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Tech News
Google is adding a Model Context Protocol connector to Google Home, opening the smart home platform to AI assistants beyond its own Gemini. The rollout is starting with a limited group of testers rather than all users at once.
Google Home will integrate the Model Context Protocol, letting agents like Claude, Hermes, Open Claw and Google's own Antigravity connect to a user's devices and event history through natural language commands. The feature will roll out as early access in the coming weeks, but only for subscribers paying $20 a month or $200 a year for Google Home Premium Advanced.
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.
Engadget tested Breville's Eye Q toaster across all seven of its browning settings using fresh whole wheat bread, finding a smooth, consistent gradient from barely crisped to deep brown without burning. The device automatically senses timing rather than relying on a fixed dial, and includes a sourdough mode plus a button to add extra toasting time if needed.
Electric vehicle owners can charge at home either through a standard household outlet or by installing a faster Level 2 charger. The choice depends on factors like battery size, the car's maximum AC charging speed, and daily driving distance, rather than a need to always charge to full like a phone. Home charging remains far cheaper than gasoline, roughly a third of the cost, even before factoring in a Level 2 upgrade.
A new comparison examines the practical differences between passive wired speaker setups and wireless Bluetooth systems, focusing on modularity, latency and cable management. It notes that wired systems let users swap components like amplifiers or speakers independently, while removing Bluetooth transmission delay from the audio chain. The piece also cautions that cables alone don't guarantee better sound quality if the source audio is already compressed.
Apple's Home app now offers AI-generated descriptive summaries and natural language search for security camera footage. These features require a paid HomeKit Secure Video subscription, with top-tier plans reaching up to $60 per month.
With iOS 27 and tvOS 27, Apple has added Apple Intelligence features to HomeKit Secure Video, including AI-generated text summaries of camera footage, video search, and the ability to merge clips from multiple cameras. These features require pricier iCloud Plus plans, starting at $9.99 a month for one camera and rising to $59.99 a month for coverage of up to five cameras.
'Goody Goody' is a new horror film starring Samantha Robinson, known for 'The Love Witch,' as an expectant mother whose planned home birth turns into a nightmarish, supernatural ordeal. The film leans into body horror and domestic dread tied to childbirth.
OnPay's analysis of search trends finds small-business owners collectively run over 91,000 searches a year on how to process payroll manually, while employees log 35,000 more searches looking for ways to cash paper checks. The company points to case studies like Max Farnsworth of Farnsworth Industries, who cut hours of monthly manual payroll work down dramatically after switching to an automated platform.
Extending an HDMI setup beyond typical cable lengths can cause attenuation, where the signal weakens and produces flickering, pixelation, or audio dropouts, especially past 25 feet. This becomes a common issue when trying to connect screens across multiple rooms, floors, or conference spaces. A range of inexpensive HDMI accessories, such as extenders and splitters, can help maintain signal quality without expensive rewiring.