Hackers may attack home networks through Philips Hue smart bulbs vulnerability
Check Point discovered a bug in Philips Hue smart bulbs that allows hackers to infiltrate networks. Owners of the device are recommended to update the firmware.
Drone delivery: Medical supplies will soon be flying around San Diego
UPS and drone specialist Matternet are teaming up for a trial drone delivery service for health care facilities in San Diego. It follows a similar trial by the two firms in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2019. The San Diego effort will see medical samples flown between facilities.
What exactly is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things has made its way into our daily lives. You’ve probably heard of the “Internet of Things” or IoT, and you likely use IoT devices on a regular basis, but you may be wondering what the IoT is exactly. What constitutes an IoT device? We’re going to break it down.
Ecovacs Deebot 960 Review: Wasted potential
We have loved many of the other smart robot vacuums that Ecovacs has come out with. A couple have even made our best robot vacuum of the year list. So I was pretty excited to try out the Deebot 960. It comes with advanced AI and it even mops. After trying it out, I was sorely disappointed.
Eve Cam is a HomeKit indoor security camera that saves your recordings in iCloud
Apple fans now have an indoor security camera just for them. Eve Systems has released its newest product, the Eve Cam, and it is the first indoor camera made exclusively for Apple HomeKit Secure Video. With the new Eve Cam, you can see video right on your iPhone's lock screen.
The best smart security cameras of CES 2020: Arlo, ADT and a Bee drone
If you're in the market for a new smart security camera, CES 2020 has some great new options. We've seen three new cameras from ADT, a cool new floodlight from Arlo, and even a security camera drone that mimics a bee. Here are all the best smart security cameras and gadgets we've seen so far.
Lockly Vision is a smart lock with an integrated video doorbell
At CES 2020, Lockly announced the launch of its newest product, Lockly Vision. This smart lock has a built-in HD video doorbell and two-way communication. When someone comes to the door you can talk with them using the app, no matter if you're home or not. Here's the scoop.
Royole’s smart speaker has a cool wraparound display, but is it worth the price?
We've seen a lot of cool stuff at CES 2020 so far, but the new smart speaker by Royole is pretty special. The Mirage Smart Speaker works with Alexa, just like an Amazon Echo, but instead of being wrapped in fabric, it has a touchscreen display. It also has a 5MP camera and a passive bass radiator.
Weird smart home gadgets of CES 2020: Toilet paper robots and more
CES 2020 hasn't disappointed when it comes to unveiling new and strange inventions. So far we've seen a robot that will make cleaning up after a toilet session easier, a robot cook named Julia, and a headless cat snuggle pillow. Here's the weirdest stuff we've seen so far and check back for more.
Your steaks will love being poked by Whirlpool’s smart thermometer
Yummly, Whirlpool Corporation’s digital recipe and cooking platform, is launching a new smart kitchen device called the Yummly Smart Thermometer. It uses dual temperature sensors to monitor food and oven temperatures and alerts you when food is done with an app. No more burning when you become distracted.
You don’t need to be an experienced chef to cook dishes with the Julia system
The late legendary chef Julia Child is synonymous with fine cooking, and now a new Julia is arriving on the culinary scene. This Intelligent Autonomous Cooking System by CookingPal can shop for food and cook for you. It can chop, stir, knead, steam, and even wash itself with a little help from you.
Apple’s back at CES for the first time in 28 years — and for a good reason
The last time Apple was officially at CES was in 1992. While it-s employees have roamed the convention halls for years, CES 2020 is the first in 28 years where the company will have an official presence. And there's a reason for it: Apple wants to talk about user privacy.
Trifo’s Lucy robot vacuum won’t run over poop, doubles as a security system
Trifo, a home robotics company, unveiled its latest robot on January 2. Its name is Lucy, and it's basically a super-smart robot vacuum and a security system all-in-one. Lucy will be strutting its stuff at CES 2020, though there's no word as of yet of when the robot will be available for purchase.
Ikea’s smart blinds won’t work with Apple’s HomeKit until ‘early’ in 2020
If you were planning on buying Fyrtur Smart Blinds from Ikea, or you've already installed them in your home, we have some bad news if you have Apple's HomeKit. These smart blackout roller-style blinds won't be compatible with HomeKit until some time in early 2020.
The Adobe Iota all-in-one home security system gains Apple HomeKit support
The Adobe Iota, an all-in-one home security solution, released an update today that added HomeKit compatibility and support to the system. Users can arm and disarm, check a livestream, and more through the Home app. HomeKit support is slated for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 systems in the future.
Amazon’s $35 Fire TV Blaster extends Alexa to all of your home theater gadgets
If you love the idea of what Amazon's Fire TV Cube can do, but don't want to replace your perfectly good Fire TV device, the $35 Fire TV Blaster might be just the ticket: It can extend Alexa's voice commands to TVs, receivers, and cable TV boxes, for a fully voice-controlled home theater experience.
