Sonos has reportedly dropped one of its worst ideas
Battered by a botched update to its flagship app last year that left its users howling for blood, Sonos badly needed a win for 2025—a new product that would finally turn the page. The solution?…
Ben Patterson
Ben Patterson
Still using Apple’s old Home architecture? Get ready for a big change
It’s been more than two years since Apple pulled the switch on an all-new architecture for its smart home app, but there are still plenty of users who are hanging onto the old Home infrastructure,…
How to change Roku’s shortcut buttons
For the most part, we’re fans of Roku’s friendly, intuitive remotes, and particularly the ones that have voice capabilities. But there’s a sticking point—four of them, actually—when it comes to the Roku remote: the quartet…
I saw Alexa+ in action. Here are my 8 biggest takeaways
After more than a year out of sight, Alexa+–the new Alexa with its AI-powered revamp–took center stage at a crowded coming-out party in New York City on Wednesday, and I got a first-hand look at…
I switched to an over-the-air TV antenna. I regret nothing
After years of watching—and paying for—so-called “peak TV” on the likes of Netflix, Apple TV+, and Max, my eyeballs were starting to glaze over. Sure, I love The Crown, Mindhunter, and Hacks, but true streaming…
A new Alexa AI is coming: What it will cost and when you can try it
If you’ve had it up to here with dumb responses from Alexa, get ready for a big change. At a glitzy event in New York City on Wednesday, Amazon unveiled–again–its AI-enhanced and “completely re-architectured” Alexa,…
Plex is dropping a popular feature from its new streaming apps
Watching Plex videos with friends is about to get harder, with the company announcing that it will drop its “Watch Together” feature from its redesigned suite of mobile and TV apps. On its community forum,…
4 things to expect at Amazon’s AI Alexa event
The table is set for Alexa’s big AI reveal, with Amazon holding a long-delayed “devices and services” event in New York City this Wednesday, February 26. So, what’s on the menu? Good question. For its…
Shopping for Google’s cheapest TV streamers? Good luck with that
It wasn’t that long ago that you could easily snap up a Chromecast with Google TV streaming device for as little as $30. Now those days appear to be over. A quick check on the…
This outdoor security camera brings Matter connectivity outside
Now here’s a clever idea. An outdoor security camera that not only keeps watch over your backyard spaces, but also bathes them in Matter and Zigbee connectivity. That’s the idea behind Aqara’s Camera Hub G5…