GoKawiil
Tech News
A new report looks at how home security cameras affect residents' sense of safety, noting that the devices can deter crime and offer reassurance. At the same time, the footage they capture sometimes depicts strange or frightening events that leave users unsettled rather than comforted.
Govee's Christmas Lights 2, a budget pick for smart holiday lighting, are currently discounted 25% on Amazon. Prices range from $25 off the 66-foot version to $100 off the 328-foot length, with the deal reportedly matching last year's Black Friday pricing. The lights are IP67-rated, controllable via the Govee app, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Matter-based smart home systems.
Arrowmax, a Hong Kong-based company, launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Arrowspace S1, an electric screwdriver that uses an HD camera and an in-house AI model to identify screw size and shape, then recommends a bit and sets torque automatically. The kit, starting around $80 with shipping planned for April 2027, pairs with a smartphone app over a local connection and includes a smart case with LEDs that light up over the suggested bit slot.
Apple pushed out HomeView 27.2 (build 24V514), the operating system for its upcoming smart home hub, which is currently available for preorder. The update contains 20 default wallpapers in both light and dark variants, plus an early look at the device's face customization interface.
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to 35 states and Washington, D.C. to resolve claims it sold driver behavior and location data collected through its Smart Driver program, offered via dealerships from 2016 to 2024, without proper consent. State attorneys general say the data was in some cases used by insurers to raise premiums, with one driver reportedly facing a 22% rate increase. GM ended the program in 2024 and must now get explicit consumer consent before collecting or sharing such data.
Amazon has released the Echo Show 16, a 16-inch smart display priced at $500 or $570 depending on configuration, positioned as a family hub with color-coded calendars, to-do lists and meal planning tools. Amazon says the device offers 10% more viewing area than the Echo Show 15 while having a frame nearly 40% thinner, and it can also function as a smart home control hub.
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle a lawsuit brought by attorneys general from 35 states and Washington, D.C. over its sale of Smart Driver driving-behavior data to data brokers, who resold it to insurers. Many drivers said their insurance premiums rose and that they never knowingly consented to sharing the data. This follows a separate FTC settlement finalized in January that barred GM and OnStar from sharing geolocation or driver-behavior data for five years, after which GM discontinued the Smart Driver feature entirely.
CNET writer criticizes a trend of people using AI tools like Claude to rewrite TV operating systems in hopes of removing ads, clutter and tracking. The piece cites an anonymous TV engineer who says fixing one software bug often creates several others, and notes reports of people bricking their TVs by attempting this.
The fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat is discounted by $60 to $219.99 across Amazon, Best Buy and The Home Depot in all three colors, matching its best price this year and nearing its all-time low. The device includes a bundled remote temperature sensor, an adaptive display, and broader HVAC compatibility than its predecessor.
Arrowmax has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Arrowspace S1, an electric screwdriver that uses a built-in camera and AI to identify the type and size of bit needed for a given screw. The device also auto-selects a safe torque setting and can pair with an optional 52-bit smart case that lights up the required bit. Preorders start around $79 for the screwdriver alone or $129 bundled with the case, with shipping expected no earlier than April 2027.
A long-time Google Home user reports that most of Google's smart home devices have gone years without updates, including Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell battery models (none since 2021), the Nest Hub display (over five years old), and Nest Wifi Pro (from 2022). The company's only recent release, the Google Home Speaker, arrived this year after a six-year gap since the Nest Audio and reportedly discontinued both the Nest Audio and Nest Mini.
Apple has launched its first smart display, the $299 HomeView, alongside Amazon's $499.99 Echo Show 16, a full redesign of its smart display lineup. Both devices were previewed hands-on by a reviewer who found them more capable than earlier smart displays at handling shared household tasks like calendars, video doorbells and smart home controls.