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Smart Home Archive

Archives for June 2025

Kwikset’s newest smart lock gets almost everything right

8

Verge Score

It automatically unlocks as I approach, looks great on my front door, and works locally with every smart home platform. But thanks to Matter, I have to pick between its two best features.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
It could be 2026 before all your Thread border routers work togetherIt could be 2026 before all your Thread border routers work together
A massive Google Cloud outage messed up Google Home, Spotify, and other servicesA massive Google Cloud outage messed up Google Home, Spotify, and other services
Apple Home is expanding its energy management features Apple Home is expanding its energy management features 
This smart pizza oven improved my pie-making skills

7

Verge Score

But not quite enough for me to consider ditching my local pizzeria.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Samsung’s fridges now recognize family members by voiceSamsung’s fridges now recognize family members by voice
More than a million people now have Alexa PlusMore than a million people now have Alexa Plus
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Google just soft-launched nine cool Home app featuresGoogle just soft-launched nine cool Home app features
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Amazon Key is coming to apartment buildings.

Amazon Key Access Control system is a new building intercom solution that uses the Ring app to let apartment dwellers answer their building door and buzz people in on their phones.

The intercoms need to be installed by a property manager, and the system includes virtual keys for communal spaces; keys for individual apartments aren’t mentioned. Interestingly, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff left Amazon to run a smart building access solution, but he’s now back at Amazon.

<em>The new system offers four options: Intercom Boost can be added to an existing call box to show a resident directory on a smartphone, allow visitors to call through the Ring app, and allow residents to unlock the door.</em>
<em>Intercom Lite does the same thing but fully replaces the call box, or can be added to an existing one.</em>
<em>Intercom Plus is a touchscreen version that also shows a resident directory and acts as a keypad for building access.</em>
<em>Virtual Key can be added to an existing intercom, allowing users to unlock the building door and grant visitors access through the Ring app without the video intercom capability.</em>
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The new system offers four options: Intercom Boost can be added to an existing call box to show a resident directory on a smartphone, allow visitors to call through the Ring app, and allow residents to unlock the door.
Image: Amazon
Taskrabbit CEO Ania Smith isn’t afraid of AI robots replacing human labor

The head of the Ikea-owned gig work platform on AI automation, the state of the gig economy, and the future of labor.

Nilay Patel
Ultrahuman’s absurdly expensive Home monitor doesn’t do muchUltrahuman’s absurdly expensive Home monitor doesn’t do much
Anker’s newest power station is a good mix of power and portabilityAnker’s newest power station is a good mix of power and portability
How to move a smart homeHow to move a smart home
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Amazon has leaked Philips’ new ambient wall lightAmazon has leaked Philips’ new ambient wall light
Wyze’s latest smart bulb is also a cameraWyze’s latest smart bulb is also a camera
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

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