Amazon has stopped selling its press-to-order Dash buttons
Amazon has stopped selling its Dash device that lets you order everyday items with the push of a button, though for the foreseeable future customers that currently use them can continue to do so. The company said advancements in smart home technology prompted the move.
A popular podcast app finally makes its way to Alexa devices
Pocket Casts is a favorite app for podcast listeners on the go. Now it can be your go-to at home, too. A new Alexa skill for Pocket Casts is now available from the Alexa Skills Store so you can listen to all of your favorite podcasts right from any of your Alexa-powered Echo speakers.
Tired of porch pirates? Amazon now lets you schedule your package delivery
Amazon is looking to stay ahead of porch pirates with a new delivery scheduling service called Amazon Day. Amazon Day is only available for the online retailer's Prime members, and it allows users to schedule a date and time for when they want their packages to arrive, minimizing the risk of package theft.
Amazon brings back home milk delivery with its Happy Belly brand
Amazon added milk and other dairy items to its private label Happy Belly brand. You can only buy Happy Bell milk, whipped cream, and other perishable items in nine U.S. metro areas via the AmazonFresh delivery service. Amazon continues to enter new markets, in this case replacing the neighborhood milkman.
Alexa literally on fire as Amazon Echo Dot reportedly bursts into flames
In Sandusky, Ohio, a family came home to discover their kitchen filled with smoke and their Echo Dot in flames. They extinguished the fire, but no word has emerged on why the device suddenly ignited. Amazon assures people that customer safety is taken seriously and that the Echo Dot will be examined.
Arkup’s $6 million floating home can withstand a Category 4 hurricane
As ocean temperatures rise, we can expect stronger hurricanes. Arkup may have an answer. The startup has built a floating, livable yacht that is designed to weather a hurricane. The 4,350-square foot structure can survive the high winds and towering waves that accompany a Category 4 storm.
Amazon slashes prices on Smart WiFi Power Strip with four Alexa-compatible plugs
Teckin's Smart Power Strip WiFi Plug with four Alexa and Google Home compatible plugs and four USB charging plugs is on sale on Amazon with a special coupon deal for a limited time. The four power plugs also work with IFTTT devices. No hub is required to control the plugs in the surge-protected strip.
Internet-connected Mr. Coffee machines have security vulnerability, McAfee says
That pot of coffee you're making may just leave you vulnerable to hackers. According to a new report from security firm McAfee, the internet-connected Mr. Coffee Coffee Maker with Wemo contains a vulnerability that could allow attackers to intercept traffic and schedule the device to brew coffee.
The Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi Assist is a smart mirror with Google Home built in
The Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi Assist has multiple lighting options, great audio, and built-in Google Assistant. It's the perfect way to spice up your morning routine with your favorite tunes, audiobooks, and much more. This smart mirror is part of the continued expansion of the simplehuman brand.
The best Alexa Skill Blueprints for customized Alexa responses
Alexa Skill Blueprints let you build your own custom Alexa skills. While some of Blueprints create an amazing Alexa skill, others create a skill that's not all that exciting useful. After reviewing all of the current skill Blueprints options available, we found these to be the best Alexa skill Blueprints.
Living in a pipe doesn’t sound so bad with this amazing design
We’ve seen tiny homes with retractable roofs, ones that run on coffee grounds, and even ones decked out with smart home products. Now, a single mom has designed a tiny home built inside of a 16-feet-long concrete storm drainage pipe. It’s surprisingly functional for just 100 square feet of living space.
Hopsy’s smaller countertop kegerator makes homebrewing even easier
Hopsy, a direct-to-consumer draft beer service, introduced its Sub Compact home draft beer machine that can fit right on the kitchen countertop. Designed by Krups, the at home kegerator is a perfect accessory for any aspiring brewmaster. It's available to pre-order for $150 and will retail for $300.
Smart home tech hits the kitchen sink, which now responds to voice commands
Indiana-based kitchen and bath appliance manufacturer Delta is dipping its toes into the smart home technology market with a new innovation, VoiceIQ, that enables its faucets to sync with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-assisted devices inducing smart phones and speakers to enable voice commands.
Senators question Google about the microphone in Nest security system
Following the revelation that some Nest security products contain an undisclosed microphone, member of the United States Senate wrote a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding more information. They seek to find out when Google realized it didn't disclose the mic and if the mics have been used.
6 ways Alexa can help kids with their homework
Alexa can help with homework by teaching your kids valuable skills, prepare for quizzes, and gain interested in subjects they may be struggling in.
Adobe’s new survey finds voice technology is gaining in popularity, expanding
Adobe Analytics always surveys 1,000+ consumers this time of year about their feelings about voice technology and this year's results are promising, demonstrating that voice technology is popular with consumers, who are happy with their voice assistants and increasing adoptions of smart speakers.
Move over, IKEA, this British developer is building flat-pack homes
The UK's Manchester community may be better known for football but as one of the fastest-growing cities in England, housing is becoming a priority and the developer Urban Splash is tackling the problem with flat-pack smart homes that can be assembled quickly and even reconfigured as needed.
