We’ve always had a soft spot for Amazon’s clock-packing Echo Dot, what with its eye-catching LED display that tells the time and shows the weather. Alas, the Echo Dot with Clock is reportedly ticking off its final minutes on Amazon’s shelves.  Amazon has decided to discontinue the Echo Dot with Clock, which is currently on its fifth generation, as reported by The Verge.  For now, the “Cloud Blue” version of the Echo Dot with Clock remains available, selling on Amazon for its list price of $59.99.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. But once the last remaining units of the fifth-gen Echo Dot with Clock sell out, the speaker will be gone for good, according to an Amazon rep quoted in The Verge’s story.  It’s worth noting that while Amazon is discontinuing the Echo Dot with Clock, all indications are that existing Dot with Clock speakers will continue to work. We’ve reached out to Amazon for confirmation and more details.  News of the coming demise of the Echo Dot with Clock comes just weeks after Amazon revived the Echo Spot, the Alexa-powered smart alarm clock that Amazon first killed off back in 2019.  The new version of the Echo Spot comes with a 2.83-inch digital display that can serve as a clock face, similar to the Echo Dot with Clock.   Amazon may well consider the second-gen Echo Spot to be a replacement for the Echo Dot with Clock—although with its $79.99 list price, the new Echo Spot is considerably pricier than the outgoing Dot with Clock. (We’ll have a full review of the new Echo Spot soon.) The Echo Dot with Clock first came on the scene in 2019, alongside the third-generation Echo Dot.   Basically the same speaker as the Dot save for an LED display that peeks out from the device’s mesh covering, the Echo Dot with Clock can display the time, with the latest version also capable of showing the weather (complete with temperature and icons for sun, clouds, and rain) as well as the currently playing music track.  The fifth-generation Echo Dot with Clock landed in 2022, and besides its larger display, the newest version also boasts an ambient temperature sensor, an accelerometer for recognizing gestures, and the ability to extend the range of Amazon’s Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers.  We gave the latest Echo Dot with Clock high marks in our review, calling it the “best entry-level smart speaker” on the market.  But if you want to pick one up, now’s the time, before Amazon’s stock runs out for good. 

Need an assist from a robot vac that will clean the floors for you? Now that the Roomba j7+ is nearly half off at Amazon, it’s the best time to get your own helper. Down from an MSRP of $800, the iRobot Roomba j7+ can be purchased for $430, lower than its Prime Day price. First of all, this robovac is super easy to set up, and mapping your home will only take a few minutes. Once that’s done, you can start sending the robot out to clean the floors, picking which rooms you want it to enter, what areas you want it to avoid, and so on. You can even schedule jobs for particular parts of the day. We reviewed the Roomba j7+ and enjoyed it enough to give it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, with our expert appreciating how well it avoids obstacles, the accuracy of the maps, and the overall cleaning performance. “[The robot] dutifully sucked up dust, pet hair, food crumbs, and even cat litter, leaving my floors noticeably cleaner,” our expert noted. When it’s cleaning, the robot promises to avoid any pet “accidents.” In fact, through its aptly named P.O.O.P program (Pet Owner Official Promise), if your Roomba hits a “present,” iRobot will replace the robot. Hopefully, that nightmare scenario will never happen. Besides being pet-friendly, the robovac also does a good job of dodging cords, socks, and shoes that may be left around. The last thing you want is to get a notification on your phone that your Roomba is stuck on a wire when you’re miles away from home. Compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, the Roomba j7+ comes with a self-emptying base. The bot’s disposable dust bags are large enough to fit 60 days’ worth of dirt, hair, and debris. The iRobot Roomba j7+ is easily one of the best robot vacuums we tested, and it’s an absolute steal at just $430. The iRobot Roomba j7+ is only $430 nowGet it at Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsOutstanding coverageEndlessly configurable via mobile appReasonably lightweight for easy maneuverabilityConsHaphazard navigationHistory of cleaning operations seems brokenApp is rough around the edgesOur VerdictThe Wybot S2 robotic pool cleaner has its share of quirks, but when it comes to really cleaning the pool, it’s as effective as anything else on the market. Got a big pool? The Wybot S2 robotic pool cleaner wants to take care of it for you, though you’ll need to have faith that it knows what it’s doing. This new robot boasts coverage of up to 3,230 square feet, which is as large a coverage area as I’ve seen. (My pool is about a quarter of that size.) With a 7800mAh battery that charges in three hours, the 19-pound unit is designed to the clean floor, walls, and waterline via one of its seven operational modes. The Wybot S2 cuts a familiar hardware design, running on two long treads with two sets of brushes spinning in between them to collect debris. Leaves and dirt are suctioned into a large mesh-covered bin with a hinged lid. An optional, additional filter screen sits next to the mesh box and is intended to capture ultra-fine particles that aren’t trapped in the primary box. While the Wybot S2 seems to move completely at random, this robotic pool cleaner turned in a star performance. Simple on-device controls include a power button and a cleaning mode toggle that lets you switch among three modes: wall and floor (the default), floor-only, or walls-only. To engage the remainer of its modes, you must use Wybot’s mobile app, which I’ll talk about in a bit. After removing the charging cable, a plastic gasket needs to be screwed tight over the outlet to keep water out. After that, you simply power the robot on, select the mode you want, and drop it into the pool. Cleaning performance The Wybot S2 did an impeccable job scrubbing our test pool’s waterline.Christopher Null/Foundry Watching the Wybot S2 work is quite an experience. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a robot look lost while it’s scrubbing the pool, but that’s the best way I can describe Wybot’s haphazard navigation. Walls are straightforward enough, though the robot seems to spend a lot of time idling on the floor of the pool, “thinking” about which way it should go next. Eventually it will turn, move a few inches, then climb the wall to the top before aggressively scrubbing the waterline and then retreating back down to the floor to think things over once again. When it comes time to clean the pool floor, things get even stranger. The Wybot moves a few feet one way, stops, turns, goes another few feet, stops again, maybe takes a longer jaunt in another direction, and so on. In contrast to the usual back-and-forth lawnmower-style action that most modern robots undertake, the Wybot seems to move completely at random, usually moving diagonally to the pool wall. Christopher Null/Foundry When I first witnessed this behavior, I had limited hopes for its cleaning capabilities, but much to my surprise the device turned in a star performance after it was finished. (Total running time on a full charge was about 2 hours, 45 minutes, not quite the promised 3.5 hours of operation.) With organic debris, the Wybot whisked up both leaves and dirt, and the secondary filter was effective at capturing fine-grained grit. Note that this foam-like secondary filter (similar to that on the Seauto Shark) does not come installed by default; you’ll need to dig it out of a bag of extra components in the box alongside some mystery items labeled “floating parts.” The default filter has the consistency of a pool net and won’t capture much of anything. With synthetic leaves, the Wybot performed just as well, leaving behind just a single leaf in the pool out of the 100 in my test group. When the unit is finished cleaning, it’s designed to park itself near a wall, where it can be retrieved with an (included) hook. During each of my test runs, the robot successfully parked where it could easily be pulled from the pool. Water drains from it quickly, making it easy to maneuver even when fresh from the pool. The mobile app Christopher Null/Foundry As mentioned above, Wybot’s mobile app allows you to connect via Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi to fine-tune its operational mode as well as to update its firmware as needed. The additional modes are largely variations on existing themes (such as “turbo floor,” which does a “strong cleaning” of the floor only); but drilling into the app’s “Expert Mode” opens up a new world of complexity I had never considered. Here you can choose from three different movement patterns for both floor cleaning and wall cleaning, including a back-and-forth S pattern, a cross pattern, and even a star pattern that radiates out from a central point—at least in theory. I tried each of these modes and rarely saw the robot following the path suggested by the app, except in a relatively abstract sense. The wall pattern options are equally robust, though here the robot seems to stick slightly closer to the movement diagram suggested in the app. You’ll want to experiment with these, because some are more effective than others. The N-shaped wall pattern, for example, missed quite a bit of the waterline as it moved up and down the wall in diagonal lines. The app also is supposed to offer a history of cleaning operations, but this was deemed “temporarily unavailable” throughout my testing. Firmware updating worked fine, provided I am properly interpreting the poorly translated English. The Wybot S2 comes with two debris baskets, the second of which is great for capturing fine-grained grit.Christopher Null/Foundry Should you buy the Wybot S2 robotic pool cleaner? At $800, the Wybot S2 is not cheap, but I can’t fault its performance, which is ultimately on par with some of the most expensive robots on the market. While the robot’s movements are seemingly random, there seems to be more going on under the hood than we mere humans are aware of, because it ultimately gets the job done. Apparently, our robotic pool-cleaning overlords know what they’re doing.

