Smart Home

The Los Angeles Police Department is warning home owners to hard-wire their home security systems. Organized theft rings from Los Angeles and South America are utilizing Wi-Fi jammers to disable wireless security systems in seconds.

CheckMag The toothbrush botnet was one of those examples of the mainstream media fanning flames without the correct facts. However, the concept isn’t entirely unrealistic. Buying any connected device, particularly those from China, has the potential to get you compromised. When are we going to learn that not everything should be connected to the internet?

Aqara's upgrade to the U100 deadbolt has just launched on Kickstarter. The new smart lock U200 now sports a retrofit design and is compatible with Matter and Thread. Like its predecessor, it will soon support Apple Home Key, making Aqara U200 the first smart lock in Europe to do so.

The Philips Hue Secure cameras are receiving update 1.2.10 (650010). The new software includes a wide range of bug fixes and improvements, like smoother transitions and faster set-up. Plus, the latest update resolves a problem that led to incorrectly tagged motion events.

Philips has revealed the new 3000 series Dual Basket Airfryer, which is expected to go on sale in Europe shortly. The model has a 9L capacity across its two baskets, allowing you to cook different foods simultaneously. Features include a copy settings tool and synchronised cooking to ensure everything is ready at the same time.

The Homematic IP Lightstrip set and expansion pack were unveiled at Light + Building 2024. The new smart home products will launch later this year and feature a dynamic lighting mode similar to that of Philips Hue devices. A new home control unit and motion detector were also shown at the event.

Yeelight is now selling the Obsid RGBIC Light Strip in countries globally. The Matter-compatible smart light was announced last year and can be trimmed and extended to suit your needs. Features include game and music-synced lighting effects and bead-level customization in the app.

Eve has officially announced the Energy Outdoor smart outlet, which will launch in the next few months. The smart home gadget is Matter-compatible, allowing remote controls via various apps and voice assistants. Plus, the device includes a power meter, though consumption statistics are only available in some situations.

Roborock has launched the Qrevo MaxV robot vacuum cleaner in Germany. The product is now available via retailers like MediaMarkt, and customers are currently offered €50 off the RRP. Features of the new model include 7,000 Pa suction power, FlexiArm edge cleaning, and automatic hot mop washing at the docking station.

IKEA has launched its BADRING Water leak detector smart in EU countries. The product has launched earlier than expected following its recent arrival in the IKEA Home smart app. The battery-powered smart home gadget's features include an audible alarm and app notifications.

Eufy has announced that the S1 Pro floor washing robot will soon begin crowdfunding via Kickstarter. The robot vacuum and mop is said to have new mopping technology for cleaner floors. Other features include Eco-Clean Ozone, a self-cleaning dock and 3D MatrixEye Depth Perception.

IKEA is now selling its TRETAKT smart plug in a few stores in the EU. The gadget, first revealed in an FCC filing late last year, was spotted by a Reddit user. Compared to the older TRADFRI model, upgrades appear to include an integrated button and a more compact size. Plus, the gadget is relatively cheap, though this looks due to a somewhat basic feature set.

Zendure has launched the AIO 2400 Balcony Solar System. Customers in the EU can now purchase the product on its own or as part of a bundle containing a microinverter and solar panels. Features of the solution include self-heating, meaning it can operate outdoors even when temperatures hit lows of -20°C (~-4°F).

Airseekers will soon launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the Tron robot lawn mower. Unveiled at IFA 2023, the model uses Air Vision technology to navigate your garden without needing a perimeter wire. Other features include an unusual mulching system, an edge-cutting mode and the ability to mow patterns into your lawn.

Verdie is a new and innovative robotic lawnmower that can do more than just mow lawns. It also said to be able to assist with other gardening work and balances on two wheels with the assistance of AI.

Leica Camera USA has announced that it will cut the ribbon on its latest flagship brick-and-mortar Store later in March 2024. The space, located in a famously trendy area of New York City, will also integrate the brand's latest dedicated Gallery on one of its floors as well as function as the destination for a boutique DSLR, lens or equipment buying experience.

