Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

Google’s dark web monitoring service will soon be free for all users

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 9, 2024

This is the first retrofit smart lock to support Apple’s Home Key.

The Aqara U200 replaces your existing lock and comes with a wireless keypad, which you can tap with an iPhone or Apple Watch for easy unlocking.

It’s now available to buy on Amazon and works with European and UK locks, as well as US deadbolts. It uses Thread, is Matter-compatible, and has fingerprint and PIN code access.

I’ll have a review soon.

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The U200 replaces just the rear portion of your lock, allowing you to keep your existing keyway. A wireless keypad on the exterior lets you use a PIN code, fingerprint reader or Apple Home Key to unlock it.

Image: Aqara

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 8, 2024

Amazon’s vying for a ‘spot’ on your bedside table.

The new Echo Spot looks like an intriguing option for a bedside smart display, thanks to Amazon’s decision to ditch the camera with this iteration.

The $80 smart speaker competes against the Google Nest Hub and the Echo Show 5. but the Nest takes up a lot of real estate, and the Show has a camera. Will the Spot be just right? I’ll have a review soon.

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Amazon’s Echo Spot is back with better sound and no camera

Richard Lawler

Jul 8

This is the summer’s coolest new smart kitchen gadget — literally

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 6, 2024

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 4, 2024

Apple’s rumored HomePod with a screen could arrive with Apple Intelligence.

Apple’s smart home efforts could use both a smarter Siri and a smart display, and we may soon get both.

MacRumors has discovered code that indicates Apple is working on a new HomeAccessory 17,1 that could be powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence.

Existing HomePods seem unlikely to be able to support the AI, so new smart home hardware seems inevitable.

Leak Confirms Apple's Work On 'Home Accessory'

[MacRumors]

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 2, 2024

This ice maker is my family’s new favorite smart gadget.

It might be because the heat index is 110 degrees, but the new GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra has been a huge hit in my house.

I’ve been testing the smart nugget ice maker for a week, and its ability to make a full batch of ice in 10 minutes is impressive. But for $630, you have to really love chewable ice. I’ll have a review soon.

The Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker is an update to the Opal 2.0. It has a new water filter, air filter, and cleaning system that should make for easier maintenance.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 2, 2024

These are the robot vacuums that will work with Matter.

Now that both Samsung and Apple have promised support for robot vacuums through Matter (Samsung SmartThings will support them this summer and Apple Home later this year), I’ve rounded up a list of robo vacs with Matter support, along with info on how they’ll work in your platform of choice.

Get all the details in the FAQ section of my robot vacuum buying guide.

The best robot vacuums

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Jan 13

Jennifer Pattison TuohyJul 2, 2024

This smart leak detector can warn you if your fish tank is draining.

SwitchBot claims its new Water Leak Detector can not only alert you to leaks and drips but also monitor water levels, thanks to an optional immersion cable.

This sounds handy for warning you if your fish tank is draining, your bathtub is too full, or your sump pump levels are rising. It doesn’t need a hub, works over Wi-Fi, and costs $17.99 ($19.99 with the cable).

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