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Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

    More From Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

    Thread count: Ikea is stitching together a smarter home

    With plans to launch more than 20 Matter-over-Thread devices, Ikea is embracing Matter in a move to make its smart home simpler and more affordable.

    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Now you can just tell SmartThings how to automate your homeNow you can just tell SmartThings how to automate your home
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Ikea’s smart home hub is now a Matter controller.

    The Swedish retail giant’s latest update for its Dirigeria hub adds the feature in beta. Matter controller functionally means you can add Matter devices from other brands to the hub and control them with Ikea’s Home Smart app. Ikea’s David Granath told The Verge it hopes to send the update to all users by “the beginning of next week.”

    The hub is already a Matter bridge, allowing its lights, blinds, and sensors to be used on other Matter platforms (Apple Home, Alexa, etc.). With a Matter controller, Ikea can become a Matter platform in its own right.

    Updated July 3, added comment from Ikea.

    Ikea Update Adds Matter Controller Functionality to Dirigera Hub

    [homekitnews.com]

    Google’s fix for Pixel 6A battery overheating issues arrives next weekGoogle’s fix for Pixel 6A battery overheating issues arrives next week
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    No more Freevee.

    July is your last chance to watch Amazon’s FAST channel. The service will shut down in August, according to an email sent to users. But the message says you’ll still be able to watch all its content on Prime Video “for free, no subscription needed.”

    Freevee’s demise was first announced last year, shortly after Prime Video began showing ads, in order to “deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers,” according to Amazon.

    Amazon is shutting down its Freevee app in August | TechCrunch

    [techcrunch.com]

    Nuki’s Smart Lock is a better retrofit door lock

    9

    Verge Score

    Smaller, faster, and Matter-compatible, this sleek new lock is a worthy August replacement — with a few quirks.

    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could mean slower Wi-Fi for youTrump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could mean slower Wi-Fi for you
    This smart smoke alarm could be a worthy Nest Protect replacementThis smart smoke alarm could be a worthy Nest Protect replacement
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    These teensy multi-protocol relays work with every platform.

    Shelly’s Gen4 relays start at $18 and can automate anything that’s wired, from light switches and garage door openers to sprinkler systems and appliances. Designed to fit inside electrical boxes, relays are a super versatile solution for the smart home.

    Shelly’s new line is now available in the U.S., and all the models offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter (over Wi-Fi), so they’ll work with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and more.

    The Shelly 1 PM Gen4 is a 16A smart relay with integrated power measurement to control lighting, outlets, and 120v appliances. There’s an option without power measurement plus an even smaller model, the Shelly 1 PM Mini Gen4, which the company says is the world’s smallest smart relay.
    The Shelly 1 PM Gen4 is a 16A smart relay with integrated power measurement to control lighting, outlets, and 120v appliances. There’s an option without power measurement plus an even smaller model, the Shelly 1 PM Mini Gen4, which the company says is the world’s smallest smart relay.
    Image: Shelly
    Ring camera alerts are about to get a lot smarterRing camera alerts are about to get a lot smarter
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

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