Tag: Smart Home

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Launch of smart home standard Matter delayed until fall 2022

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has delayed the upcoming Matter smart home standard once again.

Matter, formerly Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP) was expected to launch this summer. However, the CSA confirmed to The Verge that it’s pushing back the launch to fall.

The delay will give the CSA time to finalize the software development kit (SDK) that manufacturers can use to incorporate products into the Matter ecosystem. Matter, for those who haven’t followed the project, is meant to help unite the various smart home devices and ecosystems so that everything works together.

It’s worth noting this isn’t the first delay for Matter. Back when it was called CHIP, the platform was intended to launch in 2021. Following the rebrand, Matter got pushed back to mid-2022.

The CSA says that it will have the SDK completed in Q2 and will make a version of the specification available to members in June. With the new timeline, we could see Matter-certified products this year, but likely not as many as originally planned.

Moreover, the CSA attributed the delay to a larger-than-expected number of platforms adopting Matter. Specifically, the alliance told The Verge it had expected four or five platforms, but the number has swelled to more than 16. With more platforms, the CSA needs to do more to make sure the code supports everything as well as give more time for companies to test products.

While certainly a bummer, hopefully, the delay will help ensure a smooth launch for Matter when it finally arrives in the fall.

Header image credit: CSA

Source: CSA Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

iRobot updates Roomba i3 with smart mapping technology

While iRobot’s high-end robot vacuums like the s9 and j7 series are regarded widely as some of the best in the industry, the company’s mid-range offering doesn’t have the same stellar reputation because it’s missing a key feature — smart mapping.

Thankfully, that’s no longer the case now that iRobot has updated its $449 Roomba i3 with new smart mapping functionality. This feature allows the robot to map your home’s floor plan and direct it to clean specific rooms. Smart mapping is also compatible with voice-activated assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.

While a great move on iRobot’s part, ‘Keep Out Zones’ and ‘Clean Zones,’ two useful features that let you create specific barriers within mapped rooms, aren’t available with the i3. With the i3, the only option is the physical Virtual Wall Barrier accessories the company sells.

Along with this update, it looks like iRobot has removed the i7+ from its lineup as it’s no longer available on the tech company’s website. I’ve somewhat expected iRobot to make this change for the last few months following the reveal of the j7, the robot vacuum maker’s recently released Roomba that features the ability to avoid specific household items like cables and dog poop.

Image credit: iRobot 

Via: The Verge 

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon’s home security robot Astro also delivers beer

Amazon’s Wall-E-looking Astro robot that is touted as a helpful tool for taking care of aging family members, as a smart home display and a home security robot, has started making its way to people’s homes.

Astro is equipped with a camera that scans your home to look for intruders, family members and your home’s overall architecture and layout. The same camera is also used for video calls along with a built-in speaker that is Alexa-enabled.

The robot, which is available through an invite-only program, started shipping back in November. However, videos of people using it have only recently started emerging.

This recent video uploaded by ‘Bob Rekieta‘ on YouTube (seen below) shows the Amazon Astro accepting a command and fulfilling it, albeit ungracefully.

Astro is tasked to deliver a beer — which is already in its built-in cup holder — to its human owner ‘Celeste.’ The robot takes a little while to register the command, but then swivels around to look for its human. Upon finally identifying ‘Celeste,’ Astro rushes towards her with the words “Hi Celeste” visible front and centre on its scree.. um.. face.

While the process of Astro fulfilling commands does look intriguing, there are some issues that will deter people from welcoming the Amazon robot to their house.

According to a September story by The Verge (covered by MobileSyrup), leaked documents that reportedly come from Amazon employees working on Astro claim it’s a disaster that’s not ready to be released. The report also takes into account a second employee’s statement, who says that Astro is terrible and that it’s absurd to think of it as an elder care device.

A separate September report from Vice states that Astro is not very sturdy and that a few of its test devices have already broken. There are also reports claiming that the device isn’t great at identifying people and will follow around anyone it thinks is an intruder.

While there haven’t been any complaints regarding Astro flinging itself off stairs like everyone initially thought, I also haven’t seen videos where the Astro encounters stairs, so we’re not sure how the robot will behave when it eventually does encounter steps.

The Amazon Astro is available invite-only in the United States and costs $1,449.99 (roughly $1,844.79).

Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Vancouver company creates first smart pillbox that combines aesthetics and functionality

Everyday products are being redesigned with smart technology in mind to feed the growing trend of making everything tech-savvy.

