HomeTech.fm

On this week’s show: Ring’s Super Bowl ad fallout keeps getting worse as Search Party, Flock, Axon, and leaked emails raise bigger surveillance questions, Fire TV gets its biggest UI update ever, Eufy promises five-year motion sensors, and Third Reality drops new Zigbee gear. Ubiquiti goes industrial with a new Cloud Gateway, Shelly leaves garage doors wide open (literally), and OpenAI picks up the founder of OpenClaw. All of this, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

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• After Search Party backlash, Ring is still avoiding the bigger questions - The Verge
• Definitely Only for Dogs: Ring's Superbowl Commercial (Parody)
• Ring’s Flock breakup doesn’t fix its real problem - The Verge
• Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash - The Verge
• Ring’s AI-powered Search Party won’t stop at finding lost dogs, leaked email shows - The Verge
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Fire TV's biggest update ever is here. - amazon.com
  • Eufy reveals new smart home motion sensors with incredible battery life - The Ambient
  • Smart Water Leak Sensor WL2 - thirdreality.com
  • Smart Button ZB2
  • Cloud Gateway Industrial - Ubiquiti Store United States - Ubiquiti Store United States
  • Smart Home Flaw Lets Hackers Open Your Garage Door - TROYPOINT
• Pic of the Week: Frisbee or Ubiquity?
• OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger is joining OpenAI - The Verge

On this week's show: Ring’s Super Bowl ad creeps everyone out with AI dog-finding (and maybe people-tracking) technology, TI drops $7.5 billion on Silicon Labs in a bold smart home chip move, Apple kills the old HomeKit just in time for Valentine's 2026, and SwitchBot dreams big with AI agents and RTSP cameras in a mystery lunchbox-shaped hub. Plus: a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

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• Ring Super Bowl commercial: Why 2026 ad is receiving backlash from fans over creepy concept - Yahoo News
• Amazon Ring’s Super Bowl ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance - The Verge
• HomeTech Headlines
  • A US chipmaker is buying this IOT company for $7.5 billion. - The Verge
  • Apple is killing the old HomeKit Tuesday - The Verge
  • SwitchBot AI Hub will soon run OpenClaw - Matter Alpha
  • FBI releases recovered footage from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest cam - The Verge
• Pick of the Week: I built a theater in a toilet. - Youtube
• Solar Sheds, Smart Gardens, and a Reality Check from CES 2026 with TJ Huddleston – HGG670
• Yardian Pro Smart Sprinkler Controller (12-Zone) – Easy DIY Install, Apple HomeKit, Ethernet & Wi-Fi, Manual Buttons, Weather-Based Scheduling
• Flair hvacOS Solutions | Optimize Temperature, Comfort, and Airflow

On this week’s show: Control4 previews shiny new touchscreens and subscriptions, Google Home finally wakes up to buttons, and Ikea’s Matter devices can’t seem to "Thread the needle." Home Assistant wants your device data (respectfully), the 8K dream is officially dead (RIP pixels), and Nice and Yubii have ecosystem updates. Plus, a new dirt-hugging soil sensor, a pick of the week, project updates, an AI bot forces Gavin to spend money, and so much more!

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• Home Tech Headlines
  • Nice to Showcase Smart Living ecosystem at ISE 2026 - rAVe PUBS
  • ADI Previews Upcoming T5 Models as Well as New Connect Subscription for X4 Platform - CEPRO
  • Google Home finally adds support for buttons - The Verge
  • Ikea’s cheap new smart home gear is struggling to get connected - The Verge
  • The TV industry finally concedes that the future may not be in 8K - Ars Technica
  • New Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights 2 Lite bring S‑shaped color effects to your garden - The Ambient
  • This Dreame lightstrip is a brighter alternative to Hue’s Flux, and it’s available now - The Ambient
  • Pre-sale: WH52 Soil Moisture/Temperature/EC Sensor, Wireless 3-in-1 So - Ecowitt
• Pick of the Week
  • Surprise Birthday Delivery Surprise Gone Wrong
• How we'll build the device database, together - Home Assistant
• Only Fan Controller

On this week’s show: Gavin as a Service officially launches on YouTube, Sonos drops a new multi-zone Amp while Sony seems ready to drop the whole TV business. Amazon Sidewalk quietly infects Canada. ESPHome gets Control4 support, SwitchBot launches an AI hub with Home Assistant inside, and Zooz Z-Wave joins Apollo’s party. Seth tests drives a new AI assistant, TJ is all in again with Sonos (not really), a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

