HomeTech.fm

On this week's show: Rogers brings Wi-Fi 7 to Canada while in the US, a Senate bill could take it away, Ring adds AI video descriptions, and Gentex wants to keep your home safe with a smarter smoke alarm. Ubiquiti drops new dome cams, and SwitchBot teams up with Home Assistant. Plus, project updates, a pick of the week, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Rogers announces it’s bringing Wi-Fi 7 to Canada - MobileSyrup
  • Senate bill could significantly reduce capacity of the 6GHz band, potentially affecting next-gen WiFI - The Verge
  • Canada orders Hikvision to cease local operations - Toronto Sun
  • Comcast’s Xfinity plans in the Northeast are getting unlimited data - The Verge
  • Ring announces AI-powered video descriptions for its cameras and doorbells - The Verge
  • Introducing Next-Gen Dome Cameras - Ubiquiti Newsletter
  • Place Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Gentex's New Home Safety System Set for Release - The Verge
  • Govee Launch Three New Smart Lamps w/ Matter - HomeKit News
  • SwitchBot joins Works with Home Assistant - Home Assistant Blog
• Pick of the Week: Mower Gate - Reddit
• Vibe coding - Wikipedia

On this week's show: Amazon hits one million Alexa Plus users, Homey introduces Device Groups, Apple doubles down on Matter and energy management, and Philips Hue unveils yet another overpriced button. Plus, we check out Ubiquiti’s Protect 6.0 and a barking dog deterrent earns Pick of the Week. All that, project updates, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Amazon's Alexa Plus reaches one million users, big updates coming summer 2025 - The Verge
  • Introducing Device Groups - Homey
  • Apple to boost home connectivity with updates to Thread and adoption of Matter in TVOS 26 - The Verge
  • Apple introduces Home EnergyKit for comprehensive energy management at WWDC 2023 - The Verge
  • Apple TV tvOS 18 software update released - 9to5Mac
  • Everything that’s happened with Sengled so far: The Comprehensive Update - Reddit
  • Shelly EM Mini Gen4 - Shelly USA
  • Philips Hue announces new Smart Button along with updates to its line of colorful lights - The Verge
  • TP-Link announces Tapo 4K MagCam security cameras and HomeBase H500 with Matter support - The Verge
  • Google Home app gets PIP with Nest Protect automations, 'Favorites' feature, and more - The Verge
  • CeilSense Air Quality Monitoring - CeilSense
  • Security Garage Door Opener - CircuitSetup
• Pick of the Week
  • Stop a neighbours barking dog
• Release 2025.6 – A leap towards smarter home automation - Home Assistant Blog
• A new software update is now live! - Reddit
• Blue Series (Zigbee) - Smart Presence Sensing Dimmer
• Introducing Protect 6.0 - Ubiquiti Networks Blog
• SMLIGHT Official Homepage | Useful smart automation tools
• TubesZB – TubesZB Coordinators and Router
• Dell PowerEdge R430.pdf
• Store — Elevated Sensors
• Connect You YouTube Channel
• X-Keys

On this week's show: Blink announces updates, Aoetec has a new Z-Stick Pro, FX Luminaire teams with Rachio, Philips Hue has another expensive light, Seth reviews the “AI” Horn from Ubiquity, 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!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Blink’s budget buzzer gets some worthwhile upgrades
  • Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
  • FX Luminaire Evo Outdoor Lights
  • Philips Hue is launching a stylish new smart light to 'wash' your walls with color – early Amazon listing reveals all
• SLZB-MR1 PoE Zigbee/Zwave Multi-Radio
• Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor
• AI Horn Speaker - Ubiquiti Store

On this week's show: Home Assistant Community Day is a success! Switchbot has a new lock that looks at you, Tapo has a $70 budget smart lock, Google adds AI to APIs, TCL TVs get better audio support, myQ adds a video doorbell, Apollo Automation launches a new POE powered mmWave Sensor, 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!