I had such high hopes for tvOS 18, the Apple TV software update due out this fall, that I bought a new Apple TV 4K streaming box just to take advantage of it. While tvOS 18 isn’t a major upgrade all around, it comes with a machine learning-powered dialog enhancer that could make a big impact in the Newman household. I’m often juggling the volume on our 2017 Apple TV 4K to avoid waking the kids after their bedtimes, so adding an extra oomph to dialogue without raising the overall volume sounds pretty appealing. The feature doesn’t work on pre-2021 Apple TVs—apparently they lack the computational muscle—so off to Best Buy I went for the latest model. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best media streamers. After setting up the box and installing the tvOS 18 public beta, I’m pleased with the upgrade. While the Enhance Dialogue feature is harder to enable in some apps than others, and its most powerful setting is needlessly buried, it does make a noticeable difference, especially when there’s lots of music or background noise in the mix. How tvOS 18’s Enhance Dialogue feature works The Apple TV’s Enhance Dialogue feature isn’t new, but it previously required using HomePods or HomePod Minis for your TV speakers. With tvOS 18, Apple has extended the feature to built-in TV speakers, external sound systems connected to a TV’s HDMI-ARC port, and Bluetooth audio devices. (The feature won’t work if your soundbar or A/V receiver connects via an optical (Toslink) or 3.5mm cable.) techhive's review Apple TV 4K (3rd-generation, 2022) (64GB, model A2737) Read our review Price When Reviewed: £149 Best Prices Today: £149 at Amazon | £149 at AO | £149 at Apple If you want to try tvOS 18 before it launches this fall, you can install the beta under Settings > Software Updates > Get Beta Updates. Selecting “On” in this menu will present an option to install tvOS 18. Assuming you meet the prerequisites, you’ll be able to turn on Enhance Dialogue in tvOS 18 in a couple of ways, depending on which app you’re using. Jared Newman / Foundry Some streaming services, such as Apple TV+ and Netflix, will display the setting inside the video player, so you can toggle dialog boost without interrupting playback. Just click the audio icon above the progress bar on the right side of the screen, then click “Enhance Dialogue.” Other apps, including Max and Amazon Prime Video, use custom video players that don’t have the dialog boost option built in. To turn on dialog enhancement, you’ll need to exit the app and head to Settings > Video and Audio > Enhance Dialogue. Jared Newman / Foundry In both cases, you’ll see a few options: “Boost” provides the maximum amount of speech enhancement, “Enhance” provides a smaller boost, and “Off” leaves the audio unchanged. The setting you choose will apply to all video apps, regardless of where you enable it. How well does “Enhance Dialogue” work on Apple TV? The Apple TV’s Enhance Dialogue feature doesn’t make speech louder, so if you toggle back and forth in an otherwise quiet scene, you won’t notice more than a subtle boost to vocal warmth and presence. The feature mainly comes into play when dialogue is contending with background sound or music. Watching a flight scene in Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, for instance, the buzzing of propellers became noticeably quieter with Enhance Dialogue enabled, and the soundtrack in Oppenheimer became more muffled when I watched it through Channels DVR. The idea is that you can turn the volume up for louder speech without boosting the underlying noise. (A more accurate name for the feature would be “Reduce Background Sound,” but “Enhance Dialogue” sounds more appealing.) Enhance Dialogue also pairs well with another Apple TV setting called “Reduce Loud Sounds,” which is available through the same menus and predates tvOS 18. This setting flattens the audio range so you can crank up the sound without suffering through unpleasant volume spikes. An extra boost from Accessibility Jared Newman / Foundry If tvOS 18’s Enhance Dialogue feature isn’t drastic enough for you, Apple offers an additional “Isolate” mode that muffles background noise even further, but you’ll need to enable it through the Apple TV’s Accessibility menu first. Head to Settings > Accessibility, then set “Add Voice Isolation” to “On.” Now, when you head back to the Enhance Dialogue menu, you’ll see “Isolate” alongside the standard “Enhance” and “Boost” options. Warbly compression artifacts do become more obvious when Isolate mode is enabled, but the setting does help push dialogue further to the fore. Jared Newman / Foundry Other dialogue enhancement options The Apple TV 4K isn’t the only streaming device with a speech boost function. Amazon’s Fire TV devices have a Dialogue Enhancer mode under Settings > Audio > Advanced Audio, though it’s less flexible than Apple’s version and you can’t enable it without exiting the current video. Some smart TV systems also have speech clarity options built in, including Roku TVs, Samsung TVs, and LG TVs. These settings should work with any device input, though you’ll need to enable them with your TV’s standard remote even if you use an external streaming player. Many soundbars and A/V systems offer dialog boost modes as well, including the Sonos Beam in my living room. I haven’t found my soundbar’s setting to make a major difference, though, and having to control it through the Sonos mobile app is a hassle. As a satisfied Apple TV user, I’m happier having speech enhancement built directly into tvOS. Unfortunately, it’s of little use when actors mumble their lines or when directors intentionally create “dirty” mixes, but we can only expect technology to do so much. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice and insights.

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsExtremely bright and endlessly configurablePosable light panels provide a huge amount of flexibilityMatter support makes smart home integration a snapConsLight quality is only OKMinor application bugsRequires a standard A/C connection (not low-voltage)Our VerdictThis unusual, positionable smart floodlight positively pumps out light both white and color, but access to a nearby power outlet is required.  Price When Reviewed£149.99 Best Prices Today: Govee Outdoor Triad Flood Light Retailer Price £149.99 View Deal Govee £149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Do you need light outside? I mean, a lot of light? Govee’s new Triad Outdoor Flood Light may provide a compelling–if decidedly quirky–solution.  Govee’s Outdoor Triad Flood Light is actually a set of three connected LED panels mounted on top of a single base. Each panel measures about 6 inches wide by 4 inches tall, and the entire device weighs a hefty 3.6 pounds. The flexibility of the Govee Triad Outdoor Flood Light has been especially appealing, allowing me to cast much-needed light on my darkened patio. Design The two side panels are hinged on their interior side, attaching to the central panel, which is connected to the base. This allows them to be individually positioned at an angle ranging from 0 to 90 degrees in relation to the central panel. Imagine a wrap-around makeup vanity and you’re on the right track. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart bulbs. Note that all adjustments require the use of an included hex wrench, which adds a little hassle (and means keeping track of one more component) but improves stability greatly.  The sturdy Triad is crafted from metal and feels quite solid. Christopher Null/Foundry The device plugs in to a standard electrical outlet via a 6-foot cord. If you’re hoping to integrate this into a low-voltage lighting system, that’s unfortunately not an option, and, naturally, that may limit where you can place the unit, as it will have to be within striking distance of a power outlet. The good news is that you won’t need to worry about exposing the Triad to the elements. The unit has a robust weatherproof rating of IP66, meaning it’s dust-tight and resistant to powerful jets of water sprayed from any direction. (Read our comprehensive guide to IP ratings.) There’s a small breakout box on the cable, but it does not carry any physical controls. Turning the light on and off must be done exclusively through the app (or another connected smart home system).  The metal base of the unit merits special discussion. When folded backwards, it serves as a sturdy pedestal and allows the Triad to sit flush on a flat surface. When turned 90 degrees downward, the base is transformed to allow you to connect two ground spikes (included) to the base, so the unit can be placed in the yard or other soft landscape. Holes in the base also allow you to mount it on a wall or on hardscape, though hardware is not included if you want to go this route. Note that the aforementioned hex wrench is also required to rotate the base.  When connected to the Triad’s base, two ground spikes allow for placement in the yard or another soft landscape. Christopher Null/Foundry The three light panels are huge – and powerful. Each panel pumps out a max of 1500 lumens, for a total of 4500 lumens of light. Govee says that a single Triad can illuminate at least 430 square feet of space, and that’s not an exaggeration. Fire up the Triad and you can easily blind your neighbors if you crank it up to full brightness and aim the panels the right way. Maximum power draw is a hearty 48 watts.  Setup As is common with Govee products, app setup is simple. The Govee Home app uses Bluetooth to discover any nearby Govee products and quickly bridges it to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. After a quick firmware update I was able to begin working with the product in a matter of minutes, using the same interface as other Govee lighting products. Connections to Alexa were automatically created, complete with voice shortcuts, during the setup process. Google Assistant is also supported, as are Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings, all thanks to the Triad’s Matter support.  Operation and performance Each panel can be individually addressed and managed, with both white light and color options available. White color temperatures range from a warm, cozy 2700K to a cooler and more utilitarian 6500K. Each panel can be individually controlled within the Govee Home app. Christopher Null/Foundry If you want to get jazzier, a full-color wheel allows you to pick and choose your three-color palette, or you can opt to let Govee handle color management for you, courtesy of dozens of color-shifting scenes. There are also multiple music modes that let the lights shift in color in time with ambient sound, as captured either on the Triad’s breakout box microphone or the microphone on your phone.  The lights look good but short of great, in large part because although there’s a translucent screen over each panel, you can visibly see the 16 bright LEDs underneath. The effect is particularly strange because the alignment of the LEDs makes the panel look a bit like a digital LCD display–each panel a numeral “8” turned on its side. You can easily be forgiven for expecting the Triad to be able to display the time. LEDs are visible inside the light panels, marring the aesthetic. Christopher Null/Foundry On the plus side, colors are reasonably rich and vibrant, though I’ve encountered better and more seductive hues in recent months.  I did encounter one bug when working with the light: When I selected two panels in the Govee Home app and then attempted to change their color, the third (deselected) panel also changed color when it wasn’t supposed to. This was not a particularly persistent nor troubling problem and was easily fixed, but it’s worth noting that further firmware and/or application updates are probably going to be needed down the road.  Should you buy the Govee Outdoor Triad Light? At a street price of roughly $120 (the MSRP is $149.99), the Govee Triad isn’t outrageously expensive, though it’s certainly pricier than purchasing a standard plug-in spotlight or even a mountable smart spotlight that connects permanently to household wiring. The flexibility of this device has been especially appealing in my own testing, allowing me to cast some extra, much-needed light on the darkened patio where my barbecue grill is, without requiring anything more than a nearby power socket to get the job done. 