Image credit: arkangel.wordpress.com

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Sonos Introduces Amp Multi Streaming Amplifier for Large Residential Audio Systems - CEPRO
  • Industry is Abuzz - What's Happening With Sony TVs & Audio? What is China's TCL's Involvement? - Strata-gee.com
  • Amazon Sidewalk Arrives in Canada Feb. 26: How to Opt Out of the Shared Network | iPhone in Canada - iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
  • Ecowitt WS90 - 7-in-1 weather station - Shelly Europe - Shelly Europe
  • Apollo Automation Now Carries ZOOZ Z-Wave Smart Home Devices: Expandin - Apollo Automation
  • ESPHome - Driver for Control4 - chowmain.software
  • Wemo App Support Ending for Select Products in 2026 - manage.kmail-lists.com
  • SwitchBot Launches its AI-Centric Matter Home Hub - Homekit News and Reviews
• Pick of the Week: 100 years since the 'birth' of television took place in Soho | ITV News - ITV News
  • Kuba Komet TV - Early Television
• Home Assistant shifts Matter integration to Matter.js in beta - Matter Alpha
• Like, Subscribe, Ring the Bell, Save Automation, Do Your Thing: Gavin as a Service (YouTube)
• Affliate Link for Droplet: Droplet - The Smart Home Platform
• OpenClaw — Personal AI Assistant

On this week's show: Josh.ai and Control4 settle but at a cost —voice control stays, but touchscreens and remotes get benched. CES 2026 brings a flurry of floor interviews straight from Vegas, and we dig into a listener letter on Homey Self-Hosted. All that, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

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• CES Coverage
  • The Future of Z-Wave: Your Involvement Matters
  • Smart Button Home - Slate Switch - Wireless Smart Remote Switch
  • Droplet the #1 Smart Home Water Sensor - Hydrific, part of LIXIL
  • Gemns™ | Energy Harvesting Technology
  • A New Smart Toilet Sensor May Be the Key to Solving Dehydration

On this week's show: CES 2026 gave us everything from refrigerators with ads and humanoid laundry bots to pool cleaners smarter than your thermostat. Amazon and Samsung double down on AI (for better or worse), IKEA floods the market with affordable Matter gear, and Ring keeps dancing with Sidewalk and privacy. Kwikset locks in a new Matter smart lock under $200, SwitchBot wants to do your chores, and Roborock dares to climb stairs. Plus, Home Assistant gets a powerful new Music Assistant, Bose open-sources old gear instead of bricking it, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

• The Handy
• Worst in Show' CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells - AP News
• HomeTech Headlines
  • CES 2026
    • Samsung Reveals Wireless 'Music Studio' Speakers and Soundbars for Home Theaters - CEPRO
    • Bose is open-sourcing its old smart speakers instead of bricking them - The Verge
    • Amazon Introduces Ember Artline Lifestyle TV, Expands Ring Security Portfolio at CES 2026 - CEPRO
    • Alexa+ is Coming to Samsung TVs, BMW Cars, and More - Thurrott.com
    • Kwikset’s new Matter-over-Thread smart lock costs under $200 - The Verge
    • Ring Unloads a Flood of New Security Tech at CES: What’s Coming to Canada | iPhone in Canada - iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
    • Ring’s Fire Watch turns doorbell cameras into wildfire detectors - The Verge
    • Ring’s new smart home sensors use Sidewalk instead of Wi-Fi or Z-Wave - The Verge
    • A Broad New Lineup of Affordable Matter-over-Thread Devices from IKEA Unlocks Easier Whole-Home Automation for SmartThings Users - SmartThings Blog - SmartThings Blog
    • Lifx launches a smart mirror and a $30 dimmer switch that can control smart bulbs - The Verge
    • GE’s new smart fridge wants to help you shop for groceries - The Verge
    • RainPoint Unveils First All-in-One Irrigation System at CES, Revolutionizing Home Gardening with Smart Home Tech - All For Gardening - All For Gardening
    • Segway unveils new Navimow robotic lawn mower lineup at CES 2026 - The Ambient
    • Roborock’s Rover walks, jumps, and vacuums your stairs - The Verge
    • Mammotion unveils its most ambitious pool cleaner yet - The Ambient
    • Beatbot’s new mid-range pool robot is all about value - The Ambient
    • SwitchBot says its humanoid household robot can do your laundry - The Verge
    • Aiper showcases autonomous robot pool cleaners and more at CES 2026 - The Ambient
    • Ecovacs adds a mop cover to its flagship robot vacuum - The Verge
    • LG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CES - The Verge
    • ECOVACS Wants to Run Your Whole Home, and Yes, There’s a Robot Dog | iPhone in Canada - iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
    • TP-Link announces Aireal, its AI assistant - The Verge
    • It’s all about AI robotics for Switchbot at CES 2026 - The Ambient
    • Google TV Is Getting Smarter and It’s Powered by Gemini | iPhone in Canada - iPhone in Canada | Canada’s source for Apple, telecom, tech news, and deals
    • LEGO introduces 'Smart Brick' that has tiny computer inside - MobileSyrup
    • Gemns™ | Energy Harvesting Technology - Gemns™
    • DONUT LAB INTRODUCES THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIFICATION AT CES PRESENTING WORLD’S FIRST ALL-SOLID-STATE BATTERY READY TO POWER UP PRODUCTION VEHICLES NOW - Donut Lab - Donut Lab
• Pick of the Week
  • fiio.com
• Music Assistant 2.7 - Taking over the airwaves - Blog - Home Assistant Community - Home Assistant Community
• Open Home Foundation (@[email protected]) - Fosstodon
• 2026.1: Home is where the dashboard is 🥂 - Home Assistant
• Changes to Home Assistant Green pricing - Nabu Casa
• UniFi Protect + Home Assistant — Integration Update (now Platinum quality)