Hunter Douglas smart blinds and shades blot out the sun, but come at a cost
Hunter Douglas has unveiled their new Smart Shades using PowerView Motorization. These shades, privacy sheers, blackout curtains, shutters and more are fully automated using the Hunter Douglas PowerView App or voice control with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, Siri or other home hubs and assistants.
The $600 Neeo is a slick touchscreen remote for Control4 systems
Control4 makes some of the best home automation and control systems for high-end households, but its remote controls haven't exactly been works of art and design. That changes with the Neeo, a hybrid remote with a big 3-inch touchscreen. At $600, it's a big add-on, but it brings a wealth of customization.
5,000 ‘eyes’ will scan the night sky for clues to the puzzle of dark energy
The hunt for dark energy has gained a new weapon, with the first test of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) being completed recently. DESI is installed atop a telescope and will search for evidence of the energy which makes up 68% of the universe and speeds up its expansion.
Alexa can now set sleep timers to simulate a sunrise using your smart lights
If you have Alexa-compatible smart lights and live in the U.S., you just got some new features that will be rolling out this week. You can set up wake-up lights or sleep timers and create new Alexa Routines to dim or brighten over a certain stretch of time, just like sunsets and sunrises.
You may be able to ask Amazon Alexa about your bills soon
Amazon announced that they will be partnering with the payment network Paymentus to make keeping track of bills easier with a new Alexa feature. While you won't be able to pay your bills with Alexa, you can use the new skill to ask about the status of your bills, such as whether they are past due.
Wink on life support: Company is running out of funds
Will.i.am's a tech company i.am+ and its smart home hub, Wink, aren't doing well at the moment. In fact, they may be out of business soon. Employees reportedly aren't being paid, customer service is silent, Wink Hub are having problems, and the company seems to owe a lot of overdue taxes.
Apple tries again with HomeKit with smart home division reorganization
Apple's poor performance in the smart home space has led the company to reorganize its smart home division, according to a report. The revitalized division is led by former Mozilla exec Andreas Gal, with new smart home devices possibly in the works.
Get the Wyze Smart Home Starter Pack and $15 gift card for $99
Merry Wyze Day 2019, everyone. If you've been needing a good reason to finally start automating your home, then you're in luck. On October 24 only, you can get the Wyze Smart Home Starter Pack for just $99. That's $10 off. Plus you'll get a free $15 Wyze Day gift card.
Researchers have found a way to extend Wi-Fi ranges by almost 200 feet
BYU researchers have developed a new protocol that may extend the Wi-Fi signal range of smart home devices. The new protocol only requires the use of software, not hardware to extend the range and it lets IoT devices to be installed over 60 meters away from an access point.
Pani’s smart home water monitor is the Fitbit of water usage
Pani, a company focused on smart home water technology, announced the new Pani Smart Water Monitor today. This water monitor is a smart device that attaches to a faucet, shower, or toilet. Then, it records water usage, checks for leaks, and sends real-time reports to an app.
No need to get down and dirty cleaning your toilet with Shine Bathroom Assistant
If you hate polishing the porcelain throne, then there's good news. Shine Bathroom Assistant, the automated toilet cleaning and maintenance bot, is now a thing. The device can clean the toilet bowl when it's dirty or tell you how to fix any toilet malfunctions that may arise. It is even Alexa compatible.
SwitchBot is the Chromecast of smart curtains
Starting today, October 22, you can get the SwitchBot Curtain through its Kickstarter campaign. The Switchbot Curtain is a motorized device you can attach to your curtains in minutes to make them become smart curtains. Once installed, you can use voice commands or an app to open and close your curtains.
Nobel Prize awarded to physicists who changed our understanding of the cosmos
Three scientists were just awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for work in what the universe is made of and discovering the first exoplanet. Canadian scientist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz are splitting the $906,705 Nobel Prize money for their separate discoveries.
How facial recognition is helping astronomers reveal the secrets of dark matter
Could the same A.I. technology that is used to unlock people’s smartphones also help unlock the potential secrets of the universe? It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland are working to achieve. Here's what they have developed.
Forget the autonomous car, meet the trash can that takes itself out
We think we can wait a while for cars that drive themselves if we don't have to take the trash bins out by ourselves anymore. That's the vision of a new smart home company called Rezzi that just won the Cool Idea Award from digital parts manufacturer Protolabs for a new device called the SmartCan.
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box brings immersive lighting to your living room
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box removes all the extra steps involved in creating an immersive lighting experience. Just place it between your media player and your TV, and enjoy the experience. Up to 10 Philips Hue lights and four HDMI devices can connect to the HDMI Sync Box.
A perfect match? Google Assistant comes to Control4’s Smart Home OS 3
If you use Control4 products, there's a new way to get control. At CEDIA 2019, Google and SnapAV, a producer of A/V, surveillance, networking, automation, and remote management products, announced their new collaboration. This collaboration adds Google Assistant to Control4's new Smart Home OS 3.
Crestron’s new smart home suite includes support for multiple homes
Crestron is a pretty high-end brand in the smart home market and while it's never been cheap, it's been a powerful solution for users who want dynamic smart home control across as many brands as possible and its newly launched operating system promises complete control, even across multiple properties.