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Latest by Patrick Hearn

Man working at a desk at home.

Smart lights can elevate your mood while working from home

The lighting in your home (and home office) has a huge impact on your mood. Brighten your spirits by scheduling your smart lights to warm and cool when needed.
cemtrex smartdesk up close desk feat

Transform your home office into a space that’d make even a Google employee drool

From a standing desk/PC combo to a top-notch speakerphone and more, you can really spice up the work-from-home routine with a few additions to your office.
Echo Alexa

Avoid saying these words near your smart speaker, if you don’t want it to listen

If you are worried about privacy, beware of using these words around your voice assistants. The device might mistake them for a wake word.
homedics uv-clean phone sanitizer

These smart home devices can stop the spread of bacteria and viruses

Smart home technology can help stop germs in their tracks. These devices can help you keep your home (and other places) cleaner without any additional effort.
ring officially announces video doorbell 3 and plus

After leaking it accidentally, Ring formally announces its Video Doorbell 3

After Tuesday's leak, Ring has officially announced its new video doorbells -- the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and 3 Plus -- along with the new Pre-Roll feature.
vivint new smart doorbell camera pro fights porch pirates

The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro combats porch piracy with smart security

Vivint's new smart Doorbell Camera Pro is packed with security features to detect and deter potential porch pirates and keep your packages safe all year long.
lenovo might have new robot vacuum in works fcc filing

An FCC filing suggests Lenovo might have a new robot vacuum on the horizon

An FCC filing depicting a Lenovo robotic vacuum suggests the company may have plans to enter the market again. A second entry could corner the budget-friendly market.
amazon echo google home smart speakers deals 5 768x768

Amazon Echo still king among smart speakers despite declining U.S. market share

The Amazon Echo is still king (or perhaps queen) among smart speakers and will continue to be for several years, according to a report from eMarketer. Google Assistant and Siri, however, are predicted to take a bigger slice of the market for themselves.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro

The Neighbors App by Ring is launching a new category: Neighborly Moments

Ring introduced a new category in its Neighbors App called Neighborly Moments. The category allows users to share footage of their neighbors performing acts of kindness.
The second-generation Ring Video Doorbell installed on a front door.

Ding-dong ditch: Arlo is offering $50 trade-in value for video doorbells

Arlo is taking advantage of the controversy surrounding Ring to offer $50 credit towards anyone that trades in a qualifying video doorbell, including Ring devices.
Tile Pro 2020

Now Google Assistant can help you remember where you left your keys and wallet

Google and Tile teamed up to create a new Google Assistant function: the ability to tell you where you left your purse, wallet, laptop, and more.
rfocus smart wallpaper boosts signal strength

MIT researchers create a smart wallpaper that improves devices’ signal strength

Researchers from MIT have designed the RFocus, a smart wallpaper that can boost the signal strength of wireless devices thanks to thousands of tiny antennae built into the wallpaper itself.
Galaxy Home Mini

The Samsung Galaxy Home Mini is finally set to be released

The Samsung Galaxy Home Mini will be available in South Korea on February 12 for roughly $85 USD. Though no release date has been given for a western launch, the appearance of the Bixby-powered smart speaker is a fulfilled promise after multiple delays and missed launches.
The second-generation Ring Video Doorbell installed on a front door.

The Ring Control Center makes it easy to manage privacy and security settings

The new Ring Control Center displays information related to privacy and security settings in a single dashboard and gives users more control over their devices.
walmart drops the prices on most but not all google nest smart home devices

Google Home devices in Preview Program are in danger of being bricked by update

A new update from the Google Preview Program is at risk of bricking some first-generation Google Home devices. Google has made no official statement yet, but many users have begun to disconnect their at-risk devices in an attempt to mitigate the threat to their smart assistants.
walmart slashes prices on all original google nest home devices hub  1

Snag two Google Nest Hubs from Best Buy today for just $100

The Google Nest Hub is one of the most popular smart displays on the market and normally retails for $130 for a single unit. For today only, you can nab two devices for just $100 total from Best Buy. If you're interested, both the charcoal and the chalk color options are available.
intellibed sleep genius smart base plays sound improve bed lifestyle

This bed for astronauts helps you sleep more deeply through the science of sound

The Sleep Genius Smart Base was created with NASA research originally intended for astronauts. The Sleep Genius Smart Base includes a Bluetooth speaker that stimulates the part of the brain responsible for sound to create a natural sense of calm for deeper, higher-quality levels of sleep.
open sliding doors remotely with wayzn glass door opener

Wayzn sliding glass door opener can let pets out when you’re not home

The Wayzn Sliding Glass Door Opener was a big hit at CES 2020 for its innovative design and function. It can open sliding glass doors from afar or be set up so your pet can open them to go outside. The Wayzn Sliding Glass Door Opener starts at $399 and is available for pre-order now.
amaryllo athena smart camera that identifies fires animals

The Amaryllo Athena security camera can spot fires, animals, cars, and people

The Amaryllo Athena is a smart camera with several interesting capabilities unlike anything on the market. It can distinguish between different types of animals, spot fires, cars, and people. It also uses strong encryption to keep your information safe. The Athena will be available in May of 2020.
wazo home security system can detect weapons falls ces 2020

