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Smart Home

All articles tagged with #smart home

Philips Offers Free Replacements After Hue Bridge Pro Update Bricks Devices
technology1 day ago

Philips Offers Free Replacements After Hue Bridge Pro Update Bricks Devices

A firmware update (2071353020) caused a subset of Hue Bridge Pro hubs to brick, showing a red LED; fewer than 100 devices were affected. Philips Signify says the issue arose under a narrow upgrade scenario (auto-updates disabled, an older version, and a manual update after the package sat for more than 10 days) and is rolling out a fix. Philips will replace affected Hue Bridge Pro devices free of charge, regardless of warranty status, but affected users must reconfigure all lights and scenes on the new bridge. There is no path to migrate from a Hue Bridge Pro to a standard Hue Bridge (or to another Hue Bridge).

Smart Savings: Nest Thermostat Falls to $79
technology2 days ago

Smart Savings: Nest Thermostat Falls to $79

The Verge reports Google’s Nest Thermostat is on sale for $79 at Amazon, its best price of the year. The affordable smart thermostat offers remote control via the Google Home app, scheduling, and voice control with Google Assistant, Alexa, or Matter. It can auto-adjust when you’re away, includes Savings Finder for ongoing savings, and monitors the HVAC system with a Nest Renew option to shift usage to cleaner/cheaper electricity. As a 2020 entry-level model, it lacks some premium features of the Nest Learning Thermostat (such as automatic learning and dedicated room sensors), but remains a solid, budget-friendly way to manage temperature and reduce energy bills.

Tiny switch-flipping bot becomes a roach-fighting sidekick
technology3 days ago

Tiny switch-flipping bot becomes a roach-fighting sidekick

Verge tests the USB-C SwitchBot Bot Rechargeable, a tiny robotic arm that attaches to a switch and physically presses or pulls it to automate devices; it can be controlled via SwitchBot Hub with Alexa/Google Assistant and, once installed (which may take some trial and error), reliably performs actions from across the room—helpful for turning on lights and deterring roaches—though the rechargeable battery lasts about six months per daily trigger and installation isn’t plug-and-play.

iRobot’s Roomba Electro Plus is a floor cleaner you push, not a robot
tech4 days ago

iRobot’s Roomba Electro Plus is a floor cleaner you push, not a robot

iRobot announced its first manually operated floor cleaner, the $399 Roomba Electro Plus, a 5‑in‑1 hard-floor cleaner that vacuums, mops, and sanitizes using electrolyzed tap water, eliminating the need for a separate cleaning solution, while also introducing five cheaper, smaller Roomba robot vacuums with higher suction, lidar navigation, and AI obstacle detection; preorder begins July 7.

Upgrade TV Audio in Minutes With Google's Latest Home Speaker
smart-home5 days ago

Upgrade TV Audio in Minutes With Google's Latest Home Speaker

Google now lets you pair two Google Home Speakers with a Google TV Streamer to add surround-sound-like audio to your TV with minimal setup. The guide walks you through connecting via Quick Settings (Home > Quick Settings > Audio output > Connect another device; select Google speakers; Next) so both speakers appear in Remotes & Accessories and are used automatically when the TV is on. While this provides stereo and virtual surround, it's not true multi-channel surround since there’s no dedicated subwoofer. It's a space-saving, wires-free option and also covers using a single speaker under the TV, pairing older Nest/Home devices via Bluetooth, and a latency fix in Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Google speakers > Audio video sync. Overall, it's a simple upgrade for better TV audio with caveats on bass and latency.

Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker 2026 delivers smarter AI and solid sound at $99
technology6 days ago

Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker 2026 delivers smarter AI and solid sound at $99

Google's 2026 Home Speaker uses Gemini AI with a built-in NPU to offer faster, more capable responses and improved audio for a $99 price, while integrating deeply with the Google Home ecosystem and serving as a potential TV surround speaker. It comes in Hazel and Porcelain globally, with Jade (US exclusive) and Berry variants, and uses a fixed USB-C power cable. While overall performance is solid and audio quality is strong, some commands (like timers and lists) can be unexpectedly slow, and there are software quirks Google is addressing. Overall, it marks a strong return-to-form for Google's smart speaker lineup.

