Smart Home

Some users with brand-new affordable Apple Watch and HomePod variants have encountered difficulty in their set-up or configuration while trying to connect them to their personal or home systems. This is thought (somewhat understandably) to a seasonal overload of the OEM's servers, although the timing is still a bit unfortunate.

There are a lot of smart TVs on the Indian market these days. However, none of them have an OS based on Android 10 - until this one. The Motorola Revou also has an inbuilt soundbar rated for up to 50W of audio power, a MediaTek chipset and a UHD/4K resolution.

The 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max from Xiaomi has apparently taken China by storm. Xiaomi has revealed some statistics about the giant television, including that its monthly sales are 30 times higher than its rivals in the same-size segment. The Redmi Max 98 has been incredibly popular since launching at a bargain price of 19,999 yuan (US$3,061).

Xiaomi has launched the Mi EBook Reader Pro as expected and has revealed the e-reader’s specifications. Naturally, the Mi EBook Reader Pro is a step up from the non-Pro variant, but at a regular price of 1,299 yuan (US$198) the new Xiaomi device also holds up quite well against the more-expensive Kindle Oasis from Amazon.

Xiaomi has revealed its upcoming Mi EBook Reader Pro, which will be officially launched on Tuesday, December 15. A promo image of the device has been released that shows the electric paper book decked out in black with a touch button on the front. According to the marketing material, the Xiaomi Mi EBook Reader Pro will normally cost 1,299 yuan (US$198).

Apple is running a gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Qualifying purchases will see the buyer rewarded with a card worth from US$25/£20/€25 up to US$150/£120/€150. The deal includes many major Apple products such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE, the iPad Pro, Beats headphones, and even the premium MacBook Pro 16.

Streamview is an Austrian-based retailer specializing in TVs and streaming boxes. Its latest launch is for new Nokia TVs for the European market. They have 32- to 75-inch screens, most of which are also 4K and support Dolby Vision. They will be available to order within the EU in December 2020.

Nebula is a brand that has seen success on crowdfunding websites for its portable, compact projectors. Now, it is back with a more conventional launch for its new Cosmos and Cosmos Max products. They are rated for 1080p and 4K resolutions respectively, run Android 9.0 for TV and support HDR-10 with static or active contrast ratios.

If satellites and atmospheric balloons are simply too expensive to boost Internet signals across the world, Google now plans to use light beams to connect underdeveloped areas. The first country to benefit from wireless optical networks is Kenya, and the connections can reach 20 Gbps speeds, but are limited to a 20 Km radius.

LG recently added 4K or 4K/UHD LED and laser variants to its high-end CineBeam projector line-up. Now, the OEM has announced that they can now access the Disney+ app directly from their smart-TV-like interface. This means it will now be much easier for them to show The Mandalorian in the home-theater setting they can achieve.

The noted smartphone camera ranking specialist DxOMark has moved into rating wireless speakers and has now published a couple of charts showing the devices that have impressed the most. Topping the Essential chart is the Amazon Echo Studio speaker while the Advanced chart for more-expensive speakers is headed by the Harman Kardon Citation 200.

After the first download benchmarks were leaked just a few months ago, the latest confirmed speed tests show that Starlinks satellite based internet has tripled its download speeds in that period. This makes SpaceX a serious competitor to traditional internet providers especially in rural areas.

Video doorbells enable the user to see who is at their door on their smart screens or mobile devices. A recent study indicates that 10% of US households with high-speed internet surveyed owned one of these devices in the second quarter of 2020, compared to 7% in 2017. This increased popularity has driven doorbell OEMs to improve innovation and integration with other smart things over the years.

Introduced as a new part of the SmartThings app, SmartThings Find is now available for all Samsung users worldwide. This is a new way to locate a range of select Galaxy smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds at once thanks to the Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband technologies.

A new research report has concluded that 63% of households with residential security equipment in the US are now considering buying a smart home device in the next 12 months compared to 40% of broadband internet-using households. Therefore, it seems that the trend toward integration with assistants such as Amazon Alexa among home-grade security OEMs is paying off in that respect.

A Sony executive's latest blog post has revealed that 6 different major content-streaming platforms will be compatible with the PlayStation 5 from day 1. They include Spotify, YouTube, Disney Plus and Netflix, which will get their own dedicated buttons on the console's also newly-announced Media Remote. Other apps may become available thereafter.

Apple is now slated to finally unleash its long-awaited AirTags in 2021. These new products are currently widely accepted to be this OEM's answer to products such as Tile anti-loss wireless accessories. However, according to leaks of new patents obtained by the Cupertino company, their applications may go far beyond that.

