Aqara’s $99 Wi-Fi smart lock is a good-looking budget option
Aqara's $99 Wi-Fi smart lock is a good-looking budget option Aqara’s latest wireless smart lock features a sleek backlit keypad with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Home for the budget-friendly price of $99.99. With Wi-Fi built in, Aqara’s B50 smart lock doesn’t require a hub and offers a few different unlocking options, including the […]
Camera support could be the boost Matter needs
Camera support could be the boost Matter needs The Matter smart home standard is adding cameras to its latest spec. It’s finally happening. Three years after Matter launched, the interoperability standard now includes the most popular smart home devices: cameras. The Matter 1.5 spec, announced today, adds support for all types of video cameras – […]
Meross’ radar presence sensor ditches the cord and adds Matter-over-Thread support
Meross' radar presence sensor ditches the cord and adds Matter-over-Thread support The MS605 has an articulated installation plate allowing the angle of the sensor to be adjusted. | Image: Meross Meross has announced a new version of its MS600 presence sensor that’s now battery-powered, so installation isn’t limited to places where you can camouflage a […]
Google is collecting troves of data from downgraded Nest thermostats
Google is collecting troves of data from downgraded Nest thermostats The second-gen Nest Thermostat launched in 2012. Google officially turned off remote control functionality for early Nest Learning Thermostats last month, but it hasn’t stopped collecting a stream of data from these downgraded devices. After digging into the backend, security researcher Cody Kociemba found that […]
5 things I love about Amazon’s new Echo Shows — and 3 things I don’t
5 things I love about Amazon's new Echo Shows — and 3 things I don't The Echo Show 11’s new media control center is a nice upgrade. Amazon’s newest Echo Show smart displays launch this week. They’re purpose-built for the new AI-powered Alexa Plus, which comes preloaded in the US. I’ve had a couple of […]
Siri Shortcuts now works with Samsung SmartThings routines
Siri Shortcuts now works with Samsung SmartThings routines Samsung’s latest SmartThings update adds support for Siri Shortcuts. In a press release, Samsung announced that you can now use Siri to run SmartThings routines, allowing you to use Apple’s voice assistant to control your smart home. Siri Shortcuts is a feature in iOS that lets you […]
Google says its confusing Gemini Home rollout is going just great
Google says its confusing Gemini Home rollout is going just great Gemini is the new smart home voice assistant slowly rolling out to Google’s smart displays and smart speakers. Google started rolling out its new Gemini voice assistant for its smart speakers two weeks ago and, in a blog post marking the anniversary, the company seems […]
Ikea just took over your smart home
Ikea just took over your smart home Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 105, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope you’ve recovered from the clocks falling back, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been […]
The Matic robot vacuum is smarter, quieter, and gets the job done
The Matic robot vacuum is smarter, quieter, and gets the job done Meet my new best friend. Robot vacuums are amazing machines, but they can also be a pain in the arse. In my home, testing a new robot vacuum often means digging it out from under my living room couch or unhooking it from […]
You can keep using your iPad as an Apple Home hub until February
You can keep using your iPad as an Apple Home hub until February If you’ve been reluctant to update to the new Apple Home architecture, you now have a few more months before Apple forces your hand. Apple has pushed back the deadline to February 10, 2026, rather than fall 2025. The refreshed version of […]