Tag: Smart Home

Google Nest speakers to cut down on chatter in a future update

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 21 April 2023

Google’s Nest family of smart speakers are in line for a small yet significant update. As per a Google Nest Community blog post, the company plans on toning down certain verbal responses.

When asking the speaker to do things like adjust the temperature or the speaker volume, you’re currently greeted by a voice that confirms the action. This update promises to replace many of these unnecessary responses with a subtle chime to signify the same thing.

According to Google, the update will begin rolling out in the next few weeks. The functionality is already live for adjusting room lights, but will be expanding to include blinds, fans, and more.

There’s one downer, though — the chimes will only sound if you’re physically inside the room you’re controlling with your voice. In other words, if you plan on turning off your kitchen lights from your bedroom, you can expect the chatter to continue.

Google is also hosting a virtual discussion panel to get feedback from Nest users.

Source: Google

Tags Google, nest, Smart Home, smart speaker

Mobile Syrup

Toronto-based Nanoleaf’s Nathan Dyck is hyped for Matter — you should be too

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 16 April 2023

If you follow developments in smart home technology, you’ve likely heard of Matter and Thread, though you might not fully understand them.

The duo represents a big shift in how smart home devices connect to and communicate with each other and has been the basis of much hype from the companies that make smart home tech and the enthusiasts who use it.

Over the last few months, the first trickle of Matter and Thread devices have emerged. Big names like Google, Apple and Amazon have pushed updates to products to enable Matter and/or Thread support. But with all the buzz, should you buy into the hype?

I sat down with Toronto-based Nanoleaf’s CPO Nathan Dyck to get to the bottom of that question and figure out whether Matter matters and what it means for the home of the future.

Explain it like I’m five

When I asked Dyck to explain Matter to me like I’m five, he started by comparing it to language.

“Everyone in the smart home world, moving forward, is kind of looking at Matter to be that one language that everyone is speaking,” Dyck explained.

Matter isn’t a language, per se — Dyck said the technical term is “application layer” — but the concept holds. The idea is that, through Matter, everything ends up using the same foundation to communicate. For example, something simple like turning a light on or off will work across a variety of products from different manufacturers because they all work from the same foundation.

If Matter is the language devices use to communicate, Dyck says Thread is the vehicle for that communication, like the telephone is to speech.

“The purpose of Thread is it’s a low-powered mesh technology. That is really, really important for battery-operated sensors,” Dyck said. “That’s where [Thread] exceeds Wi-Fi and why it’s really important for the smart home.”

“The mesh part of it is also quite useful, especially when you’re talking about covering any sort of space that’s more than just a single room… That’s actually a really good reason to have [Nanoleaf] light bulbs because they actually extend your mesh so you can have something that covers a very large home.”

Thread has the added benefit of shifting all these smart home devices off your Wi-Fi network, which should help performance on both sides.

While both sound important, it’s worth noting you don’t necessarily need both technologies (though you probably should use both if you’re serious about your smart home).

“I think Matter and Thread [are] kind of complementary technologies. You don’t, technically, need Thread to have certain Matter products,” Dyck said. “But when you put them hand-in-hand and couple them with automation… that’s the recipe for future use cases and future experiences.”

Lots to be excited about, but automation is the big one

While speaking with Dyck about Matter and Thread, he kept circling back to automation as a major benefit. Automating lights has been around for years, but Matter and Thread are set to really expand the capabilities while also making it much, much simpler for people to set up.

“When I was a kid… we’d have these little dials that you plug into your socket and connect it to your lamp, and it was scheduling your light for you,” Dyck said. “It was like, 30 years ago, so obviously schedules evolved, moved into the actual products themselves or the platforms that control them.”

But all these things are still somewhat separate, although there are tools to bring these disparate systems together. Anecdotally, I use smart products from Nanoleaf, LIFX and Aukey in my home and use Google Home to control them rather than jumping between each platform’s app. But if I go too far beyond simple on/off commands, things start to fall apart, even if the products themselves are capable of much more.

