One in 10 smart home device owners report unresolved technical problems
Smart home devices can make your life easier — unless they're not working. According to a recent survey from Parks Associates, more than one in 10 consumers report they have experienced technical errors with their connected devices that have yet to be resolved.
Nest gets more colorful with three new options for its smart thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat isn't just learning what it takes to keep your home comfortably heated, it's also learning about fashion. Parent company Alphabet announced this week that the smart thermostat will come in three new colors: Mirror black, brass, and polished steel.
LG is making cooking easy with added support for Innit and SideChef
Cooking is kind of a pain, especially if you have no clue what you're doing. Lucky for you, LG's line of smart kitchen appliances will now have the ability to guide you through your meal preparation. The company announced new support for Innit and SideChef, two popular guided cooking services.
Swann tackles crime prevention with two new security cameras
October is National Crime Prevention Month, which means there is no better time to add some much-needed security tools to your home. Luckily, Swann is prepared to help you out with that. The company is introducing two new Wi-Fi connected security cameras for indoor and outdoor use.
Cinder Grill creator files for bankruptcy, leaves backers in the cold
Sometimes, things just weren't meant to be. Unfortunately, in the case of the Cinder Grill, the thing that wasn't meant to be was a product nearly 1,000 people invested $550,000 in. The company behind crowdfunded smart grill has filed for bankruptcy, leaving its backers with basically no recourse.
Research finds the sound of chirping birds can be used to hack Alexa
Your voice assistant may not be as safe as you think it is. According to researchers in Germany, the Alexas, Siris, and Assistants of the world can be hacked with manipulated audio files that hide hidden commands. They may sound like birds chirping to a human, but A.I. assistants can hear secret messages.
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant goes silent across Europe
We're used to having Amazon Alexa answer us when we ask it a question or to perform a task. Users in Europe yesterday were met with an unsettling silence every time they made a request of the voice assistant, as Alexa suffered a major service outage across much of the continent.
Yale and August team up to conquer the smart lock market with the Assure Lock
If you're big into locks and security, you definitely know the names August and Yale. If you're not, well, don't worry. Just know that both companies have a reputation for being excellent, and now the companies are teaming up to add smart lock tech to Yale's locks that will help you secure your home.
Need shelter from Hurricane Florence? Airbnb hosts are offering free rooms
As Hurricane Florence threatens to crash down hard on the east coast of the United States, Airbnb hosts in safe regions are offering up free rooms to those fleeing the storm. There are more than 300 hosts from Pennsylvania to Alabama who are participating in the Airbnb Disaster Response Program.
This smart lock adds a Touch ID-style fingerprint sensor to your door
For a long time, high-tech security systems with biometric sensors were the stuff of science fiction movies. Not anymore. Lockly just introduced a new system that places a fingerprint scanner right on your front door so you can ensure that your home is secured with the touch of your finger.
Win a stay in a tiny house designed by tiny comedian Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart takes a lot of heat for being short. But you don't need to be tall to fit comfortably in a tiny house. The multimillion-dollar comedian left the stage behind and made himself the perfect tiny house, and you can win a chance to make yourself at home in it through Booking.com.
A study says kids and security spur people’s smart home purchases
Smart home devices are getting more common, and more households are inviting everything from smart assistants to internet-connected thermostats and appliances into their homes. Why? According to a survey sponsored by Home Depot, the growth is primarily being driven by children and security.
Here’s how to pre-order everything Amazon announced this week
Amazon announced a whole bunch of new devices Thursday, from updates to its line of Echo speakers to all-new products like the AmazonBasics Microwave and Smart Plugs. Most of the devices aren't available quite yet but if you head over to Amazon, you can pre-order them—and just might get a bonus.
Amazon gives the Ring Stick Up Camera a 1080 HD upgrade
During Amazon's wild day of new product announcements, the company managed to sneak in an upgrade to a product made by the recently acquired Ring. Amazon revealed an update to the Ring Stick Up Camera that includes a new body design and an improved, 1080 HD camera to livestream any action caught on cam.
Holy mistaken identity! Nest Hello doorbell pegs Batman T-shirt as intruder
Nest Hello can identify faces that appear at your door, making it great at stopping unwelcome guests from entering. But in this case, it was a little too good at its job. The smart doorbell's camera mistook a man's Batman T-shirt for an intruder and locked him out of his own home.
Amazon Go, the checkout-free convenience store, opens in Chicago
Amazon's checkout-less convenience store, Amazon Go, is now open in Chicago. It's the first of the stores not located in the company's home city of Seattle. The stores feature a high-tech system that allows shoppers to simply "grab and go" without having to stop at a checkout.
The Alea Air can keep your air clean and adjust the temperature in every room
You probably don't give much thought to the air you're breathing, but you should. You consume it all day long, so it better be safe. Alea's Air, a smart vent system that uses sensor-filled vents and machine learning, will make sure that your air quality is superb in every room of your home.
Amazon wants Alexa to figure out how to fulfill users’ without help from Skills
There are more than 50,000 Alexa skills that allow Amazon's popular voice assistant to perform all sorts of tasks. Now, the company is planning on killing off those skills -- or at least the need to install them. Alexa will eventually be able to find skills that fit a person's request all on her own.