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsMeasures your indoor air quality and triggers compatible smart thermostats to run your HVAC system’s fan as neededTracks HVAC system’s air filter’s useful life and alerts when it needs to be replacedFilters are easy to install in a permanent sensor frameSensor frame can provide early warnings of HVAC system problemsConsProprietary filters ($22 each) are only available from Woosh AirSensor frame left problem-causing gaps in our reviewer’s HVAC system’s filter slotLimited number of compatible smart thermostatsHVAC system problem warnings are sent via email, not push notificationOur VerdictDeployed in conjunction with a compatible smart thermostat, the Woosh Air Smart Air Filter bundle works with your HVAC system to keep your home’s indoor air cleaner and healthier to breathe. The Woosh Smart Air Filter is one of those simple ideas that leave you wondering why no one thought of it before: It’s a disposable air filter that fits in a sensor-laden permanent frame that’s linked to an indoor air quality monitor (more on those sensors in a bit). The monitor links in turn to your smart thermostat via your Wi-Fi network. When the monitor detects compromised air quality, it triggers the thermostat to cycle your HVAC system’s fan. This enables the filter to remove airborne particulate pollutants. Your initial outlay for the filter, frame, air quality monitor, and its gateway is $225; disposable replacement filters—manufactured by 3M—cost $22 each. You’ll need to provide your own compatible smart thermostat to get the most benefit from this system. Ecobee, Nest, Sensi, and Honeywell T-series and Lyric Round models are supported as of this writing. My review was conducted with an Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (my review of that product is in the works). The Woosh Air Smart Air Filter system is a clever and unique smart home solution that will improve your home’s indoor air quality. Installation and set up The bundle reviewed here consists of an indoor air quality monitor, a Wi-Fi gateway, and a rigid plastic frame into which you’ll install a disposable air filter. The gateway sticks to your HVAC system’s air handler with the help of a magnet. The filter frame requires a pair of AAA batteries, and the gateway runs on two AA batteries (all four are included in the box). Woosh Air estimates these batteries should last at least one year. The air quality monitor needs to be plugged into an AC outlet inside the house. Today, Woosh Air’s filters are available only in 1-inch thicknesses, but a Woosh representative said the company has 3D-printed spacers for HVAC systems that use thicker filters. These, however, are not yet available for retail sale. When you need to replace the filter, you’ll unlock the frame; fold up the old filter, remove it, and toss it in the garbage; drop in and unfold the new filter; and then relock the frame. Woosh Fold air filters are made with 3M filtration technology, but they’re only available in 1-inch thicknesses and MERV 13 ratings.Jason D’Aprile/Foundry The filters are rated MERV 13, which is generally considered the highest rating compatible with residential HVAC systems. My service technician informed me that filters rated higher than MERV 13 that can overly restrict air flow through an HVAC system, potentially damaging it. When I installed Woosh Air’s filter in my admittedly older system, the furnace immediately began to exhibit signs of stress, indicating that the filter was too dense. Woosh sent out a MERV 8 filter for this review, which resolved the problem—for the most part. Buyers should check their HVAC manufacturer’s recommended filter MERV rating or speak to their HVAC service professional before installing this system. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart thermostats. Even with the new filter, Woosh Air’s plastic frame left gaps around the edges of my HVAC system’s filter slot, which allowed outside air to be pulled into its plenum, causing a horrible whistling noise. The solution was to install a third-party product called FilterLock (about $10 on Amazon), a thin film material with magnets that seals the filter slot and prevents outside air from being sucked past the filter. Woosh Air also offers a gasket-type product of its own (also $10) to improve the seal around its filter frame. With that bit of drama sorted, the rest of the Woosh Air installation went fine. The app walks you through the entire process, including connecting the Bluetooth gateway to your Wi-Fi network (only 2.4GHz networks are supported). On a day-to-day basis, the app will track your indoor air quality and estimate the filter’s remaining useful life. Woosh is a bit vague as to how the algorithm used for this purpose works, but it involves data collected by the filter frame’s sensors and tracking the HVAC system’s day-to-day operations. The app will not only notify you when it’s time to replace the air filter, it can also be configured to automatically order a new one when it’s needed. The Woosh Air app reports on your home’s indoor air quality and the remaining life of the air filter in your HVAC system.Jason D’Aprile/Foundry Getting Woosh Air’s product to work with your smart thermostat is simple: Just indicate which thermostat you’re linking it to and then log into that thermostat’s account to grant the necessary permissions. Once that’s done, Woosh Air’s air quality monitor will trigger the thermostat to turn on your HVAC system’s fan when poor air quality is detected. This worked seamlessly for me. The app can also send notifications to inform when your air quality is low and each time it turns the fan on and off. Using the Woosh Air Smart Air Filter   Woosh Air’s air quality monitor measures pollutants in the PM2.5 and PM10 ranges, accounting for particulates such as dust, pollen, smoke, and bacteria. The Woosh Air app reports these details, maintains a history of your indoor air quality, and also reports on the outdoor air quality for your home’s location.   An LED on the air quality monitor changes color to provide a visual indication of your home’s indoor air quality: Green means air quality is good, red indicates the need for fresh—or at least filtered–air. The Woosh Air app can support additional air quality monitors—available for $99 each—if you want to track levels in more than one room. One Woosh indoor air quality monitor is included with the bundle, but you can deploy sensors in additional rooms for $99 each.Jason D’Aprile/Foundry The sensors in the Woosh Air filter frame measure air pressure, ambient temperature, and ambient humidity, but these readings are not displayed in the app. Woosh Air says it can crunch this information to detect HVAC system problems such as dirty or frozen evaporator coils as well micro cracks in the same. If those types of problems are detected, the company will send you an email with data and charts that a service tech might find useful during troubleshooting. Personally, I’d prefer seeing this information in the app and getting a push notification when problems are detected rather than waiting for an email that might get trapped in a spam filter. Should you buy a Woosh Air Smart Air Filter? First, make sure your HVAC system uses 1-inch air filters and that it can handle those rated MERV 13. And you might find, as I did, that you need to add something to seal any gaps between Woosh Air’s filter frame and your HVAC’s system filter slot. You’ll also need a compatible smart thermostat for it to work, and while that list is short, all of TechHive’s most-recommended thermostats are on it. With those issues resolved, I found the Woosh Air Smart Air Filter system to be a clever and unique smart home solution that improved my home’s indoor air quality.

With its silky performance and razor-sharp video resolution, the Apple TV 4K has been my streaming box of choice for years, but it has some quirks that drive me up the wall. For instance, why does the TV button on the Siri Remote send you to the Apple TV app rather than the main Apple TV Home Screen? What’s with those Apple TV+ video promos that start playing automatically, complete with sound? And don’t get me started on trying—fruitlessly—to pinpoint a particular moment in a video by clumsily swiping the remote’s navigation pad.  Luckily, you can nip these Apple TV 4K annoyances in the bud with a few simple tweaks in the Settings menu. Read on for five tips and tricks that will change your Apple TV experience for the better.  Change how the TV button on the Siri Remote works Back in the early days of Apple TV, the Home button on the remote did what it said it would do: It took you to the Apple TV’s Home Screen, where you could find all your ATV apps, just like on an iPhone.  Then the Apple TV app came along, and before we knew it, the Home button on the Apple TV remote (later dubbed the Siri Remote) jumped you to the Apple TV app rather than the home screen. Talk about annoying.  Luckily, there’s a way to make the Home button—OK, fine, the TV button—on the Apple TV remote do what we actually want.  Go to Settings on the Apple TV, select Remotes and Devices, scroll to the TV Button setting, then pick an option: either Home Screen or Apple TV App. Pick the former, and you’re all set.  Changing what the Siri Remote’s TV button does takes just a few clicks.Ben Patterson/Foundry Make it easier to scrub forward and backward on videos When you pause the video on your Apple TV, you can swipe the touch surface in the center of the navigation pad to “scrub” forward or backward, but doing so with precision can be a royal pain.  If you’re getting frustrated, try this trick: Instead of swiping the touch surface in the middle of the navigational wheel, slide a finger around the rim of the wheel itself—clockwise for forward, or counterclockwise for reverse. Using that gesture makes it a little easier to pinpoint an exact spot on a video.  Just swipe clockwise or counterclockwise along the rim of the Siri Remote’s navigation pad to “scrub” forward or backward on a paused video.Ben Patterson/Foundry Change what’s in the “Top Shelf” So, you know when you scroll over the app icons in the top row of the Apple TV home screen and promo images or even auto-playing videos appear at the very top of the screen? Apple calls that promo area the “Top Shelf,” and for the most part, you can’t control the content what appears there as you scroll from one app to another.  There is a key exception, however: the Apple TV app. Normally, when you scroll over the Apple TV icon, you’ll see a screen-dominating “What to Watch” preview that begins playing automatically, complete with sound (more on the annoying auto-play audio in a moment). But for the Apple TV app, you have the option to change the Top Shelf’s behavior to something more useful.  Try this: Go to Settings, then click Apps, TV, and scroll down to the Home Screen setting. Finally, toggle the Top Shelf setting from “What to Watch” to “Up Next.”  Now, when you scroll over the Apple TV app on the Apple TV 4K’s home screen (assuming you keep the Apple TV app in the top dock), you’ll see what’s in your “Up Next” queue, handy for jumping back into what you’ve been watching or teeing something you already want to watch.  Bonus tip: You can set the “Up Next” promos to show either the cover art for the TV show or movie you were watching or a still-frame of the video; just toggle the Up Next Display setting. Put your “Up Next” row back where it belongs. Ben Patterson/Foundry Silence those annoying auto-playing previews  One of the more aggravating features of the Apple TV app is its habit of automatically playing a preview—complete with sound—for any show or video that the Apple TV’s cursor happens to be hovering over.  Now, you can’t do anything about the auto-playing videos, but you can mute their sound (you can always scroll up if you do decide you want to hear the preview).  Go to Settings, click Apps, TV, scroll down to the Video and Audio heading, then toggle Autoplay Video Sound to Off.  Ah, that’s better.  Double-click to switch apps  Navigating the Apple TV 4K’s convoluted screens and interfaces can be a tedious process, particularly when it comes to switching from one app to another.   For example, if you’re deep inside the Netflix app and decide you want to check out Hulu, you’ll likely need to click the Back button multiple times to return to the home screen, and then you’ll need to navigate to the Hulu app icon and click that to begin, say, your binge-watching session of The Bear.  Of course, you could just click the TV button to zip back to the home screen (assuming you’ve followed my advice above), although you’ll still need to navigate to the app you want to open.  Instead, try this: Double-click the TV button. Double-click the TV button to launch the app switcher.Ben Patterson/Foundry Doing so will trigger the Apple TV app switcher, which will splay a stack of windows for all your recently opened tvOS apps. Swipe the Siri Remote’s touch surface to scroll through the windows, then click a window to launch its app. Easy. 