“You can pick and choose products from different companies, you can build some automations through various platforms… you can actually do that really effectively once you spend the, say, three months or three years of your life trying to figure them all out,” Dyck said.

“My desire is to make that super, super simple.”

Automation extends beyond just scheduling when your lights turn on or off. Dyck discussed a vision of a future home where lights were responsive to the environment, adjusting to the brightness of a room or turning off if a room was empty, adjusting colour throughout the day to better match people’s circadian rhythms.

The curse of commodification?

It’s ambitious, but with Matter and Thread, the hope is that automated lighting becomes accessible to the average person. But for all Dyck’s optimism about the future of lightning, not everyone shares the view.

In recent weeks, some smart home companies have pulled back from Matter over concerns of commodification. Notably, Belkin’s Wemo smart home brand paused the development of Matter devices in March, telling The Verge it would launch new Matter products when it finds a way to differentiate them.

“If your product doesn’t know how to differentiate itself except for the fact that it can connect to all these different platforms and basically have seven different ways to turn on the light bulb, yeah I would expect you’re scared of that commodification,” Dyck said.

“On the flip side… Those seven different ways to turn off the light bulb is what we’ve had to spend so much of our time doing in the past. So we’ve invested a lot of time into Matter as an eighth way… but I think it is the final one. I’m confident of that.”

Confident as Dyck is, he also referenced this XKCD comic about standards development that pokes fun at how efforts to make one universal standard proliferate standards.

Either way, Dyck isn’t concerned about Nanoleaf here. “Once we hit on, what we originally called the Aurora, the Light Panels, which is now evolved into our Shapes and Elements… that’s a differentiated experience.”

Getting started with Matter and Thread

To wrap things up, Dyck outlined the basics people need to get started with Matter and Thread.

“There are two main components for Matter and for Thread,” Dyck explained. “For Matter, generally speaking, you’ll need what’s called a Matter controller or a hub.”

Dyck said Matter controllers are built into a variety of products, typically smart speakers. Moreover, the controller is pretty important because, according to Dyck, it’s kinda like the “brain” of the operation.

On the Thread side, you need a border router — these often live in smart speakers as well, and in other products. Border routers are essentially the interface between your Thread mesh and the devices connected to it and the wider internet. Dyck says the border router is used to relay messages to Thread devices.

“The border router… is built on the same technology [as] the internet and your home router, the internet protocol,” Dyck said. “That makes it really flexible.”

“I think that openness is… a really important piece that I think differentiates Matter from previous applications or languages,” Dyck said.

Matter and Thread certainly seem different, and everything sounds promising so far. But it remains to be seen how the standard evolves going forward and if, as Dyck believes, it ushers in a simpler connected home.

Tags matter, Nanoleaf, Nathan Dyck, Smart Home, thread

Mobile Syrup

Toronto-based Nanoleaf unveils new Matter-compatible smart lights

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 22 March 2023

Toronto-based smart light company Nanoleaf is rolling out three new Matter-compatible lights as part of its ‘Essentials’ line.

The A19/BR30 bulbs and a new Lightstrip are the “first ever Matter smart lighting available on the market,” Nanoleaf said in a press release. The lights work with Matter over Thread for seamless setup and control and offer white and RGB lighting.

Matter, for those unfamiliar, is a new open-source standard for smart homes that should make it much easier to set up internet-connected devices and make them work with other internet-connected devices. Thread is the networking protocol used to wirelessly connect all of these devices.

“We’re so excited to not only launch our first Matter products, but to be the first company to offer Matter over Thread smart lighting to users today,” said Gimmy Chu, Nanoleaf CEO and co-founder, in the press release.

Moreover, Nanoleaf said its existing modular light panels and light bars, including Shapes, Elements, Canvas and Lines, will receive an over-the-air update later this year to make them compatible with Matter.

Nanoleaf’s Matter-enabled lights will open for pre-order on March 22nd on the company’s website. The A19 smart bulb and Lightstrip will be globally available on Nanoleaf’s website with pricing ranging from $19.99 to $49.99. Moreover, the upcoming BR30 bulb will be available starting April 2023, with other new bulbs like the GU10 and a recessed downlight coming later this year.

