Smart Home Archive

Announced at CES, the $199 Homey Pro Mini can connect to Zigbee, Matter, and Thread devices, along with those from brands like Ikea, Sonos, Lutron, Roomba, Nest, Philips Hue, and Aqara, to run your smart home.

As I was making breakfast this morning, Smokey jumped onto the counter, walked over to the sink, nuzzled his head against the motion sensor in the Moen smart faucet, and proceeded to drink from the flowing water.

These quirky $49.99 Nanoleaf solar-powered garden lights are sold in pairs, each featuring eight LED bulb stalks that support eight RGB colors and 11 scene presets. They can also be charged via USB-C, and activate automatically via daylight sensors or timers.

Some Reddit users are reporting seeing a blue-and-purple gradient, rather than the usual white LEDs, on their Nest Audio speakers, 9to5Google reports. My colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is seeing the same.

The company has been working to move manufacturing out of the country, as detailed by GeekWire. It recently paid $255,000 in tariffs on $167,000 worth of goods.

One upgrade that the new $1,600 X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum mop has over the current $1,300 X8 flagship is Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology, which optimizes airflow from intake to exhaust, instead of just relying on suction power.

That’s what you’ll get with Govee’s “Strip Light with Skyline Kit,” which the company says is “more than a lighting accessory.” Just, uh, don’t hit your head on it.