Several Canadian provinces and territories, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, recently ended seasonal clock changes and permanently adopted daylight saving time. Following the switch, owners of the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential report on Reddit that the device's LED display is off by an hour, even though asking Google Assistant for the time returns the correct answer. Other Google Home devices, such as the TV Streamer and smart displays, reportedly updated correctly.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-02
Microsoft has fixed an issue that left the Smart App Control security feature grayed out and unable to be turned on for some Windows 11 24H2+ devices after installing the October 2026 KB5127648 update. The company says the fix is included in the KB5127936 preview update released October 28, 2026, and devices that already had Smart App Control enabled were never affected. Microsoft also published a registry-edit workaround for enterprise admins who prefer to wait for next month's cumulative update rather than install the preview patch.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-11-02
A consumer technology review identifies five categories of smart home devices—such as smart thermostats and plugs—that can offset their purchase cost through energy savings. It also flags three popular smart home products, including some novelty gadgets, as offering little financial return despite marketing hype.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-11-02
Samsung smart TV owners can install new apps by searching from the home screen's search bar or browsing the apps menu by category. After installation, apps can be pinned to the home screen, and existing apps can be rearranged, moved, or deleted by pressing and holding the select button to open a menu.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-02
Courtrooms in England, Wales and New York have barred AI glasses like Meta's, and many schools and corporate offices are following suit, citing concerns over hidden cameras and microphones. Meta has also faced scrutiny after reports that outsourced workers reviewed intimate images and videos captured by its smart glasses, which the company says is done to improve the product.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-02
A user posted an Ask HN question seeking recommendations for a large 60-80 inch, 4K, 60Hz television that respects user privacy. The poster plans to pair the display with an Apple TV box rather than relying on built-in smart TV apps, and is asking the community which TVs integrate well as a 'dumb' display in that setup. They state they are willing to pay a premium for such a product.
news.ycombinator.com
· 2026-11-01
Most smart TVs don't include cameras, though exceptions exist such as Sony's models supporting its Bravia Cam and Samsung's older F-series sets. To check your own TV, find its model number and search the manufacturer's documentation for mentions of a built-in camera, since references to video calls may just indicate support for an external accessory. Physical inspection of the frame, especially the top edge, can reveal a lens or a retractable camera mechanism, and used TVs should be checked for detachable camera accessories.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-01
A Reddit user named pdfu discovered strings in HomeView 27.2 software suggesting Apple is developing security camera functionality for its smart home hub, including motion detection, live streaming, and recording. A setup page reportedly references using HomeView as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video. Apple has not confirmed these features publicly.
theverge.com
· 2026-11-01
Apple's $149 HomePod Mini 2, reviewed hands-on, uses a faster S10 chip and Wi-Fi 6E support that let Siri respond to commands in under three seconds, a major improvement over the original's delays. The new Siri AI features Apple promised are not yet available and will arrive in a later software update, while the speaker's sound system remains unchanged from 2020's original.
theverge.com
· 2026-11-01
Apple's smart-home screen interface, HomeView, departs from the traditional App Store-centric approach that defined the iPhone era. Instead of requiring users to download individual apps, the system is built around Siri as the primary way to interact with connected devices. The design reflects Apple's deep integration with its existing ecosystem while signaling a different approach for home-based AI interfaces compared to its rivals.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-11-01
Those small holes found in most electrical plug prongs no longer serve the home-use purpose they once did. Instead, manufacturers use them to hold metal blades in place with an alignment rod while plastic is molded around them, and as a safety lockout feature during production.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-31
Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey sent Meta a letter demanding details by Thanksgiving on whether the company conducted human rights and safety reviews before releasing its smart glasses. They asked how Meta assessed privacy risks to users and bystanders and what safeguards currently exist, citing reports that the glasses have been used by ICE agents during raids and flagged by an NYPD counterterrorism memo. The letter also cites Meta's own disclosures that imagery from the glasses' AI features may be retained and used, with human reviewers, to train AI systems.
yro.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-31
GoKawiil