5 must-know Apple TV tips and tricks
With its silky performance and razor-sharp video resolution, the Apple TV 4K has been my streaming box of choice for years, but it has some quirks that drive me up the wall. For instance, why…
Ben Patterson
Ben Patterson
Peacock’s new Select plan might be cheaper, but it’s missing a lot
It’s official: Peacock’s with-ads plan is now the priciest of its big-name streaming competitors. At the same time, Peacock has rolled out a new, cheaper plan aimed at budget-conscious cord-cutters—but you’ll be missing some of…
Google Assistant’s been having a rough few weeks. Here’s Google’s response
Nope, it’s not just you: Reports of Google Assistant strugglng to perform even basic smart home commands have been surging in recent weeks, and now Google is admitting that something’s amiss. The lead executive for…
The Wyze Cam Vase hides a security camera in plain sight
With its latest security camera accessory, Wyze is aiming to tidy up your home decor while making it easier to spy on the happenings in a room. Yes, it’s a little creepy. The $20 Wyze…
Wyze’s $20 socket powers an outdoor camera, makes a dumb bulb smart
Keeping an outdoor camera powered up can be a vexing issue, involving solar panels, swappable batteries, outdoor wiring, or a combination of the three. Add smart lights to the mix, and your setup will become…
Ring says the ‘May 28 camera hack’ going viral on TikTok wasn’t a hack
Worried that hackers got access to your Ring cameras on May 28? The “May 28 Ring camera hack” videos have been all over TikTok in recent days, but Ring asserts that the hacking fears are…
Peacock’s with-ads plan will soon be the priciest of the big streamers
Time for another price hike, this time from Peacock, and it’s a big one. Starting July 23 for new subscribers, Peacock will raise the price of its ad-supported Premium tier to $10.99 a month, according…
Google just hiked the price of its Nest Aware security cam plans
Google is once again raising prices on subscription plans for its Nest cameras, a little less than two years after aits last price hike. Starting immediately for new subscribers, Nest Aware will cost $10 a…
I spent a day with Amazon’s Alexa+: It’s not perfect, but it’s much smarter
“Alexa,” I asked the Echo display in my kitchen, “what was that song from The Hills? You know, that MTV show? Can you play it on the Echo Show in the office?” The old Alexa…
I love this $13 ethernet switch so much, I bought 3 of them
We all think of wireless when it comes to smart home and home entertainment—Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, Thread, Z-Wave, and what have you—but a surprising number of smart devices depend on good, old-fashioned wired ethernet for…