Installing a smart thermostat–or upgrading the one you already have–will have an outsize impact not only how comfortable you are in your home, but also on your household budget. Heating and cooling your home accounts for nearly half of the average home’s utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A programmable thermostat can help reduce those costs by turning your HVAC system on when you anticipate being home, and off when you don’t think you’ll need indoor climate control. A smart thermostat goes far beyond relying on a simple schedule. It will enable you to create more sophisticated schedules for every day of the week, and give you complete control over your HVAC system, even when you’re away from home. We continually test and evaluate smart thermostats and can help you find the right one for your home. Why you should trust us TechHive’s editors and contributors have been testing smart thermostats for more than a decade, installing them in our own homes to gain truly real-world experience before we commit to our opinions. We continuously test the latest smart thermostats, along with the apps that control them. We blend those experiences with our general knowledge of smart home devices, so we’re able to assess how well these products integrate with other smart system you’ll want to use. Updated July 24, 2024 with a link to our Woosh Air Smart Air Filter review. Best smart thermostat for every budget and HVAC system type Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium — Best smart thermostat overall Pros Beautiful industrial design Broad compatibility with other smart home ecosystems Outstanding user interface, both in the excellent app and on the device itself Radar-based motion detection, plus support for remote temperature/motion sensors Supremely easy to install and configure Cons Siri support requires the presence of an Apple HomePod or HomePod mini Air quality sensor won't trigger your HVAC system's fan to circulate air Pricey Best Prices Today: $249.99 at Lowe’s£297.69 at Amazon Why we like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is simply one of the finest smart home products in any category. It’s spectacularly useful as a standalone device, but it’s designed to work with other important smart home platform on the market today. An included smart sensor allows you to monitor temperature and occupancy in a second location in your home. The user interface is polished and easy to use. Who should buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Anyone who’s looking to install a smart thermostat should consider this Ecobee model. The only caveat for homeowners who want to use Siri voice commands is that you’ll need an Apple HomePod or HomePod mini to use as an interface with the Ecobee. Read our full Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium review Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) — Best smart thermostat overall, runner-up Pros The best algorithms on the market Excellent interface and easy set-up Top-notch industrial design Cons Overly reliant on its built-in motion sensor (or your buying other Nest products) Nest doesn’t like geofencing, so it thinks you shouldn’t either Incompatible with Apple's HomeKit ecosystem Best Prices Today: $249 at Google Play Store Why we like the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) Nest practically invented the smart thermostat category when it released its first learning thermostat in 2011. Google offers detailed instructions that make installation relatively easy for inexperienced do-it-yourselfers. While the Nest is designed to learn your habits and automatically control your home’s temperature, there’s a robust set of manual controls for users who prefer to keep a closer watch over their home’s environment. Who should buy the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) Nest is still the best for choice users who don’t want to think about their thermostat. Since Nest is now manufactured by Google, it’s designed to work best with other devices in company’s ecosystem, including security cameras and smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. the thermostat is also compatible with Amazon’s Alexa smart home speakers and displays, and its Matter implementation enables it to work in the Apple Home ecosystem as well. Read our full Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) review Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced — Best mid-range smart thermostat Pros Attractive glass touchscreen Best-in-class user interface, both onboard and in app Radar-based motion sensor HomeKit compatible Cons Buy a remote sensor and you’re at the same price as the Premium model Best Prices Today: £269.15 at Amazon Why we like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced shares the user interface of the more expensive Premium model at a lower price. The Enhanced has all the features of the more expensive model except for the Premium’s fancy radar technology and the fact that it doesn’t come with Ecobee’s remote room/occupancy sensors–but you can add one later if you’d like. Who should buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is a great choice if you find the Premium model to be too expensive. You’ll have the option to add a remote temperature/occupancy sensor if you decide you want one later, and the total price will be approximately the same as a Premium model. You will also need a smart speaker in your smart home setup if you want to use voice commands with this thermostat. Read our full Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced review Amazon Smart Thermostat — Best budget-priced smart thermostat Pros Automatically learns your heating and cooling needs Can be controlled with Alexa voice commands Broadly compatible with 24V HVAC systems Cons Not compatible with Google Assistant Not compatible with Apple HomeKit Power adapter kit costs extra if your HVAC system doesn’t have a C-wire Why we like the Amazon Smart Thermostat Amazon Smart Thermostat uses cloud-based machine learning to analyze how you use your HVAC system, and then uses what Amazon calls “Hunches” to predict when to heat or cool your home. The thermostat performance improves as it learns your habits over time. Who should buy the Amazon Smart Thermostat The Amazon Smart Thermostat is designed to work with Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant, so it’s best for homeowners who’ve already committed to Amazon smart home products, especially since it’s not compatible with Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. Read our full Amazon Smart Thermostat review Nest Thermostat — Best budget-priced smart thermostat, runner-up Pros Attractive industrial design, available in four colors Very easy to install, program, and use Monitors your HVAC system for potential problems Energy Star certified Cons No support for remote room sensors Not suited to more complex HVAC systems Backplate for covering holes from previous installations is a $15 option Why we like the Nest Thermostat Google has designed its entry-level Nest Thermostat for users who think the flagship Nest Learning Thermostat is too expensive. At this price, you get a similarly attractive design and the same polished approach to programming and controls, but you won’t get remote sensors that can help your HVAC system achieve a balanced climate for your entire home. Who should buy the Nest Thermostat The Nest Thermostat will only read the temperature in the room where it’s installed, since it lacks the remote sensors that can connect to the Nest’s more expensive model and help refine its programming. This model is best for smaller home or apartments or for properties that don’t have much temperature fluctuation from room to room. Read our full Nest Thermostat review Mysa Smart Thermostat — Best smart thermostat for high-voltage heaters Pros Wi-Fi adapter is built in, no additional-cost bridge required Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit Easy-to-use mobile app Stylish industrial design Cons Minimalist design limits the amount of information the device itself can display Not compatible with Samsung SmartThings (compatibility was added after our review) Wiring can seem confusing compared to the thermostat you’re replacing Why we like the Mysa Smart Thermostat If you’ve got a high-voltage heating system designed for baseboard, radiant, fan-forced convector, and similar types of heaters, the Mysa Smart Thermostat will do the job. It looks great, has Wi-Fi capabilities built in, and has an easy-to-use mobile app with support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Who should buy the Mysa Smart Thermostat There aren’t many choices on the market if you’ve got a high-voltage heating system. Fortunately, Mysa has designed a thermostat that meets the standard set by the other thermostats on our list. Unlike homes with a central HVAC system, you’ll need to install a Mysa Smart Thermostat for each of your individual heating units in different rooms of your house. Read our full Mysa Smart Thermostat review Sensibo Air Pro — Best controller for a stand-alone air conditioner Pros Adds smart features to many models of “dumb” air conditioners and heat pumps Indoor air quality sensor is a good addition to a great device Very easy to set up and use Works with Sensibo’s remote sensors and its smart air purifier Cons Only works with air conditioners with infrared remotes (not Bluetooth) Costs $40 model than the earlier Sensibo Air Won’t mitigate poor indoor air quality by triggering your air conditioner’s fan to circulate air Limited to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks Best Prices Today: £129 at Amazon Why we like the Sensibo Air Pro The Sensibo Air Pro adds smart home capabilities to standalone heat pump and window unit air conditioners, and the Pro model features an integrated indoor air quality sensor. Sensibo has designed a product that’s easy to set up and use. Who should buy the Sensibo Air Pro Since the Sensibo Air Pro has no physical buttons, you’ll need to control the thermostat with a phone app. For the unit to work, your air conditioner will require an infrared remote instead of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi remote. If you use an in-room AC unit, Sensibo can offer you many of the same features enjoyed by people with a whole-home HVAC system. Read our full Sensibo Air Pro review Cielo Breez Plus — Best controller for a stand-alone air conditioner, runner-up Pros Incredibly easy to set up and use Tracks humidity as well as temperature Broad compatibility with various models of air conditioners Cons Fragile build quality Unattractive industrial design Scheduling section of display is difficult to read Why we like the Cielo Breez Plus The Cielo Breez Plus is remarkably easy to set up and use. It’s also quite versatile, since it can record humidity and supports geofencing in addition to controlling the temperature for a single-room air conditioner.  