Huawei's major product launch of today (October 22, 2020) served to announce the Mate 40 phablet series and also several "companion" devices for it. They include the rumored FreeBuds Studio, the first ANC headphones from this line of audio products. In addition, a more compact version of the Sound X speaker made its debut.

Six months after the release of the Redmi Note 9, Xiaomi is set to launch a direct successor. Apparently, though, the new phone may not be named the Redmi Note 10 at all and could opt for something a bit...grand to go with the impressive hardware. Redmi Note X, perhaps?

The C3X is an external home-security camera of the type that integrates AI so as to distinguish potentially dangerous moving objects such as people and cars in the vicinity from others such as animals. Its maker EZVIZ also claims it has extreme low-light capabilities and color night vision. It is now on sale in the UK for a price of about US$194.

LG has finally released its Signature OLED R rollable television. The device uses a 65-inch flexible OLED panel that can roll out of sight into its base, which is designed to look like a piece of furniture when not in use. It also hints at the potential for LG to transfer the same display technology into a future smartphone-tablet hybrid.

OPPO unveiled products new to this OEM during its October 19, 2020 Wisdom Life conference in China. They include its first-ever TVs, which run on a version of ColorOS developed specially for this new category. They have 4K panels, the highest-end of which is also QLED and has a 120Hz refresh rate.

TCL now sells its 4-series smart TVs in the US. These 4K Android devices support Google's Assistant and have Chromecast functionality. They are available in 50-, 55- and 75-inch variants, some of which are already on sale for 2020's Black Friday.

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker is a Google Assistant-enabled device that was launched in India recently alongside the Mi Band 5 and Mi Watch Revolve. It has a 63.5 millimeter (mm) driver rated for 12 watt (W) audio and has an LED accent that indicates when it is active. According to a new leak, it may also have European availability in its future.

Apple announced the new Homepod Mini, a tiny smart speaker. The device features a single high-range driver and two subwoofers, as well as plenty of software smarts. Key features include Apple's trademark ecosystem integration, including Intercom, a new tool that allows people to send voice messages from the speaker to multiple other Apple devices.

The next Apple Special Event is scheduled for today (October 13, 2020) - the same day on which Evan Blass has decided to leak high-quality renders of the products thought to be involved in all their new colors. They comprise all 4 variants of the iPhone 12 series as well as the alleged new HomePod Mini.

Nokia has added updated models to its range of smart TVs sold through Flipkart in India. They include 2 new 43-inch units as well as the 2 new 32- and 50-inch sizes hinted at in an earlier leak. This new series has speakers tuned by Onkyo, a "Pronto Focal" AI engine and up to 4K/UHD resolutions.

The United States Senate had earlier commissioned an investigation into claims that the "Big Four" tech companies - Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google - exert monopolies on the main sectors in which they operate, and, furthermore, maintain them through systems that act in their favor. This process has resulted in findings that could be interpreted to uphold these complaints.

Realme has announced a new Android smart TV with a unique display technology it called Spectral Power Distribution. The Realme SLED 4K 55-inch Android TV uses RGB light in the initial stage of picture formation, which the company claims offers excellent color gamut coverage and low blue light emissions. Also being announced is a 100 W 2.1-channel Soundbar with Bluetooth support.

Nokia started selling its Android-powered TVs in the Indian market earlier in 2020. Now, its website is building hype for two new models for this series, one of which may be more wallet-friendly than its predecessors. They are to launch in October 6, 2020, and may feature a different audio partner for their speakers this time.

Samsung appears to be targeting the Mini-LED TV market according to a new report from market analyst TrendForce. Apparently, the South Korean OEM is aiming to ship over two million Mini-LED TVs worldwide in 2021, with potential customers having a wide selection of sizes to choose from.

Mobvoi is an OEM perhaps best known for its TicWatch line of wearables. However, it has branched out into other device classes as of late. The latest example of this diversification is the Home Treadmill, a new piece of remote gym equipment rated for a compact footprint and flat storage. It joins other products such as the Amazfit AirRun in this market.

Xiaomi has launched two new 82-inch Mi Master Series smart TVs in China. The 4K model is priced at 9,999 yuan (US$1,466) and comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate and MEMC. The 8K “Extreme Anniversary Edition” utilizes a mini-LED panel and delivers double the brightness of the cheaper TV, and it costs a hefty 49,999 yuan (US$7,326).