On this week's show: Live from CES! The HomeTech team joined Justin and Kyle on the Apollo Automation monthly livestream on in Las Vegas at CES 2026. We had a great time and wanted to share the conversation on our feed as well.

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

• Episode 21 (January 5, 2026) - Apollo Automation Monthly Live Stream
• Expanding Smart Home Automation Capabilities | Apollo Automation

On this week's show: iRobot vacuums up a bankruptcy filing and is scooped up by Picea, Apollo launches a new four-button mini-keyboard, Shelly drops a new all-in-one smart plug, WiiM continues its crusade against Sonos with a compact speaker, Homey launches a self-hosted option, and Emerald (parent company of CEDIA Expo) might be for sale. All this news, letters from the mailbag, CES Pre-Game discussions, and so much more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

• Apollo Automation Donates $4,200 to CASA of Lexington and Open Home Fo - Apollo Automation
• HomeTech Headlines
  • iRobot files for bankruptcy - The Verge
  • Who is Picea Robotics, Roomba’s new owner? - The Verge
  • BTN-1 Macro Deck - Apollo Automation
  • WiiM Just Expanded Its Wireless Speaker Lineup with the Leaner Sound Lite - CEPRO
  • Homey Self-Hosted Server – Run Homey on your hardware - homey.app
  • Shelly Plug US Gen4 – Smart Plug for Home Automation (1800W) - Shelly USA - Shelly USA
  • Apparently for Sale, Emerald Board is Reviewing Multiple Offers to be Acquired - Strata-gee.com

The 11th annual Technology.fm Fireside Chat brings together a group of smart home podcasters for a year-end roundtable on the biggest developments of the past year. Richard Gunther and Adam Justice from the Smart Home Show join Gavin, TJ, and Seth to reflects on key products, platforms, and trends that shaped the smart home, what worked, what disappointed, and what it all means heading into the year ahead.

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

• Most intersting Stories of 2025
  • Chamberlain blocks smart home integrations with its garage door openers — again - The Verge
  • Z-Wave is not dead
  • Amazon Alexa+ vs. Google Gemini: Which AI Will Rule Your Smart Home?
  • Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here's a recap of his trade actions this year
• Favorite Products of 2025
  • AI Horn Speaker - Ubiquiti Store
  • You've Been Using AI the Hard Way (Use This Instead)
  • Aqara Light Switch H2 US
  • Indoor & Outdoor Christmas Lights: Decor & Tree Lights | Twinkly
  • Aqara Presence Multi-Sensor FP300: 5-in-1 Detection
  • Bridge Pro - Smart hub | Philips Hue
  • Birdbuddy : Home
• GitHub - gmatrangola/AItomation: Build Home Assistant Automations with LLM Prompts
• The Smart Home Show

On this week's show: Chamberlain locks down garage integrations (again), Doma reinvents the smart door with a motor and facial recognition, Homey Pro gets a RAM boost, Firewalla goes Zero Trust Wi-Fi 7 on the go, and Home Assistant throws a party for Music Assistant 2.7. All this, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more!

Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Chamberlain blocks smart home integrations with its garage door openers — again - The Verge
  • Firewalla Debuts Portable Wi-Fi 7 Firewall Built for Zero Trust Anywhere - CEPRO
  • Introducing Homey Pro (2026) – News | Homey - homey.app
  • August’s founders are back with a smart front door - The Verge
  • Home Assistant (@[email protected]) - Fosstodon