With our workplaces ever more mobile, and our homes increasingly cramped thanks to their double duty as offices as well as living spaces, finding the perfect gear to get work done on the go or at home has become more important than ever. Choosing the best portable monitor for Mac is a key purchase for […]

Apple HomeKit Apple HomeKit, also known as Apple Home, is a smart home platform that lets you control all your smart home gadgets in one place. Its main competitors are Amazon Alexa and Google Home, both of which offer similar functionality and support for a wide range of products. There's a lot of nuance to […]

Natural light helps to sell homes, but it can also be an inconvenience, like when it causes glare on your TV screen. Sun blinds are the solution, but what if you don't want to manually close the curtains? Smart sun protection can be expensive, but there are affordable DIY kits to transform standard blinds into […]

Amazon is bringing back the best prices yet on Nanoleaf's range of modular lighting kits. Four different packages are available, including the basic starter package with four of the light bars for $79.99 shipped. This is $20 off the usual rate of $100, and comes down to the holiday price one last time before Christmas. […]

On this week's episode of the HomeKit Insider podcast, your hosts discuss new products from Meross, how to get your MyQ garage door back into CarPlay, and several new MagSafe chargers. As the episode opens, MyQ returns to CarPlay – with a catch. After discontinuing the dedicated HomeKit hub, MyQ has a new way of […]

In October we reported on a new feature for the Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 that would enable sleep monitoring. At the time it seemed that only Chinese FP2 models and servers offered this new option, but it is now starting to be rolled out internationally, to all consumers, with firmware V1.2.3_0002.0059. If you're not familiar […]

Revolutionizing Storage Units with Apple HomeKit The evolution of storage units and the role of Apple HomeKit The evolution of storage units from simple lock-and-key spaces to advanced, technology-integrated solutions marks a significant leap in the way we secure and manage our assets. The advent of smart storage has transformed these units into highly efficient, […]

On this week's episode of the HomeKit Insider podcast, your hosts review the latest smart home news before getting started with the new Eve Play. This week, Faith O'Hara joins the podcast as co-host to discuss the latest news in the smart home space, starting with the launch of the Onvis SMS2. The Onvis SMS2 […]

After the introduction of the Nanoleaf Essentials Matter product line last month, I spent almost a week testing the new devices. These use Bluetooth and/or Thread for their connection and are available in a $19.99 A19 bulb and an 80-inch Light Strip kit for $49.99. How well do they work? Great once you link them […]

When you ask people why they want smart blinds, or why they enjoy the smart blinds they already have installed, you can expect a wide range of answers. Some will tell you about the privacy benefits of blinds that remember to close every night. A few will provide an analysis on how smart blinds have […]

On this week's episode of the HomeKit Insider podcast, your hosts discuss the launch of Eve Play, Ecobee's new doorbell update, and our favorite HomeKit devices. HomeKit InsiderAfter previously being announced, the Eve Play can now be ordered. This AirPlay compatible box lets you stream music to your existing bookshelf speakers. Lutron released a new […]

Although I chose Apple HomeKit to run my smart home in 2021, I've tried most of the major smart home platforms. And in 2020, Home Assistant was one of them, the free, open-source software that integrates with thousands of devices and services. Considering my recent mini-rants about app-centric homes and Apple HomeKit not working properly […]

Before you can start updating your devices, you need to make some preparations. First and foremost, you'll need a compatible Apple brand device, an iPhone, iPad, or a Mac computer. Everything works, but whatever you're using must have the latest update and be within wireless range of the smart devices you want to connect to […]

When it comes to smart homes, the one item that can really make a difference is the smart plug. Smart plugs are the fastest and most affordable option for ordinary people to turn ordinary household appliances into a smart home ecosystem. For example, you can plug in your coffee maker and have your morning cup […]

The SwitchBot Curtain 3 Review: Control Your Curtains with HomeKit and Matter Integration The SwitchBot Curtain 3 allows you to control your curtains with HomeKit via Matter integration, as long as you have the required hub. SwitchBot, a company best known for making the Smart Switch Button Pusher, offers a range of smart home devices, […]

Upgrade Your Home Security with a Smart Doorbell One of the most important parts of keeping your home safe is having a smart doorbell; a doorbell with a built-in camera is even better. HomeKit doorbells are particularly useful because they connect to your iPhone and then give you a live view of what's happening outside […]

Your Roku TV is already pretty smart when it comes to apps and services. However, you can make it smarter by connecting it to Apple's HomeKit smart home platform. MUO VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Adding HomeKit to the mix lets you turn on your TV with a Siri voice command, […]

