smart home
-
Amazon’s Alexa+ Expands to the Web
Read Full Article: Amazon’s Alexa+ Expands to the Web
Amazon has launched Alexa.com, bringing its AI assistant Alexa+ to the web, allowing users to interact with it online similar to AI chatbots like ChatGPT. This expansion aims to make Alexa+ more accessible beyond home devices, with features for managing family activities and smart home controls. The updated Alexa mobile app now emphasizes a chatbot interface, and the website allows users to perform tasks such as planning trips, managing calendars, and shopping. Despite some complaints about Alexa+'s performance, Amazon reports high engagement, with users increasingly utilizing its unique capabilities for family and home management. This matters because it demonstrates Amazon's strategy to expand Alexa's presence and functionality, potentially transforming how families manage their daily lives.
-
Alexa Plus Now Available in Early Access
Read Full Article: Alexa Plus Now Available in Early Access
Alexa Plus is now available to everyone through an early access program, allowing users to interact with Amazon's AI chatbot via a web interface on Alexa.com. This new platform enhances user convenience by enabling tasks such as updating to-do lists, making reservations, and uploading documents for information extraction, all from a laptop. It also integrates with smart home devices and offers features like meal planning and grocery shopping, though users are advised to verify its accuracy. Additionally, Alexa Plus introduces entertainment features to streamline content consumption and a redesigned mobile app for improved accessibility. This matters as it represents a significant expansion of AI-driven convenience and integration into daily life, though users should remain vigilant about its reliability.
-
Top Tech Unveiled at CES 2026
Read Full Article: Top Tech Unveiled at CES 2026
CES 2026 has already showcased a range of innovative tech products, even before the official show floor opening. Notable highlights include Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold, which transforms from a phone to a tablet and aims to replace laptops with its DeX feature; GE Appliances' smart fridge with a package scanner and remote camera; and LG's CLOiD home robot, capable of performing household tasks. Other intriguing unveilings are the Clicks Communicator with a physical keyboard, LG's Gallery TV designed for art display, and Samsung's Family Hub smart fridge with voice-activated doors. These innovations demonstrate the rapid advancements in technology, promising to enhance convenience and connectivity in everyday life. This matters because it highlights the ongoing evolution of consumer technology, which continues to integrate more seamlessly into daily activities, potentially transforming how we interact with our environments and devices.
-
GE Lighting’s Affordable Smart Shades
Read Full Article: GE Lighting’s Affordable Smart Shades
GE Lighting has introduced new smart shades priced at $299.99, offering a more affordable option compared to other brands like Lutron, which starts at $399. These shades are designed with hidden mounting hardware for a sleek appearance and are available in white or gray with silver trim, offering light filtering or full blackout options. They are compatible with the Matter protocol, ensuring easy integration with modern smart home systems, and come with a remote for those with older setups. This matters because it provides a cost-effective solution for consumers looking to enhance their smart home experience with motorized shades.
-
Lockly’s Smart Locks: Matter & NFC Support
Read Full Article: Lockly’s Smart Locks: Matter & NFC Support
Lockly is launching a new range of smart locks, the Affirm Series, which are compatible with the Matter standard, allowing them to integrate seamlessly across various smart home systems. These locks come in both deadbolt and latch versions and offer multiple access methods, including NFC, enabling users to unlock doors with either physical or digital key cards stored on smartphones. The locks also feature built-in Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a separate hub, and will be available for $179.99 in late Q2 2026. Additionally, Lockly is introducing the TapCom platform for short-term rentals, the OwlGuard Security Camera with advanced AI detection, and the Smart Safe XL with biometric access, expanding their smart home product lineup. This matters because it enhances interoperability and convenience in smart home security, offering users more flexibility and control.
-
Samsung Integrates Gemini AI in Family Hub Fridges
Read Full Article: Samsung Integrates Gemini AI in Family Hub Fridges
Samsung's Family Hub refrigerators are now equipped with Google's Gemini AI, enhancing their AI Vision capabilities to recognize a wide range of fresh and processed food items. This integration allows the fridge to instantly identify what users are placing in or removing from it, potentially streamlining meal planning and grocery management. By utilizing Google's large language model, the fridge can offer more accurate and comprehensive food identification, making it a more intelligent kitchen companion. This matters as it represents a step forward in smart home technology, potentially improving efficiency and convenience in everyday tasks.
-
Samsung’s Smart Fridge Gets Voice Control
Read Full Article: Samsung’s Smart Fridge Gets Voice Control
Samsung's Family Hub smart fridge line is now equipped with a voice-activated feature for opening and closing the fridge door using Bixby voice control, allowing users to command the fridge to open or shut the door fully. This innovation is particularly beneficial for those with limited mobility or when cooking with dirty hands. Additionally, the fridge's AI Vision technology has been enhanced with Google's LLM, enabling it to recognize a vast array of food items, aiding in meal planning and reducing food waste. These updates represent significant advancements in convenience and accessibility for smart kitchen appliances.
-
Mui Board Gen 2: Sleep Tracking & Gesture Control
Read Full Article: Mui Board Gen 2: Sleep Tracking & Gesture Control
The Mui Board Gen 2 is a smart home controller designed to blend seamlessly into the bedroom environment, featuring a soothing wooden design that uses millimeter-wave sensors for sleep tracking and gesture control. The Mui Calm Sleep Platform can monitor sleep states by detecting changes in posture and breathing without the need for wearable devices, and it aims to enhance sleep quality by adjusting lighting and offering presleep stretching routines. While the accuracy of this technology is still under scrutiny, the platform also promises to respond to vocal cues of tiredness or stress and encourage rest. Gesture control will also be available, allowing users to interact with the device from a distance, with these features expected to be released later this year. This matters because it represents a shift towards more integrated and less intrusive smart home technologies that prioritize user comfort and well-being.
-
SwitchBot’s AI Desk Light: A Pixel-Art Snow Globe
Read Full Article: SwitchBot’s AI Desk Light: A Pixel-Art Snow Globe
SwitchBot's AI-powered Obboto desk light offers a unique and customizable lighting experience by allowing users to display pixel art animations, images, and GIFs. Featuring over 2,900 RGB LEDs and a motion sensor, the lamp can respond to movement or touch, and includes modes for music visualization, mood animations, and various ambiance settings like sleep and relaxation. Additionally, it can show local weather and time, potentially appealing to those who miss Amazon's discontinued Echo Dot with Clock. While pricing and availability details are yet to be announced, the Obboto aims to combine charm and functionality in a desk light. This matters because it showcases the integration of AI and customizable features in everyday home devices, enhancing user experience and offering new ways to personalize living spaces.
-
SwitchBot’s E Ink Weather Station Unveiled at CES 2026
Read Full Article: SwitchBot’s E Ink Weather Station Unveiled at CES 2026
SwitchBot's new Weather Station, unveiled at CES 2026, features a 7.5-inch E Ink display that provides comprehensive weather data, including current conditions, a six-day forecast, and sunrise/sunset times. It also measures indoor temperature and humidity through built-in sensors. The device incorporates AI to offer insights, recommendations, and motivational weather quotes. Additionally, it functions as a calendar display with multiplatform syncing, and if connected to a SwitchBot hub, it can control smart home devices through various platforms like Matter, Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Home. Pricing and availability details remain undisclosed. This matters because it offers a multifunctional tool for weather enthusiasts and smart home users, enhancing convenience and connectivity.