Learn more here.

Image credit: Nanoleaf

Tags matter, Nanoleaf, Smart Home, Smart Lights, thread

Mobile Syrup

SwitchBot’s Curtain Rod 2 is the smart home device I didn’t know I needed

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 17 February 2023

No one needs smart curtains, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t somewhat useful and, more importantly, undeniably cool. Who wouldn’t want to say “Hey Google, open my curtains,” and have them instantly open?

I’ve always been interested in connected home products that have no business being on the internet, like lights, speakers, smoke alarms, doorbells and more (I even have a ridiculous internet-connected dishwasher). But smart home devices that have so far eluded me are smart curtains/blinds because they’re typically absurdly expensive.

This is why SwitchBot’s $135.59 Curtain Rod 2 caught my attention (most people will likely want two to open each curtain, bringing the total to $271.18 for one set, which is still pretty expensive). The device is part of a relatively new focus in the smart home space on adding ‘smart’ features to everyday objects in a cost-effective way.

SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2

On a base level, the Curtain Rod 2 is pretty simple. It slides back and forth across a curtain rod powered by two small motors, pushing your curtains open and closed. The setup process is relatively straightforward but still takes time, depending on what curtains you have. In my case with a circular curtain rod, I attached the Rod 2 between two included clamps, allowing it to push the curtains back and forth (according to other reviews I’ve read, the first-gen version of SwitchBot’s smart curtains only included one clamp).

The actual setup process in the SwitchBot app is a little more finicky and requires you to select the middle of the rod and the closed position for both Curtain Rod 2 devices. I’ve found that sometimes you need to go through this process again a few weeks after the initial setup, especially if you occasionally close the curtains manually, which starts the motors after a bit of pressure. I’ve also run into an issue where a small amount of light still comes through the centre of the curtains when they’re closed. This was solved by reconfiguring the curtains and pushing them as far as possible to the left.

I set up Switchbot’s Rod 2 smart curtains today lol. pic.twitter.com/mA7hPXEgRl

— Patrick O'Rourke (@Patrick_ORourke) August 22, 2022

Within the SwitchBot app, you can set a time of day for your curtains to open and close, update the firmware and rework a few other settings. Unfortunately, Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri voice commands require SwitchBots’ $48 Mini Hub, which is disappointing. Further, if you’re like me and you’d sometimes rather just press a button than use a voice command, you’ll need the $28.95 SwitchBot Remote. While these two devices don’t make a SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 quite as expensive as most smart curtain hardware, these are still added costs I didn’t expect.

Price and setup aside, there are other issues with the Curtain Rod 2 worth noting. For example, the device makes a loud mechanical noise as its motors push along the rod. I’ve grown used to it over the past few months, but some might take issue with the motor’s audible grind as it travels along the rod.

Battery life also isn’t as great. In my experience, if I open and close the smart curtains once a day, they last roughly two months. Charging the Curtain Rod 2 without taking them down is challenging (unless you have a nearby plug and a lengthy cable). I’ve resorted to attaching a battery pack and resting it on the window sill to charge.

SwitchBot sells a $29.99 Solar Panel Charger, but given the placement of my curtain rod (it’s well above my window), this isn’t a viable option for me. This is also why the Curtain Rod 2’s light-sensing feature that allows the device to automatically open when it views light doesn’t work for me (the curtain rod is just too high for the sensor).

While SwitchBot’s Curtain Rod 2 isn’t perfect, it still works well and is cheaper than most established smart curtain options (especially if you’re only buying one). Still, I wish the device was quieter, featured longer battery life and came with integral accessories like the Mini Hub and Remote.

SwitchBot’s Curtain Rod 2 is available on Amazon for $135.59.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Tags Smart Home, SwitchBot, SwitchBot's Curtain Rod 2

Mobile Syrup

Ikea launches new smart sensor capable of monitoring indoor air quality

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 15 February 2023

Ikea is launching a new smart home air quality monitoring device. Dubbed Vindstyrka, the smart sensor is able to raise awareness of indoor pollutants and can also encourage users to better their air quality.

