GoKawiil
Tech News
Google has rolled out a Google Home app update that lets Gemini for Home handle voice requests that mix media playback and smart device controls in a single command, such as turning off lights while stopping music. The update also fixes previously reported bugs with setting alarms and adding items to Google Keep, and it now alphabetizes automation options while enforcing privacy settings on third-party routines.
Miele unveiled the Diamond G8 dishwasher at IFA 2026 in Berlin, featuring a small camera mounted on the door that scans the interior to identify items like pots, straws and flatware. Based on what it detects, the appliance automatically adjusts cycle intensity and detergent amount, and it can also track load capacity to start a cycle once a preset fullness level is reached. The model also lets users schedule cycles around cheaper electricity rate windows.
Miele unveiled the Diamond G8 dishwasher at IFA Berlin, featuring a small camera mounted inside the door that identifies items like pots, straws and flatware to automatically choose the right wash cycle and detergent dose. The camera also tracks how full the machine is, letting it start a cycle once it reaches a preset capacity, and the dishwasher can be scheduled to run during cheaper electricity periods.
The piece critiques the romanticized idea of disappearing into private, isolated effort—'the Cave'—citing examples like Michael Phelps's Under Armour ad and personal wrestling experience. The author argues that smart devices, recommendation algorithms, and AI reinforce this isolation by feeding people what they already believe rather than challenging them.
Burning Man organizers updated their official survival guide to allow Meta's camera-equipped smart glasses at this year's festival, provided wearers get explicit permission before recording anyone in frame. The policy contrasts with venues like New York nightclub Basement, which has vowed to permanently ban attendees caught wearing the devices.
Tado has unveiled its Smart Thermostat X, a 17.8mm-thick device priced at £159.99-£199.99 depending on wired or battery-powered versions. The company says Google's decision to shut down servers for older Nest thermostats has already driven a surge in sales, and it's betting more Nest owners will switch as support for older generations lapses.
Snap is releasing its Specs smart glasses at a $2,195 price point, positioning the device as a major new consumer hardware product. CEO Evan Spiegel is pushing this bet even as Snap continues to face pressure over its lack of consistent profitability.
In a president's note, IEEE outlined its Humanitarian Technologies consortium, a set of programs including Empower a Billion Lives, EPICSinIEEE, MOVE, IEEE REACH, IEEE SIGHT, IEEE Smart Village, and IEEE Tech4Good, that apply engineering expertise to global social problems. The note frames these initiatives not as charity side-projects but as core engineering work that draws on power, energy, communications, computing, robotics, and biomedical fields to serve humanitarian goals.
Anthom, maker of the Homey smart home platform, has unveiled the Homey Portal, a €249 wall- or desk-mounted controller featuring a 2.8-inch round touchscreen and a stainless-steel rotary dial. Each unit is tied to a specific room and lets anyone present adjust lights, music, temperature and existing Homey Flows without opening an app. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping expected before year-end.
Athom-owned Homey has unveiled the Homey Portal, a 2.8-inch round touchscreen device with a stainless steel dial that lets users tap and twist to control lights, speakers, thermostats, and shades. Preorders start today at $249/€249, with shipping planned for December, and the device supports over 70,000 products from 2,000+ brands via Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Thread.
Modern smart thermostats, including the Ecobee Premium and Google Nest models, now include built-in humidity sensors that continuously track moisture levels inside a home. Users can check these readings remotely through apps like Google Home and Alexa, and some devices let owners set custom alerts that trigger when humidity crosses a set threshold.
IFA, Europe's largest tech trade show, returns to Berlin from September 4th to 8th, drawing more than 200,000 attendees. Major manufacturers will present new products spanning appliances, smartphones, and smart home devices, with most significant announcements expected to surface in the days leading up to the official opening.