HomeTech.fm

On this week's show: Tariffs are a causing havoc on smart home device pricing, and then may not? Who knows. The rich want “dumb” homes more than smart homes, Aqara adds the Matter for 50 device types, SmartThings gets Matter 1.4, Eufy has some interesting spring announcements, Samsung releases a BB-8 style robot, Sonos drops prices on a few products, Z-wave isn’t dead for real this time, 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

• Smart home device manufacturers are bracing for chaos — again
• How Much Could Tariffs Increase iPhone Prices? We Do the Math
• Why the Ultrarich Are Unplugging From “Smart Homes”
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Aqara adds support for 50 new Matter device types | The Verge
  • Reddit: Aqara Event and Announcements
  • SmartThings gets Matter 1.4 support for water heaters, heat pumps, and more | The Verge
  • Eufy Spring Lineup Announced
  • Samsung is finally releasing Ballie, its rolling home robot | The Verge
  • Apple Considers Delaying Smart Home Hub Until 2026 [Gurman] - iClarified
  • Sonos permanently drops the price of its Era 100 speaker and Ray soundbar | The Verge
  • Z-Wave is remaking itself to find a new place in your smart home | The Verge
  • About the command retry feature - 📰 News and Updates / Announcements - Hubitat
• Pick of the Week
  • Apollo’s First Industrial Sensor Installation at LOTTE Aluminium USA i – Apollo Automation
• Home Assistant 2025.4 Released
• Network UPS Tools - Welcome
• Noctua Fans
• Dell PowerEdge R510 Silent Mod - feat. Mini Noctua Fans

On this week's show: Aqara updates the G5 Pro based on customer feedback, Logitech starts to stop supporting some Harmony remotes, Alexa+ is out but only for a select few, Yale releases an ugly lock, Samsung wants to text you on your vacuum cleaner, Gavin tests out HomeyPro, a pick of the week, letters from the mailbag, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• Logitech Stops Support of Gen1 Hardware
• Aqara Listens to its Users
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Motionblinds joins Works with Home Assistant
  • Wyze’s new camera filter claims to cut down on nuisance alerts
  • Alexa Plus just launched in early access, but it’s missing some features
  • Amazon tests renaming Echo smart displays to Alexa
  • Alfred Debuts Seriously Smart DB1 Pro Lock at ISC West
  • Yale’s new smart lock can match your Google Nest doorbell
  • Roborock ramps up for Matter support
  • Ikea Matter-over-Thread smart switch incoming
  • Samsung’s new smart fridges boast AI and smaller screens
  • Samsung’s latest stick vac can alert you to calls and text messages
• Pick of the Week: An electrical panel that works so hard it needs a smoke break
• Noctua
• Dell PowerEdge R510 Silent Mod - feat. Mini Noctua Fans
• GL-AXT1800 / Slate AX
• Homey Pro - the world’s most advanced smart home hub.
• OKBRAND 8 ft. x 50 in. Handy Panel Max 50 10-Line Cattle Feedlot Fence Panel

One this weeks show: Rachio releases a smart outdoor lighting transformer that Matters, UniFi launches more products, Switchbot announces integrations with Home Assistant, Wiim has a new 100W amp, Plex raises prices, SAVI Controls and Oliver IQ merge, Netflix offering HDR10+, a pick of the week, project updates, and Gavin's tale of how his technology stacked up against car thieves. All this and more on this week's HomeTech!

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

Show Notes

AI generated recreation of the theft in progress.

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Rachio Low Voltage Lighting Transformer
  • UniFi - Introducing: Protect G6
  • SwitchBot adds robot vacuums, smart shades, and its new Hub 3 to Home Assistant
  • Wiim’s Vibelink Amp Delivers 100W of Power to a Variety of Sound Systems
  • Plex ups pricing and restructures subscription fees
  • The Free Software Media System | Jellyfin
  • Emby
  • SAVI Controls & OliverIQ Merge to Form SAVI iQ - CEPRO
  • Netflix will stream shows and movies in HDR10+ on supported devices
• Pick of the Week
  • Does anyone know where I can find a 3 gang plate with the plug on the right side not the left??
• IPC3628SR-ADF28(40)KM-WP - Uniview - Leader of AIoT Solution
• The Club (automotive) - Wikipedia

On this week's show: Two weeks of news from all around the industry including updates from Amazon, Google, Sonos, iRobot, Josh.ai, IKEA, Home Assistant, and more! We also take a few moments to answer questions from the mailbag, review a few open projects, and turn our socks right-side out. All this and so much more on this week's HomeTech!

