A Thursday email to Google Home users says there are over 3.5 million Gemini for Home early access testers, and that people should “keep a very close eye on your inbox next week” for news about “a certain speaker.” That sounds like the Google Home speaker we previewed in October, which was projected to launch in spring 2026.
First announced at CES 2026, the three new Matter-compatible smart locks are now available from Home Depot first, and then eventually Amazon. The $139.99 FamiLock E32 is an entry-level model with fingerprint recognition while the $299.99 E40 and E35 feature facial recognition or palm vein identification, respectively.
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Ikea stopped selling its smart blinds last October, so Eve is introducing a new version of its MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit with a motor that’s now compatible with roller blinds featuring small tube diameters, including Ikea’s popular Fridans blinds. The new upgrade kit is now available for $169.95 and supports Matter-over-Thread smart home setups.
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The headline feature is the camera upgrades, but the smart home app is getting more new features, including energy monitoring.
As spotted by Matter Alpha, the first iOS 27 dev beta introduces a dedicated Power tab that displays the total energy consumption of compatible devices. There’s also an improved onboarding flow for new devices and support for Thread 1.4.
The robot vacuum company just launched its first robot lawnmower designed for US yards. The RockNeo Q110H combines RTK and VSLAM navigation and costs $1,299. It’s designed for small- to medium-sized yards and handles 45% slopes.
I’m currently testing models from Mammotion and Dreame for a robot lawnmower battle royale take-two, and I’ve been impressed by the improved mobility and navigation of these new bots.
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The Bridge Pro is Hue’s most compelling update in years, as long as you’re deeply invested in the smart lighting ecosystem
