Hey there, and GM!
Let’s dive into what’s happening in the smart home metaverse this past week! And enjoy today’s curated news!
Moen Expands Adds Irrigation Systems to Their Smart Home Network
At CES 2023, Moen announced the addition of a Smart Sprinkler Container and Smart Wireless Soil Sensors to its lineup of smart gadgets. Moen projects that the new Smart Sprinkler Container can help homeowners reduce their average irrigation water use by up to 30%. This will save them 15,000 gallons of water every year compared to a clock-based controller.
Other products in the Smart Water Network include the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, Smart Leak Detectors, Smart Sump Pump Monitor, Smart Faucet, Smart Shower, and the Smart Sprinkler Controller with Wireless Soil Sensors.
In addition to these products working individually, they can also connect with other Moen smart gadgets through the Smart Water App. Professional integrators can also connect these smart gadgets with any smart home platform of their choice.
HDAnywhere Introduces uControl Remote
HDAnywhere (HDA) has recently launched uControl remote, a slender hand-held, hard-button interface to control all devices connected to an HDA System. This remote will provide users with a unified whole-home AV experience, with endless entertainment and scene-setting options. This will be more affordable than other comparable solutions in the market while also being an attractive proposition for installers.
The uControl Remote is easy to use, dedicated, and customizable and can easily specify into any HDA installation. The remote comes with a wireless charging mat that ensures it is always ready to use. It combines Wi-Fi and infrared technology to help users power on and control all the audio-visual technology in a room as well as third-party systems.
The uControl Remote has 44 buttons that can trigger a quick action, routine, sequence, or scene with a single press. The remote is expected to start shipping in the third quarter of 2023. The company will announce final pricing and pre-order information closer to the shipping date.
Wyze’s New Security Cameras
Wyze has released two new affordable smart cameras with plenty of features. The Wyze Cam OG and the Cam OG Telephoto 3× will serve as a new camera line offering similar features as the Wyze Cam v3. Priced at $19.99, the Wyze Cam OG comes equipped with an integrated motion-activated 40-lumen spotlight to pick up greater image detail and help deter authorized people from your property.
On the other hand, the $29.99 Cam OG Telephoto 3× provides a zoom lens to help users get a clearer view of distant areas. In addition to being affordable, the two new cameras support a new feature called Picture In Picture Live View, which allows users to pair two cameras together and view the live stream feed via the Wyze app.
The Cam OG can deliver 20fps video in daylight and 15fps at night, while the Cam OG Telephoto 3× can deliver 20fps in the daytime and 10fps at night. Both cameras feature an ARM v8M 500MHz processor, two-way audio, and 512MB of memory. They can also support microSD cards up to 256GB for 24/7 recording.
It’s also worth noting that the two new cameras support integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant. However, they don’t support 5GHz Wi-Fi and can only be used with 2.4GHz networks.
Apple Introduces the New HomePod
Apple recently announced the new HomePod (2 nd Generation), a powerful smart speaker that delivers new-level acoustics in a gorgeous design. In addition to being packed with Apple invocations and Siri intelligence, the new HomePod also offers advanced computational audio with support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks.
With this device, users can now create home automation using Siri, get notified when carbon monoxide or smoke is detected, and check humidity levels in the house-hands-free. The smart speaker will support Matter and use end-to-end encryption for all communications. The new HomePod is available for order online and in the App Store, with availability beginning February 3, 2023.
Smart Home AI-Generated Illustration of the Week!
This is it for today, See you next Sunday morning 😉. If you have colleagues, friends, or neighbors that would benefit from knowing about smart home devices, please consider sharing them. They can sign up for the newsletter by going here.
– Gerard