Latest smart home news

Vodafone has launched a trio of devices for families that are designed to introduce smart living for several generations in a household.Parents will get peace of mind with a new V-Home Hub, which will be available from August.It utilises Samsung Smart... Read more

Philips Hue is continuing its strategy to create more lighting solutions than just smart light bulbs. This time it is a range for the bathroom, including a mirror that lights up: the Hue Adore Mirror.The mirror is safe to use in a bathroom environment... Read more

"Alexa, tell everyone it's time to go!" Wouldn't it be nice if Alexa could help you hurry your family along or maybe announce that dinner is ready?Now, families with Echo devices in their home can do just that, thanks to a new "Alexa Announcements" feature... Read more

The Amazon Echo can make to-do lists, set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, read PDFs, provide weather forecasts, warn you of traffic, answer trivia, control your smart home and serve up other information in real-time. We've been living with... Read more

Your Amazon Echo or Alexa wake word is what your Amazon Alexa device listens out for before it bursts into action.Usually, this is "Alexa", the name of Amazon's virtual assistant and the default option. But you might not like "Alexa", while if you happen... Read more

Whether you have an Echo speaker or an Echo device with a screen, you can take advantage one of Amazon's coolest Alexa features: Drop In. With Drop In, you're able to instantly connect to any of your Echo devices (or a contact's Echo device, if they've... Read more

You can change your default music service for Alexa, so that it'll play from whatever service you prefer.That's handy if you don't subscribe to Amazon Music and maybe prefer, say, Spotify. Luckily, changing the default option to Spotify is super easy.... Read more

You've long been able to ask Alexa to buy you things from Amazon. But how do you stop accidental ordering on your Amazon Echo with Alexa? (If you don't know what Alexa is, we'll explain all in our What is Alexa? feature.)And how do you stop reckless friends... Read more

Your Amazon Echo has just arrived and you might have glanced at the quick-start guide, but beyond the basic setup, do you know the first things you should do with your new Echo? Alexa is the virtual assistant inside Amazon Echo devices - for a briefing... Read more

Echo Look is one of the newest additions to Amazon's line of Echo-branded devices, and it's also one of the quirkiest.Each Echo device has a different form factor and is best suited to a specific environment - whether you're at home and want to listen... Read more

Amazon is pushing the Echo and Echo Dot hard, in a bid to dominate the connected home market before too many players - like Google - can catch up.The Amazon Echo got off to a flying start, establishing itself as one of the hottest smart home devices,... Read more

Did you know you can use Alexa to call and message others? Amazon's Alexa calling and messaging feature enables you to make and receive calls, as well as send messages between Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android and Fire tablets.It's... Read more

Awair has announced the second generation model of its air pollution monitor that tracks toxins in the home to help you understand any impact on your health.Designed with allergies and breathing difficulties in mind, but also suitable for families who... Read more

Google Assistant can not only get things done but also entertain you.It is loaded with hilarious responses for all sorts of hidden commands. These are Easter Eggs - an unexpected feature in software - and they range from Assistant's deepest, darkest thoughts... Read more

Amazon's Echo devices support multiroom audio but you will need to group them up using the Alexa app. Here we'll tell you how.You can use the feature to play music across multiple Echo devices in your home at the same time.But there are caveats: the... Read more

Alexa is smart, funny, helpful, and, as it turns out, a game master.From interactive stories to trivia, Amazon's voice assistant is packed with games that can keep both children and adults entertained. We've spent years playing with Alexa in order to... Read more

Alexa has made another move into home entertainment with the launch of When In Rome, a board game that's powered by Amazon's digital assistant.Alexa will teach you how to play the game, keep score and is the overall host, while the board game plays out... Read more

Not only has Amazon announced its Prime Day sales in the UK, it has already kicked off proceedings in the US too, with several deals starting early.Like the UK, the US Prime Day will occur on 16 July (and slightly beyond). However, some Amazon products... Read more

Netatmo and roof window specialist Velux have joined forces for a new smart windows system that's compatible with Apple HomeKit.Velux Active with Netatmo is a plug-and-play smart home system that can automatically control roof windows, blinds and shutters.... Read more

The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced WPA3 security, which makes wireless internet connection safer and harder to hack.Wi-Fi Certified WPA3 is the first major update to the security standard adopted by wireless routers and appliances for more than a decade.... Read more

Google buried a little switch in the Google Assistant app that allows its AI to be a lot more conversational.The new feature is called Continued Conversations. When it's turned on, you can make additional requests without having to repeat wake words.... Read more

Amazon has announced Alexa for Hospitality.This is a new version of the company’s voice assistant, Alexa. It's now being rolled out to hotels, vacation rental spaces, and other locations. It offers a unique Alexa experience that's different from the... Read more

Amazon has a new Echo accessory that turns your Echo speaker into a voice-controlled speakerphone: the Echo Connect.Before it came along, you could only make calls from one Echo speaker to another Echo speaker, like an intercom system. Now, with Connect,... Read more

Ring has announced when you can buy its full home security system.The system, which includes an alarm, keypad, a motion sensor ($30 each for additional ones), and a window or door sensor ( $20 each for additional ones), is called Ring Alarm. It was announced... Read more

Samsung has been quietly developing its Bixby smart speaker for some time now, and very little is known about the device.However, new patents from the World Intellectual Property Organization and the US Patent and Trademark Office have given us a good... Read more

