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Smart Home

The smart home was once a far-flung pipe dream, but it is now a reality. Wherever you live, your home is ground zero for some of the most interesting tech available right now, and tech that’s yet to come. Best of all, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get your home up and running with smart hardware and services.

Home security and monitoring solutions can alert you to a burglary, smoke, fire, or just simple motion activity. There are plenty of options with a range of capabilities, from smart doorbells and smart locks to indoor and outdoor cameras that can see in the dark.

Smart speakers, like the Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod each play a big role in helping you out, too. In the kitchen, they can read out recipes, or if you’re cleaning, you can call out to them to change the song on the fly. If you buy smart light bulbs, for instance, you can turn them on and off by using your voice.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
When in Rome, this Echo speaks Roman.

The new Echo Dot Rome Limited Edition will respond to the command “Alexa, speak Roman,” with some colorful expressions in the city’s local dialect.

The €89.99 smart speaker is designed to celebrate the city of Rome, and features eye-catching artwork by Italian artist Ale Giorgini highlighting St. Peter’s, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain.

The smart speaker with Italian flair is only available in Italy and has been released in honor of Rome’s Jubilee.

The Echo Dot Rome is the first European limited edition Alexa, according to Panos Panay.
The Echo Dot Rome is the first European limited edition Alexa, according to Panos Panay.
Image: Amazon
Ikea’s latest speaker lamp ditches Sonos for Spotify and inexpensive Bluetooth Ikea’s latest speaker lamp ditches Sonos for Spotify and inexpensive Bluetooth 
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
How SharkNinja took over the home, with CEO Mark Barrocas

The head of the home appliance giant on grilling, product design, and the future of viral marketing.

Nilay Patel
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]

Amazon’s Echo Hub has plunged to a new low price ahead of Prime DayAmazon’s Echo Hub has plunged to a new low price ahead of Prime Day
Google makes it easier to let friends and kids control your smart homeGoogle makes it easier to let friends and kids control your smart home
Eufy’s Omni C20 mopping robovac is $300 off for a limited timeEufy’s Omni C20 mopping robovac is $300 off for a limited time
This smart smoke alarm could be a worthy Nest Protect replacementThis smart smoke alarm could be a worthy Nest Protect replacement
Ember’s temperature-controlled smart mug is down to one of its best pricesEmber’s temperature-controlled smart mug is down to one of its best prices
Hisense’s latest smart air conditioner is on sale for just $249.99Hisense’s latest smart air conditioner is on sale for just $249.99
Philips Hue are getting more expensive next week, but you can save on them nowPhilips Hue are getting more expensive next week, but you can save on them now
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
Philips Hue is raising prices in the US ‘as a direct result of tariffs’Philips Hue is raising prices in the US ‘as a direct result of tariffs’
These battery-powered 4K cameras record 24/7These battery-powered 4K cameras record 24/7
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Yale’s new Google Home smart lock now costs more thanks to tariffsYale’s new Google Home smart lock now costs more thanks to tariffs
Hue’s new smart button is bigger and more expensiveHue’s new smart button is bigger and more expensive
Eufy’s X10 Pro Omni mopping robovac has returned to its best price to dateEufy’s X10 Pro Omni mopping robovac has returned to its best price to date
Eufy’s new smart display keeps an eye on your security camsEufy’s new smart display keeps an eye on your security cams
Wyze tells us why its security cameras deserve your trust again Wyze tells us why its security cameras deserve your trust again 
Philips’ new ambient wall light is now availablePhilips’ new ambient wall light is now available
Kwikset’s newest smart lock gets almost everything right

8

Verge Score

It automatically unlocks as I approach, looks great on my front door, and works locally with every smart home platform. But thanks to Matter, I have to pick between its two best features.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
It could be 2026 before all your Thread border routers work togetherIt could be 2026 before all your Thread border routers work together
A massive Google Cloud outage messed up Google Home, Spotify, and other servicesA massive Google Cloud outage messed up Google Home, Spotify, and other services
Apple Home is expanding its energy management features Apple Home is expanding its energy management features 
This smart pizza oven improved my pie-making skills

7

Verge Score

But not quite enough for me to consider ditching my local pizzeria.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Samsung’s fridges now recognize family members by voiceSamsung’s fridges now recognize family members by voice
More than a million people now have Alexa PlusMore than a million people now have Alexa Plus
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Google just soft-launched nine cool Home app featuresGoogle just soft-launched nine cool Home app features
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Amazon Key is coming to apartment buildings.

Amazon Key Access Control system is a new building intercom solution that uses the Ring app to let apartment dwellers answer their building door and buzz people in on their phones.

The intercoms need to be installed by a property manager, and the system includes virtual keys for communal spaces; keys for individual apartments aren’t mentioned. Interestingly, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff left Amazon to run a smart building access solution, but he’s now back at Amazon.

<em>The new system offers four options: Intercom Boost can be added to an existing call box to show a resident directory on a smartphone, allow visitors to call through the Ring app, and allow residents to unlock the door.</em>
<em>Intercom Lite does the same thing but fully replaces the call box, or can be added to an existing one.</em>
<em>Intercom Plus is a touchscreen version that also shows a resident directory and acts as a keypad for building access.</em>
<em>Virtual Key can be added to an existing intercom, allowing users to unlock the building door and grant visitors access through the Ring app without the video intercom capability.</em>
1/4
The new system offers four options: Intercom Boost can be added to an existing call box to show a resident directory on a smartphone, allow visitors to call through the Ring app, and allow residents to unlock the door.
Image: Amazon
Taskrabbit CEO Ania Smith isn’t afraid of AI robots replacing human labor

The head of the Ikea-owned gig work platform on AI automation, the state of the gig economy, and the future of labor.

Nilay Patel
Ultrahuman’s absurdly expensive Home monitor doesn’t do muchUltrahuman’s absurdly expensive Home monitor doesn’t do much
Anker’s newest power station is a good mix of power and portabilityAnker’s newest power station is a good mix of power and portability
How to move a smart homeHow to move a smart home
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Amazon has leaked Philips’ new ambient wall lightAmazon has leaked Philips’ new ambient wall light
Wyze’s latest smart bulb is also a cameraWyze’s latest smart bulb is also a camera
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Xbox cofounder J Allard is working on ‘breakthrough’ devices at AmazonXbox cofounder J Allard is working on ‘breakthrough’ devices at Amazon
Blink’s budget buzzer gets some worthwhile upgradesBlink’s budget buzzer gets some worthwhile upgrades

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