The Vindstyrka smart sensor is capable of monitoring and displaying particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, humidity, temperature and total volatile organic compound TVOC levels. PM2.5 is a measurable pollutant that can’t be seen by the human eye. In fact, these particles can be as small as 2.5 micrometres. TVOC, on the other hand, is a measure of pollution load that can be found within a home.

Ikea’s latest innovation can display air quality levels via the Ikea Home app. However, these air quality levels can also be viewed on the Vindstyrka on its own. Additionally, users can pair the Vindstyrka with the Starkvind smart air purifier. Working in unison, Vindstyrka can alert the Starkvind’s fan to speed up and adjust to the amount of PM2.5 in the air. In addition, users can sync the sensor with Ikea’s Matter-supported Dirigera Hub.

The front of the Vindstyrka device offers a reasonably large display to read all available levels, including humidity and temperature. The smart sensor also has a colour-coded metre to better assist users in analyzing the air quality of their homes.

Pricing of the Vindstyrka has not yet been revealed by Ikea. However, the company is announcing that the smart sensor will be available in Canada. Additionally, it is launching in “all Ikea markets” starting in April 2023.

Image credit: Ikea

Source: Ikea

Tags IKEA, Smart Home, VINDSTYRKA

Mobile Syrup

Apple’s very familiar HomePod 2nd-Gen sounds great

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 27 January 2023

I recently had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at Apple’s 2nd-Gen, full-sized HomePod. While I only spent a brief amount of time listening to the new smart speaker, I still walked away with a good idea of its sound quality.

Apple explained how the smart speaker’s spatial audio works, the experience of using two 2nd-gen HomePods in stereo and discussed its deep bass and high chiming pitch capabilities. I can’t yet write about my whole experience with the device (I have a review coming soon), but here are my thoughts on what a few tracks sounded like pumping through the HomePod.

We listened to several songs, including a live version of Hotel California by the Eagles and Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson. With Hotel California, you really feel like you’re a part of the concert thanks to spatial audio, surround sound and clear timbres.

I was pretty impressed by the sound quality. Bass seems truly deep and shook me to my core, whereas high frequencies are clear and easy to make out. Thanks to the HomePod’s room-sensing capabilities (which are also included in its predecessor), the smart speaker can direct vocals toward the listener, including taking advantage of the acoustics in a room to bounce sound off the walls.

I was also fond of how spatial audio pumps through the new 2nd-Gen HomePod. However, some aspects aren’t perfect. For example, the room I listened to the HomePod in featured very high ceilings, which made vertical sounds challenging to distinguish. However, the effect of spatial audio replicating sounds from around you is accurate and really does make it feel like the sound is coming from all directions.

It’s also worth noting that using two HomePod speakers for stereo sound is impressive. The resulting soundscape is incredibly wide, and I actually got confused at one point regarding where the audio was coming from. The room had three speakers, two main ones that were plugged in and one off to the side, and the sound tricked me into believing that the one on the side was plugged in and producing music.

You can use the HomePod to create a home theatre experience with Apple TV 4K. You can make the HomePod the audio system for all devices connected to the TV and control what’s playing on the Apple TV hands-free, though I haven’t been able to test out this feature yet.

The new HomePod is available to pre-order now for $399 ahead of its February 3rd release. This is a welcome price cut considering the original Homepod cost $449 at launch. The smart speaker is available in ‘White’ and ‘Midnight.’ It’s also made with 100 percent recycled fabric with a colour-matched woven power cable. The 2nd-gen HomePod utilizes a custom-engineered high-excursion woofer, built-in bass EQ mic, and beamforming array of five tweeters around the base that work together to offer an improved acoustic experience. It also sports Apple’s S7 chip combined with software and system-sensing tech to offer advanced computational audio.

While these are quick impressions, my time with Apple’s new HomePod was impressive. Of course, I’ll need to test the speaker further once I get my hands on a device for review, including comparing it to Google’s Nest speakers and the HomePod mini.

