Alexa will trick or greet you with custom doorbells this Halloween
Amazon just released new Alexa-compatible smart doorbell application tools for developers. The new APIs allow smart cameras and doorbells to use motion sensing and doorbell presses to start Alexa Routines, sequences of events that occur on command. Customers can set up Routines in the Alexa app Smart Home Section.
How to create a smart living room for under $250
Are you thinking about bringing your home out of the dark ages with some automation? Getting things started can be intimidating, but a smart home doesn’t have to be filled with crazy gadgets. It’s as simple as swapping out everyday products with devices that fulfill the same role, but are connected.
Here are the five new Amazon Echo devices available now
Five new Amazon devices start shipping right now, including the Echo Show, Dot, Sub, Plus, and a smart plug. Here are all the details on the devices, including price, what these new products do, and how they might augment your smart home setup.
Sleep Number’s 360 p5 is a smart bed, but can it solve your sleep problems?
Could a smarter bed be the key to a good night’s sleep? Sleep Number thinks it could be and has built an entire line of smart beds, ranging from budget to flagship models, that monitors your sleep and offers a simple Sleep IQ score. Is it the secret to sleeping better?
Shark ION Robot Vacuum Cleaning System S87 review
Robot vacuums are awesome, but they can’t clean curtains, walls, and high places. The Shark S87 solves that problem by giving you a handheld vacuum and robot vacuum all in one system, so you can clean everything in your home. You can even use it to clean your car. Read more in our Shark ION Robot Vacuum Cleaning System S87 with Hand Vacuum review.
Speakers gone wild: Alexa, Google spook customers with reefer reminders, F-bombs
Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant sometimes freak users out in spectacular and sometimes humorous ways. From F-bombs to alarms for cocaine and reefer, here are some examples of colossal smart speaker fails. Has anything weird involving smart speakers ever happened to you?
The Google Home App just got a major overhaul
Google is on a roll this week, announcing several big new devices at its hardware reveal event in New York City and with new devices like the Google Home Hub comes a completely redesigned Google Home App that can control multiple smart home devices and even multiple smart homes.
Google is porting some Home Hub features to other smart displays
Google is understandably proud of its new Google Home Hub, which goes on sale later this month, but in a surprise move, it's bringing many of the improvements and features associated with the new device to all of the Google-enabled smart displays in its product ecosystem, including some competing devices.
Try IoT before you buy IoT: Google, B8ta let you ‘test drive’ smart home tech
Google has partnered with the startup B8ta to let customers try out smart home tech in a retail space arranged like a real home. This lets customers get a better feel for how the technology works and leads to more informed purchases. On-site representatives can also answer any questions customers have.
Score a free Google Home Mini when you buy an Nvidia Shield TV from Walmart
There are a lot of great streaming devices available today, but one really shines when it comes to gaming. The Nvidia Shield TV is our favorite all-in-one streaming and gaming device, and you can now score one from Walmart and get a free Google Home Mini smart speaker totally free.
TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor review
While premium cameras from the likes of Nest are pushing home security monitoring into the 4K HDR era, TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor proves you don’t have to break the bank to benefit from simple, friendly, high-performance protection. We got a chance to review the device and came away impressed.
Patent shows Alexa may soon detect when you’re sick and suggest remedies
Amazon has patented a new feature that would allow Alexa to detect the signs of illness, such as a cough or a sore throat, and suggest solutions to help. The feature would also enable Alexa to offer to buy medicine for the user. These features follow a number of other medical-focused Alexa features.
GE Appliances augments its new smart kitchen hub with SideChef
GE Appliances is getting into the smart kitchen market in a big way and recently announced two big partnerships including a venture to outfit its new smart kitchen hub with the SideChef app that can access more than 5,000 recipes and a plan to integrate Hestan Cue's automation technology into its ovens and cooktops.
The Google Home Hub doesn’t have a camera. Here’s why that’s a good thing
Surprisingly, Google's new Home Hub smart display doesn't have a camera, and that's a good thing. In an age of tech dominated by lots of bells and whistles, we're impressed that Google listened to people's concerns about privacy. How important is video calling on a smart display anyway?
Pixel 3, Home Hub, and Pixel Slate — our first look at all Google’s new devices
Google has taken the wraps off of a slew of new devices, including the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones, as well as the Google Home Hub smart display, Google Pixel Slate tablet, and Google Pixel Stand wireless charger. We were at the October 9 event in New York, and took a ton of photos of all the new products.
Here’s everything Google announced at its October 9 event
That's all she wrote -- Google's October 2018 hardware event is over and though it was short, it left us with an awful lot to talk about. But if you didn't catch the livestream or the updates, it's easy to catch up on the reveals. Here's everything Google announced at its October 9 event.
The Google Home Hub smart display: everything you need to know
Google officially unveiled the Google Home Hub at a hardware event in the fall, and began selling it October 22 for $150. The smart display and speaker integrate with Google Assistant to provides a visual element to augment the smart speaker. Here's everything you need to know.
