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Arlo Pro 3 and Apple HomeKit join forces

By Michael Bizzaco February 21, 2020

Are you a fan of all things Apple? Have you been thinking about outfitting your home with smart security? Well, our friends at Netgear have some news that is sure to make your next big smart home purchase a clear no-brainer.

The quick-install, crystal-clear suite of Arlo Pro 3 wireless cameras has just announced full compatibility with Apple HomeKit, joining the ranks of Apple’s ever-growing library of HomeKit-enabled smart gear. Now, you can monitor and control your at-home security using the Home app across all of your favorite iOS devices.

Right now, the HomeKit update is only available on the Arlo VMB4540 smart hub, but Netgear promises that further integration with other smart hubs and base stations is just around the corner.

Imagine being able to view live camera feeds on your 85-inch OLED TV screen using just your Apple TV, or issuing commands to your Arlo spotlights and sirens by speaking directly to your Apple HomePod. While some of these features aren’t available right now, who knows what a few firmware updates to Arlo and HomeKit devices might bring? This integration gives us a lot to look forward to.

The Arlo Pro 3 captures and records surveillance footage in a crisp 2K UHD resolution, with colored night vision viewing and a wide 160-degree viewing angle. The cameras have great battery life, resistant weather-proofing, and come with a magnetic mount, making installation a breeze.

We’ll be sure to update this article with more breaking news on this subject as it becomes available. In the meantime, you can check out our breakdown on the Apple HomePod, Apple’s own take on the smart home speaker.

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Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from…

Smart Home

Apple HomePod vs. Apple HomePod 2023

Apple HomePod second-gen.

It has been quite a few years since Apple first launched the (now-defunct) HomePod, but the old smart speaker has been given a revival. The second generation HomePod retails for $299, and it offers some serious improvements over the original. Not only does it bring enhanced audio quality, but there are plenty of other upgrades that make it much better than its older sibling. Here’s a closer look at all the differences (and similarities) between the original HomePod and HomePod 2023.
Design

When compared side by side, you won’t notice many differences between the two HomePods. The new HomePod is about 200 grams lighter than the original model and is a couple of millimeters shorter, but overall the two are very similar. The touchpad on top of the HomePod 2023 is also a bit larger and now extends almost all the way to the edge of the device. Beyond those minor differences, they both sport an oblong design and come in multiple colors.
Speakers and sound
A diagram of the second-gen Apple HomePod internals (left) seen next to those of the first-gen HomePod.

Smart Home

Apple finally activates HomePod Mini’s hidden temperature/humidity sensor

Black HomePod mini on a side table, in front of an Apple TV

Apple recently revealed its second-gen HomePod, which is set to become the company’s flagship smart speaker in 2023. Featuring the S7 chipset, spatial audio, Matter compatibility, and tons of fancy room-sensing tech, the device is certain to be a hit when it launches in February. It’ll also feature a temperature and humidity sensor. Oddly enough, so does the existing HomePod Mini -- except Apple has only just activated the feature.

Apple has kept the temperature and humidity sensor deactivated for years, although now, with the launch of a new HomePod around the corner, the company has finally gone ahead and turned on the instrument in its existing Home Mini lineup. Once your HomePod Mini receives the update, you’ll be able to use it to track both the temperature and humidity in your home, then use that information to create various automations through Apple Home.

Smart Home

Apple reportedly working on a new iPad-like smart home display

Someone holding the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro (2022).

Apple recently announced a new HomePod with support for Matter, but it seems the company might have bigger smart home plans for the rest of 2023. According to the latest report from Bloomberg, Apple is allegedly working on an iPad-like device that could directly compete with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub Max.

Details on the rumored product are scarce, but it seems the device would feature a touchscreen and function similar to an iPad. Magnets would allow it to be mounted to a wall, and HomeKit would give it access to all your smart home products. It’s unclear at this time if the device would feature a stand, allowing it to sit on your countertops like the Echo Show and Nest Hub. What is clear, however, is that Apple wants to gain a stronger foothold in the smart home market -- and this could serve as a great alternative to using the HomePod Mini as a HomeKit hub.