Image credit: Apple

Tags apple, homepod, HomePod (2nd-Gen), Smart Home, smart speakers

Mobile Syrup

Apple could be working on an iPad-like smart home control display

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 19 January 2023

Apple might be developing an iPad-like display designed nearly solely for managing smart home devices.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device will operate like a low-end iPad with a few key purposes — controlling HomeKit-enabled devices, making FaceTime calls, streaming video and more.

Like Amazon’s Echo Show 15, the smart home display is reportedly designed to be mounted to a wall or magnetically to another object like a fridge. In the past, this device has been rumoured to be more of a HomePod/Apple TV hybrid device, but if these rumours are accurate, that direction seems to have shifted.

What’s strange about this rumour is that at one point you could effectively do the same thing with Apple’s entry-level iPad. Apple even once allowed you to use the iPad as a home hub, though the company removed that functionality following the release of iPadOS 16.

According to Gurman, Apple is aiming for a 2024 launch for its smart home display. Earlier this week, Apple revealed its new 14-inch and 16-inch M2 Pro/Max-powered MacBook Pro (2022) and refreshed 2nd-Gen HomePod.

Source: Bloomberg Via: The Verge

Tags apple, ipad, Smart Home

Mobile Syrup

MobileSyrup’s Smart Health Gift Guide [2022 Edition]

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 6 December 2022

Who doesn’t want to live a healthier lifestyle? Yet, if you’re like me, you probably find it challenging to create routines, build good habits, and especially find encouragement.

Smart health accessories are a great way to help you feel motivated and keep yourself on track. Smart health isn’t necessarily about doing anything unique or revolutionary. It’s about democratizing health data previously only collected occasionally in a hospital or doctor’s office.

Using some of the gear in this gift guide, you, a family member or a friend can gain valuable insight into your health through data collection. Over time, this data becomes useful trends that help encourage you to push forward and continue to improve.

While much of this smart health tech is something we may like, it’s not always something we’re willing to buy for ourselves. So, this holiday season, consider adding some of these smart health accessories to your personal gift list or grabbing one for someone special in your life. Here are some of my top smart health accessories for this holiday shopping season.

Apple Watch or Pixel Watch

There are many fitness trackers on the market. However, for simplicity, here are two of the most popular options: the Apple Watch and the Pixel Watch. The Apple Watch is the top choice for iPhone users, claiming around a quarter to a third of the world’s smartwatch market share. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch is the stylish new Android smartwatch to feature smarts by Google and fitness tracking by Fitbit.

The Apple Watch Series 8 and the Pixel Watch are pretty similar. Both feature ECG, heart rate detection, blood oxygen, activity monitoring, sleep tracking, a microphone, a speaker, and an always-on display. Both watches also come in either Bluetooth/Wi-Fi only or Bluetooth/Wi-Fi + Cellular (LTE).

The Pixel Watch is stainless steel with a round 41mm diameter face and features up to 24 hours of battery life. The Apple Watch Series 8 is a square design with either a 41mm or 45mm display, up to 18 hours of battery life, and comes in aluminum or stainless steel.

Apple also offers the Apple Watch SE for the more cost-conscious. While the Apple Watch SE does feature heart rate tracking and all the core activity and sleep monitoring functionality, it doesn’t feature an always-on display, blood oxygen detection, or ECG.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a more premium option featuring all of the Apple Watch Series 8 features. It also has a titanium build and up to 36 hours of battery life. Apple Watch users may also benefit from our “14 Apple Watch apps to help you live a healthier life” article.

You can order the Pixel Watch directly from Google starting at $449. Apple Watches can be ordered directly from Apple, with the series 8 starting at $529, the SE starting at $329, and the Ultra at $1099

Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer

Whether you’re a parent checking a sick child’s temperature or a person tracking their own health metric, the Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer is a great choice. This highly accurate thermometer uses sixteen infrared sensors to calculate a person’s temperature. Unlike traditional thermometers, this one is no-contact. Meaning it’s unobtrusive and sanitary.