The Google Pixel Stand turns your Android phone into an Assistant-powered hub
Google has taken the wraps off of the new Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL -- and alongside them, the Google Pixel Stand. The Pixel Stand turns an Android phone into a Google Assistant hub, allowing you to see important information at a glance, quickly control your smart home, and more.
GE and Google make using your smart bulbs as easy as saying, ‘Hey, Google’
Google and GE partnered together to offer the first Made-for-Google smart bulbs. These bulbs easily connect to Google Assistant via the Google Home app, without needing a central hub. All existing C by GE bulbs will be compatible with Google devices on October 22, the same date a starter kit goes on sale nationwide.
The Igloohome Smart Padlock protects your stuff with PIN codes, Bluetooth keys
Igloohome just launched an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign for its Smart Padlock, which opens with PIN codes or Bluetooth keys. The campaign reached 175 percent of its goal in just a few hours. Owners have a permanent PIN code and set temporary codes for others such as delivery people or Airbnb guests.
LG is making cooking easy with added support for Innit and SideChef
Cooking is kind of a pain, especially if you have no clue what you're doing. Lucky for you, LG's line of smart kitchen appliances will now have the ability to guide you through your meal preparation. The company announced new support for Innit and SideChef, two popular guided cooking services.
How to season a cast-iron skillet
A raw cast iron pan doesn’t automatically come with a non-stick coating. You have to season your cast iron. While the process seems easy, it's also easy to mess up. Here's how to season a cast iron skillet, along with some seasoning tips and tricks, to get you getting the most out of your iron cookware.
Whole Foods built a new annex in your kitchen, thanks to smart oven June
Amazon-owned Whole Foods Markets has partnered with seven-function smart oven maker June to integrate the grocery store's 365 Everyday Value foods and products in June's preprogrammed, chef-prepared menus. A new Whole Foods Market icon on the June mobile app interface will let owners select the special recipes.
Starbucks will see how Taiwan store made of shipping containers stacks up
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has unveiled his latest sustainable design for a Starbucks store in Taiwan that uses 29 reclaimed shipping containers to form a two-story, 3,500 square-foot store that even has a drive-through and a brightly colored wall mural that evokes the culture of the city.
Domio aims to dethrone Airbnb with new group travel accommodations
A New York-based startup called Domio is bypassing the fierce competition in the traditional hotel industry as well as the hospitality market dominance of Airbnb by targeting group travelers with new "asset-light" accomodations with 2 to 4 bedrooms, dubbed "apart-hotels."
Nomiku Meals partners with top chefs for sous-vide home delivery
Nomiku Meals, a regional frozen meal home delivery service designed to work with the brand's immersion circulator sous-vide appliances, has announced a top chef program. Each month Nomiku will feature a meal prepared from a local chef's recipe. The service will make these meals accessible to area residents.
Amazon may be prepping its first checkout-free store overseas
Amazon is reportedly looking to take its cashier-free store to its first overseas market. It already has four Amazon Go stores operating in the United States with many more to follow in the next three years, and is now believed to be looking for potential sites in the United Kingdom.
Lenovo Smart Display review
Lenovo has partnered with Google Assistant on the Lenovo Smart Display, a smart speaker with a screen. Available in two different sizes and with crystal clear display, you might wonder how you ever got along without a screen-less smart speaker in the first place.
Netgear Orbi Voice review
Packing high-speed networking from Netgear, premium audio from Harmon Kardon, and Alexa voice assistance from Amazon, Netgear’s Orbi Voice hits a high note in smart home convergence. Could this be the future of smart home devices? We took a look at the device to find out how well it works.
Amazon’s Alexa app gets new interface to simplify use, control more devices
Amazon is gradually upgrading the Alexa app to improve the appearance, usability, and device control of the budding empire the retail juggernaut is building around its Alexa smart home voice assistant. Multi-room music setups, slicker communications controls, and more accessible device management highlight the new app.
Chefling is an Alexa-like sous-chef set to spice up smart kitchen appliances
Chefling, the digital assistant geared towards home cooking, is partnering with Home Connect to bring kitchen solutions to premier smart home appliance brands like Thermador and Bosch, all through one easy-to-use app. Chefling will be a primary interface for smart home appliance brands including Thermador and Bosch.
Ecobee service restored after being down for a few hours
Smart home vendor Ecobee is up and running after experiencing a major server and web site outage Thursday, disrupting services across the country to its mobile apps and products with Alexa and SmartThings integration. The outage lasted over two and a half hours, prompting hundreds of complaints online.
Swann tackles crime prevention with two new security cameras
October is National Crime Prevention Month, which means there is no better time to add some much-needed security tools to your home. Luckily, Swann is prepared to help you out with that. The company is introducing two new Wi-Fi connected security cameras for indoor and outdoor use.
Cinder Grill creator files for bankruptcy, leaves backers in the cold
Sometimes, things just weren't meant to be. Unfortunately, in the case of the Cinder Grill, the thing that wasn't meant to be was a product nearly 1,000 people invested $550,000 in. The company behind crowdfunded smart grill has filed for bankruptcy, leaving its backers with basically no recourse.