Amazon is now offering a discount on a range of Lutron Caseta smart lighting starter packs with HomeKit. Everything ships for free across the board and starts right now at $75.95, but in our favorite bundle on sale today, this Deluxe Smart Dimmer Switch Kit takes the spotlight. It normally retails for $195, but is […]

The Chamberlain myQ smart garage door opener now blocks access from Homebridge, Home Assistant and other third-party apps. It follows the company discontinuing the myQ Home Bridge Hub last year, making the door opener HomeKit compatible. The motivation for this move appears to be to force people to use Chamberlain's own app so they have […]

Christmas Shopping for Apple Fans Christmas shopping is in full swing and you only have a few days left to get your online orders in or you'll be rushing to the shops for your last-minute items. HomeKit accessories are among the best items you can give to an Apple fan, because people always need more […]

Security and a smart home can start at the front door. A smart lock is one of the easiest ways to bring technology into your home. Besides being able to easily control access to your home and always see who is coming and going, another great advantage is that you can say goodbye to keys […]

Amazon is now offering a new low for the Nanoleaf Essentials Smart Matter Light Bulb. Each of the new releases drops to $10.99 with free shipping for Prime members or on orders over $25. This is 45% off the usual $20 price tag and marks a new low. It's $4 less than the only other […]

Amazon is now offering the ecobee SmartThermostat Premium for $219.99 shipped. This is down from the usual $250 price tag, and marks a $30 discount as the second-best offer yet. It's the advertised Black Friday discount and it's one of the first chances to save on the more recent flagship release. It also comes within […]

Our choice: This affordable smart bulb is one of the brightest we tested. It doesn't offer special effects, but it does offer excellent color and reliable basic functions, including remote control, scheduling and timers. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT Offering an output of 1,100 lumens, the equivalent of a 75-watt bulb, the Wyze […]

HomeKit Insider Podcast HomeKit Insider Podcast On this week's episode of the HomeKit Insider podcast, we talk about how Chamberlain's MyQ blocks third-party API access, discuss the best HomeKit light switches for 2023, and feature special guest Mikah Sargent on the show. MyQ has had a rough time in the news cycle lately. First, the […]

```html Notifications are essential for keeping an eye on your smart home, and the Apple Home app makes it easy to keep an eye on your accessories at all times. With just a few simple steps, you can set up camera notifications, HomePod safety alerts, and more. We show you everything you need to know. […]

The Apple TV 4K supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR, has access to the most popular streaming services, and includes Apple's TV+ service and its accompanying TV app, which integrates streaming content from multiple services in one place. Pros Supports more expensive TVs Nice interface Easy to navigate Cons Expensive Remote control difficult to […]

I have long considered Lutron Caseta to be the most elegant and easy-to-use HomeKit lighting solution. Lutron makes the wall switch smart and works with standard dimmable lamps; Other solutions place the smarts in the lights and then require remote controls on the walls and never turning off the wall switch. Lutron's Fan Speed ​​Control […]

While you can control your entire HomeKit setup from an El Gato Stream Deck, the solution is far from obvious. This is what you need to do. Egg, chicken, chicken, egg. While HomeKit remained less successful than, say, Amazon's Alexa ecosystem, third-party companies might only develop Apple's home app as a sideline. Hopefully this will […]

As thoroughly integrated as HomeKit can be for iPhone and iPad owners building a smart home, there's a recurring problem: compatibility with the broader world of accessories available to Amazon Alexa and Google Home users, at least until more Matter products arrive. Here's how to use Homebridge to maximize Apple's platform. Homebridge is free, open-source […]

“Hey, Siri” is a phrase we've all come to know, whether we use it in our daily lives or through a parody of voice assistants. Siri has some great features that we might not use every day, including controlling our smart home via HomeKit. HomeKit is Apple's version of the underlying smart home technology, similar […]

Alexa vs. HomeKit vs. Google: How to Choose the Best Smart Home System for You When it comes to choosing a smart home system, there are several options to consider. From Alexa to HomeKit to Google, each system has its own set of features and benefits. So, how do you determine which one is best […]

The holiday period is fast approaching, and finding the right gifts for Apple fans can be a somewhat overwhelming task. We're here to help! With Apple's product line-up ever expanding, picking out the right presents for Mac users, the ideal stocking fillers for iPhone owners, or the perfect accessory for Apple Watch fanatics, can be […]