Morning smart home people! All good here in this part of the world, looking out the window and lots of clouds, which might put paid to my run this morning. Anyway’s here is the latest smart home scandals!
Sonos Cinemas 📽️
There has always and always will be something cool about this company! Sonos pioneered the world of wireless multi-room audio and has created some awesome products over the past decade. You can be guaranteed that anytime I come across a Sonos announcement, it will get a mention in this smart home newsletter. This latest news is related to the companies line of home theater solutions. In particular, Sonos has announced the next iteration of its Beam soundbar. Although $50 more expensive, the new products come with some enhancements:
- A beefed up processor that is 40% when compated to its predecessor.
- Dolby Atmos audio format support.
- Improved support for high-definition music services.
Check out the official announcement here.
A Smart Lock Story
And it’s about a smart lock brand, and one I might add has never crossed my radar previously. The company is called Tedee and has announced support for Apple HomeKit. If you are in the market for a smart lock then drop over to their pretty impressive-looking website.
This Weeks Blog Post ✍️
For years the company has been known as one of the world’s best in matters regarding home furniture. However, in 2012, the company started its smart home initiative to incorporate digital elements and technology into its products to offer solutions to homeowners. The company has introduced several smart products under its Tradfri Homekit, which have turned heads in the smart home market due to the relatively low price and versatility. These smart products include Wi-Fi speakers, Electric blinds, wireless charging and accessories, and smart lighting. >> Read the complete article on the blog
A Smart Mattress
This is one of those mad smart home stories that I come across every so often. Here is a product for you if you have some spare cash and attach a high value to your sleep. Let me introduce you to the ReST Smart Bed! Full of sensors this smart mattress adjusts according to your movements at night and also tracks sleep quality. Installation seems pretty involved, but if you are looking at techniques to enhance sleep levels, check out this detailed review.
iOS 15 Smart Home
In recent days, Apple launched its latest iOS version and it includes some smart home features. First up was an improvement to Siri that enables voice control of smart devices at specific times. For instance, it will now be possible to say ‘Hey Siri, turn off the lights in 30 minutes. This capability is already available in Alexa and Google Home and great to see Apple following suit. Another useful addition to iOS 15 is the enhancement of HomeKit compatible cameras to identify packages at your front door. And while on the subject, the software update also includes an iCloud recording of unlimited HomeKit Secure Video compatible cameras and doorbells. More cool stuff announced at the event, include:
- The default speakers for Apple TV can now be two HomePod minis.
- Improved HomePod mini media control on the lock screen.
- Siri will respond to your smart home commands in a manner that takes into account any ambient noise in the area.
If you’re looking to dig in deeper, head over to Mac Rumours synopsis of the updates right here.
Weekly Smart Home Voice Command! 🎤
Hey, Siri, Turn on the fan in the office.
This is it for today, See you next Sunday 😉. If you have colleagues, friends, or neighbors that would benefit from knowing about smart home devices, please consider sharing them.
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– Gerard