With smart mirrors, smart faucets and smart bottles already on the market, a new smart pill organizer called Loba isn’t surprising.

Created in Vancouver, Loba features a slick design with detachable compartments that store a week’s worth of pills, split into AM and PM sections.

These are the only features that tie it back to the traditional version of a pillbox.

While it’s not the only smart pill organizer on the market, Loba’s website claims it’s the first organizer that combines aesthetics, functionality and technology.

The product comes with an app that lets users manage when they need to take pills, set reminders, and keep track of when pills are consumed. Each compartment is connected with the app directly.

The organizer also has LED lights that can be customized and serve as a visual reminder when pills need to be taken.

Kate Bouchard, the founder of Loba, told MobileSyrup there were three reasons to make this a piece of smart technology. The first was to reduce mental load, given its easy to forget when pills need to be taken, acting as a “barrier to wellness.”

Visual cues are the second reason. The glow of the LED light shows when pills need to be taken and turns off automatically once the task is complete. “The visual reminder helps form habits,” she said.

The third is the growing trend of smart home devices helping in every aspect of consumers’ lives. Loba also wanted to capitalize on this in the health and wellness category.

While Bouchard confirmed the app won’t be compatible with voice-operated devices, like Alexa or Siri, at the time of launch, it could become a possibility down the road. “As we learn from our first customers and gather feedback, we have plans to expand app functionality as we grow.”

The containers come in black or white and cost $175 each. The product can be pre-ordered on the company’s website and a $25 discount is being offered.

Bouchard said Loba will be openly available starting in June. The product is being manufactured by a Chinese company and will include recycled plastic.

“Pillboxes are traditionally kept hidden away,” Bouchard said. “Having a product that enhances the home, as well as facilitates health and wellness, has been well received so far,” she said about the response so far.

Image credit: Loba

Source: Loba

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Mobile Syrup

Nanoleaf ‘retires’ original Light Panels, promises continued app support

Toronto-based smart lighting company Nanoleaf announced that it’s retiring the original Light Panels from 2016 (formerly called Aurora lights).

It’s not a huge surprise, given the company overhauled the original triangle-shaped modular lighting kit in 2020 to work with its new ‘Shapes‘ smart light panels. Panels under the ‘Shapes’ monicker feature improved snap-on connectors that work across various shapes, including hexagons, triangles and mini-triangles.

Officially, Nanoleaf says the original Light Panels are now considered ‘legacy’ products. In a long and somewhat cringey farewell video, the company explained (the relevant info starts at 3:39 in the video) that it will no longer sell the original Light Panels ‘Smarter Kit.’ If you head to the company’s website now, you’re not able to buy these anymore. You shouldn’t be buying them anyway — the newer Shapes panels make much more sense.

Next, Nanoleaf claims that existing owners of the original Light Panels will be able to continue using them “forever.” Specifically, the company says it will “never remove support for [Light Panels]” from its app. Additionally, the app will support adding the old Light Panels to the ‘Group Scene’ feature so that you can control them alongside new Nanoleaf lights.

That’s all well and good, but forever is a long time and it will interesting to see how long the company actually keeps supporting Light Panels in its software.

Finally, Nanoleaf says that Light Panel expansion packs and accessories will continue to be available (while quantities last). Moreover, expansion packs and accessories are on sale for 30 percent and 50 percent off, respectively. Nanoleaf’s website also notes that replacement parts will be available until December 31st, 2023.

You can learn more about the Light Panel retirement on Nanoleaf’s blog and website.

Image credit: Nanoleaf

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Mobile Syrup

Nest Hub Max may soon switch over to Fuchsia OS

While Google quietly released Fuchsia OS to the first-generation Nest Hub earlier this year, the operating system is now heading to the Nest Hub Max.

According to a comment that was posted to the Fuchsia code change, Google is prepping an update for the Nest Hub Max that will change its system from the Linux-based Cast OS to Fuchsia OS.

Spotted by 9to5Google, Fuchsia is in its final stage of internal testing for the smart home device. Considering the change wasn’t very noticeable on the Nest Hub, it’s unlikely to be all that big of a deal on this larger variant.

Fuschia is Google’s own operating system that is made for its smart home devices. However, not a lot is known about it yet and it could amount to more in the future.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Nest Hub Max may soon switch over to Fuchsia OS

While Google quietly released Fuchsia OS to the first-generation Nest Hub earlier this year, the operating system is now heading to the Nest Hub Max.

