Smart Home

Hombli has released its Smart Solar Cam 2K in Europe. The outdoor security camera has a built-in solar panel, which, in the right conditions, can fully power the smart home device. Other features include full-color night vision, an integrated floodlight and smart home ecosystem integration.

1X Technologies has unveiled the NEO humanoid robot powered by AI technologies. Designed as a life assistance robot, the NEO can learn tasks and actions such as tidying up a room by observing humans. The android is currently under development with no set launch date.

Xiaomi has launched the Outdoor Camera CW400 in Europe. The model features a 4MP camera which can rotate 360° horizontally and 160° vertically, capturing 2.5K quality images. Other features include app-based controls, full-color night vision and two-way voice communication.

The Optoma UHZ55 projector is now available via retailers worldwide. The new 4K model has a gaming mode and a laser light source delivering up to 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness. Other features include built-in speakers, access to apps via the Optoma Marketplace and smart home ecosystem compatibility.

BLUETTI's latest product is a portable fridge-freezer and ice-maker rather than a generator - however, it still runs on the OEM's advanced LFP tech, and, as such, is the first of its kind on the market to do so. Furthermore, the MultiCooler Portable Fridge uses the same batteries as the new AC180T Power Station, both of which are available as rewards on BLUETTI's new crowdfunding page.

Ultimea has revealed a new projector for markets worldwide: the Apollo P50. The device has a native 1080p resolution and up to 800 ANSI lumens brightness from its LED light source. Other features include built-in speakers with support for Dolby Audio, Linux OS, and wireless screencasting.

Owners of a Husqvarna Automower NERA will soon be able to play DOOM on their robot lawn mower. The software update will be available this April, with users able to play the gaming using the integrated display, control knob and start button. Customers must sign up to receive the update, with the game playable for a limited time.

The Zendure Balcony Solar System AIO 2400 will go on sale later this month, though only a limited number of units will be available. The product includes 2.4 kWh built-in storage, a dual MPPT inverter and self-heating for use outdoors at low temperatures. Plus, you can control the solution via the brand’s app.

Five new soundbars in the Samsung 2024 range have been on show at the World of Samsung event in Germany. The models include the premium HW-Q995D and HW-Q935D, the ultra-slim HW-S810D and HW-S811D, and the HW-Q710GD, which supports Dolby Atmos. The Samsung Music Frame speaker was also seen at the event.

The Philips Hue app will soon have improved support for multiple Hue Bridge devices. While users can already link multiple Bridges to one account, you must currently switch between these to control the various smart home devices connected to each unit. According to Signify, the upgrade will roll out later this year.

The pricing for the majority of Samsung TV models in its 2024 range has been revealed in Germany. The recommended retail prices start at €899 for the 43-inch 4K QLED TV Q60D and go up to €13,499 for the 95-inch 4K Neo QLED TV QN90D. However, two models were missing from the event.

The Xiaomi outdoor security camera CW500 is now on sale in China. The camera produces images with a 3K resolution and can rotate 360° horizontally to capture a wide area outside your home. Other features include AI human and vehicle detection, app-based notifications and light and sound alarms.

The IKEA Home smart app has recently been updated, adding the upcoming BADRING water leakage sensor. Version 1.25.0, available for iOS and Android, allows customers to add the product to their smart home, triggering notifications and linking to other gadgets. However, the BADRING has yet to be released and is due to go on sale in April.

Although brands like Sony and LG are not easy prey, Samsung made it look so by achieving a 30.1% share in the global TV market last year. Since 2006, Samsung managed to sell enough TV sets to get the golden crown every time. In 2023, the brand's QLED lineup achieved an impressive 8.31 million units sold.

Anker is now selling its SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station via its online store and Amazon following a crowdfunding campaign. The product can be used as a power backup or when camping, delivering up to 6,000W power to multiple devices. Plus, the built-in 3.8kWh capacity can be increased to 26.9kWh with expansion batteries.

The 115-inch TCL X955 Max TV is being shown at the KOOP trade fair. The larger QD-Mini LED model is similar to other models of the same size, which we have already seen from the brand. Features of the display include up to 5,000 nits brightness and 20,000 dimming zones for a higher contrast ratio.

