Thread Direct looks to solve Matter’s biggest setup headache
Thread Direct looks to solve Matter’s biggest setup headache

The smart home networking protocol Thread is adding a new way to onboard devices without a Thread border router. The feature, called Thread Direct, is designed to let users set up Thread-powered devices – such as smart plugs and smart locks – using only a phone or mobile device equipped with a Thread radio. Current […]

Jackery announces ‘world’s slimmest’ fridge battery
Jackery announces ‘world’s slimmest’ fridge battery

Jackery is jumping on the fridge-battery trend with what it says is the “world’s slimmest.” FridgeGuard also looks nice; a break from power stations that tend to look more at home at a job site than the kitchen or living room. Measuring just 2.63 inches (67mm) thick, the Jackery FridgeGuard power station is meant to […]

Got Thread problems? There’s an app for that
Got Thread problems? There’s an app for that

The new Thread Networks Diagnostics Tools app from Thread Group, the standards body behind the wireless IoT protocol, officially launches in beta today. The app, which arrives in beta today on iOS and Android, is the first dedicated tool to provide visibility into your Thread-based smart home network. I’ve been testing the alpha version of […]

Will Matter finally be able to do what it should have always done?
Will Matter finally be able to do what it should have always done?

Matter, the smart home interoperability standard, might finally get a feature that should have been there from day one: a single shared Matter network managed by multiple ecosystems. With this feature, called Joint Fabric, smart devices added to the network will be controllable by any authorized platform – Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and […]

My backyard made me a color-changing smart lighting convert
My backyard made me a color-changing smart lighting convert

I’ll admit it. I was wrong. Wildly colorful lighting is delightful for your smart home – well, outdoors, at least. Smart lighting is one of my favorite features of the smart home – it combines convenience with ambiance, letting you change the entire look of your room with just a press of a button. But, […]

The next humanoid robot might not look human at all
The next humanoid robot might not look human at all

The next humanoid robot might not have a head. It might not have legs. It might even sit on a wheeled base and fold down like a deck chair. But, as Genesis AI puts it, “humanoid robots don’t need to look human.” That explains the look of Eno, the new robot from the French startup […]

Intel pushes 18A-P into risk production to prove its manufacturing pitch
Intel pushes 18A-P into risk production to prove its manufacturing pitch

Intel said on Tuesday that the next iteration of its 18A manufacturing process, designated 18A-P, has entered risk production, the stage at which a chipmaker runs the process on real hardware to prove it works before committing to mass volumes. The ann…

Walmart’s rival Prime Day sale starts next week — here are 18 deals worth shopping right now from Ninja, Apple, Bissell, Samsung, and more

Walmart’s rival Prime Day sale kicks off next week, and I’m breaking down everything you need to know, plus today’s best deals from Ninja, Apple, Dyson, and more.

All the latest news on Android 17, Wear OS 7, and Android XR
All the latest news on Android 17, Wear OS 7, and Android XR

Google’s Android 17 update includes highlights like new floating “Bubble” app windows for easier multitasking, a Screen Reaction recording mode, and a 50/50 split gaming mode for foldable phones. Meanwhile, Wear OS 7 brings Live Updates and better battery life for smart watches, and it prepares connections for new Android XR smart glasses that will […]

Google launches Wear OS 7 with Live Updates and a battery life boost
Google launches Wear OS 7 with Live Updates and a battery life boost

Google’s Wear OS 7 update is starting to roll out today for the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4, adding a new Live Updates feature that tracks live events from your Android smartwatch. Live Updates will now sync with Wear OS devices, so updates like sports scores or an ongoing meal delivery will show up […]