fires, while ionization matters for fast-burning fires.
- The report argues that sensor coverage and placement matter more than adding Wi-Fi.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via wired.com
NewsMore in News→
Smart Home Gear Is Being Framed as a Front-Line Defense Against Spring Allergies
Key Takeaways
- ZDNET tested allergy-focused smart home gadgets as part of a strategy to reduce indoor pollen exposure.
- The supplied source text specifically highlights a smart air purifier that can activate automatically when particles are detected.
- The story reflects a broader consumer-tech trend toward positioning smart home systems as tools for wellness and environmental management.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via zdnet.comNewsMore in News→
Google Home Update Targets Gemini Friction With Faster Responses and Better Context
Key Takeaways
- Google says the latest Home update should make Gemini less interruptive and faster on simple queries.
- The release also targets noisy-environment performance, playback accuracy, and more flexible list editing.
- Parental controls, iOS camera reliability, and thermostat controls are also being improved.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via zdnet.com
NewsMore in News→
Android Auto’s Hidden Custom Assistant Shortcut Is Quietly Becoming More Powerful
Key Takeaways
- Android Auto includes a little-known Custom Assistant shortcut.
- The feature can run personalized commands and routines from the car interface.
- Gemini makes the shortcut more useful for multi-step actions.
DE
DT Editorial Team··via zdnet.com