Dyson gives its 360 Heurist vacuum the ability to see in the dark
It's been three years since Dyson introduced the 360 Eye robot vacuum, but it's back and better than ever with a new update. The Dyson 360 Huerist vacuum has an upgraded processor that improves its performance and a new LED lighting system that allows it to better navigate in the dark.
Apple HomePod can now make calls, set timers, and more
Apple’s HomePod may have been lean on features at launch, but it continues to improve via software updates, and the upcoming HomePod OS 12 is bringing some interesting new features like support for multiple timers and the ability to make and answer phone calls. The update is available September 17.
Amazon Alexa may bite your head off if asked to play that darn ‘Baby Shark’ song
Voice assistants are designed to respond to any request humans give them, but it doesn't mean they like it. When Amazon's Alexa is asked to play the irritatingly catchy kid's song Baby Shark, the artificial intelligence issues an epic rant about how it doesn't like playing the tune.
Researchers warn smart home appliances could be used to attack power grids
The smart home appliances in your house might not just be convenient for you -- they could be tools for cyber-attackers as well. Researchers at Princeton warn that hackers could hijack unsecured connected devices and turn them into a botnet that could take down power grids.
The long-awaited Brilliant Control smart home panel is finally available
A startup called Brilliant is suggesting that the future of smart home control isn't rooted in any device but rather in tech users themselves. The company's long-anticipated smart home panel, which promises easy installation and offers voice control over all kinds of connected devices, is now available.
The Whizz Bang helps boys improve their marksmanship when nature calls
There are few things worse than discovering a mess on the toilet seat that you didn't make. Whether it's a reckless adult or a child learning how to use the toilet, Whizz Bang believes it can keep the seat clean by turning bathroom visits into a game by giving people something to aim at.
Bonaverde’s all-in-one coffee maker can now roast, grind, and brew any bean
The unique, all-in-one coffee maker from Bonaverde handles every part of the coffee-making process. It roasts, grinds, and brews the beans in the same machine. Now, thanks to user feedback, the company has improved the machine to expand its offerings. It can be used with any type of coffee bean.
Samsung is beefing up Bixby by opening it up to third-party apps
Bixby is often forgotten amid the voice assistant field dominated by Alexa and Siri. Samsung is hoping to fix that by adding support for third-party developers to create apps for the A.I. assistant. Samsung will soon release developer kits that will allow Bixby to be integrated into other apps and services.
GE and Electrolux kitchen appliances get helpful with Google Assistant support
If you've ever caught yourself talking to inanimate objects, you're in luck. Now they'll respond -- assuming they're made by GE or Electrolux. Smart appliances from the companies are getting new functionality that will make them respond to voice commands through Google Assistant.
Purchasing a used smart speaker? A hacker could be listening to you
If you're purchasing smart speakers on the secondary market, security experts warn that you could run into added privacy risks, such as hackers bugging the devices to listen in on your conversations. And because the attack isn't software based, simply undergoing a factory reset won't protect against it.
Eve’s latest products aren’t sexy, but they’ll make your house smarter
Smart home company Eve introduced three new products at IFA 2018 that aren't all that sexy but are designed to make your home smarter. The company announced an internet-connected light switch, light strip, and power strip — all of which feature Apple HomeKit compatibility.
The modular Nanoleaf Canvas will light up your entire wall
You don't need hanging light fixtures and lamps to light up your room. The Nanoleaf Canvas modular lights can be layered on your wall in any pattern to create a unique lighting experience that places you in total control of your lighting environment. The product made its debut at IFA 2018.
Kangaroo’s security system offers home protection at an affordable price
Setting up a smart home security is typically expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Kangaroo, a New York startup, is setting out to bring down the cost of keeping your home safe by introducing a new line of internet-connected motion sensors that start at $30 per sensor.
Amazon’s Prime Book Box is now available to all Prime members in the U.S.
Getting your Amazon Prime subscription could also mean getting your kids to develop good reading habits from a young age. Amazon's Prime Book Box is a subscription service that delivers curated books specifically for kids. It's now available to all Amazon Prime subscribers.
These are the 10 dirtiest places in your home, according to one expert
It's easy for dirt and grime to settle in unexpected places. According to home expert Bob Vila, there are 10 places in your house that are dirtier than the rest, and some might surprise you. According to the list, a number of your favorite pieces of tech are likely dirtier than you think.
Amazon is paying employees to tweet nice things about its warehouses
Amazon is paying employees to say nice things on Twitter about working in the company's fulfillment centers following reports of poor working conditions. The "FC Ambassador" accounts all share a standardized format and make similar, positive comments about working for Amazon.
Weekly mobile wrap: Still stuffed from Thanksgiving edition
While Thursday was all about being thankful, the rest of the weekend is all about regretting that you ate so much. If you're just waking up from a food coma, you may have missed Jolla's Sailfish OS, Google skipping December, and Instagram's record setting day. Don't worry, we've got it all and more in the weekly mobile wrap.