#smart-home

#smart-home

Google has spent much of this year porting its Gemini chatbot to other platforms outside of Android. It arrived on Wear OS smartwatches this summer, it's coming to Android Auto this fall, but now it's Google Home's turn. Say goodbye to Google Assistant, which has powered many of Google's smart home products since its 2016 debut. The command word remains, "Hey Google," but now it'll activate Gemini. Nearly 10 years ago, Google Assistant was the company's answer to Amazon's Alexa. It kickstarted a voice assistant war, but after a period of stagnation, these chatbots have been revived with the advent of large language models.

See a curated selection of product innovations, from smart home tech to sustainable beverages, submitted by designboom guest readers from around the world. These posts showcase a wide range of projects, from modular furniture and reconfigurable systems to sustainable materials and thoughtful new solutions to everyday problems. Powered by designboom's Global Creative Community designboom's guest reader submissions give architects, designers, and makers a platform to share their projects with a vast international audience. This initiative fosters an open, inclusive dialogue within our global creative community.

The map works by tracking when Ting-connected devices lose power. It promises instant notifications when the power goes out and when it comes back on, down to the neighborhood. It's true that most power companies offer alerts, but at least for mine, alerts can be delayed. My outage notifications come within 10 minutes, but my restoration alerts sometimes come more than an hour after the lights are back on.

Amazon's Echo Dot now comes bundled with miniature NFL helmets. There are 32 different options, one for each NFL team in these limited-edition bundles. And then beyond that, you have your choice of color for the Echo dot itself, coming in either charcoal, glacier white, or deep sea blue. Amazon currently has a sale going on for the NFL Echo Dot bundle, but not for every team.

Google is overdue an update to its smart home setup, and now we know when it'll come: October 1st. The company has teased some sort of launch or announcement for that day, promising that "Gemini is coming to Google Home."

Fourteen years ago, Silicon Valley startup August rethought the front door with its internet-connected smart locks. Its growth led to an acquisition in 2017 by lock manufacturer Yale-and it's still the top-selling smart lock brand in the U.S. But despite the relative ubiquity of connected-home products like August 's locks, Ring doorbells, and Nest thermostats, the true ideal of the smart home-a dwelling with built-in tech that seems to magically cater to your needs-seems no closer than it was when August launched.

The Ting monitors the electrical current 24/7, looking for issues in wiring, outlets, and appliances that could spark an electrical fire.

Philips Hue is launching a new Hue Bridge Pro that features improved speed, capacity, and the ability to turn smart lights into motion sensors.

The Nuki smart lock fits on your existing deadbolt's mechanism, keeping your door's external appearance unchanged while allowing physical key access.

Security cameras are becoming more popular and affordable, and their effectiveness can be enhanced by mindful placement, avoiding obstructions like trees or furniture.

The classic American dream may be dead, but at least we have the Internet of Things and the never-ending font of smart home products it's given rise to.

The Govee Neon Rope Light features improved pliability and softness compared to past models, enhancing installation ease despite its heavier nature. Users will find it shapeable for various designs.

The Opal 2.0 countertop ice maker delivers munchable nugget ice at home, fitting under most cabinets and promising convenience with its smart features.

Getting organized is a never-ending battle I face, particularly with three kids and a dog, resulting in missed appointments and activities.