Ikea and Samsung promise glitch-free Matter integration
… So it’s a little troubling to see this level of effort required to make Ikea’s promise of a cheap, accessible, and reliable smart home a reality.
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More Google Home speakers could be on the way.
While the Google Home Speaker was nowhere to be seen at I/O, the company did announce it’s getting back into the third-party smart speaker game. A new Speaker Reference Design will let manufacturers build Gemini-powered smart speakers, and rumors point to a Walmart Onn speaker being the first. …
Google Assistant
… Screenshot The Verge Tariffs kill the Starling Home Hub, Google Nest’s best bridge to Apple Home Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Sep 17, 2025 Google’s first Gemini smart home speaker detailed in leak Dominic Preston Aug 22, 2025 Gemini for Home is Google’s biggest smart home play in years Jennifer Pattison… …
Google Home makes it easier to understand why devices aren’t working
… Now, whenever a device goes offline, users may get “instant account-relinking prompts” in the app’s device controller pages, which will tell users right away if an expired partner link is the reason one of their smart home devices isn’t connected. …
The cost of the smart home is going up
… The rising costs of smart home ownership Then there’s the other challenge. When and if AI in the smart home can deliver genuine value, I’m not convinced people will be willing to pay more for it. Subscription fatigue is real, and AI has already driven up the cost of smart home ownership. …
This mechanical bird drops dead when your home’s air quality worsens
… The app also facilitates integrations with smart home platforms including Home Assistant and Homey so you can potentially automate a response to unfavorable conditions like turning on an air purifier.
SwitchBot’s acquisition of Nanoleaf is about more than lighting
… In an exclusive interview with The Verge, Nanoleaf CEO Gimmy Chu says the company will remain independent and that he and his cofounder and COO, Christian Yan, will continue to run it. “Nothing is changing operationally,” says Chu, adding that there are plans for product integrations between the tw… …
Govee’s multicolor ceiling light doubles as a low-res screen
… The Ceiling Light Ultra is compatible with Matter, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings so it can be automated and integrated with existing smart home routines. …
Ikea’s smart lamp is a sweet treat
… However, sharing the device from Apple Home to Home Smart using Matter’s Multi-Admin feature didn’t work. I eventually got the lamp working on both platforms by first pairing it with Dirigera, then using a Matter code generated in the Home Smart app to connect to Apple Home. …
Homebridge 2.0 is here, and it speaks Matter
Homebridge, the popular software solution that allows you to integrate non-HomeKit devices like Ring cameras into Apple Home, is adding support for the Matter smart home standard. Today, May 4th, Homebridge 2.0, which has been in beta for over three years, officially launches. …