Bright Weekend Bargains: 85+ Fourth of July Deals Under $50
technology10 days ago

Bright Weekend Bargains: 85+ Fourth of July Deals Under $50

A CNET roundup of Fourth of July deals under $50 across tech, kitchen, home, and outdoor categories, highlighting budget picks from Anker, JBL, Belkin and more. It notes Prime Day wrap-up, advises timing the purchases for max savings during the holiday weekend, and previews that big-ticket items like TVs, laptops, vacuums and grills will also see discounts.

Google Home Speaker nails the hardware; Gemini for Home still a work in progress
tech10 days ago

Google Home Speaker nails the hardware; Gemini for Home still a work in progress

The Google Home Speaker delivers strong, stylish hardware with good sound for its size and features like Matter/Thread control, stereo pairing, and compatibility with a Google TV Streamer, though some features are paywalled and the power cable isn’t removable. Gemini for Home adds impressive conversational ability but remains slow and unreliable for routine smart‑home tasks, with memory issues and subscription gates, leaving it as a great speaker waiting for Gemini to catch up (Alexa Plus remains the more reliable smart‑home option today).

After Prime Day, Hot Deals on Everyday Tech Essentials
technology11 days ago

After Prime Day, Hot Deals on Everyday Tech Essentials

Post-Prime Day Lifehacker highlights remaining discounts on essential tech staples: Linkind Matter Smart Plugs 4-pack for about $25 (Matter-compatible with local LAN), Anker Prime Charger blocks 160W and can fast-charge a MacBook Pro quickly but doesn't include a cable, TP-Link Wi‑Fi 7 router (Archer BE550/BE9300) at $149.99, and Samsung T9 Shield 1TB portable SSD at $179.99 with 2,000 MB/s speeds and rugged protection. Deals are curated and can change after publication, but these post‑Prime Day steals focus on reliable basics for staying powered and connected.

Busy Bar: Flipper Zero's New Focus Gadget Turns Pomodoro into a Smart Home Trigger
technology12 days ago

Busy Bar: Flipper Zero's New Focus Gadget Turns Pomodoro into a Smart Home Trigger

The Flipper Zero team is releasing Busy Bar on July 14 as a focus-timer device with a blinking LED Display that shows “Busy.” It supports Matter for smart-home automation (e.g., locking doors, pausing music) and pairs with the Busy app to block apps/sites during focus. The first 3,000 units are discounted to $199 (regularly $249). An open API is planned for third-party integrations. This marks the second device from Flipper Labs after Flipper Zero tools, with a third device—Flipper One, a network multitool—teased for Kickstarter later this year, though RAM costs may affect early availability.

Flipper's Busy Bar Lights Up a 'Do Not Disturb' Signal to Cut Desk Distractions
technology12 days ago

Flipper's Busy Bar Lights Up a 'Do Not Disturb' Signal to Cut Desk Distractions

Flipper Devices’ Busy Bar is a $249 hardware desk clock with a large red LED that displays “BUSY” to signal coworkers and family you don’t want to be interrupted. It pairs with the Busy app but can be used offline, offers timed work sessions like the Pomodoro technique, and can integrate with smart-home systems via Matter. Flipper argues a physical signal can be more effective than software-only tools, and notes the device is open-source and designed to be disassembled.

Matter nears its universal-smart-home promise at Unify, but parity remains a hurdle
technology14 days ago

Matter nears its universal-smart-home promise at Unify, but parity remains a hurdle

At the CSA’s Unify conference, Matter shows progress toward a simple, interoperable smart home with version 1.6 and Joint Fabric, but parity across ecosystems remains incomplete. Major players—Apple, Google, Samsung—and partners like Ikea are invested for the long term, though consumer confusion and rollout hiccups persist as the industry works toward universal adoption.