An article comparing smart home lighting options highlights a key drawback of smart bulbs: when someone flips the physical wall switch out of habit, the bulb loses power and Wi-Fi connectivity, becoming unresponsive to apps or voice commands until the switch is flipped back. Smart switches avoid this by staying wired into the home's electrical system, letting anyone operate lights normally without an app, while still enabling smart control.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-25
An Android Authority columnist, who reviews gadgets professionally, lists seven products he continues to use despite regular access to newer alternatives. The first highlighted is the Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphones, which he says still meet his needs even after three newer Sony generations were released.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-25
Many higher-end robot vacuums now include microphones, cameras and cloud connectivity that let owners check in remotely, generate floor maps and track cleaning histories. That data often passes through manufacturers' servers, meaning sensitive details about a home's layout or household activity could be collected and shared beyond the user's immediate control. Not all devices misuse this data, but the extent of collection and sharing varies widely by model and brand.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-19
Ring states its video doorbells have a standard maximum motion detection range of about 30 feet (9 meters), though larger objects like passing cars can trigger alerts from farther away. Other brands publish shorter maximum ranges, and actual performance depends on camera sensitivity, mounting location, surroundings and software settings rather than visibility alone.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-19
Modern vacuums carry cameras, microphones and a map of your home. Most of that is for navigation, but what leaves the house depends entirely on the vendor's choices.
gokawiil.com
· 2026-10-19
A report describes an upcoming Apple feature called HomeView, aimed at improving how users control smart home devices. The coverage frames it as a response to long-standing complaints about cluttered apps and intrusive ads in existing smart home software.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-18
A smart-home explainer describes why Wi-Fi-connected accessories often stop functioning when the internet or router fails, since they typically rely on cloud servers for instructions and scheduling. It recommends using local hubs instead, such as HomePods, Apple TVs, or Zigbee- and Thread-based bridges like the Philips Hue Bridge, which can store and run automations without an active internet connection.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-17
A tech writer reports choosing the Google Pixel Tablet over Apple's still-unreleased HomeView smart home hub for daily household use. The comparison centers on the Pixel Tablet's versatility as both a tablet and a docked smart display, which the writer says already covers the role Apple's hub is expected to fill.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-17
A HomeKit Weekly column advises smart home users to buy outdoor-rated smart plugs now for Halloween decorations, noting the same hardware and automations can be reused for Christmas lights in December. It recommends ensuring a home hub (Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini) is set up first, and suggests dual-outlet outdoor plugs and devices like Eve Energy for indoor use such as Christmas trees or fog machines.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-16
Shelly has released the Presence Gen4, a smart home sensor that uses mmWave radar instead of a camera to detect the location and movement of up to 10 people or pets in a space up to 650 square feet. Priced at $84.99, it's available now through Shelly's online store and works with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, and Home Assistant via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-15
Reolink has released the Home Hub 2, a device that lets users monitor and search footage from up to eight cameras simultaneously. The hub includes AI-powered object search capabilities that function even without an internet connection, and does not require an ongoing subscription fee to use.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-15
Apple has introduced HomeView, a $299 smart display resembling an oversized Apple Watch mounted on a HomePod Mini base. The device is designed to sit permanently in one spot in the home, staying powered on and unlocked, and supports switching between multiple household users' accounts for controlling Apple Home devices, calendars and music.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-14
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