More than 24 hours later, not all users have their smart home devices back online. Wyze has blamed the outage on their AWS partner and insists the service outage has been resolved. But still, many users beg to differ.

An agreement has been reached between Epson and Dangbei following a complaint relating to the brightness measurement provided for the Mars Pro projector. As part of the settlement, Dangbei has said it will adjust the figure provided for this model and adhere to international standards in the future.

Five new Philips Ambilight TVs in the brand's 2024 range have appeared in product listings. There are many similarities between the 4K TVs with a direct LED backlight and the recently released Titan OS. The differences come in the stand design and the power consumed in networked standby mode.

IKEA is rolling out its new ORMANÄS LED lighting strip to more European countries, including the UK, France and Sweden. The gadget launched last year, offering dimmable white and colored lighting. Plus, the bendable light strip with a self-adhesive back is compatible with various smart home ecosystems.

The Husqvarna Automower 310E Nera and the Automower 410XE Nera robot lawnmowers have been unveiled and will launch in the next few weeks. The new models have many similarities, with an optional upgrade for virtual rather than physical boundaries. Features include app-based controls, adjustable cutting height and an EdgeCut tool.

The Anker Solarbank Dual System balcony power plants are now on sale in the EU, with an introductory discount offering up to €1,110 off. Each kit includes four solar panels, a microinverter and two Solarbanks with a combined 3.2 kWh storage capacity. Plus, the range-topping bundle’s solar panels have a 2,160W maximum power.

Available on Amazon for both the $1,499.99 list price and the all-time low of $801.74 in the last month (according to Camelcamelcamel), the Samsung Odyssey G85SB curved gaming monitor is now 35% off for a still good price of $980.15. However, the Samsung Offer Program can push it below $750 for qualifying Samsung US customers.

Philips Hue has launched its Pendant light cord for filament bulbs in the EU, following its announcement earlier this year. The accessory is available in four variants and a wide range of kits, including suitable smart bulbs. The new lighting product is 3D printed and uses recycled materials.

A new smart lighting tool has been spotted in the Philips Hue app, which allows further customization of your smart lighting scenes. For some reason, Signify has not announced the feature yet. It appears that the tool arrived in the latest app update, version 5.10.0, which rolled out earlier this month.

Dreame has a new vacuum and mopping robot in its portfolio, the Mova G30 Pro, that mops with hot water and a roller, and also offers high suction power and a comprehensive cleaning station.

Xiaomi is launching its new AX1500 router onto the global market. The WiFi router, which has only been officially launched in China so far, supports WiFi 6 and mesh technology, offers four LAN ports and is likely to be sold at a reasonable price.

Signify has launched a new accessory for Philips Hue smart lighting in the UK and the EU; the product is also expected to arrive in the US this April. The piece allows for more creative lighting designs on your ceiling or wall. Currently, customers can only purchase the product directly from the brand via its online store.

Signify has released a new update for the Philips Hue app. Version 5.10.0 is now available to download for Android and iOS devices, bringing two new features to your smart home gadgets. The first tool relates to the brand’s newer home security products, while the second is linked to Valentine’s Day.

An update wave for Apple users: iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1, watchOS 10.3.1, tvOS 17.3.1 and macOS 14.3.1 have just been released. This means new updates for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and the like.

Several improvements are on the way to the EcoFlow PowerStream balcony solar system. The company is already rolling out a firmware update with Solar DualCharge technology and plans to increase the AC output limit for the microinverter. Plus, EcoFlow has teased a new weatherproof portable power station.

The Twinkly Matrix, a smart LED curtain, is on sale in North America and the EU. The lighting solution could be used to decorate various rooms in your home, with a wide range of colors and effects offered in the company’s app. Plus, the smart home product supports multiple gaming integrations and voice commands.

LG has announced that its smart displays come with complimentary access to Apple's TV Plus (or TV+) content for a limited time. The offer is open to all new and existing owners of eligible 4K or 8K TVs released over the past seven years, as well as the StanbyME series of "lifestyle screens".

Almost all Amazon Fire devices run on Fire OS. But that might change soon, as the company has recently listed a job for a role that's for the transition from the Android-based operating system to the new Vega OS that's reportedly based on Linux.