HA Community Day - Ohio

Show Notes

HA Community Day - Toronto

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Switchbot’s latest lock can unlock with a look
  • Tapo’s new $70 budget smart lock is packed with features
  • Google’s Home APIs are gaining Gemini intelligence
  • TCL's newest TVs will automatically calibrate wireless speakers
  • myQ Gets Its First Ever Video Doorbell for Access Control Platform - CEPRO
  • Kaleidescape Launches Strato E Movie Player
  • Apollo Automation R PRO-1 PoE mmWave Multisensor Now Available!
• Mailbag
  • Yardian - Smart Sprinkler Controller, for Smart Watering & Irrigation | Aeon Matrix
• Deprecating Core and Supervised installation methods, and 32-bit systems
• GitHub - zwave-js/zwave-js-ui: Full featured Z-Wave Control Panel UI and MQTT gateway. Built using Nodejs, and Vue/Vuetify
• Red Series (Z-Wave) - Smart Presence Sensing Dimmer
• R PRO-1 PoE mmWave Multisensor (LD2450 and Optional LD2412)
• Garage S for i Series Robot Lawn Mower

On this week's show: Getting ready for Home Assistant Community Day, Amazon still claims Alexa Plus is real, Aqara launches a voice assistant device, WiiM’s new kit, a few “interesting” outdoor lighting options from Nanoleaf and Govee, Lock Talk is back with lasers! Plus, 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!

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Amazon claims it’s ‘constantly inviting’ new customers to Alexa Plus | The Verge
  • Introducing the Voice Mate H1: Speak Discreetly, Control Instantly - Aqara Products - Aqara Forum
  • WiiM’s Sound smart speaker looks like a HomePod for audiophiles | The Verge
  • Introducing the WiiM Voice Remote 2: The Ultimate Control for Your Audio Experience : r/WiiMHome
  • Nanoleaf's new indoor and outdoor smart lights are its funkiest designs to date | TechRadar
  • New Govee Outdoor Lamp Post Lights with Matter launching soon - NotebookCheck.net News
  • Elgato is letting you stick a Stream Deck on anything | The Verge
  • Kwikset Halo Smart Locks Integrate into DoorBird App - CEPRO
  • Wi-Charge wireless power review: This Alfred door lock charges wirelessly — and I want everything in my smart home to work this way | The Verge
• Pick of the Week: How to Assemble and Install the SmartWings Pergola Flexar Q3 | Setup & Remote Control Guide

It’s Home Assistant Community Day Season! Meet up with TJ or Gavin on May 24th in Ohio or Ontario. On this week's show: WiiM is on the AppleTV, Sonos gets AI, Samsung buys more receivers, Matter gets an update, letters from the mailbag, 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!

Show Notes

• Home Assistant Commuinity Days
  • Meet TJ in Columbus, Ohio Meetup
  • Gavin will be at the Toronto meetup
• Meet TJ at Home Assistant Community Day: Columbus, Ohio Meetup
• Gavin will be in Toronto: Toronto meetup
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Adafruit gets Tariffed
  • WiiM Brings Home App to Apple TV for Big-Screen Control
  • Exclusive: Sonos launches its first AI-powered sound mode to enhance speech, developed with a major hearing-loss charity – and it sounds great | TechRadar
  • VSSL
  • Samsung acquires Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, in $350M audio deal | TechSpot
  • Matter’s latest update brings tap-to-pair setup
• Pick of the Week
  • The Screamer
• Roadmap 2025: A Truly Smart Home through Collective Intelligence - Home Assistant
• Home Assistant 2025.5 Released
• Unraid 7.1.0 Released
• Skylight | Digital Picture Frame and Smart Calendar
• Mole cricket - Wikipedia

It’s Home Assistant Community Day Season! Meet up with TJ or Gavin on May 24th in Ohio or Ontario. On this week's show: Ecowitt launches an inexpensive shut off valve with flow meter, Unifi announces new cameras, Sonos and IKEA are breaking up, Ring wants you to watch birds, Amazon Alexa+ is out, Gavin and Seth’s Navimow lawnmower first impressions, 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!

