#smart-home

#smart-home

I had an issue getting a great seal on the spigot side of the Aqua, even with pliers. The location of the handle made it impossible to squeeze a tool in to tighten up the connection, which meant that, ultimately, I was never able to avoid some level of water leakage from this area.

Matter is a connectivity protocol that determines which language your smart home devices speak, while Zigbee and Thread are wireless protocols that govern how your devices interact.

Smart home technology can help minimize pollen's negative effects. A longtime pollen allergy sufferer shares strategies for managing allergies using smart home devices.

The handle, made of frosted silicone with a clean, pill-shaped profile, changes its physical firmness based on the freshness of the food stored inside the refrigerator. When everything's fine in there, the handle feels firm to the touch. When something is going bad, it softens.

The Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro 2nd Gen ($249.99) offers 4K video resolution and 10x digital zoom, while the Battery Video Doorbell Plus 2nd Gen ($179.99) offers 2K video and 6x zoom.

YouTube Premium subscribers who were promised an ad-free experience for $13.99 a month were met with jarring mid-playlist advertisements this week, in what appears to be an apparent Google snafu. The glitch was first flagged by premium users who were listening to YouTube Music on their Google Home and Nest devices, Android Authority reported. On the Google Home subreddit on Feb. 20, users reported ads appearing consistently even after resetting their devices, suggesting the issue was at the account level.

In the competitive residential landscape of London, the definition of a "smart home" has undergone a rapid evolution in 2026. For the city's entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals, domestic technology is no longer judged by the novelty of voice commands or remote lighting, but by its ability to function as "invisible infrastructure." The goal is a home that self-optimizes, removing the friction of daily maintenance from the owner's cognitive load.

When the smart home devices Elly Bailey was expecting in the post never showed up at her Gold Coast home, she was frustrated. As a technology reviewer, these products were crucial for her work. When she eventually found the cause, she had to laugh. It wasn't a sticky-fingered neighbour or a rogue delivery driver causing her to miss parcels, but her smart doorbell the very thing she'd hoped would prevent missed deliveries, and part of exactly the range of internet-connected devices she was meant to

Valentine's Day is coming up fast, and if you haven't started shopping yet, there are a lot of great gifts on sale that should still arrive in time if you order soon. Several Verge-approved gadgets are seeing some of their best discounts since the holidays, with options we think will appeal to a wide range of interests, from thoughtful picks like digital photo frames to e-readers, smart speakers, smartwatches, massagers, and even practical stuff like vacuums. While some are bigger-ticket items, quite a few cost under $100, so there's something here for a range of budgets, too.

Keeping track of the family's calendar, grocery list, and everyday activities is a huge part of the mental load many parents (typically, moms) face. The aims to take away some of the stress by creating a shared space for family members to contribute their appointments and activities, groceries and meal plans, and more, acting as a family hub. Right now at Cozyla, every size of the smart calendar is on sale

The latest Show 8 features a slimmer, sleeker profile than its predecessor, with a sharper, more responsive 8.7-inch display and an attractive fabric-covered design. It features a 13-megapixel camera with improved zoom, and can adapt on-screen content based on who's using it. It also features wider viewing angles and new front-facing stereo speakers, allowing for superior sound. Combined, these upgrades make it better for displaying photos, listening to music, checking your calendar, streaming video, and making calls with loved ones.

#641: Across the Country the Short Way

I've been reviewing smart home devices for over a decade, and the constant switching and swapping of lights, locks, sensors, and more has resulted in a Frankenstein-ed home that's entirely unmanageable through a single interface or app. I run three platforms regularly - Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home - alongside tinkering with Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Homey. Plus, I have over a dozen bridges and hubs bringing more devices into play, including Lutron Caseta, Philips Hue, Aqara, Ikea, and Aeotec.

That may not seem like a big deal, except that the single greatest thing about using a Nest Thermostat wasn't the fact that it would learn your habits and create routines, or that it would detect when you're not home and adjust accordingly. No, the best thing about using a Nest Thermostat was that you could open the app and turn on the furnace before you headed home from the company Christmas party.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show, CES, is officially over, and we saw many innovative and exciting products and devices from the world's leading consumer electronics brands, including Samsung, LG, and Hisense. ZDNET reported on the ground, in-person at the show, as well as remotely, so no news was missed. Also: Best of CES 2026 Awards: Official List of Winners (CNET) This year's agenda? More ambitious pitches from companies, small and large, including how AI would assist and enhance

Work more muscles in less time. Hydrow's Origin rowing machine builds strength with low-impact workouts. Just one 20-minute workout on this at-home row machine will engage more than 86% of your muscles. The Origin's patented electromagnetic drag technology is designed to mimic the feeling of rowing on water. On-screen rowing metrics during workouts and "Hydrow 101" videos help get you started. Padded seat, adjustable foot straps, and a low-stress grip handle. Free shipping!

January 7th, 2026 29 minutes

Ugreen announced at CES 2026 that it'll be branching into smart home territory with the launch of its SynCare product line of cameras. The series will consist of two indoor cams, the ID500 Pro and ID500 Plus, the OD600 Pro outdoor cam, and the Video Doorbell DB600 Pro. All of this gear will launch in the second half of 2026, with pricing to be announced at IFA 2026.

New tech at CES often makes categorization hard. Is Cozyla's latest device a digital family calendar, a TV or a smart home hub? After seeing it, I'd say the answer is, yes? Cozyla calls the Calendar + Max the "largest interactive hub in it's category." And indeed, it's the size of a big flatscreen, but the main interface is just like any other Cozyla device, an Android-based family calendar and planner with shared schedules, notes, meal plans, and chores.

Beyond Wearables Right now, AI is on your face and arms-smart glasses and smart watches-but this year will see it proliferate further into products like earbuds, headphones, and smart clothing. Health tech will see an influx of AI features too, as companies aim to use AI to monitor biometric data from wearables like rings and wristbands. Heath sensors will also continue to show up in newer places like toilets, bath mats, and brassieres.

The Mui Board is, as far as smart home controllers go, soothing and nondescript. There's no bright HD screen, or even anything obviously technological. It's a smooth piece of wood that gently glows when you interact with it. So it makes sense that Mui Lab would suggest it as an excellent option for the bedroom. And, if you're gonna have this weird connected bar hanging near your bed, it might be nice if it could also track your sleep.