According to a comment that was posted to the Fuchsia code change, Google is prepping an update for the Nest Hub Max that will change its system from the Linux-based Cast OS to Fuchsia OS.

Spotted by 9to5Google, Fuchsia is in its final stage of internal testing for the smart home device. Considering the change wasn’t very noticeable on the Nest Hub, it’s unlikely to be all that big of a deal on this larger variant.

Fuschia is Google’s own operating system that is made for its smart home devices. However, not a lot is known about it yet and it could amount to more in the future.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google Store discounts Nest Hub Max, Nest Thermostat and more

The Google Store is offering a couple of deals on Nest products before its big Black Friday sale.

You’ll be able to save money on the Nest Hub Max, Nest Thermostat and Nest Hub 2nd gen and Nest Doorbell wired.

These products will be on sale until November 11th.

The Nest Hub 2nd-gen and Nest Doorbell wired is on sale for $348.99 and previously cost $428.99. The sale runs until November 18th. You’ll need to add both products to your cart to get the discount.

Source: Google Store

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Mobile Syrup

Arlo announces new Go 2 security camera, capable of using LTE and Wi-Fi connection

Arlo has announced a new, more affordable entry in its security camera line. The Arlo Go 2 can connect via LTE and Wi-Fi to monitor your spaces remotely. The camera has made modest improvements in video quality while giving users more freedom in their connection.

The weather-resistant Arlo Go 2 is priced at $250 USD (roughly $311 CAD) and is positioned to be best used to monitor spaces like your cottage, boat dock, or any other remote property. The original Arlo Go model was priced higher at $400 USD (about $498 CAD) and had a limited connection due to not supporting LTE or Wi-Fi. It was also capped at recording video at 720p. The Arlo Go 2, on the other hand, is able to capture full 1080p video and will have a battery life of up to three months on LTE (eight when connected to Wi-Fi).

In addition to improving the recorded video quality and battery life, Arlo has also added GPS capabilities to the new camera. Now, in the event that the camera is misplaced, stolen, or otherwise, you can track the device down. The Arlo Go 2 is a motion-activated camera. Therefore, when capturing events during the night, the added spotlight feature can help see what unfolds in colour. This will be a nice upgrade from the former, which recorded nighttime activity in black and white.

Finally, audio functionality has been improved. Arlo has taken a page from the book of the Arlo Pro 4 camera. You can now hear and interact with someone in real-time in front of the camera as opposed to the original Arlo Go’s limited push-to-talk function

The Arlo Go 2 features a number of improved base functions. However, to fully grasp all that the camera offers, the Arlo Secure Subscription is required. Arlo offers a $9.99 USD (about $12.45 CAD) monthly subscription for unlimited cameras or a $2.99 USD (roughly $3.73 CAD) monthly option for a single camera. Alternatively, a premium $15 USD (approximately $18.70 CAD)/month plan is available and includes emergency response functionality. Video recording resolution will also be increased up to 4K with a subscription.

An active Arlo Secure Subscription enables features like Animated Preview, Interactive Notification, and detection of people, packages, vehicles, and animals. Users can also benefit from having their video history stored for up to 30 days. Priority support, smoke/co detection, and more are also locked behind Arlo Secure Subscription.

It’s worth noting that using the Arlo Go 2 on an LTE connection will also require a data plan from a carrier.

Image credit: Arlo

Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon reveals Alexa-enabled hockey puck-sized Air Quality Monitor

Amazon has revealed a new $89.99 Smart Air Quality Monitor shaped like a small white hockey puck.

The Alexa-compatible indoor air quality monitor is capable of monitoring the following: particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), humidity and temperature. A small LED light on the device indicates air quality, and a more comprehensive report is available through Amazon’s Alexa app.

Other features include smartphone notifications or Echo device announcements related to air quality and suggestions for how to improve the air in your space. You can also set up triggers through Alexa Routines for devices like smart ceiling fans, thermostats or blinds.

What separates Amazon’s Air Quality Monitor from the competition is its relatively low $90 price tag. In comparison, Dyson’s various air purifiers start at $399.99, though these devices actually purify the air and don’t just monitor it.

Amazon also sells its Air Quality Monitor bundles with the Echo Dot 4th-gen and the Echo Show 2nd-gen for $159.98 and $189.98, respectively. The online retail giant’s Smart Air Quality Monitor is currently available for pre-order now in Canada for $89.99 with a December 8th, 2021 release date.

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Image credit: Amazon