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Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

    More From Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

    Apple’s first smart display needs to make the smart home just workApple’s first smart display needs to make the smart home just work
    Amazon’s new Echo Show 21 has a huge screen and built-in smart home hubAmazon’s new Echo Show 21 has a huge screen and built-in smart home hub
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Flic’s hub is now a scriptable Matter Controller

    An update to the company’s Flic Hub LR Controller allows users to program custom commands for Matter devices, including those connected to Flic’s Button and Twist controllers.

    Matter support in FlicScript — a JavaScript-based scripting API — will let you “subscribe and send commands to and from any Matter device” (up to 1.2) and create custom solutions for your smart home.

    Flic launched the first independent Matter Controller earlier this year.

    Flic Hub SDK | Flic Smart Button

    [Flic Smart Button]

    Alexa may get smarter with more APIs rather than more AIAlexa may get smarter with more APIs rather than more AI
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Level’s latest lock supports Matter over Thread.

    As promised, the smart lock that doesn’t look like a smart lock now supports the new smart home standard, bringing better connectivity options without needing Level’s bridge.

    The new Level Lock Plus (Matter) costs $329, and existing Level Plus owners can upgrade to Matter for free through January 14, 2025. But while they could support Thread, the Level Bolt, Lock, and Lock Touch aren’t eligible for this upgrade.

    If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.

    The new Level Lock Plus (Matter) supports Matter over Thread so can work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings.
    The new Level Lock Plus (Matter) supports Matter over Thread so can work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings.
    Image: Level Home, Inc.
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Some of Google Home’s Gemini-powered features are arriving this week.

    The Google Home extension for Gemini is now available on Android, and the AI-powered features for Google Nest cameras are rolling out to select Nest Aware Plus users in Public Preview today and will come to more users in the next few weeks.

    Google also announced a new customizable Member access feature for sharing select devices with friends and family.

    Gemini intelligence is coming to Google Home

    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    Apple could launch a smart security camera in 2026Apple could launch a smart security camera in 2026
    Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
    This tiny smart lock promises to unlock your door in under two secondsThis tiny smart lock promises to unlock your door in under two seconds
    Blink’s newest hub takes its security cameras beyond Wi-FiBlink’s newest hub takes its security cameras beyond Wi-Fi
    Matter 1.4 tries to set the smart home standard back on trackMatter 1.4 tries to set the smart home standard back on track

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