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

Show Notes

• Sony BRAVIA 8 65” class OLED 4K HDR Google TV (2024) | K-65XR80
• 65 inch LG OLED evo AI C4 4K Smart TV 2024 - OLED65C4PUA | LG USA
• SANUS VLT7
• DMF Lighting
• Florence Y'all Water Tower - Wikipedia
• All-new Alexa Show 15 | A stunning HD 15.6" smart kitchen TV for home organization
• Made for Amazon Under-Cabinet Mount, for Echo Show 15 (Gen 1, 2021 & Gen 2, 2024 Releases)
• Echo Show 5 3rd Gen Under Cabinet Kitchen Mount Bracket for Amazon Alexa Devices | Compatible with 3rd Gen 2023 Model | All Hardware Included (Black)
• Sylvox Under Counter TV
• HomeTech Headlines
  • YouTube - 2025 Josh.AI Winter Launch Event
  • “Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen - Ars Technica
  • Amazon Announces Premium Alexa Devices Under ‘Signature’ Line • iPhone in Canada Blog
  • Amazon is taking away the option of not sending voice recordings to the cloud | The Verge
  • Undocumented commands found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices
  • ESP32 Undocumented Bluetooth Commands: Clearing the Air
  • Sonos has canceled its streaming video player | The Verge
  • iRobot tells investors its future is in doubt | The Verge
  • iRobot launches eight new Roombas and finally adds lidar mapping
  • Will iRobot’s reinvention of the Roomba be at the expense of its history of innovation? | The Verge
  • After nine years, Google is officially ditching Assistant for Gemini
  • Google warns folks with dead Chromecasts not to reset them • The Register
  • Ikea registered a Matter-over-Thread temperature sensor with the FCC | The Verge
  • Ubiquiti - Introducing Pro XG Lineup
  • Sony Unveils Next-Gen RGB LED Display Technology - CEPRO
  • Home Assistant officially Matters - Home Assistant
• Exporting Clips & Cloud Archiving with UniFi Protect
• Gavin Campbell with Electrical Upgrades, AI Automation and a new Robot Lawn Mower is on the way - HGG640
• Netstor Technology

On this week's show: People want OLED and big TVs, Abode is now on AppleTV, Switchbot launches shades, Ubiquiti has a number of new WiFi 7 products, ThirdReality has a mmWave sensor, we answer a few letters from listeners, project updates, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• Florence, Kentucky - Wikipedia
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Report Finds OLED, Extra-Large TVs Currently Leading TV Sales Growth - CEPRO
  • You can now control your Abode security system from your Apple TV.
  • SwitchBot launches cut-your-own smart shades
  • Introducing U7 Lite & In-Wall
  • Ubiquiti Shows U7 Pro XG and Dream Router 5G at MWC
  • Motion Sensor R1 – ThirdReality
  • AquaFlower - Offically Launched
• HDHomeRun – Silicondust
• Tablo TV - Watch & Record Live TV. Subscription Free.
• What is the MCS Index?
• Home Assistant 2024.3 Released
• Music Assistant's next big hit - Home Assistant

On this week's show: Apollo joins the Works with Home Assistant program, YoLink releases a new local hub, eero launches their Wi-Fi 7 router lineup, UniFi announces new 10 Gigabit Cloud Gateways, several new smart home products hit, Tado raises eyebrows with app subscription tests, Amazon unveils their long awaited, AI-powered Alexa+, a pick of the week, TJ's honest review of the Aqara G5 Pro, project updates, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Apollo joins the Works With Home Assistant Program - Home Assistant
  • YoLink Releases Local Hub
  • Introducing eero 7 and eero Pro 7: Our Wi-Fi 7 family just got bigger. – The Download
  • Introducing All-New 10 Gigabit UniFi Cloud Gateways
  • This smart video lock unlocks with a wave of your hand
  • Ring’s new security camera supports 2K video out of the box | The Verge
  • Eve adds a Matter over Thread dimmer switch. | The Verge
  • Leviton Decora Evolve Smart Dimmer Module
  • Tado told users it would start charging for its app | The Verge
  • Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa
  • Amazon Unveils AI-Powered Alexa+
  • Amazon unveils AI-powered Alexa+, not available in Canada yet
• Pick of the Week
  • Montreal's Snow Dump
  • Snow removal - Wikipedia
• The Night Of (TV Mini Series 2016) ⭐ 8.4 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Severance (TV Series 2022– ) ⭐ 8.7 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Silo (TV Series 2023– ) ⭐ 8.1 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Open Sound Control - Wikipedia
• Aquatel D110 Wireless Tank Fluid Monitor Driver for Control4
• Camera Hub G5 Pro - Aqara
• Bed Presence for ESPHome — Elevated Sensors