The latest word on HarmonyOS, Huawei's alternative to Google's AOSP-based Android, was that it would not be available until 2021 at the earliest. Now, a new report claims that the OEM will release the software to developers as early as December 2020 so as to make this happen. The company may also take this opportunity to integrate smartphones into the rest of its device ecosystem.

Amazon has made the latest generations of its Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show smart speakers official. The latter still has an in-built screen; however, this one can swivel around on its base so as to keep a user in the "eyeline" of its 13MP camera. The Echo Dot also now has multiple variants. These new smart speakers are available to pre-order from now.

Xiaomi has a special launch coming up in a few days, with the unveiling of the 82-inch Mi TV Master Ultra Edition 8K mini-LED TV with 5G connectivity. It’s claimed this will be the world’s first mass-produced 5G/8K mini-LED TV, and it is very likely the price will reflect the innovative technology utilized.

Amazon-owned connected home security brand Ring has raised eyebrows with the launch of the Ring Always Home Cam. The device combines a charging base with an in-door camera drone that will activate on the detection of movement and will send the drone out to fly around a house transmitting a live video feed to the homeowner.

Xiaomi announced MIUI for TV 3.0 back in July and now it seems some users in China have started receiving the update. MIUI for TV 3.0 offers a new refined layout for the user interface, a selection of viewing modes, and dynamic animation effects that may be limited only to Xiaomi Master Series devices.

Samsung US has announced that the OEM's TV Plus app is coming to smartphones. This means the 2020 and 2019 Galaxy Note and S flagships will be able to access this service, whereas it had only been available on smart screens prior to this. The in-house streaming service offers over 100 channels of ad-support content.

Google has indicated that it will launch new smart home products alongside the Pixels 5 and 4a (5G) at these smartphones' launch at the end of September. However, a leaks site may have spoiled any surprise left in conjunction with these devices. WinFuture purports to confirm that they will be a fresh take on the Nest speaker and Chromecast, and to have genuine product images of both.

Redmi has announced its new A Series of smart TVs for the Chinese market. The series will initially consist of five different-sized devices, with the Redmi Smart TV A55 being the first one to launch. Xiaomi is offering this 55-inch 4K TV, which runs on MIUI for TV, at a special discounted rate of 1,777 yuan (US$262).

Connected health devices are electronics that can provide links to organizations such as the Mayo Clinic or Electronic Caregiver so as to help monitor or even treat a patient in their own home. A new survey indicates that their adoption and use among US residents is growing. This is likely to be related to the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic and general trends in medical tech and its use.

The Pixel 5 - not to mention the 5G variant of the 4a - have been anticipated for quite some time. Now, Google has finally confirmed a date for the launch of these new smartphones. This event will also see the debut of the latest Nest speaker and Chromecast device.

Network slicing refers to the process of sharing a single network (usually for mobile data) between different use-cases (e.g. IoT or VR) in a way that renders the same connectivity optimal for each one. Therefore, its market is likely to benefit from the rise of 5G. A new market research report estimates its value will grow to US$600 million or more by 2026.

2020 may go down as the year of truly everyday video-calling and video-conferencing. Google has decided to facilitate this by adding support for its Meet and Duo apps to Android TVs. Therefore, these smart screens will be able to act as the displays for video-chats and work calls, so long as they have a camera.

A report out of China has claimed that Xiaomi is planning on adding more transparent products to its range, with a 27-inch Mi Display monitor that utilizes an OLED panel from Samsung possibly being the next device in line. The Chinese OEM just recently launched the transparent 55-inch Mi TV Lux.

Xiaomi has announced that the 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max will soon be available in yet another flash sale for the immensely popular big television. However, it seems yet again that it will be buyers in China that will be getting great deals on the Redmi Max 98 (19,999 yuan; about US$2,924), as Xiaomi hasn’t revealed any plans to release the device outside of its domestic market.

Samsung has debuted a new ultra short throw laser projector range it is calling The Premiere. The new devices can project in 4K and are designed to integrate with contemporary house design.

Lenovo announced a new smart clock, the Smart Clock Essential. The device is basically a trimmed down version of last year's Smart Clock, featuring a simple LED display for showing the time and some other tidbits of info. The Smart Clock Essential uses the Google Assistant for voice commands and communicating with other smart home devices.

Xiaomi has seen major success with its recent TV releases. The 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max, for example, has racked up impressive numbers every time it's been put on sale. It's no surprise, then, that Xiaomi is looking to build on that success with the release of two new massive 82-inch TVs.