The World Cup starts tomorrow and the virtual assistants are getting on board! As well as being able to ask Siri or Google Assistant about facts, fixtures and teams during the tournament, Amazon has unveiled a bunch of questions you can ask Alexa if... Read more

Amazon is knocking down prices of some of its devices in both the UK and US, with different deals to be had depending which side of the pond you're on. In the US, Amazon is offering money off the Echo Dot and Echo Dot Kids Edition, Echo, Echo Show, Fire... Read more

Did you know Samsung's SmartThings works with Google Assistant?You can use the SmartThings app and hub to connect different smart home devices from different brands (including sensors, locks, light switches, outlets, and thermostats) together. These devices... Read more

Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant, has an answer for just about everything. And, at the same time, she's loaded with hilarious responses for all sorts of hidden commands.These are "Alexa Easter Eggs" - an unexpected feature in software - and they range... Read more

Apple's HomeKit app Home is simple and easy to use, but it also comes with a load of hidden features that you might not, on the surface, realise are available.We've put together a number of tips, to enable you to get the most from the Apple backed service... Read more

Google Assistant has been updated in the UK to be more family-friendly.Google announced it worked with the British Council, Aardman, and Harper Collins in order to launch new family-oriented features for Google Assistant in the UK. There are four partners,... Read more

There is a long list of established brands signed up to support AirPlay 2 going forward. But what about all the speakers you already own?Apple recently rolled out AirPlay 2, which, essentially, opens up the ability to stream music from your iOS device... Read more

Virgin Media is doubling the speeds of several of its best-selling broadband packages, and it's not charging a penny extra for the privilege.This is for new customers only, sadly, but does mean that, for £29 a month you can get up to 108Mbps on a Vivid... Read more

Netatmo has added Google Assistant support to all its Presence and Welcome security cameras, including those you might own already. An automatic software update will have installed the feature on existing models.They now work with Google Home or other... Read more

Nest Hello is the company's take on the connected doorbell, looking to rival the likes of Ring, with a smart solution that will let you know who is at your door, no matter where you are. Part of the Nest family, the Nest Hello slips in alongside Nest's... Read more

Apple has released iOS 11.4 and HomePod 11.4 and with it enabled AirPlay 2, which for Apple HomePod owners allows you to now connect two HomePod speakers to create a stereo pair.Without a dedicated HomePod app on your iPhone or iPad you might be slightly... Read more

Philips has released a revamped version of its iOS and Android app for controlling Hue smart lights.The new app, dubbed Hue 3.0, replaces the current version, with a new design and a return of many of the abandoned features from version 1. The company... Read more

Amazon Alexa made headlines today for appearing to violate a user's privacy by recording her conversation without consent.Worse yet, Amazon's assistant then sent the conversation to the user's contact - again, without consent. While that sounds absolutely... Read more

There are many ways Eve products can make your home smarter. Here are nine to get you started:1 The lights are on, because someone's homeEve Motion will alert you if it senses movement, but this doesn't have to be limited to tipping you off about a possible... Read more

Although perhaps not currently popular as the Amazon Echo line-up, Google's smart AI-assistant speakers should not be overlooked as they're backed by Google's powerful search algorithms and ecosystem. These intelligent devices are a great addition to... Read more

Nissan has entered the solar panel market with Nissan Energy Solar.More than just some solar panels to fix on your roof, Energy Solar is a complete energy management system that includes a storage system that lets you decide when to use any stored power... Read more

Google and Amazon are getting in the Royal Wedding spirit by offering all-new, unique Easter Eggs and commands to try on Google Assistant and Alexa respectively.If you have a Google Home smart speaker, Google Home Mini or use Google Assistant on another... Read more

The smart home isn't just about a speaker that responds to your voice, an outside light you can click on from the other side of the world or a camera that warns you when someone's by the front door.It's all those things, but it's also about your well-being,... Read more

Soon, you might be able to ask, "Alexa, am I sick?", and then possibly share your sensitive health data, such as symptoms, to your doctor.According to CNBC, which looked at a leaked internal document about Amazon's plans, billionaire Jeff Bezos' online... Read more

Walk into a room, flick a switch, and your room is normally filled with light. Is it the right light though? Could it be designed to help your health and well-being? Are there any rules or recommendations you should follow when installing new lights... Read more

Microsoft is clearly feeling left out in the smart speaker wars. While Apple, Amazon and Google, with HomePod, Echo and Home respectively, have their own-brand devices, Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant is largely anonymous in the space.The only one... Read more

Door hardware maker Schlage is fullly embracing Alexa with new voice-controlled skills.It has announced the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt and Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt have expanded support for Amazon's voice assistant in the form of a new voice-unlocking... Read more

Tado has announced a new version of its Smart AC Control that brings with it software and algorithm tweaks over its v1 predecessor to save you even more money in the hotter months of the year. Tado Smart Climate Assistant software update will make saving... Read more

Centrica, the company behind British Gas and the smart home heating system Hive, has released an update for the Hive View indoor camera that now allows you to download any video clips you wish to your phone. It fixes what we considered to be its biggest... Read more

Google is at Google I/O 2018, where it just announced Google Duplex.It essentially improves Assistant so that it can book your appointments for you. Through two demos on stage, Assistant was shown calling a hair salon to make an appointment and then getting... Read more