On this week’s show: Josh AI announces their Winter Event, prices are going up in response to tariffs, Netflix scrambles to prevent their app from being what customers want, Aqara releases new switches in the US, and perhaps a new PoE camera, plus our 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

• Florida red tide map shows harmful algal bloom forecast
• HomeTech Headlines
  • Josh AI Winter Event
  • Acer is the first to raise laptop prices because of Trump
  • Netflix says its brief Apple TV app integration was a mistake
  • Have Apple and Netflix finally made an Apple TV deal? – Six Colors
  • Aqara's New Matter/Thread Switches Arrive in the US
  • Aqara G5 Pro's also for sale? Pick of the Week
  • Ordering a Vacuum Robot from Temu
• HomeTech.Social
• Camera G5 PTZ - Ubiquiti Store
• GitHub - dermotduffy/advanced-camera-card: A comprehensive camera card for Home Assistant
• RATGDO
• Recommended settings for using Sonos with Ethernet networks
• LED Strip Lights T1 - Aqara

On this week's show: Unifi drops their new SuperLink IoT gateway, Sonos makes headlines with executive changes and weird canceled products, we discuss the future of smart appliances, answer some 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

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Unifi Introduces SuperLink!
  • Sonos’ chief marketing officer has left the company
  • Sonos explored creating a MagSafe speaker for iPhones
  • Smart appliances should come with an expiration date
• Pick of the Week
  • Weird Estate (@[email protected])
  • Zillow Gone Wild 🏡 on Instagram
• Bed Presence for ESPHome — Elevated Sensors

On this week's show: Sonos has ambitious goals for the streaming space, Amazon is teasing a February mystery product event, Apollo Automation is shipping their Temp-1 sensor for Home Assistant users, a pick of the week, project updates, Gavin drops a bombshell about is new NVR system, and so much more!

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

Show Notes

• Government to Use Its AI for Nuclear Weapon Security
• How to watch Super Bowl 2025: Chiefs vs. Eagles on Sunday, February 9
• HomeTech Headlines
  • After a bruising year, Sonos readies its next big thing: a streaming box
  • Amazon announces February product event
  • Apollo Automation Releases Temp-1 Sensor
  • Home: On #159 - Pre-gaming CES with Jimmy Hawkins
  • BioLite Outdoor & Off-Grid Charging, Cooking & Lighting
• Pick of the Week: Using an Aqara Window Contact Sensor to Detect Toilet Flushes
• HA 2025.2 Released - Major updates to backups
• Bed Presence for ESPHome — Elevated Sensors
• UniFi Camera Security - Ubiquiti

On this week's show: Elevate your smart living experience with groundbreaking HomeTech news and information! We unpack Unifi's game-changing AI Key for next-gen automation and Xiaomi's Matter-enabled Smart LED Bulb that redefines ambient intelligence. Discover Logitech's revolutionary peel-and-stick radar sensors for invisible space optimization and Apple's Thread radio breakthrough transforming iPhone connectivity. We analyze market-shifting tariff impacts on TSMC's chip dominance and insights from Acquired Podcast's deep dive. The CSA/Thread/Wi-Fi Alliance dream team reveals their blueprint to supercharge Matter's potential. Plus: marvel at a handcrafted pick of the week, explore ComfyUI's AI-powered creative suite, unlock pro audio control with our featured Sonos menu bar app (while the Ecobee API window closes for newcomers), project updates, and more!

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

Show Notes

• HomeTech Headlines
  • Unifi AI Key
  • New Xiaomi Smart LED Bulb with Matter support appears
  • Logitech’s peel-and-stick radar sensors could let companies invisibly monitor their offices
  • Here’s another use for that Thread radio in your iPhone.
  • Trump to impose 25% to 100% tariffs on Taiwan-made chips, impacting TSMC
  • TSMC (Remastered) | Acquired Podcast
  • How the CSA, Thread Group, and Wi-Fi Alliance plan to fix Matter | The Verge
• Pick of the Week
  • This is my wood case for a home assistant touch display, the cover is made from an old t-shirt and the wood is machined from oak
• ComfyUI | Generate video, images, audio with AI
• Ecobee API No Longer available to new users
• Menu Bar Controller for Sonos - Mac App
• TJ's Bluesky HomeTech Feed