Show Notes

• Home Assistant Commuinity Days
  • Meet TJ in Columbus, Ohio Meetup
  • Gavin will be at the Toronto meetup
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Pre-Sale: Ecowitt WFC02 Smart Ball Valve Water Timer with Actuator, 1" / 2'' Brass Motorized Ball Valve & Flow Meter
  • Unifi - Introducing Next-Gen PTZ Cameras
  • Sonos and Ikea are ending their partnership
  • Ring wants Gen Z to turn their security cams into bird cams this spring
  • Amazon CEO says 100,000 users now have Alexa+
• Pick of the Week
• Brother ADS-4300N Professional Desktop Scanner with Fast Scan Speeds, Duplex, and Networking,White
• Segway Navimow X3 Series - Master Efficiency, Embrace Simplicity｜ Segway Navimow
• Navimow i105 Robotic Lawn Mower｜1/8 acre

On this week's show: Yale has a new lock with easy integration with ADT systems, Google kills 1st and 2nd gen Nest devices, Aqara releases a few new products, Wiz shows off a new HDMI TV light, light bulb cameras are a thing, Roku has new cameras, Eve joins Home Assistant, letters from the mailbag, 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!

Show NotesShow Notes

• Wyze paid $255,000 in tariffs on $167,000 worth of goods.
• This smart grill now costs $50 more thanks to tariffs.
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Yale’s new smart lock can disarm your ADT security system with your fingerprint
  • Google announces 1st and 2nd gen Nest Thermostats will lose support in October 2025 - Ars Technica
  • Meet the NEW Aqara Hub M100!
  • WiZ’s new TV light sync box undercuts Philips Hue’s pricing by half
  • Lorex’s new 2K lightbulb is a crazy smart home hybrid
  • Aqara Releases New Climate Sensor W100
  • Roku unveils two new battery-powered security cameras
  • Arlo finally adds Apple Home support to its latest cameras
  • Eve Joins Works With Home Assistant
• Z-NET Z-Wave Network Controller Interface
• CC2652 P7 Based Zigbee to PoE Coordinator 2023 – TubesZB
• Home Assistant Community Day
• Home Assistant Community Day · Events Calendar
• Register today for Community Day 2025
• Sofabaton X1
• X3 NAvimo
• SONOFF Sprinkler Timer Zigbee 3.0, Smart Sprinkler Controller Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, Automate Irrigation Timer, Water Timer for Garden Hose Outdoor Lawn Pool Watering, SWV-NHn

On this week's show: We’re starting off conversations with various manufacturers and businesses within the industry about tariffs with Zooz VP Agnes Lorenz. Max pricing is going up for people who share passwords, Josh.ai celebrates 10 years with a special edition controller, Reolink joins works with Home Assistant, a retro pick of the week, project updates, and more!

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

Show Notes

• High-tech fridge startup Tomorrow shuts down, founder cites consumer hardware headwinds
• Being nice to AI is costing tens of millions of dollars
• Tariff Talk
  • Tariffs and such
  • AVPro Global Responds to Tariffs and Market Uncertainty With New “Winning Together” Initiative - Residential Systems
  • Crestron Tariff Updates
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Max implements $8 extra member charges on all subscription plans
  • Josh.ai Celebrates Tenth Birthday With Launch of Limited Edition Hardware 💛🎉 | by Josh | Apr, 2025 | Medium
  • Reolink joins Works with Home Assistant
• Keep Windows Awake Temporarily (Prevent Sleep, Display Off or Away Mode) #cli #powershell #windows
• Pick of the Week:
  • The Serial Port
  • RETROSPEKT - Reviving Retro Tech for a New Generation

On this week's show: Gavin takes a pair of Sonos Ace Headphones for a test drive, TJ get's his fun fixed, a pick of the week, project updates, a HomeTech headline, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• 'This is so hard': The Chinese small businesses brought to a standstill by Trump's tariffs
• A strong solar storm heads to Earth. Here's what to know about northern lights
• HomeTech Headline
  • More Change at Sonos, This Time on the Board as Hugo Barra Replaces Mike Volpi - Strata-gee.com
• Pick of the Week: Someone hacked Silicon Valley crosswalks to spoof Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
• Projects
• Apollo Automation Featured in State of the Open Home 2025
• PoE Z-Wave 800 Controller & ZigBee 3.0 Network Unit( With Clear Case) | eBay
• Announcing State of the Open Home 2025