smart-home2.025 min read
Philips Hue Unveils Bigger, Brighter, and Smarter Lighting Solutions
4 months ago•Source: CNET
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1.72 min•2 years ago
"Score Early Prime Day Deals on Amazon Devices and More!"
Amazon is offering an early Prime Day deal where Prime members can purchase the recently released Echo Pop smart speaker with a wired Ring video doorbell for just $40, the regular price of the speaker alone. The Echo Pop is designed for small rooms and features Amazon's AZ2 Neural Edge processor, making it an ideal partner for a video doorbell. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired included in the bundle offers all of the basics like live streaming, night vision, two-way talk, and motion alerts.
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Google Home introduces smart home automation script editor and routines on web app.
Google has launched its script editor tool, which offers more powerful automations for Google Home-powered smart homes. The script editor is part of Google's new home.google.com web interface and includes more advanced options for automations than are currently available in the Google Home app. The script editor requires some basic coding knowledge and is a prosumer offering, but it can really level up your smart home automations.
Apple's Siri gets smarter with new updates and features.
Apple's WWDC was underwhelming for the smart home, but Siri will soon handle "multiple commands" in succession without having to say its name again. Apple has also dropped the "Hey" from "Hey Siri," bringing it in line with the one-wake word nature of its biggest competitor, Alexa. Apple is still playing catch-up in the smart home, but it plans to rely completely on Matter for its home automation efforts going forward. Matter has the potential to bring Apple's smart home platform up to par with the competition when it comes to compatible devices.
"Get Philips Hue's HomeKit-compatible Lightstrip Plus bundle for just $59 (Reg. $95) in 2023 deal."
Amazon is offering a discount on Philips Hue's Lightstrip Plus HomeKit Starter Kit, which includes the latest iteration of Lightstrip Plus and a bridge that enables HomeKit, Alexa, and Assistant control. The bundle is priced at $59.15, down from its regular price of $95, and is the first discount of the year. The kit is a great way to bring 6-feet of multicolor illumination to your space, with both Bluetooth and Zigbee control. The Philips Hue Gradient Light Tube is also on sale at Amazon, priced at $169.99, down from $200.
Matter 1.1 update brings minor improvements and expanded device compatibility.
The first update to the Matter smart home standard, Matter 1.1, only includes bug fixes and tweaks, with no support for new device types. The update aims to make it easier for developers to build and certify products and improve user experiences by fixing the issue of intermittently connected devices showing as offline. However, multi-admin control remains a confusing and complicated process, and the update does not address it. The next release is expected in fall 2023, with new features and device types supported.
"Smart Home Security Gets a Boost with WiZ and Roku's Latest Innovations"
WiZ, a smart lighting company, is launching a new home monitoring feature that uses its existing motion-sensing Wi-Fi smart bulbs and a new indoor security camera. The system can send an alert to the WiZ app when motion is detected, and the camera can show what's going on. The WiZ Home Monitoring Starter kit, which includes three WiZ A19 full-color smart bulbs and one camera, will be available starting June 15th for 159.99 Euro. The Home Monitoring feature is free and works in WiZ's newly launched WiZ V2 app.
Roku introduces affordable home security system with video streaming capabilities.
Roku has expanded its smart home lineup with the Home Monitoring System SE, a $100 home security system that includes multiple sensors and Roku OS support for easily keeping tabs on your home in the event of an emergency. The system comes with two entry sensors, a motion sensor, a hub with a built-in siren, and a keypad. Users can opt for self-monitoring or sign up for 24/7 professional monitoring for $10 per month or $100 per year. The system is integrated into Roku OS, allowing users to control it using their voice and view camera event history directly on their TV.
Roku introduces $99 Home Monitoring System.
Roku has expanded its smart home lineup by adding a smart security system, a solar panel to power its outdoor camera, and a multicolored LED strip light to its offerings. The new expandable $99 Roku Home Monitoring System SE includes a keypad, a hub with a siren, a motion sensor, and two door / window sensors. The company is also beefing up its camera integration, adding event history to its smart TV Roku Cameras app. A new voice control integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant via the Roku remote or smartphone app lets you control Roku lights and smart plugs, and call up a live camera feed on your Roku-powered TV screen.
Amazon's Echo Devices Now Support Matter and Thread Technology.
Amazon has achieved over 100 million Matter-enabled Echo devices in customer homes, making 20 models of Echo devices that now support Matter. The company has also updated the 4th-generation Echo to become a Thread border router, supporting Matter-enabled Thread devices. This means consumers can connect most smart home devices on the market without worrying about interoperability with their smart home systems. Additionally, Eve devices are now compatible with Alexa, and will have Frustration-Free Setup for all its Matter-enabled devices starting later this month.
Amazon Enhances Smart Home Support with Matter and Thread Integration.
Amazon has enabled Matter in over 100 million Echo smart speakers, added Thread support, and made the Alexa iOS app compatible with Matter. This update makes it easier to connect any device to your smart home, regardless of the manufacturer. Matter is designed to fix some of the biggest problems with smart home devices, including setup, security, reliability, and interoperability. With 20 Echo smart speakers and displays joining Google Nest devices and Apple Home devices as Matter controllers, it just got much easier to control your smart home devices.
Google Nest and Abode Systems integrate for enhanced home security.
Abode users can now control and automate Google Nest products natively inside the Abode app, thanks to the Google Nest Device Access Program API. The integration works with all Google Nest Thermostats, Nest cameras and doorbells, and the Google Nest Hub Max. Users can set their alarm system to arm automatically when their Nest Thermostat switches to “away” and have their Google Nest Cam with floodlight send an alert to a professional monitoring service if it spots someone lurking on their property.