Latest by Patrick Hearn

A recent server outage left Honeywell users unable to control their smart home devices remotely. However, users claim the problem has been going on for much longer than just Tuesday. The incident has revealed a vulnerability in smart home devices: The lack of internet services.

AT&T and Ericsson have teamed up to combat cybersecurity threats in the IoT world. With a growing number of business implementing connected devices into their day-to-day operations, steps must be taken to safeguard data and prevent malicious attacks from gaining entry into networks.

The iLUX floodlights let you light up huge parts of your home at once with their 120-lumen bulbs. Each light has 16 million color combinations and can be controlled with the touch of a button. They're perfect for backyard barbecues, holiday decorations, and whatever else you want to use them for.

Sengled has announced a new lineup of smart home bulbs, including an all-in-one motion sensing outdoor security light, a color-changing bulb, and an entry-level smart bulb for newcomers to the smart home world. The company also announced a smart plug, available for purchase in October.

Beermkr is a new project on Kickstarter that promises to simplify the homebrewing process and make it easy for anyone to start brewing their own beer at home. The connected homebrewer can be monitored entirely from a smartphone. The Beermkr makes it possible to brew a gallon of beer in a week.

Google Assistant has the capability to work with displays. A set of leaked images suggest Google plans to take advantage of this feature with their new Home Hub, an Echo Show-type device. The images depict a device with a 7-inch display on a mounted speaker unit.

Alexa can now answer questions about your favorite NFL teams and players, such as what team is favored to win the upcoming game or what player has racked up the most distance over the course of their career. According to staff, this is just the start of Alexa's planned sports knowledge.

California recently became the first state in the country to pass a bill that regulates Internet of Things security. The bill requires manufacturers to include "reasonable security" measures on devices produced in the US. This bill is the first of its type on both a state or federal level.

LG continues their bid to create the ultimate connected laundry room with the LG Styler, a device that steams and sanitizes clothing. Twenty-minute cycles freshen clothes and remove allergens. The Styler is available from most major retailers for $1,999.

A huge portion of your energy bill goes towards heating and cooling your home. Elon Musk suggests that a connected air conditioner may be the way to reduce utility costs and make smarter use of energy. In an interview with Joe Rogan, he hinted that Tesla may be developing a new air conditioning system.

When square footage is limited, builders find creative ways to save space. An apartment in St. Louis combines the kitchen and the bathroom into a single, multifunctional space. The only thing smaller than the space is the rent, which is an astoundingly low $525 per month.

New data discovered inside the Google APK suggests the Digital Wellbeing initiative is coming to Google Assistant and Google Home. This will help users curb the amount of time spent in front of the screen and set parental controls in an effort to build healthy habits for the entire family.

Fans of the Xbox Kinect can potentially relive the benefits of the accessory. A set of new Alexa and Cortana skills allow players to control the Xbox One with their voice. Users can launch games, control the volume, and much more. These features are available now for Xbox Insiders in the United States.

KB Home has partnered with Google to provide a smart home system compatible with an ever-growing number of devices. The KB Smart Home System will debut in select communities throughout the country and include devices like the Google Home and Nest Hello video doorbell.

Events surrounding the Amazon Alexa have raised security concerns, but according to a former NSA hacker, given its built-in security, the smart speaker is an unlikely target for most hackers. They are much more likely to target your bank data than your conversations at home.

Alexa has always been good at recognizing vocal input, but improvements to its natural language processing have yielded better accuracy and fewer misunderstandings. Alexa can now recognize when a question is asked in the wrong way or if someone poses a nonsense question.

Amazon Alexa has more than 40,000 skills, but more skills are added every day. Users can create custom skills through blueprints. Alexa recently added even more blueprints to bring the total number above 30. These new blueprints make it easy to track chores, choose activities, and much more.

Keurig now has an answer for when you crave more than just a normal cup of coffee in the morning. Their new machines can make cappuccinos and lattes, and even froth the milk to mix with the drink. Both retail for less than $200 and are available now from select retailers.