Who should buy the Cielo Breez Plus The Cielo Breez Plus may not look as good as other models we tested, but we’ve included it here because it’s compatible with more air conditioner models that any of its competitors in this category. The Cielo smartphone app is well-designed and absurdly easy to use. Read our full Cielo Breez Plus review Frequently asked questions about smart thermostats Are smart thermostats hard to install? A thermostat shouldn’t be difficult to install, even if you’re only moderately handy. The manufacturer should provide comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand instructions with plenty of photographs or illustrations to guide you through the process. The thermostat itself should be clearly indicate which wires go where, and most companies provide labels that you can attach to the wires coming out of the wall as you disconnect and remove your old model. The wires themselves should be color coded, but a good practice is to photograph your old thermostat for reference before you take it down. Do I need a C wire to use a smart thermostat? Smart thermostats typically require more electrical power than a set of batteries can provide. Fortunately, they don’t require so much power than they need to be plugged into the wall. They rely instead on low-voltage power provided by your HVAC system. Many smart thermostats require the presence of a dedicated C (common) wire for this purpose, while others can siphon electricity from another source, typically the R (power) wire. But the latter practice is known to cause problems with some HVAC systems, including permanent damage. If you pull out your existing thermostat to install a smart model and find no C wire connected to it, look inside the wall to see if there’s one that hasn’t been connected. If there’s no C wire, our advice is to have one installed. Some smart thermostats–including our top pick, the Ecobee Premium, come with power adapter kits that can be installed if you don’t have a C wire and don’t want to pay to have one installed. Do smart thermostats support multi-zone HVAC systems? The short answer is typically yes, because you’ll install a smart thermostat in each of your existing zones. Here’s a longer explanation if you’re not sure what a multi-zone HVAC system is. If you have a larger home, your HVAC contractor might have installed a zoned system that lets you set a temperature target for different rooms–or different levels–instead of heating or cooling your entire home to a single target temperature. In this case, you’ll have multiple thermostats–one for each zone–that connect to a central control panel. The control panel opens or closes the dampers in each zone as needed to bring that zone to your preferred temperature. You’ll program the entire system using a single app. Do smart thermostats support multi-stage HVAC systems? Better HVAC systems offer multi-stage heating and cooling, meaning they can operate in steps, versus simply switching between on and off states. A two-stage system, for example, might have a “low” setting and a “high” setting, while a three-stage system might have “low,” “medium,” and “high.” When the ambient temperature is already close to your desired temperature, the system doesn’t need to ramp up to its full power to reach your target temperature. Conversely, when the ambient temperature is far from your desired temperature, the system can kick on at full tilt and then switch to a lower-power mode as it approaches the target. As a result, multi-stage HVAC systems are more efficient than single-state. Virtually all modern smart thermostats support both single- and multi-stage HVAC systems. Do smart thermostats work with heat pumps? All of the smart thermostats we’ve reviewed–apart from the ones designed work with portland and window air conditioners–are compatible with heat pumps. Not sure what a heat pump is? It’s an appliance that redistributes warm and cold air. In heat mode, it draws warmth from the air outside your home and releases it inside (a ground-source heat pump absorbs heat from the ground). This is a greener method of heating in that it doesn’t consume fossil fuels, such as natural gas. In cooling mode, a heat pump absorbs warm air inside your home and releases it outside. These appliances work best in milder climates that don’t experience freezing temperatures, although they can be combined with a conventional furnace for heating when outdoor temperatures get very low. Do smart thermostats work with portable and window air conditioners? Most smart thermostats are designed to work with central air conditioners, but there is a class of device that can control portable air conditioners (the type with casters that vent out a window) and window air conditioners (the type that sit on your window sill). These types of thermostats typically depend on the air conditioner in question have a remote control, as many modern units do. The Sensibo Air is our top pick in this category. Do smart thermostats work with high-voltage heaters? Most smart thermostats are designed to work with central HVAC systems. If your home is heated by high-voltage heaters (baseboard, radiant, or fan-forced convector, for example), you’ll need a thermostat that’s specifically designed to work with that type of heater. The Mysa Smart Thermostat is our top pick if you’re looking for a smart thermostat for a high-voltage heating system. What is geofencing? Geofencing uses a thermostat’s app and your smartphone’s GPS chip to establish a perimeter encircling your home. When you leave the perimeter, you presumably no longer need to heat and cool your home, or you can at least have the thermostat adjust the temperature so that it’s not running unnecessarily. When you cross the perimeter again as you come home, your HVAC system can kick into action so your house is comfortable when you walk in the door. Do all smart thermostats come with remote sensors? Geofencing is great—provided everyone who lives in the home has a smartphone. Motion and proximity sensors offer an alternative means of determining if your home is occupied and therefore in need of climate control. Some remote sensors deliver the added benefit of monitoring the temperature in remote locations, which can help reduce problems with hot and cold spots. Some smart thermostats can also tap into door and window sensors as well as the motion sensors for your home security system. And proximity sensors on the thermostat itself can trigger its display to turn on when you walk past it, making the screens a handy feature in their own right, even if for no other reason than providing a nighttime pathway light. You’ll find remote sensors with a growing number of high-end smart thermostats from Ecobee, Nest, Honeywell, and other manufacturers. Can I control a smart thermostat from anywhere? Smart thermostats connect to your Wi-Fi network and from there to the internet. This means you can monitor the temperature inside your home and control that status of your HVAC system–whether it’s heating, cooling, or just running its ventilation fan–from anywhere you have internet access–typically using the thermostat app on your smartphone. Can I integrate a smart thermostat into my smart home system? Every smart thermostat comes with an app so you can control it with your smartphone or tablet, but the best models can also be integrated with other smart-home devices and broader smart-home systems. This can range from being able to adjust the temperature with a voice command via an Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home (Google Assistant), or Apple HomePod (Siri) smart speaker to linking the thermostat to your smoke detector. That last feature will automatically turn off the system’s fan if smoke or fire are detected, which will preven smoke from being circulated throughout your home. Other options to consider include IFTTT support, Apple HomeKit compatibility, smart-vent connectivity, and tie-ins with home security systems. What’s a landlord thermostat? A landlord thermostat is just like any other thermostat except that it’s controlled by the person who owns the home or apartment and is renting it to a tenant. These are typically installed in residences where the landlord or a building manager is for paying for heating and cooling and therefore has a financial interest in keeping those costs under control. Even in situations where tenants are responsible for the heating and cooling bills, a smart thermostat can contribute to a more energy-efficient building. The thermostat usually has tamper-resistant features that prevent anyone else from making adjustments to it. While it might seem that the landlord is benefitting the most from installing a smart thermostat, smart home features–including smart thermostats–are an attractive feature for renters, who likely are willing to pay more rent in exchange for the convenience and the opportunity to reduce their energy costs. How we test smart thermostats We install thermostats in a single-family home with a conventional HVAC system and use each one for a week or more to determine how effective it is at maintaining a comfortable environment. The home’s existing thermostat was wired with G, R, W, and Y wires. There was also a C wire in the wall that was connected to the furnace, but that had not been previously used. While there is no regulated standard for color-coding HVAC wires, industry practice has the G wire connecting the thermostat to the fan. This wire is typically green. The R wire, typically red, is for power. Some systems have separate power wires for heating and cooling and are labeled RH and RC respectively. The typically white W wire is for auxiliary heat; i.e., a second source of heat. The Y wire, which is typically yellow, connects the thermostat to your air conditioner. Finally, the C or “common” wire is used to carry power and is typically blue (think cerulean if you need a mnemonic).

Whither Spotify HiFi? Great question.  Announced more than three (!) years ago, Spotify HiFi was supposed to finally bring lossless audio to the world’s biggest streaming-music service.   Pop stars were trotted out to promote the new feature, experts detailed the benefits lossless audio would bring to listeners, and a launch window was announced.  And then… nothing.  Three years after Spotify announced HiFi, we’re still wondering what happened to the feature. Of course, there’s been no shortage of Spotify HiFi rumors and leaks, with many of them promising that this time, Spotify lossless audio is truly just around the corner. But the smoldering Spotify HiFi rumors just got a big gulp of oxygen thanks to no less than Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, who just detailed plans for what could include Spotify lossless audio–more on that below. So, is Spotify HiFi still coming? What other rumors have there been about Spotify lossless audio? How much will it cost? And what is Spotify HiFi, anyway? Here’s what we know–and don’t know–about Spotify HiFi, and when it might finally arrive. Updated July 23, 2024 with details of recent comments from CEO Daniel Ek about a “much better version” of Spotify, coming…soonish. Spotify HiFi release date: Your questions answered What is Spotify HiFi? First announced back in February 2021, Spotify HiFi was described as a way for Spotify Premium users to “upgrade their sound quality” to a “CD-quality, lossless audio format.” This feature is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best music streaming services. Typically, “CD-quality” means streaming audio encoded with 16-bit depth and a 44.1kHz sampling rate.  But the key term here is “lossless,” which means that the audio stream contains exactly the same sonic detail as its source.  The main selling point here is that you’d be hearing the music in the precise way the artist intended–and indeed, Spotify posted a video (which has since been marked “private”) in which Billie Eilish and Finneas extolled the virtues of lossless audio streaming. As it stands, Spotify streams audio at 320Kbps in the “lossy” Ogg Vorbis format, which means the audio stream has been compressed and is losing a fair amount of detail in the interest of conserving bandwidth.  When was Spotify HiFi supposed to come out? Spotify never gave a precise release date for Spotify HiFi, but during its 2021 announcement, it said the feature would arrive “later this year” in “select” markets. Of course, it’s fair to say that Spotify HiFi missed its launch window by a wide margin. When will Spotify HiFi come out? The short answer: We don’t know exactly when Spotify HiFi will arrive, but there have been plenty of recent hints that the feature is imminent. Most recently, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told investors (during the company’s latest earnings call) that “a deluxe version of Spotify” is on the way, complete with “all the benefits” of the regular Spotify plus “a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I’m not ready to talk about yet.” This new and “much better version” of Spotify will cost extra, though. “Think something like $5 above the current premium tier,” said Ek, “so it’s probably around a $17 to $18 price point.” When will the “deluxe” Spotify–complete with lossless audio, we’re guessing–finally arrive then? Ek didn’t say, although he noted that the new Spotify offering is “in its early days.” Huh. In any case, this new “much better version” of Spotify sure sounds like the purported add-on for Spotify Premium users that was recently detailed by Bloomberg. According to Bloomberg’s reporting, the add-on will cost an extra $5 each month (check) and will include Spotify lossless audio, along with “new tools for creating playlists and managing [a user’s] song libraries,” according to Bloomberg’s anonymous sources. And when’s the launch date for this new Spotify lossless audio add-on? “Later this year,” Bloomberg says. Sigh. What were the earlier rumors about Spotify HiFi? Of course, this isn’t the first time Bloomberg has written about Spotify’s lossless audio plans, and previous stories have painted a decidedly different picture (perhaps reflecting Spotify’s own changing strategies surrounding HiFi). According to this