Segway asserts that its latest line of robotic mowers is rated for the "flawless" maintenance of lawns of up to 1/4 acres thanks to new AI navigation technology for boundary wire-free operation. The Navimow i105N and i110N also boast in-house RTK chip-powered positioning and a Ride-on Boundary feature backed to help it cut lawns of all shapes with more precision.

Volchar's latest contribution to the electric vehicle (EV) charging market comes in the form of its up-to-9.6 kilowatt (kW), 240V outlet for the home. It is UV-resistant and NEMA 4-rated "for maximum protection from harsh weather". The charger has universal EV compatibility in the US - except for Teslas, of course.

The ECOVACS GOAT GX-600 robotic lawn mower will launch in the EU in March. Reports have also suggested the price of the new model, which was unveiled at CES 2024. Features include intelligent boundary recognition, a 150-degree fish eye camera and app-based controls.

Mobvoi asserts that its latest smart treadmill can fit into a remote-working routine as easily as it can fit into any home. It is also touted as a "simple, convenient" way to get into walking without even leaving the house with multiple intensity and modes. Its motor is rated for silent operation, and runs a "shock-absorbing" platform.

LIFX has released a new range of outdoor smart lights. The latest products from the brand include string lights, a light strip and path lights. LIFX aims to compete with brands like Philips Hue with its color blending feature and brightness; for example, the Smart Neon Flex Light has up to 2,150 lumens brightness.

Eve is now selling its MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit for Roller Blinds in Australia. The smart home device, launched last year, is already on sale in Europe and North America. The gadget is designed to turn regular blinds into smart blinds, with Matter compatibility allowing remote controls from various smart home apps.

The Smart Frame has been unveiled by Coulisse at R+T Stuttgart. The smart blinds solution includes a magnetic frame for easy installation and a solar panel to keep the battery charged. Plus, the solution uses an Eve MotionBlinds motor with support for Matter, allowing integration with various smart home platforms.

Signify is working on a new version of its Philips Hue widgets for iPhone, according to recent rumors. The update could mean that users can control their smart lights from the Home Screen without opening the app. Plus, a software update has been pushed to the iOS Philips Hue app, supporting a recently released product.

LG is now accepting pre-orders for its 2024 OLED evo C4 and G4 TVs. Available in sizes from 42-inch to 97-inch, early customers are offered a free camera and set-up service and a bundle deal with a new LG soundbar. The 4K models have a range of gaming features, including support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync.

The P10S Pro is a robot vacuum with one of Roborock's highest suction powers offered to date. The Roborock P10S Pro can also clean floors with hot water and has an extendable side brush for reaching corners that would be hard for most robot vacuums to access.

Roborock is now selling the P10S, one of two new robot vacuums it has released this month. The Roborock P10S makes various improvements over the P10, including the ability to deliver 7,000 Pa of suction power. The robot vacuum comes with two dock options too, including one that can be plumbed into your water supply and placed under a cupboard.

The ECOVACS GOAT G1-800 and GOAT G1-2000 robot lawn mowers will go on sale in March. The two new models join the GOAT G1-1600, each suited to a different lawn size. The robot mowers do not require boundary wires and can be controlled via an app. Plus, the two more powerful models feature GPS tracking.

Signify is now selling the Philips Hue Dymera indoor and outdoor wall light in countries across North America and Europe. The smart lighting product was revealed earlier this year and has two light sources which can be controlled independently. Other features include app-based controls and integration with various smart home ecosystems.

A version of the Eve Energy smart plug for outdoor use appears to have leaked on the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) website. While few details have been revealed, the device is listed with both Thread and Matter compatibility, allowing it to connect to various smart home ecosystems.

The Friends of Hue switches for Philips Hue smart lighting will receive a new update, according to rumors. It has been suggested that these accessories will gain several features, including the 24-hour Natural Light scene, allowing you to set your smart lights to adjust automatically throughout the day.

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.