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Smart Home Archive

Archives for August 2025

Aura’s impressive Aspen digital frame is the most affordable it’s beenAura’s impressive Aspen digital frame is the most affordable it’s been
I went camping in a heat dome, and these five gadgets saved my vacationI went camping in a heat dome, and these five gadgets saved my vacation
Mini Ikea stores will be opening inside select Best Buy locations this yearMini Ikea stores will be opening inside select Best Buy locations this year
This three-pack of fast Wi-Fi 7 routers is under $200 for the first timeThis three-pack of fast Wi-Fi 7 routers is under $200 for the first time
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Narwal’s wall-hugging mopping robovac is finally available for preorder.

Originally set to launch in June when it was announced at CES 2025, the Narwal Flow mopping robovac is now available for preorder, and shipping expected to start on August 27th.

With a mopping pad that can extend to reach the edges of walls, the standard version of the Flow is discounted from $1,499.99 to $1,099.99 for preorders while a version with a more compact dock that can connect to plumbing is $1,599.99 discounted to $1,399.99.

Two Narwal Flow robovacs, one with a taller base.
<em>The mopping bar on the underside of the Flow can extend out on either side to get close to walls and furniture.</em>
Robovac going down a step
<em>The more expensive version of the Flow includes a dock that can be connected to your home’s plumbing so you don’t have to empty or refill its reservoirs.</em>
1/4
The standard version of the Narwal Flow (left) next to a version that includes a more compact dock (right).
Image: Narwal Robotics
DJI’s first robovac features drone tech and a transparent designDJI’s first robovac features drone tech and a transparent design
This smart lock lets me see through my door

7

Verge Score

The Eufy FamiLock has a digital peephole and can unlock with a wave, but it costs $400.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
This is how malicious hackers could exploit Gemini AI to control a smart home.

This Wired article shows how an indirect prompt injection attack against a Gemini-powered AI assistant could cause the bot to curse in responses and take over smart home controls by turning on the heat unexpectedly or opening blinds in response to saying “thanks.”

In a report dubbed “Invitation is all you need” (Sound familiar?), their Google Calendar invite passed instructions to the AI bot that were triggered by asking for a summary. Google was informed of the vulnerabilities they found in February and said it has already introduced “multiple fixes.”

Sonos’ smart assistant is expanding from music to home controlSonos’ smart assistant is expanding from music to home control
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Don’t write off Bixby yet.

Samsung is fulfilling its promise to upgrade the voice assistant with generative AI, with new features now rolling out to its 2025 TVs in the US.

Bixby should now be better at answering natural language queries about anything, whether on the TV screen or not, and will help turn your TV into a smart home hub with voice controls for SmartThings appliances.

Samsung Redefines AI Search on Smart TVs With a Smarter Bixby Voice Assistant

[news.samsung.com]

Sengled’s downfall shows the peril of relying on cloud connections for smart home controlSengled’s downfall shows the peril of relying on cloud connections for smart home control
Amazon eyes ads and upcharges for Alexa PlusAmazon eyes ads and upcharges for Alexa Plus
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

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