Data is wirelessly tracked for up to eight users via the Withings Health Mate app, which is available on iOS and Android. As an added bonus, iOS users can sync their data with the Apple Health app. In situations where you need to conduct a random temperature check and the data doesn’t need to be stored, the Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer can do that too.

This thermometer works by hovering it above a person’s forehead centre to the temporal lobe. The thermometer vibrates once a person’s temperature is calculated. Users can swipe between profiles using the LED touch screen on the side to correctly assign the temperature.

You can order the Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer in white from Best Buy for $129.99.

Withings Smart Scales

Another fantastic product is Withings Smart Scales. Withings offers three variations; the Body, Body+, and Body Cardio. Of course, all three scales detect your weight and can log that data for up to eight users via Withings’ Health Mate app. Additionally, all three scales calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and come in black or white.

While the Withings Body scale only tracks weight and BMI, the Body+ model calculates a person’s body fat, water, bone, and muscle masses. The Body+ also features Baby and Pregnancy modes to help weigh even the smallest family members. Both the Body and Body+ models feature 18-month battery life on a single set of batteries.

The Body Cardio includes all of the Body+’s features plus standing heart rate detection and cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular health is determined through vascular age detection, a feature that estimates how old you are on the inside by assessing the health of your arteries. The Body Cardio scale offers up to one year of battery life with a single set of batteries.

When deciding which model to buy, consider the Body as the no-frills option to log your weight and build trends over time. The Body+ is my personal scale of choice, providing an excellent range of metrics for only a bit more money. The Body Cardio is a perfect choice if you want the best and are willing to pay the premium. However, if you already have a heart rate monitor like an Apple Watch, the Body Cardio may be a less compelling choice. As a bonus to iOS users, Withings’ scales also support syncing data to the Apple Health app.

You can order all three Withings scales from Amazon; the Body is $79.95, the Body+ is $99.99, and the Body Cardio is $183.99.

Tangram Smart Rope

Tangram is trying to reinvigorate your cardio workouts by making skipping rope cool again. Tangram offers two versions of their smart skipping ropes, ROOKIE and LED. Both versions automatically track your cardio workout session duration, calories burned and skips via Tangram’s iOS, Android, or Apple Watch app. For iOS and Apple Watch users, your data can also sync to the Apple Health app.

The LED model has the additional benefit of showing the skipper their skip count in the air. As the LEDs built into the skipping rope move overhead, they show your number of skips. The ROOKIE is size adjustable and comes in black, blue, coral, and pink. The LED model comes in three different sizes: small, medium, and large and in three colours: black, chrome, and red.

Both skipping ropes are available for order on Amazon, with the ROOKIE starting at $39 and the LED at $106.17.

Withings Bpm Connect Blood Pressure Monitor

The Withings Bpm Connect works like a regular blood pressure monitor cuff, except it wireless logs your blood pressure data into the Withings Health Mate app. iOS users can also sync their data to the Apple Health app.

The Withings Bpm Connect has a cuff range of 22-42cm and lasts up to six months on a single charge.

Order the Withings Bpm Connect on Amazon for $203.90.

Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart Toothbrush

As silly as it may sound, the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart Toothbrush made brushing my teeth kind of fun and interesting. As an electric toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean brings all the benefits of having cleaner teeth and healthier gums when compared to using a manual toothbrush.

You also get some neat settings and brushing tips. Select from four brushing modes: clean, white, gum health, or deep clean. Each mode focuses on specific areas depending on where you’re looking to target. There are also three different levels of brushing intensity.

The smart aspect of this toothbrush is it connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone using the Sonicare iOS or Android app. The app tracks where you’ve brushed and provides feedback on missed areas. It also alerts you when you have applied too much pressure or have moved too much.

The Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart Toothbrush comes in black, white, pink, and rose gold. It also comes with a travel case and charges via a fancy glass inductive charger.

Order the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart Toothbrush on Amazon for $215.

