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Tech News
Amazon has cut the price of the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) from its $79.99 list price to $28.50, a 64% reduction. The device supports wire-free or hardwired installation, records in 2K with a 180° field of view, and includes two-way audio, motion alerts and night vision. It works with Alexa and Google Home, and the discount requires an Amazon Prime membership.
Amazon is selling the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station for $899, a 25% discount off its usual $1,199 price, as part of Prime Big Deal Days. CNET's testing gave the unit a 9.9/10 score and a Lab Award for Most Efficient Large Unit, citing 81% round-trip efficiency and nearly 96% of its advertised 1,987.98Wh capacity.
Aqara's Camera Hub G350 is a pan-and-tilt indoor security camera featuring a 133-degree 4K lens paired with a 2.5K telephoto lens offering up to 9x hybrid zoom. It includes local AI tracking of people and pets, sound recognition, microSD and NAS local storage options, and doubles as a smart home hub supporting Matter, Thread, Zigbee, HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, and IFTTT. Video records at 20 fps, and users are automatically enrolled in a free trial of Aqara's Home Guardian cloud storage service with 90-day event history.
An entrepreneur in the window film industry writes that businesses selling complex or unfamiliar products should prioritize educating customers over pushing for a sale. He argues buyers often can't distinguish between products like solar control, security, privacy or decorative window film, and need to understand category differences before evaluating any proposal. He extends the argument to other technical industries such as technology, finance, healthcare and specialty contracting, where customers face similar knowledge gaps.
A how-to guide walks users through logging into their home router's admin panel to review and adjust default security settings. It explains how to find a router's IP address on both Windows and Mac systems and locate the separate admin login credentials, often printed on a sticker on the device itself.
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.
Lucasfilm has tapped Jon Watts, known for directing the 'Spider-Man: Home' trilogy, to helm the opening installment of a new Star Wars trilogy. Further plot and casting details have not been disclosed.
Google confirmed to Engadget it has stopped manufacturing the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers, following the launch of a new smart speaker earlier this year, but will keep providing software updates and support. Factory resets on these devices require physical button presses rather than voice commands or the Google Home app, with slightly different steps for the 1st-gen Home Mini, 2nd-gen Nest Mini, and Nest Hub displays.
A home audio guide explains that front left, right and center speakers should sit at seated ear height rather than being mounted high above listeners. It notes that forward-firing, high-frequency speakers lose clarity in dialogue, cymbals and positional effects when aimed over people's heads, while subwoofers and upward-firing speakers designed to bounce sound off ceilings are exempt from this rule.
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.
Organizers announced HomelabFest will run September 12-14, 2027 at the St. Charles Convention Center near St. Louis. Early Bird registration is priced at $125 and available until November or while supplies last, with lodging offered at the adjoining Embassy Suites. The event will feature homelab content creators, though detailed programming and hours have not yet been released.
Google is teaming up with Hiring Our Heroes, Student Veterans of America and the Home Builders Institute to help 25,000 transitioning veterans and military family members enter skilled trades. The program includes pre-apprenticeship training, career coaching and job placement for roles like electricians, pipefitters and project managers. The amount Google is investing has not been disclosed.