June 2023 report from Bloomberg, Spotify was prepping a new and pricier tier that would “likely” including Spotify HiFi, along with “expanded” access to audiobooks. The new tier, which Spotify reportedly called “Supremium” behind closed doors, would become Spotify’s priciest plan, albeit in “non-U.S. markets” to start, the Bloomberg report said. The Bloomberg story also noted that this so-called “Supremium” plan would likely arrive by the end of 2023. Clearly, that didn’t happen. Later, in September 2023, a Spotify user poking around the official Spotify app said they found code that appeared to back up the Bloomberg report, including evidence that Spotify HiFi might actually offer high-resolution (i.e., better than 16-bit/44kHz) as well as lossless tracks. The code didn’t offer any details on when Spotify HiFi might actually arrive, however. Then, in April 2024, the same Spotify user found code in more recent versions of the Spotify app hinting that that the (never unveiled) Supremium tier “is dead.” In its place: a “Music Pro” add-on (sound familiar?) that would offer up to 24-bit/44.1kHz lossless playback plus a headphone “enhancement/optimization” feature. Music Pro could also include “advanced mixing” tools similar to those detailed in this Wall Street Journal article, the Reddit user said. Through it all, Spotify itself has said very little about its lossless audio plans, but Spotify execs have previously insisted that Spotify HiFi (or whatever it ends up being called) is still coming. Speaking with The Verge in March 2023, Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström said that the company is “still going to do” Spotify HiFi, but that “we’re going to do it in a way where it makes sense for us and for our listeners,” adding that “the industry changed and we had to adapt.” (We’ll discuss exactly how the industry changed in a moment.) Söderström didn’t offer a timeline for when Spotify HiFi might finally arrive, beyond a vague “at some point.” Going further back to January 2022, the company offered a vaguely worded statement that offered scant details about Spotify HiFi’s fate: “We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we’re excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. But we don’t have timing details to share yet. We will of course update you here when we can.“ We reached out to Spotify shortly after that announcement, but a rep would only say that the company did “not have anything further to share on HiFi beyond the excitement for the future launch.” There have been other hints about Spotify HiFi’s arrival. According to an October 2022 post on Reddit, a longtime Spotify user who had recently switched to Apple Music claimed they got a survey detailed a new plan–“Spotify Platinum”–that boasts HiFi, as well as other features such as “Studio Sound,” a “Headphone Tuner,” “Audio Insights,” “Library Pro,” “Playlist Pro,” and “limited-ad” podcasts, all for an extra charge (more on that in a moment). The Redditor said the survey asked if they would switch back to Spotify “in the nest 30 days” for “one of [those] features.” Obviously, those 30 days came and went without any sign of Spotify Platinum actually appearing. Even further back, a “HiFi” icon was spotted in the Spotify app back in May 2021 and a leaked “Hi, HiFi” video that made the rounds a few months later. How much will Spotify HiFi cost? Based on the latest rumors and Spotify CEO Ek’s recent comments, it sounds like Spotify lossless audio might be available for an additional fee (probably $5) on top of your monthly Spotify Premium subscription. Interestingly, the latest chatter squares with the wording of Spotify’s initial HiFi announcement: “Premium subscribers in select markets will be able to upgrade their sound quality to Spotify HiFi,” suggesting that Spotify lossless audio would arrive as an add-on rather than its own tier. It’s also worth noting that Spotify tested CD-quality audio streams as early as 2017, and at that time, it charged an extra $7.50 a month for the privilege.  There have been other pricing theories over the years, however. For example, Bloomberg’s 2023 report about Spotify “Supremium” said the new tier–including HiFi functionality–would be Spotify’s priciest yet, while the purported survey cited in the “Spotify Platinum” rumor detailed above pegged the price at $19.99 a month. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Spotify user who had been digging around the Spotify app found a reference to a $19.99/month price within the app’s code, but added that “this could just be a placeholder.” Why hasn’t Spotify HiFi come out yet? Good question. Back in February 2022, Spotify CEO Daniel Ed blamed “licensing” issues when asked about the fate of Spotify HiFi during a company earnings call. Here’s the exact quote, as reported by TechCrunch: “Many of the features that we talk about and especially that’s related to music ends up into licensing,” Ek told investors. “So I can’t really announce any specifics on this other than to say that we’re in constant dialogue with our partners to bring this to market.” There is another reason that Spotify might have delayed Spotify HiFi: because it got caught flat-footed by Apple and Amazon, a development that Spotify’s Söderström referred to (“the industry changed”) earlier. Just three months after the Spotify HiFi announcement, Amazon and Apple both announced (separately, but on the same day) that they would begin offering lossless, high-resolution, and spatial audio music tracks, all for no extra charge. (Apple was completely new to lossless and spatial audio streaming, while Amazon had previously been charging extra for lossless and spatial tracks.) Following the Amazon and Apple announcements, the prospect of paying extra (most likely) for only CD-quality music and (probably) no spatial audio began to lose its appeal, so perhaps Spotify chose to retreat and regroup. Will Spotify HiFi offer high-resolution music streaming? Plenty of Spotify’s streaming music rivals, including Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Qobuz, and Tidal, offer “high-resolution” music streaming–that is, audio that’s encoded at a higher resolution and sampling rate than CD-quality 16-bit/44.1kHz audio tracks.  Most industry types agree that 24-bit/48kHz is the threshold for high-resolution audio, and those streamers that support it deliver high-res streams all the way up to 24-bit/192kHz. But Spotify never said anything about high-resolution audio in its initial Spotify HiFi announcement; all it promised was “CD-quality” audio, which qualifies as “hi-fi” but not “hi-res.” That said, the Spotify user who previously revealed details hidden in the Spotify app noted that code made reference to “24-bit Lossless music,” indicating that Spotify HiFi might offer high-resolution audio after all. In any event, it’s a matter of heated debate whether the human ear can actually tell the difference between CD-quality and high-resolution audio–or for that matter, whether most folks can discern the difference between lossy and lossless. We won’t dive into lossy-vs.-lossless rabbit hole here. Will Spotify HiFi offer spatial audio? As with high-resolution audio, Spotify never said anything about spatial audio–that is, music tracks that have been mixed with 3D surround effects–in its Spotify HiFi announcement. Meanwhile, Spotify competitors Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Tidal do offer spatial audio tracks in such formats as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Given the competition, Spotify likely does have spatial audio plans in the works–and perhaps that’s what the “Studio Sound” and/or “Headphone Tuner” features from the Spotify Platinum rumors are all about. Will Spotify HiFi get cancelled? Well, anything’s possible, and Spotify has been known to nix high-profile features that never quite took off. For example, Spotify infamously pulled the plug on Car Thing, a small touchscreen display that you could install on a car dashboard for on-the-road Spotify streaming. For its part, Spotify said that while Car Thing “worked as intended,” it chose to halt production of the $80 device due to “product demand and supply chain issues,” among other factors. Spotify also has a history of testing, teasing, and rolling out new features that later disappear–or even reappear–without explanation. But while Spotify seems willing to cancel features that aren’t working, it also likes to experiment, and Spotify HiFi could be a project that Spotify is content to tinker with indefinitely. For what it’s worth, the official Spotify HiFi announcement is still live on Spotify’s website. Updated on July 23, 2024 to add new developments and analysis.

iRobot has announced its most advanced cleaning device yet, the Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock. The newly designed 2-in-1 floor cleaner sits at the top end of iRobot’s lineup, with an MSRP of $1399. The Roomba Combo 10 Max builds on innovations introduced in the J7+ and J9+ series Roombas. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuums. The robot uses a four-stage cleaning system, dual rubber roller brushes, and a pressurized scrubbing motion to effectively remove dirt, pet fur, and debris from both carpeted and hard-surface floors. Its unique auto-retract mopping system lifts the mop to the top of the robot when it detects carpet, while iRobot’s Dry Rug Intelligence (D.R.I.) ensures that carpets remain dry, preventing any wet messes. But the Roomba Combo 10 Max nudges the Roomba even further toward hands-free cleaning with iRobot’s first multifunction AutoWash Dock, which automatically refills and recharges the robot, washes and dries its mopping pad, empties its dustbin, and self-cleans. The dock’s front door opens for easier cleaning and maintenance. iRobot The robot is powered by an improved iRobot OS that’s been enhanced to recognize large concentrations of dirt and debris better and to clean those areas more frequently. It’s also the company’s first robot floor cleaner to be Matter-compliant and compatible with the Apple Home ecosystem. Introducing the AutoWash dock The biggest news here is the AutoWash dock. The additional level of automation addresses a common pain point for users of two-in-one cleaning robots: the need to frequently hand- or machine-wash mop pads to avoid spreading dirt and bacteria. iRobot says the dock automatically cleans itself after every pad wash to proactively prevent dirt and debris buildup. Additionally, it can be configured to clean the mop pad after cleaning specific rooms, like bathrooms, to ensure that messes and bacteria don’t spread around the home. Users will also be able to run manual self-clean cycles and will be reminded through the iRobot Home app when deeper cleaning or standard maintenance is needed. The dock includes a three-liter clean water tank that refills the robot’s water reservoir and washes the mopping pads. A separate 2.5-liter dirty water tank stores the used water, ensuring a hygienic cleaning process. The dock also has a 60-day capacity for dry dirt, dust, and debris. The Roomba Combo 10 Max’s auto-retract mopping system lifts the mop to the top of the robot when it detects carpet. iRobot The dock also evolves the design of Roomba Combo J9+. Like that model’s dock, it features a front-opening door, making it easy to access and clean, and has a tabletop surface enabling it to double as a functional piece of furniture. But its materials have been upgraded with antimicrobial resins in water-exposed areas of the dock to prevent the buildup of bacteria and biofilms. Smarter smart cleaning AI-powered dirt detection is a hallmark of several Roombas. iRobot says the new Enhanced Dirt Detect Technology in the Roomba Combo 10 Max allows it to use its camera to visually identify dirt, recognizing the dirtiest areas up to eight times more frequently and making multiple cleaning passes of those areas. The new robot also leverages advanced machine learning to create a comprehensive smart map of the home and analyzes past cleaning data to predict room cleanliness, helping prioritize tasks, adjust settings, and determine when the mop pad needs washing. The Roomba Combo 10 Max is available for pre-sale now in the U.S. and Canada on iRobot.com, with shipments beginning in August. It will also be available at select retailers for pre-sale beginning in August. It’s also available for pre-sale in Europe, with availability in other international markets in the coming months. We’ll have an in-depth review of the Roomba Combo 10 Max once we receive a review unit.

