Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

Ring is raising the price of its cheapest subscription plan by 25 percent

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 8, 2024

Verge Score

This iPod-like button could be a great smart home controller

With customizable icons and an intuitive click wheel, the Linxura solves a big problem with smart buttons. But it needs to dial up its integrations before it’s worth your money.

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 8, 2024

Ring’s latest battery doorbell comes with new features but the same old look

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 7, 2024

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 6, 2024

Is the Level Lock Plus about to become the first Matter-over-Thread lock with Home Key?

Possibly. HomeKit Insider spotted that the sleek-looking smart lock is now Matter-certified, indicating Level might be readying its promised Matter/Thread update.

A year ago, Level told The Verge all its existing locks could be upgraded to both, allowing them to work with more platforms (among other benefits). So far, the company has only released a new Wi-Fi bridge, but with this news that may be about to change.

Level Lock Plus review: Home Key now, Thread soon

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Nov 3

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 1, 2024

Don’t worry. Ring is still working on its home surveillance drone.

In a recent interview with GeekWire, CEO Liz Hamren confirmed the Always Home Cam is still being prepped for takeoff but didn’t provide a date.

The indoor security drone was originally supposed to ship in 2021, but when I last saw it at CES 2023, it seemed unlikely to fly into our homes anytime soon.

Harmen did tease that vehicle detection is (finally) coming to Ring’s (non-mobile) security cameras (most of its competition already offers this).

‘Unfinished business’: Ring CEO Liz Hamren leads Amazon’s home monitoring products into the AI era

[GeekWire]

This new retrofit door lock from Abode promises 12 months of battery life

Jennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 1, 2024

Ok. Now I want one.

When I saw how the app Shortcut Buttons lets you put virtual buttons around your home to trigger smart home devices using Apple’s Vision Pro, I was (almost) sold.

This is a use case for the $3,500 head computer I can really get behind (you know, once it doesn’t cost $3,500). The lack of new interfaces for the smart home is something I complain about a lot. This might shut me up for a bit.

Check out Matthew Cassinelli’s rundown of how the $8 app works.

<a href="https://www.finnvoorhees.com/shortcutbuttons"><em>Shortcut Buttons</em></a><em> lets you set up home automation shortcuts in relevant places. “Easily dim the lights or order food when watching a movie, or start a timer when cooking in the kitchen.”</em>

<em>You can position the Shortcuts above things in your home, and they “will anchor-in-place in your spatial computing environment.”</em>

<em>The shortcuts can be styled however you like using colors and icons.</em>

1/3

Shortcut Buttons lets you set up home automation shortcuts in relevant places. “Easily dim the lights or order food when watching a movie, or start a timer when cooking in the kitchen.”

Image: Finn Voorhees