Weber, which acquired June Systems in January 2021 and stopped manufacturing the June Oven in 2022, has now disabled the smart oven's app and cloud connectivity. Owners lose remote control, software updates, and the AI-driven food recognition features that once distinguished the device, though the appliance still functions as a basic oven. Weber said it considered open-sourcing the technology but declined because June's IP is tied to its Weber Connect platform.
Home Assistant is open-source software that can run on an old laptop to unify smart home devices from different brands, including Philips Hue, Google Nest, Ring, Sonos and Ecobee. It supports automations, scenes and scripts, letting users link devices together, such as starting a coffee maker with an alarm dismissal or dimming lights when a movie starts.
A veteran smart-home reviewer tested AI-generated text notifications from Apple Home, Amazon (Ring), and Google (Nest) security camera systems, comparing how fast each sent alerts and how accurate and useful the descriptions were. The review notes Apple charges up to three times more than its competitors for this AI notification feature.
Google Home users reported receiving repeated motion-detection notifications even while present in their own homes, according to a Reddit thread with multiple similar complaints. One affected user posted screenshots showing several alerts within minutes of each other, and later said the issue appeared to resolve itself, though it's unclear if others saw the same fix.
A tech guide outlines how homeowners can assemble their own smart security systems using motion sensors, door sensors, cameras and video doorbells that store footage locally instead of in the cloud. The approach avoids recurring subscription costs charged by brands like Abode and SimpliSafe, while still letting users customize and expand their setup over time.
Aqara has released the Multi-Sensor FP400, its latest mmWave presence detector for smart-home setups. Despite being a newer model, reviewers found it fails to meaningfully advance on the capabilities already offered by Aqara's earlier presence sensors.
Thermacell has released LIV 2.0, an upgraded version of its whole-yard mosquito repellent system, replacing nearly all original hardware components except the connecting cables. The reviewer, who previously tested and praised the original LIV two years ago, received the new units directly from the company to evaluate improvements. The core design remains the same: Wi-Fi-enabled hubs plug into wall power and connect via cables to multiple pesticide-emitting repellers spaced up to 20 feet apart in a perimeter.
Smart locks replace either a full deadbolt or just its indoor thumb turn, connecting to home Wi-Fi so owners can lock, unlock and monitor doors remotely via a smartphone app. Many models add features like keypads, fingerprint readers, temporary guest passcodes and real-time lock-status alerts.
A Taiwanese husband suspected his wife of an affair after finding a stray toothbrush and garage footage of an unknown man driving her to their holiday home. Months later he opened his robot vacuum's companion app hoping to talk to his wife remotely and instead watched a live camera feed capturing her with another man. The incident highlights how ordinary smart-home devices now silently collect footage and data that can become unexpected evidence in personal disputes.
Android Auto users report that Gemini has stopped controlling smart home devices like AC units and lights while driving, with the assistant now replying that it cannot control such devices through Google Maps. The issue follows similar complaints on Wear OS, which Google said it had already fixed, though it's unclear if the two problems are related. Some users say the same commands still function inside the standalone Gemini app.
Google has launched early access to a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Google Home, enabling AI agents such as Claude, ChatGPT, Hermes, OpenClaw and Google Antigravity to interact with connected smart home devices. Through natural language, users can review camera summaries, monitor activity, control devices, and build custom dashboards, after linking their agent via a Google Cloud project and granting permissions.
Google has launched Google Home MCP, letting outside AI agents like Claude, Google Antigravity, Hermes, and Open Claw access and control devices in a user's Google Home ecosystem through the Model Context Protocol. The integration lets these agents view device event history, analyze camera footage across cameras, track usage patterns like laundry cycles or light usage, send voice updates through Google Home speakers, and build custom control dashboards. Gemini for Home remains the primary assistant for the Home app and Nest speakers, with MCP adding an extra layer of third-party access rather than replacing it.
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