Deep Sentinel, the security provider whose camera-based security system is designed to thwart crime with the help of AI and 24/7 monitoring by live guards, is testing a radically new response to break-ins. If intruders don’t heed a guards’ warnings to leave, Deep Sentinel’s FlashBang system will douse the miscreants with pepper spray, choke them with smoke bombs, blind them with flashing high-intensity lights, and punish their eardrums with high-decibel, high-pitched sirens. Deep Sentinel co-founder and CEO Dave Selinger says FlashBang is a response to business customers, particularly those operating in high-risk industries such as cannabis and luxury retail stores, looking for a more aggressive response to increasingly brazen criminals. These days, the more traditional deterrents–including sirens, real-time voice warnings, and even police dispatch requests–are proving insufficient. “We’re seeing crimes like ram-raiding,” Selinger said. “By the time the person shows up with their car to drive it through the front door, telling them that the police are on the way isn’t going to slow them down.” FlashBang’s smoke machine can cover an area of 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Deep Sentinel How FlashBang works Deep Sentinel’s core service is a combination of power-over-ethernet (PoE) or wireless cameras, a proprietary artificial intelligence tuned to identify suspicious and criminal behavior, and a professional live guard station. When the AI system identifies suspicious activity captured by a camera, a human guard reviews it and when necessary, intervenes using two-way audio to encourage the person to leave the premises. If the intruder refuses to leave, the guard contacts local law enforcement and lets the person on the other side of the camera know that the police are on the way while continuing to monitor them. flashbang won't be immediately available with the consumer version Deep Sentinel Residential Camera System (2nd generation) Read our review Selinger said these measures work in the majority of cases. FlashBang was developed for the smaller percentage of cases where they don’t. FlashBang’s four deterrent options work as a series of escalating steps starting with the siren. Selinger explained that the siren uses a specific set of ultra-high frequencies that disrupt the brain’s prefrontal cortex. Tests have shown that it’s more disruptive to the brain at one-tenth the volume of traditional sirens. To enhance the effect, the siren can be paired with an ultra-bright strobe light, capable of illuminating thousands of square feet. According to tests conducted by Deep Sentinel, this combination of auditory and visual signals overwhelms the intruder’s senses, with subjects experiencing a strong fight-or-flight response. Selinger said that when he subjected himself to the strobe light, he felt nauseous and dizzy within five seconds. For even more extreme situations, FlashBang includes a smoke machine and a pepper spray system. The smoke machine uses an incendiary mechanism, similar to a firework, to rapidly fill a space with smoke. In just 12 to 15 seconds, it can cover an area of 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, creating an immediate and effective visual barrier. This method has proven to be a highly effective deterrent in European jewelry stores, Selinger said. Deep Sentinel has refined the approach by reducing the amount of leftover ash to cover no more than 10 square feet, ensuring the smoke disrupts while leaving minimal residue. FlashBang holds the equivalent of 30 personal pepper spray devices, covering an area of about 2,000 square feet. Deep Sentinel Recognizing that some intruders won’t be deterred by auditory or visual signals alone, Deep Sentinel developed a pepper spray system to address the most persistent threats. Unlike personal pepper spray canisters that typically hold about a quarter of an ounce, FlashBang’s deployment mechanism holds a full eight ounces, the equivalent of about 30 personal pepper spray devices. It takes approximately 30 seconds to fully deploy, covering an area of about 2,000 square feet. The spray not only inflicts severe irritation and coughing to incapacitate intruders, but it also renders the area uninhabitable for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on ventilation. With the detection of a suspected crime in progress, FlashBang’s series of graduated deterrents are activated, following to a strict protocol: Live guards monitor the situation in real time, assessing the threat level before taking action. Deep Sentinel’s system won’t allow FlashBang’s more extreme measures–such as pepper spray–can’t be brought to bear before intruders are given a clear warning and an opportunity to leave the premises. The system won’t take further actions until those warnings are issued and responded to. How does FlashBang compare to other DIY security systems? When Deep Sentinel released its security camera system, it immediately stood out in the security camera market because of its unique combination of cutting-edge AI technology and live professional monitoring. At the heart of Deep Sentinel’s advantage is real-time human intervention. Most DIY security systems rely solely on motion detection and alert notifications to alert users to suspicious activity, leaving it to the end user to respond–when and if they’re able. Deep Sentinel uses live guards to monitor camera feeds, intervening within 5 to 10 seconds if they detect suspicious activity. FlashBang’s detterents are deployed by LiveSentinel guards. Deep Sentinel Deep Sentinel’s implementation of AI further distinguishes the system from its competitors. While many off-the-shelf security systems employ AI to detect motion, Deep Sentinel’s AI is specifically trained to recognize potential criminal activity. It can differentiate between routine movements and actions that suggest a threat, escalating only relevant alerts to the live guards, ensuring a greater level of efficiency and reliability. With the introduction of the Flash Bang, Deep Sentinel is setting another new standard in the DIY security market. Its features go beyond passive monitoring, providing an active defense mechanism not found in other DIY systems. With ram-raiding, smash-and-grab burglaries, and other brazen retail theft becoming more prevalent, FlashBang’s proactive deterrent measures should be very attractive to business users. When will FlashBang be available? The initial rollout of the FlashBang is limited to California, where the company has conducted thorough legal analyses and engaged with local authorities to ensure the system complies with state laws. Deep Sentinel plans to expand the availability of FlashBang in other states based on user feedback and legal considerations. For the time being, FlashBang is available only to Deep Sentinel business customers with a PoE system and an active subscription to its LiveSentinel guard service. There is no official release date or pricing information yet, but you can sign up for the waitlist at the Deep Sentinel website. Availability for users with wireless camera systems is in the works. Selinger said that there is demand for a FlashBang product for residential users, but the company is focusing only on business customers for now.

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsStraightforward way to record over-the-air TVPlays and records encrypted ATSC 3.0 channelsProduct is regularly improving through software updatesConsTuner management can get trickyNo visual preview to help skip over commercialsCan’t sort series recordings by seasonOur VerdictThe ZapperBox M1 is a pricey but easy-to-use over-the-air DVR with full NextGen TV support. In a battle of over-the-air DVRs, the ZapperBox M1 has essentially won by default. Amazon abandoned its Fire TV Recast DVR in 2022. TiVo discontinued its Edge over-the-air DVR earlier this year. Tablo’s overhauled 4th-gen DVR is promising, but buggy. Channels DVR, while great, requires a complex hardware setup. All that leaves Bitrouter’s ZapperBox M1 as the only plug-and-play option with modern DVR features such as series recordings and a 14-day TV guide. It’s also the only DVR that can record encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels as of this writing. While it’s pricey at $275 for a dual-tuner model—plus $5 per month or $30 per year for a DVR subscription—its a worthwhile investment for cord cutters who want a future-proof way to record broadcast channels from an antenna. The ZapperBox M1 has evolved from a beta product into a solid, plug-and-play DVR, one that can record any over-the-air channel, encrypted or not. What’s in the ZapperBox The ZapperBox has a coax input that works with any antenna.Jared Newman / Foundry The ZapperBox M1 is a rectangular puck roughly the size of high-end streaming boxes such as the Roku Ultra and Apple TV 4K. Connect any over-the-air antenna and plug the box into your TV’s HDMI port, and you can start watching live TV. DVR requires the aforementioned subscription and an internet connection—via either Wi-Fi or hardwired ethernet—plus a microSD card or a USB drive for storage. The ZapperBox requires at least 128GB of storage, which will record roughly 25 to 50 hours depending on video quality; Bitrouter has confirmed support for hard drives up to 8TB. Jared Newman / Foundry The ZapperBox comes with its own remote, which you must use in place of your TV’s remote, and it uses infrared, which requires line-of-sight to the box. A set of four programmable keys is just enough for TV power, volume, and input-switching, though you can also have them control any function from any other infrared remote. You can also program a universal remote to control the ZapperBox itself. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best over-the-air DVRs. Surfing the airwaves Jared Newman / Foundry The main way you’ll interact with the ZapperBox is through its grid guide, which is accessible through the remote’s Guide button. It’s a pretty nice guide, displaying live TV in a small window while you browse. A description of the currently-highlighted program appears up top, and the listings underneath are easy to read without being overwhelmingly dense. ATSC 3.0 channels are highlighted with a wave icon, and you can hide unwated channels through a settings menu. Pressing the remote’s “Zap” button lets you page up or down through the guide and skip ahead to future dates. While viewing live TV, you can click up or down to flip through channels, click the back button to load the previous channel, and hit the Info button for details on the program and broadcast quality. You can also pause, fast forward, and rewind through live TV starting from when you tuned in, no subscription necessary. ZapperBox’s search menu can help find upcoming shows to record. Jared Newman / Foundry Clicking the ZapperBox’s Menu button reveals a few extra features, including a search function for live or upcoming programs, a settings menu, and access to a built-in YouTube app. (While the box is based on Android, it doesn’t offer any other streaming functionality.) The system works well overall, but it feels sluggish compared to modern streaming players. Live channels take around seven seconds to load—or a few seconds longer for encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels—and there’s a hint of lag between clicking the remote and seeing a response on the screen. DVR features Jared Newman / Foundry The ZapperBox M1’s DVR support has come a long way since our initial review, when it was still in beta, though it still feels like a work in progress. As before, you can set up series recordings from the grid guide or search menu, but now you can also avoid recording reruns and set up start and stop buffer times, which are helpful for dealing with sporting events. ZapperBox has also overhauled its Library