Lenovo has introduced its Lecoo LK210 projector, launching in China. The cheaper model has a native 1080p resolution and up to 4,800 lumens brightness from an LED light source. Other features include a built-in speaker, 64 GB storage, automatic focus, and keystone correction tools.

Ultion's award-winning Nuki Plus smart lock has now added Matter support, bringing added interoperability & security to one of the most secure locks on the market. However, owners of previous models will have to completely replace their smart locks for the Matter edition since there is no software update offered.

CheckMag Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices will give you remote access to all your files from any device both at home and away. Just add your drives and off you go, but they aren’t cheap. However there are some compelling software solutions that can turn any old PC and a few drives into a potent NAS which can compete with even the most expensive off the shelf solutions.

Samsung has officially confirmed that Google Assistant will no longer be available on its smart TVs, including existing models. The voice assistant was added to Samsung’s Tizen TV platform in 2020, but the 2023 lineup of TVs came without it. Now, citing Google’s policy changes, Samsung has announced that it will be unavailable on all older models as well.

Passwords are not at risk. Instead, researchers are showing what data sensors on cell phones and other smart devices can intentionally or unintentionally collect. Creepy at the very least or quite normal.

Thunderobot is now accepting pre-orders for its Thor Bagel Civi projector in China. The budget model is billed as suitable for gaming, with an HDMI 1.4 port to connect a game console. Other features of the new product include Android 9.0, wireless screen-casting and a pair of integrated speakers.

Dangbei is now selling its new Atom laser projector via Amazon in the US and various European countries. Plus, the company offers an introductory offer of $150 off the retail price. Features of the 1080p model include Google TV with Google Assistant voice commands, autofocus and two integrated speakers.

Skylight aims to simplify the distribution of household chores, meal planning and the organisation of appointments by simply packing the family calendar onto a 27-inch touchscreen, which can also be managed via the corresponding smartphone app.

The BenQ X300G 4K short-throw gaming projector is now on sale in the US. Plus, customers who purchase the new model before January 31st can receive one of several free games. Features of the portable projector include a peak brightness of 2,000 ANSI lumens, 4.2 ms input lag and three gaming modes.

TP Vision has revealed its flagship OLED+959 Ambilight TV. The 2024 model offers up to 3,000 nits brightness, reduced latency for gaming and a new Game Bar. Several differences exist from the new OLED+909 model, such as upgraded Ambilight technology, more powerful speakers and a pedestal stand.

Gigaset accounts itself Europe's "market leader" in DECT products - however, it is also in dire financial straits and in need of a life-line. Fortunately, it has now secured one in the form of a buy-out agreement with VTech, a big name in fixed-line phones (and also children's tech) in the US. The acquisition is touted to generally benefit the former while allowing the latter to move on with its corporate journey.

The Philips Hue app has been updated to version 5.9, now available to download for iOS and Android devices. The software brings a new tool for a smart lighting accessory, allowing greater control over your connected devices at the push of a button. Version 5.9 follows a more extensive app update released earlier this month.

The 2024 Philips OLED+909 Ambilight TV has been revealed, with an expected launch date later this year. The new model has up to 3,000 nits brightness, runs on Google OS and is Matter compatible. Other features include a new Game Bar, Dolby Vision Gaming and integrated Bowers & Wilkins speakers.

Signify has announced the release of the Secure floodlight camera in Europe, with a launch in North America in the near future. The two-in-one smart home device combines a 1080p camera with a flashlight for white or colored light with up to 2,250 lumens brightness. Plus, the Hue Bridge allows a wide range of remote controls via the brand’s app.

TCL sub-brand FFALCON has revealed the Thunderbird Crane 7 2024 TV in China. The new 4K model has a MiniLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and support for Dolby VisionIQ. Gaming features include 240Hz MEMC and Dolby Gaming. Plus, the TV has a built-in 60W speaker system and is Wi-Fi 6 compatible.

The Philips Hue Secure starter kit has arrived in Europe and North America. The bundle includes a 1080p camera, contact sensors, light bulbs and the Bridge for a wide range of features via the Philips Hue app. These include push notifications, triggered lighting and alarms to deter intruders.