The Nanoleaf Canvas can now control your smart home through touch
The Nanoleaf Canvas improves its functionality thanks to HomeKit-based "Touch Actions" that let users turn any Canvas Square into a smart button. These buttons can be set to control devices throughout the home with a single press. This improved functionality is available starting today.
The Smart Remote X delivers one-touch control of your smart home
The new Smart Remote X and Smart Remote U mean the days of using a half-dozen apps to control your smart home are over. You can now control your smart home devices with a single remote. The contextual interface knows what you're pointing at and automatically displays the relevant controls.
The LIZ Smart bottle reminds you when to drink water and cleans itself
The LIZ Smart Bottle is designed to help people drink more water -- and to keep that water clean. This smart bottle features long battery life, built-in cleaning features, and more. The Indiegogo campaign is live, with the bottle slated to ship as early as September if its funding goals are met.
Huawei planned a Google-powered smart speaker for IFA. Then U.S. trade sanctions hit
According to a report from The Information, the Chinese tech giant Huawei worked with Google to create a smart assistant. The plans were scrapped after the United States imposed cybersecurity-based trade sanctions against Huawei, which prevented the company from purchasing from tech suppliers.
You can now ask Alexa for your bank balance, and she just might tell you
The Amazon Echo can now check your balance, make payments, and provide information on recent transactions thanks to compatible Alexa Skills. However, the number of banks with compatible skills is still limited. Only the most popular banks and services, like PayPal, are compatible at the moment.
The Lumi is a smart diaper and baby monitoring system rolled into one
If you can't stand the idea of one more wet diaper surprise, check out the Lumi. This smart diaper by Pampers includes a moisture strip and activity monitor that alerts parents via its app when the diaper is wet. It comes with a camera to help keep an eye on the baby at night and monitor temperature, too.
The LaMetric Sky gives artistic meaning to smart lighting
The LaMetric Sky is based on ancient Chinese tangram puzzles and designed to fit together in a variety of ways with more than 16 million color combinations. The Sky takes the best parts of the LaMetric Time and improves on it. The lights are now available for pre-order.
2 years after its Kickstarter debut, the Orii Smart Ring finally goes on sale
The long-awaited Orii Smart Ring is now available for purchase for $199, with a new version on the way in the next few months that will implement gesture control for smart lights. The current version has a built-in microphone for voice control and for sending messages without pulling out your phone.
The Satechi Dual Smart Outlet is a HomeKit-compatible smart plug
The Satechi Dual Smart Outlet is a HomeKit-compatible smart plug with real-time energy monitoring. Set up routines, keep an eye on your utility costs, and bring automation to your old appliances. The Dual Smart Outlet doubles the capacity of the outlet its plugged into, too.
Google Home and Nest Hub will now answer certain commands with a chime
Google Home and Nest Hub devices will now answer smart light controls with a chime instead of a long verbal response as long as the lights are in the same room as the device. This update is still rolling out nationwide but hopes to curb unexpected loud responses.
The LumiGrow BarLight is a smart grow light for pot cultivation
Intense lights have long been used to promote plant growth, but LumiGrow designed the BarLight to provide horticulturalists with more precise growth control for high yields of cannabis. The BarLight is designed for use in commercial environments, with two different light spectrums on a vertical mount.
HomeStay Intelligent Home platform gives aging loved ones independence, security
The Australian company HomeStay's Intelligent Home smart home platform provides remote monitoring for senior citizens and allows them to continue living on their own. Motion sensors, door sensors, and an emergency pendant let loved ones keep an eye on seniors from a distance.
Barsys 2.0 robotic bartender uses A.I. to consistently mix the perfect cocktail
The Barsys 2.0 is the new-and-improved version of the robotic bartender that released last year. It uses artificial intelligence. to make perfect drinks. and Bluetooth to give users access to a library of thousands of drink recipes. The device is available now for $1,500.
Vintage and modern spin together in new streaming turntable from Como
Como Audio plans to release a smart speaker with Google Assistant built-in. The company is also releasing a streaming turntable that allows you to play your favorite vinyl over Bluetooth speakers. The system retails from $399 and up and should be available for purchase this fall.
Kenzie wants to hide smart assistants inside its cute, crocheted animals
Kenzie is a company that just launched on Kickstarter with the intention of hiding smart speakers beneath adorable, crocheted stuffed animals. Their intention is to disrupt the tech industry with cuteness. Buyers can pick from six different hand-crafted designs, but more are on the way.
Canadian medical project demonstrates the health care potential of smart homes
A medical project involving smart homes demonstrates the technology's potential in treating mental illness and providing patients with a level of independence previously thought impossible. Devices such as automated pill dispensers, blood pressure meters, and more allow doctors to monitor patients from afar.