This futuristic tiny smart home prototype hopes to inspire architects everywhere
Control4 is well known in the smart home market for its personalized automation and control solutions that work with over 12,000 products worldwide, but the global provider unveiled a surprise this month with a prototype of a tiny smart home that combines aesthetic design with smart home technology.
McAfee says 2019 may be the year where malware is a threat in every device
At the 2019 Mobile World Congress, McAfee released its newest Mobile Threat Report. This latest report revealed a few startling stats about 2018’s malware threats and announced an unsettling prediction for 2019’s threats. McAfee has deemed 2019 as “the year of everywhere malware.”
IKEA has created a special curtain that can purify the air in your home
Air pollution inside homes can be worse than outside sometimes, but plants and purifiers allow us to reduce its harmful effects. Tackling the issue from a slightly different angle, IKEA claims to have created a unique curtain capable of breaking down common indoor air pollutants.
Kwikset Kevo Convert review
While it lacks the features and overall value of the August Smart Lock, Kwikset’s Kevo Convert offers a friendly route to upgrade your front door’s deadbolt . It’s a simple and versatile kit for upgrading a traditional “dumb” door lock, adding smartphone control and more.
Anova Precision Cooker Wi-Fi review: Never cook meat on a stove again
If you want to dip your toe into the low-temperature waters of sous vide, the Anova precision cooker is a good way to start. It has a robust app and an easy-to-use interface the just may convert you to a whole new way of cooking. You'll never cook meat in a stove again.
Gourmia CoolCookers refrigerate first, solving remote cooking’s biggest problem
Gourmia's CoolCookers represent a paradigm shift. The Gourmia CoolCooker GPCC1960 Pressure Cooker and GMCC1970 Multi Cooker keep meal ingredients fresh at 35 degrees until it's time to cook. Home chefs and even reluctant family cooks can put everything in one pot in the morning and come home to a fully cooked meal.
New RemoBell S video doorbell is compatible with Amazon Echo, Google Home
Remo+ just launched a new video doorbell model, the RemoBell S. For several reasons, and not just its $99 price tag, the RemoBell S stands out in the crowd of new entries in the video doorbell category. Unlike many other video doorbells, with the RemoBell S you can view video stored in the cloud for free.
From fridges to fireplaces, the most luxurious home items you can’t afford
All manner of luxury appliances were on display at KBIS 2019. The kitchen and bath show lets builders gawk at high-tech wine fridges, gigantic ranges, gigantic Alexa-controlled gas fireplace installations, and oversize fridges. These items all come with extreme price tags. You may not be able to buy, but you can look.
Become a master chef with restaurant-grade gear you can put in your home
Culinary innovator Hestan transformed commercial cooking appliances into customizable cooking suites for home chefs. Ranges and range tops in Hestan's line come in a variety of sizes, single or dual fuel sources, number of cast iron burners, and griddles of two sizes with single or multiple heat zones.
Samsung lets slip that its Galaxy Home speaker will be here by April
Samsung spent a lot of time and money lauding a plethora of new products including four new smartphones, 5G capability, and the Galaxy Fold foldable phone that basically turns a smartphone into a tablet on command, but news about its much-lauded Galaxy Home smart speaker went missing, until today.
1 in 4 people plan to buy a smart lock this year, study says
It's beginning to become more common for people to trust internet-connected devices to protect their home. According to new research published by Parks Associates, one in four households in the United States are planning to purchase as smart door lock within the next 12 months to protect their home.
Miele TWI180 WP dryer review
Miele’s Heat-Pump Dryer is a compact machine that steams your clothes by recycling the water collected during the drying process. But how well does this method work for getting clothes dry? Read our review to find out.
Stainless steel is so last year. In 2019, it’s all about colorful appliances
For the past couple of decades, the color of choice for appliances has been stainless steel. Now, makers are introducing ovens, fridges, and dishwashers in vibrant hues to give customers a more customized, refined look in the kitchen. From royal blue stoves to deep green fridges, consumers have more choices than ever.
Colored fridges are back, baby! GE’s new appliances revive the 1950s trend
Color is one of the most marketable aspects of a smart home product and GE Appliances is going all in on its new Cafe line of appliances with stainless steel black and white colors to launch, followed by an assortment of four separate color hardware options this fall.
GE Appliances shows off wall oven with built-in air fryer, food dehydrator
Air fryers are getting increasingly popular and are a fixture in many homes. So GE Appliances is taking the trend to its logical conclusion and adding an air fryer to a wall oven. The company's new oven, on display at this year's Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, also includes a food dehydrator.
Leviton’s Wi-Fi Load Center and Smart Circuit Breakers give your home a brain
Is your home ready for a brain transplant? Adding individual smart plugs is quick, easy, and inexpensive, but the benefits are limited to one plug at a time. Leviton's new Load Center and Smart Circuit Breakers go deep in your home's infrastructure, connecting your entire home to the internet and the cloud.
Everything we saw at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2019 on Feb. 20
You might have worried Samsung wouldn't bring much to an event just before MWC -- but you couldn't have been more wrong! Samsung treated us to a real parade of technological excellence, from folding phones to new fitness wearables. Here's everything we saw at Galaxy Unpacked on February 20.