All articles tagged with #smart home
A SlashGear feature outlines a 10-item smart-gadget lineup to upgrade a home office, from smart speakers and displays to smart lights, plugs, thermostats, remotes, locks, cameras, and a robot vacuum, detailing how each device can boost productivity, streamline control, enhance security, save energy, and keep the workspace tidy, with practical notes on compatibility and setup.
Verge readers are snapping up a wide range of discounted tech and home gear during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, with notable picks including Govee Table Lamp 2, AirPods Pro 3, Kindle Colorsoft, Keychron V1 Max, and Sonos Ace, plus a broad mix of smart plugs, chargers, locks, and robot helpers across the sale lineup.
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale cuts up to 50% off smart-home gear across Fire TV sticks/TVs, Echo devices, Blink cameras, Ring doorbells and Kindle readers, with deals starting as low as $7. The promo covers devices for entertainment, security and home automation, including items like Blink Mini 2K+ ($25), Blink Video Doorbell ($35), Echo Dot/Show devices, Fire TV Stick 4K (as low as $24) and Kindle models at discounted prices.
A roundup of 24 under-$50 tech deals for the Big Spring Sale, featuring items from Govee smart bulbs and Xbox controllers to streaming sticks, earbuds, chargers, and smart-home accessories, with discounts across smart plugs, cases, batteries, and more.
The Verge highlights Amazon’s third annual Big Spring Sale running through March 31, with discounts on a wide range of gadgets—from Echo devices and headphones to robot vacuums and charging gear. While not all deals reach Black Friday/Prime Day depths, many items are at or near their all‑time lows, and other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are matching prices. Verge’s picks focus on gadgets worth buying, and an updated March 25 list adds new deals (e.g., Owala FreeSip, Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, Roborock Q10 S5 Plus) to the coverage.
Govee launches Outdoor Chromatic String Lights that let you customize color per bulb with gradients and animated effects, available in 32‑foot (10 bulbs) for $169.99 and 65‑foot (20 bulbs) for $299.99. Each bulb includes 55 RGB LEDs plus 54 white LEDs, is IP67 weather-rated with a dual-layer shell, and can be controlled via the Govee Home app with 12 music-reactive modes. The strings are Matter-compatible and integrate with Amazon and Google smart-home setups.
Govee has launched Outdoor Chromatic String Lights for outdoor use, offering 10m sets at $170 or 20m sets at $300. Each bulb contains 55 RGB LEDs for individually colorable effects, with up to three layered cycling options and compatibility with Matter for smart-home integration. However, Matter won’t control individual bulbs or their LEDs—only all bulbs together (on/off and color/brightness). The lights are IP67-rated for weather resistance and are marketed to last more than 10 years, with availability on Govee’s site and Amazon.
An aesthetically striking, $100 doughnut-shaped lamp, Ikea's Varmblixt adds ambient lighting with color options and Matter support, pairing with Apple Home, Alexa, or Google through QR setup and automations; it can mount on a table or wall, uses replaceable bulbs, and while the app/automation controls shine, the included remote can be fussy and a hub may be needed for some setups.
Amazon launches Alexa+ in the UK on March 19 via an Early Access program, bringing Europe’s first next‑gen generative‑AI assistant that is ambient, highly conversational, and capable of completing tasks across services; it’s free during Early Access, then £19.99/month for non‑Prime users (Prime members stay free); the UK version is tailored with British phrases and partners (OpenTable, JustEat, Treatwell) and works across Echo devices, Fire TV, with invitations expected to reach hundreds of thousands, and privacy controls are provided in the Alexa Privacy dashboard.
Amazon is rolling out Alexa+ in the UK, upgrading Alexa to be more conversational and proactive by following threads. The upgrade will be free for Prime members or £19.99/month; new Echo devices get it immediately, older devices must sign up online. The change aims to revive a stagnating Echo and compete with Google Gemini for Home. It could also give Amazon more user data for targeted ads, with UK usage already showing about 114 billion interactions since 2023 (roughly 1,500 interactions per person).
The Aqara Camera Hub G350 is the first Matter‑compatible camera, but current Matter functionality is limited to livestreaming in Samsung SmartThings and requires firmware updates; full pan‑tilt control and video history aren’t available yet. It features 4K/2.5K dual lenses, 360° pan‑tilt with auto‑tracking, local microSD storage, RTSP, and HomeKit Secure Video, with Alexa/Google support via cloud. While it can serve as a Matter hub/bridge, broader cross‑platform Matter support is still in the works and not guaranteed for the near term.
CNET highlights the 20 gadgets readers bought most in February, a mix of budget cameras, smart locks, humidifiers, earbuds, high-end TVs, mesh Wi‑Fi systems, 3D printers, power banks, air fryers, AI-enabled laptops, premium headphones and more, underscoring a strong appetite for value deals and flagship consumer electronics.
iRobot unveils the Roomba Mini, a 9.5-inch robovac designed for tight spaces with lidar navigation, vacuum and mop modes, and a small self-emptying dock; it launches in the UK (£379) and Europe (€399) with no US plan, and can be controlled via the Roomba Home app or voice assistants, facing competition from SwitchBot K11 Plus and Dyson 360 Eye.
Rumors suggest Apple is developing 'HomePad,' a 7-inch wall-mounted smart hub with a MagSafe-like snap-to-wall feature, doorbell integration, and heavy use of Apple Intelligence, designed to centralize smart-home control, music and podcasts, video calls, and glanceable information. Prototypes reportedly seen by leaker Kosutami, with an internal name possibly unused at launch, and a fall 2026 release window that could align with other Apple product launches.
Google Home’s new Live Search feature lets Gemini describe real-time camera feeds (for example, asking if there’s a car in the driveway). Access requires the Advanced plan of Google Home Premium at $20/month or $200/year. Gemini’s updated models and better context also improve general answers and enable more precise device targeting, such as turning off only the lights in the current room instead of a broader area.