The Sutro smart pool monitor is reportedly six weeks away from shipping
The Sutro Smart Pool Monitor first appeared in 2015 as part of TechCrunch's Hardware Battle and has been in development since then. According to a recent news report, the company plans to ship backer models within six weeks. The connected monitor keeps an eye on chlorine, pH, and other levels in the pool.
Lua uses animated emotions to help you keep your plants happy and healthy
The Lua Smart Planter is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo to make this smiling plant pot a reality. The device helps you take care of your plants by showing the plant's needs through a series of animated faces. Who doesn't want a plant that uses a vampire face to show a lack of sunlight?
Amazon has plans for an Echo for music lovers — and a voice-controlled robot?
A Bloomberg report suggests that Amazon may have plans to release a new Amazon Echo unit with improved audio quality, perhaps as a tie-in with a new and improved Amazon Music service. In addition, rumors hint that the retail giant has increased the number of people working on a "home robot" called Vesta.
Ikea expands its Tradfri line with new smart bulbs and starter kits
Ikea has long been the go-to option for people that want high-quality, low-cost furnishings and lighting. The Swedish company has embraced that reputation with new additions to their Tradfri line of Home Smart products, including new bulbs and updated starter kits for first-time users.
The Meri is a $99 smart thermostat for a smart home on a budget
This week Momentum introduced the Meri Smart Thermostat, a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive options like Nest or the Ecobee. This new thermostat is available for purchase from your local Walmart, which gives you a chance to check it out in person before you decide to buy.
Random people might have listened to your Google Assistant commands
The Belgian public broadcasting network VRT NWS issued a report that confirms Google uses professional contractors to transcribe commands given to their smart assistants. The problem is that not all of these commands were intentional and Google Assistant overheard private conversations.
Are people losing interest in smart home technology?
Recent analysis of sales trends suggest that the smart home boom may be over and that consumers are beginning to lose interest in the market, but more factors are at play than just simple sales rank. The reasons people buy, and the number of products available to them, have a huge impact on the market.
Cities across America are switching to smart tech to improve residents’ lives
Syracuse and dozens of other cities plan to make traditional street lighting a thing of the past. Initiatives have begun to install "smart" streetlights throughout cities to improve the lives of residents. These "smart nodes" can collect data on weather, temperature, and even traffic conditions.
A Delaware senator stepped into the ring with Amazon over information privacy
If you don't trust Amazon with your data, you aren't alone. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) demanded answers from Amazon over exactly how long user voice recordings and transcripts were kept, and what the information was used for. The company's answers did not inspire confidence in the senator.
Researchers discover a worrying security flaw in Zipato smart home hubs
Recent concerns about smart home security aren't misplaced: A pair of security researchers have discovered a vulnerability in a popular smart home hub that allowed them to unlock connected smart locks with just a single line of code.
iRealm’s Smart Plug 2.0 with built-in touchpad makes its Kickstarter debut
The iRealm Smart Plug 2.0 debuted on Kickstarter this week. The device aims to solve the problem of smartphone-only control in connected devices by including a touchpad for local control. This touchpad is said to work without Wi-Fi or batteries thanks to a low-voltage connection.
Having a chat with Alexa will soon feel a lot more natural
The Echo is already a part of the household, but a series of new improvements will soon make conversations with the smart assistant more natural and fluid than ever before. Amazon announced a new algorithm that allows Alexa to guess what users might say.
The iKuddle is a smart litter box that scoops the poop for you
If you own a cat, you know just how unpleasant it is to clean the litter box. The iKuddle is a Wi-Fi connected smart litter box that handles almost every step of the process for you. All you have to do is swap out the bag. The device is currently on Kickstarter for interested pet owners.
Amazon retains text data on users even when audio recordings are deleted
Although you can delete your Amazon Echo audio history, Amazon still has text recordings of your conversations with the device — a fact that has raised concerns with many privacy advocates. Amazon claims the data is used to improve language recognition and processing.
In a hurry? Dry your clothes in just 15 minutes with this countertop dryer
The Morus Zero is a countertop-sized dryer that uses less than half the energy of traditional units. Lower temperatures mean less heat waste, less wrinkles, and less chance of heat damage to your clothes. The Morus Zero countertop dryer is slated to begin production in November.
A video doorbell catches a man being attacked by a snake in cold blood
The last thing Jerel Haywood expected when he opened his friend Rodney Copeland's door was a surprise attack by a snake, but Copeland's doorbell camera captured the entire event on video. They have since uploaded the video for the world to see as a warning against the invasion of porch snakes.