The Wazo Home Security System can recognize knives and guns

At CES 2020, Wazo demonstrated a security camera supported by A.I. that can detect weapons in the hands of intruders. The system can differentiate between guns and knives, and can also detect when someone falls and alert you when a familiar (or unfamiliar) face shows up at the door.
bisu body coach analyzes your urine better health

Bisu Body Coach can tell if you’re at risk of a gout attack by analyzing urine

The Bisu Body Coach is a home test kit that analyzes your urine for nutrition, pH levels, uric acid, and many other relevant data points. It can warn you of an impending attack of gout and make suggestions for improving your diet. The Bisu Body Coach should be available in Q4 of 2020.
SimCam 1S security camera render

SimCam 1S is an indoor security camera with a ‘hacker-proof’ mode

The SimCam 1S is an indoor security camera that uses bank-grade encryption and onboard, local processing to make the footage more resistant to hacking attempts and security breaches. It has built-in A.I. that allows it to use features like object tracking and 360-degree room tracking.
kamibaby baby monitor analyzes your babys breathing sleep

The KamiBaby baby monitor magnifies your little one’s breathing

Yi Technologies introduced three new products at CES 2020 including the KamiBaby baby monitor, a smart baby monitor that analyzes your child's breathing and sleep patterns to give parents vital information. The company also announced a wireless outdoor security camera and a smart doorbell with facial recognition.
Harmon-Kardon Citation Series

Harman Kardon Citation series speakers have every feature you can think of

Harmon Kardon has added several new entries to its lineup of powerful speakers, including the Harmon Kardon 200, the Oasis, the Citation Multibeam 700, and the Citation Sub S, all available in spring 2020. The Citation series has Google Assistant built-in for smart home control and music streaming.
google-assistant-ces-2020

Google Assistant is now used by half a billion people around the world

At CES 2020, Google Assistant celebrated a huge milestone: The smart assistant is used by more than 500 million people around the world. Google also announced several new features to make the system even better, including better security features and more natural speech patterns.
sunflower-labs-bee

Sunflower Labs’ Bee is a fully autonomous home defense and observation drone

At CES 2020, Sunflower Labs announced the launch of The Bee, a fully autonomous home defense drone. The Bee responds to motion and vibrations in the yard and streams and records any activity. A suite of sensors called Sunflowers monitor the yard and deploy the Bee when anything suspicious is detected.
lifx-switch

LIFX brightens up smart lights with a flurry of announcements at CES 2020

On Tuesday at CES, LIFX announced several new products including a smart switch that can control both smart and dumb lights, an Edison bulb, a TV strip, a warm white candle bulb, and a redesigned app with a new look and feel. More features are on the way later in the year.
Bic-wet-razor

Bic’s A.I.-enabled razor will become a smarter, better shaving device

Bic and Invoxia have partnered up to create a prototype wet razor that uses A.I. to track multiple data points about your shave, including the density of your hair, the water temperature, and your number of strokes. This is part of the Next Bic Thing initiative to create better, more innovative products.
lenovo-smart-frame

Lenovo adds to its smart home lineup with the Smart Frame, Smart Tab, and more

At CES 2020, Lenovo announced three new devices: The Lenovo Smart Frame, a second generation of the Lenovo Smart Tablet, and Lenovo Connected Security, a service for monitoring network safety. The devices will be available later this year, but Lenovo Connected Security will be available in January.
ring access controller pro

See visitors and open your front gate with the Ring Access Controller Pro

Ring brought several surprises to CES 2020, including a line of smart lights and a remote access controller for gated entryways called the Ring Access Controller Pro. Ring also threw three smart solar lights into the mix. The Access Controller Pro is available now, and the smart lights will be available in April.
blue by adt three alexa compatible security cameras ces 2020

Blue by ADT’s revamped home security lineup features Alexa-enabled cameras

Blue by ADT is the security company's new home security lineup featuring new, more powerful devices. The current lineup features an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and a video doorbell that all have Alexa functionality built-in. All three are available for preorder today for $199 each.
charmin wants you to have robot retrieves toilet paper ces 2020 screen shot 01 05 at 7 27 00 am

Charmin’s new toilet paper robot is just as odd as those bears

Charmin has brought three new devices to CES to demonstrate the future of the bathroom experience: a toilet paper-retrieving robot, a scent sensor, and a premium portapotty experience with virtual reality. All three devices will be on display at their booth at CES, but not available for retail sale.
harmon kardon invoke review top

Microsoft’s latest patent reveals a Skype-enabled smart speaker

A new Microsoft patent suggests the company might be preparing to release a new Skype-focused smart speaker. Last month Microsoft filed a patent for an iPhone-focused "Skype dock." The new device would have a built-in projector that allows for 3D reconstructions during Skype calls.
ring stick up camera review cam

Ring and Amazon slammed with a federal lawsuit over failed camera security

Ring and Amazon have come under federal scrutiny after an Alabama resident accused the companies of negligent security practices. Ring and Amazon face a class-action lawsuit after hackers took control of devices. The plaintiff claims damages are owed after an "implied breach of contract" and an "invasion of privacy."