Ikea just announced a bunch of super cheap, colorful Matter-over-Thread devices that will work with any platform, and it feels like Christmas came early for the smart home. The 21 new products include a line of smart bulbs starting at just £4 and two new remote controls that start at just £3 (US pricing is […]
Ikea announced 21 new Matter-over-Thread devices that can “connect with a wider range of devices and platforms, making it easier for customers to build a smart home across different brands.” The collection includes both entirely new products and updates to existing offerings introducing new functionality and features. The new collection was teased by Ikea’s David […]
I love the Echo Dot Max. It’s an excellent speaker, a good listener, and comes in purple – which is just fun. It’s got new, easier-to-use controls and more smart home sensors and radios than earlier models. It’s also one of the first devices designed for Alexa Plus. And while the AI-powered assistant isn’t mandatory […]
Apple’s new M5-powered iPad Pro is the first iPad to officially support the Thread smart home protocol. It comes with Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip, which adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread — the three wireless protocols the Matter smart home standard runs on. While other iPads and Macs reportedly have Thread radios, […]
We’re one step closer to a smart home that can manage Thread border routers from different manufacturers. Samsung SmartThings now supports “two-way Thread network unification,” its fancy way of saying Thread credentials sharing. This means that now, if you add a Samsung device that’s a Thread border router to your home, it can join an […]
Smart lighting company Philips Hue debuted a bunch of new products this week at the IFA tech show in Berlin, Germany, and most of them are available now. The launch, which is the biggest in the company’s history, includes cheaper smart lights, a new bridge for its Zigbee ecosystem, a redesigned line of light strips, […]
Kwikset is doubling down on open standards and new technologies as it expands its smart lock offerings. In an exclusive interview with The Verge, the company revealed that it will launch its first NFC-powered tap-to-unlock smart lock, as well as a less expensive Matter-over-Thread deadbolt, and a smart garage door opener this fall. Kwikset also […]
Smart locks are among my favorite pieces of smart home tech, offering convenience and peace of mind; I haven’t used a key in years. But most of them are big, clunky, and unmistakably “techy.” Keypads, bulky battery housings, and fingerprint readers mean they really stick out, on both sides of your door. If you want […]
For Matter, this year was never going to be about flashy new features. Other than support for security cameras, which I hear should finally arrive this fall, 2025 is all about fixing problems. And with Matter 1.4.2, announced today, the smart home standard is taking an encouraging step forward. Back in January, Tobin Richardson, president […]
After repeatedly leaving customers without smart control of their lights, Sengled has been booted from Amazon’s Works With Alexa program. As first reported by TechHive, beginning August 1st, Sengled’s Alexa skill for controlling its line of LED lights, plugs, switches, and sensors with your voice and routines is no longer available. In a statement to […]