HydrateSpark Pro Smart Waterbottle

Do you think to yourself, “I need to drink more water?” Good news! There’s a smart water bottle designed to do just that. HidrateSpark creates three water bottles with an LED base that glows when it’s time to drink. The HidrateSpark water bottles report your water consumption to your iOS or Android device using the HidrateSpark Smart Bottle app. iOS users can also sync their data with the Apple Health app.

The three models available are a 24oz plastic bottle that comes in black or blue and 21 or 32oz stainless steel bottles that come in black or silver. All three bottles come with two lids, one of which is a straw. The stainless steel bottles can keep your water cold for up to 24 hours.

All three bottles are available to order from Apple, with the 24oz plastic bottle priced at $79.95, the 21oz stainless steel bottle at $94.95, and the 32oz stainless steel bottle at $104.95.

Withings Sleep Tracking Mat

Using technology to track your sleep is a popular way to collect data to better understand why you sleep well or poorly. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch are excellent ways to track sleep. However, if you aren’t a fan of wearing a watch to bed, Withings has you covered!

The Withings Sleep Tracking Mat is a pad you place under your mattress to better understand your sleep cycles, heart rate, breathing, and snoring. Data is synced to your iOS or Android device via the Withings Health Mate app, and iOS users can sync the data with the Apple Health app.

The Withings Sleep Tracking Mat is available at Best Buy for $134.99.

BACtrack Mobile Breathalyzer

The BACtrack Mobile Breathalyzer aims to remove the guesswork from figuring out when it is safe for a person to drive again after drinking. This Bluetooth breathalyzer detects your blood alcohol level and syncs the data to your iOS or Android device. iOS users can even sync this data with the Apple Health app. The idea behind carrying a small portable breathalyzer is to remind social drinkers the only safe time to drive is when you show a 0.00 percent blood alcohol level.

Order the BACtrack Mobile Breathalyzer from Amazon for $129.97.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Tags health, Smart Home

Mobile Syrup

Roku could be planning large expansion into smart home lighting, plugs and cameras

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 11 October 2022

It appears Roku is expanding from streaming hardware to smart home lighting.

Photos and two shipping manifests regarding Roku-branded smart home devices have appeared online. The smart home lineup from Roku could incorporate light strips, smart plus and even indoor/outdoor security cameras.

Roku has long secured its place in the streaming hardware space, whether it’s the Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick, or the new Roku Ultra, many are aware of the brand.

A photo depicting a large stack of Roku smart light strips is circulating the internet courtesy of Reddit user ‘Negative_Source.’ Additionally, two shipping manifests show that Roku is working with Wyze on roughly half a dozen products for the home.

So far, the available information reveals the company’s plans to sell a Roku colour bulb and a white bulb. Additionally, there are mentions of the aforementioned light strips and a Roku smart plug. Finally, Roku appears to be releasing a Roku indoor camera, Roku outdoor camera and Roku pan cam.

Of course, this leak doesn’t officially confirm that there are new Roku devices on the way. However, this is substantial enough evidence to suggest Roku is planning to become an integral part of the smart home.

It’s worth considering how these products could communicate with one another. References to a ‘Roku Smart Home’ channel have been spotted as well. This suggests that Roku may be developing a way to control all devices via a set-top box or streaming stick. It’s likely integration into the Roku mobile app is on the way as well.

Roku’s investment in smart home lighting is interesting. Obviously, Philips Hue is a big player in the space and offers the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box for the living room. Though, it does involve quite the investment of cash. Perhaps Roku’s smart home initiative can provide similar results for a more modest price.

As far as rollout and pricing, it’s still unclear how Roku plans to announce these products. However, given that the packaging looks like it’s finalized, we can’t be too far away from official details.

Image credit: u/Negative_Source

Source: Reddit ‘Negative_Source’ Via: The Verge

Tags Philips Hue, Roku, roku ultra, Smart Home, smart lighting, Wyze

Mobile Syrup

Save big on PC accessories and smart home tech at Best Buy this week

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 30 September 2022

Best Buy Canada’s Top Deals for the week of September 30th – October 6th features several PC accessories and smart home gadgets, with some notable deals from the sale that you can check out below: