Aqara Launches New Ceiling Light T1M with Colourful Gradient Ring
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Aqara Launches New Ceiling Light T1M with Colourful Gradient Ring

Aqara, a leading smart home solutions provider, has announced the launch of its latest smart lighting product – the Ceiling Light T1M. This new LED ceiling light fixture aims to provide both everyday and atmospheric illumination with its combination of tunable white light and a colourful gradient ring. Key Features Everyday and Atmospheric Lighting The…

Tado Wireless Smart Thermostat V3+ Review – Including Smart Radiator Valves
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Tado Wireless Smart Thermostat V3+ Review – Including Smart Radiator Valves

Living in a large, old, inefficient home in the north of England, I have been a big fan of smart heating ever since it became available. My first experience was with the original Tado system back in 2014, but back then, they didn’t have the smart radiator valves, so I quickly jumped ship to Heat…

AiDot Linkind Matter A19 Smart Light Bulb Review: Cheap RGBW E27 Smart Bulbs for Home Assistant
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AiDot Linkind Matter A19 Smart Light Bulb Review: Cheap RGBW E27 Smart Bulbs for Home Assistant

I didn’t have the best experience with Matter when I first used it with the Google Nest WiFi Pro, but since then, there has been a growing number of Matter-enabled devices, and I have switched to Home Assistant for all my smart home needs. The AiDot Linkind represent a perfect example of why Matter is…

AENO Seasonal Premium Eco Smart Panel LED Heater Review – AGH0003S
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AENO Seasonal Premium Eco Smart Panel LED Heater Review – AGH0003S

I am a big fan of smart heating, and with the cost of gas and electricity, it has become more important than ever to have greater control over your heating. My home has gas-powered central heating, so I don’t particularly need an electric heater, but this Aeno Premium Eco Smart LED Heater is superb, albeit…

Aqara Announces New Thread Border Router Plug & Smart Lock U300 at CES 2024
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Aqara Announces New Thread Border Router Plug & Smart Lock U300 at CES 2024

Following on from the announcement of the Aqara Hub M3, which is one of the most advanced smart home hubs on the market with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee support, Aqara has also announced two additional smart home devices at CES 2024. Border Router Plug First to Add Thread Support The headline product launch was Aqara’s…

Camera vSLAM vs LiDAR Mapping for Robot Vacuums: A Comprehensive Guide

Camera vSLAM vs LiDAR Mapping for Robot Vacuums: A Comprehensive Guide

In the increasingly crowded marketplace of robot vacuums, the technologies that power these nifty devices have become more advanced and varied. When it comes to navigation and mapping—key features that differentiate a sophisticated robot vacuum from a glorified dustpan—two technologies seem to stand out: Camera vSLAM and LiDAR Mapping. As someone who has dived deep…

Aqara Camera E1 PT Tracking Home Security Camera Review
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Aqara Camera E1 PT Tracking Home Security Camera Review

The Aqara Camera E1 was launched globally last month and claims to offer premium capabilities found in more expensive security cameras. These premium features include 2K video resolution with a wide-angle f/2.0 lens, local person and sound detection, 360-degree pan and tilt, local recordings, NAS recording and App HomeKit compatibility. Specification / Features HomeKit Secure…

Best Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves – Programmable TRVs with WiFi / Bluetooth to save on heating costs this winter
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Best Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves – Programmable TRVs with WiFi / Bluetooth to save on heating costs this winter

This post was originally written in November 2021. In 2022, with our energy bills significantly higher, this post is more relevant than ever. I have therefore updated it with some new products. Following on from my smart electric radiator post, this post covers smart programmable radiator valves. Most press coverage and advertising focus on smart…

Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK
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Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK

Following on from my reviews of the superb Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip and the good, albeit with a flawed design Meross Outdoor Smart Plug, I have also been checking out the MS100FHHK Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor. This is an innovative addition to the world of smart home devices. With its unique…

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]
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Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]

Tado is a smart home heating company that offers intelligent thermostats and radiator valves to provide control over heating in each room of your home. I regularly recommend Tado because they seem to offer the best balance of performance, features and price. While I did use Tado in its early days, I switched to Genius…

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

I have previously written quite a bit about Thread, the low-power, wireless mesh networking protocol designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Within the Thread ecosystem, different device roles and types, such as Thread Border Routers (TBRs), Full Thread Devices (FTDs), and Minimal Thread Devices (MTDs), are defined to cater to various use cases and…

What Thread Border Routers Are There?

What Thread Border Routers Are There?

If you are interested in smart home technology, you may be aware of the new smart home communication standard Thread, which will likely replace Zigbee over time. To use Thread devices, you will need a Thread Border Router, but these are not likely your normal smart home hubs. Many smart home devices can be a…