menu to include cover art and episode descriptions, giving the interface a more polished appearance. Some frustrations remain, though. You can’t yet automatically discard recordings after a set period of time, and recordings for each show are sorted by air date, with no way to jump between seasons. This often results in series recordings being out of order. ZapperBox’s program page sorts episodes by air date, not series order.Jared Newman / Foundry Tuner management can also be tricky, as you can’t set up a priority list for series recordings. The ZapperBox does warn when you’ve created a tuner conflict for one-off recordings, but it requires picking through a separate “Schedule” menu to weed out other conflicts one-by-one. Jared Newman / Foundry The ZapperBox’s ad-skipping experience could be better as well. The fast forward button works in 30-second increments, while rewind jumps back 10 seconds, and there’s no way to customize either. You get no visual preview when skipping ahead and no markup of commercial breaks, so you’re pretty much flying blind while trying to fast forward through commercials. The upside is that recordings actually work as expected. Unlike with Tablo’s fourth-gen DVR, I never returned to the ZapperBox after several days to discover it had quietly gone offline and failed to record anything. ATSC 3.0 support Dialog enhancement is one of ATSC 3.0’s most noticeable features.Jared Newman / Foundry ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, is a new broadcast standard that the industry is pushing as a replacement for the existing ATSC 1.0 standard. It enables a slew of new features for over-the-air TV, including 4K HDR video, on-demand content, additional internet-based stations, dialog enhancement, and Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound. Many of those features are not widely available yet, so the benefits of ATSC 3.0 today consist mainly of 1080p video on some stations and dialog enhancement on all stations. Here in Cincinnati, the only 1080p stations are those that broadcast at 1080i with ATSC 1.0, and the difference is barely noticeable. Dialog enhancement does make a significant difference and is a welcome improvement. As more ATSC 3.0 features arrive, the ZapperBox should be able to support them. It’s already capable of playing HDR video—though only my local NBC station offers it—and I have access to one internet-based channel, Sinclair’s T2. The ZapperBox also has a dormant “BA” button, which is supposed to support interactive broadcast apps in a future update. ATSC 3.0 can stream extra channels such, as the Tennis Channel’s T2, directly into your over-the-air guide.Jared Newman / Foundry ATSC 3.0 introduces one controversial change: It allows broadcasters to encrypt over-the-air channels, and many of them started doing so in 2023, wreaking havoc on DVR makers’ plans. Fortunately, ZapperBox is certified to support encrypted broadcasts, and an update in April added support for recording encrypted channels. Still, DRM does leave its mark on the ZapperBox in a couple of ways: You can’t watch encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels without an internet connection, and you’ll never be able export encrypted recordings onto another device for playback. (A future update will let you play unencrypted recordings on other devices, but at present you can only back up recordings to a secondary drive for playback on the ZapperBox itself.) More on the roadmap ZapperBox publishes a list of features it expects to add in the future, the most notable of which is multi-room DVR. This will allow users to set up multiple ZapperBox devices, with recordings and tuners shared across each television. The company also plans to add offline playback of encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, playback support for exported recordings, and apps for accessing ZapperBox content on streaming players. We only review products based on how they function today, and don’t recommend buying a ZapperBox based on the expectation of unreleased features. But so far, ZapperBox has done a fine job responding to feedback and improving its product with software updates. Those improvements have already transformed the ZapperBox M1 from a beta product into a solid, plug-and-play DVR, one that can record any over-the-air channel, encrypted or not. While it has room to be even better, there are frustratingly few simple alternatives to recommend in its place. Editors’ note: This review was originally published on September 13, 2023. The manufacturer has released several software updates since that date, so the product you might purchase today is now very different. We have re-evaulated the Zapperbox M1 accordingly, and this is our opinion as of July 22, 2024.

While you don’t necessarily need an antenna to cut the cord, having one can be pretty useful, especially if you want to record over-the-air channels. With an over-the-air DVR, you can record shows from an antenna, rewind live TV broadcasts, and even fast forward through commercials. Some DVRs can even stream video onto multiple TVs or let you watch from outside the home. The over-the-air DVR field has narrowed considerably in recent years, with Amazon’s Fire TV Recast and TiVo’s Edge over-the-air model being discontinued. But some smaller hardware and software makers are still putting up the good fight, providing a level of control you just don’t get from streaming services alone. Updated July 22, 2024 to add fresh reviews and to reflect the current state of the market. Why you should trust us As TechHive’s resident cord-cutting expert, I’ve been reviewing over-the-air DVRs since 2017. These are remarkably complex products, and I do my best to understand what folks are looking for as they try to move on from the cable DVR experience they’re used to. Beyond just product reviews, I write a weekly column about streaming and over-the-air TV for TechHive, along with a weekly cord-cutting newsletter for more than 30,000 subscribers. BitRouter Zapperbox M1 — Best OTA DVR right now Pros Straightforward way to record over-the-air TV Plays and records encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels Product is regularly improving through software updates Cons Tuner management can get tricky No visual preview to help skip over commercials Can't sort series recordings by season Why we like the Bitrouter ZapperBox M1 The ZapperBox M1 is a simple, plug-and-play DVR whose list of features is steadily growing. It connects directly to your TV’s HDMI port and uses your choice of MicroSD or external USB drive for storage. The $30 per year DVR subscription provides a 14-day grid guide and series-based recordings. As of July 2024, it’s the only over-the-air DVR on the market that can record encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, which a growing number of broadcasters are adopting. It also supports other ATSC 3.0 features such as Dolby dialog boost, HDR video, and additional broadband-based channels. Who should buy the ZapperBox M1 The ZapperBox M1 is ideal for folks who want to future-proof their DVRs for ATSC 3.0 and avoid the vagaries of in-home streaming, which some other over-the-air DVRs require. It’s pricey at $275 for a dual-tuner model (plus the subscription fee), but dependable. Still, those who want more advanced features such as out-of-home streaming and automatic ad skipping should look elsewhere. Read our full ZapperBox M1 review Channels DVR — Best OTA DVR for power users Pros Records both over-the-air and live streaming channels Slick software with lots of DVR creature comforts Excellent audio and video quality for broadcast channels Cons Complicated setup No Roku or game console support Subscription fee is higher than other over-the-air DVRs Best Prices Today: $8 at Channels Why we like Channels DVR Channels DVR is a software solution that runs on a desktop computer, NAS box, or Raspberry Pi. You must also supply an HDHomeRun tuner to capture over-the-air channels and relay them to your server device. For those who bother setting it all up, the result is a deeply rewarding media center experience with automatic ad-skipping, out-of-home viewing, custom channel categories, and more. You can even bring in video from other sources—such as DVD rips and online M3U streams—giving you one app in which to view everything. Who should buy Channels DVR Between the hardware requirements and the subscription price of $8 per month and $80 per year, Channels DVR is not for everyone. But if you seek an over-the-air DVR solution that allows for customization and extensibility—while still being a joy to actually use—this is as good as it gets. Read our full Channels DVR (2020) review Tablo 4th-generation DVR — An inexpensive option (with caveats) Pros Records from an antenna with no subscription required Free streaming channels provide even more to record Robust series-recording options Cons Significant stability issues and bugs No schedule view makes tuner management difficult Roku app lacks a mini guide Why we like the Tablo 4th-gen DVR We’d love to put the 4th-gen Tablo at the top of this list, because on paper it offers so much. For $99 with no subscription fees, a single Tablo DVR can stream video onto multiple TVs throughout the home, using companion apps for various smart TV and streaming platforms. It can even record from dozens of free streaming channels, giving you more to watch than other over-the-air DVRs. But in our testing, the newest Tablo repeatedly dropped offline, failed to complete scheduled recordings, and had numerous other bugs. We include it here because there simply aren’t many other options worth considering. Who should get the Tablo 4th-gen DVR If you have a high tolerance for bugs and really want to avoid additional subscription fees, take a chance on the Tablo. We’ll revisit this DVR in the future to see if its reliability issues have been resolved through software updates. Read our full Tablo (4th Generation) Over-the-Air DVR review FAQ Frequently-asked cord-cutting DVR questions 1. What can I watch with an over-the-air DVR? This depends on the type of antenna you have, the number of broadcast stations nearby, and the quality of your signal. At best, you’ll have access to ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW, PBS, and other public-access stations, along with digital subnetworks such as MeTV and ION. (An antenna won’t get you any cable channels such as ESPN, TNT, and HGTV, regardless of what sleazy antenna marketing says.) Plug your address into Antennaweb’s lookup tool for a sense of what’s available at your location. 2. Can I record streaming services? While the fourth-generation Tablo can record from a small number of free streaming channels, most over-the-air DVRs only work with the channels you get from an antenna. If you want to watch and record regular cable channels, you’re better off subscribing to a live TV streaming service that includes a cloud-based DVR. You can’t record shows from services like Netflix or Hulu, at least not without elaborate workarounds. 3. What’s a tuner and how many do I need? Most over-the-air DVRs come with either two tuners, which can play or record two channels at a time, or four tuners, which can play or record four channels at a time. More tuners means less potential for recording conflicts, but the hardware is more expensive, and splitting the signal from a single antenna can degrade signal quality, which is a problem if your reception is borderline to begin with. 4. Can I expect better or worse reception with an over-the-air DVR? As mentioned above, splitting an antenna across multiple tuners can result in some signal loss, but networked tuners such as Tablo may allow you to place your antenna in an area with better reception, such as on an upper floor in a window facing your nearest broadcast towers. There’s always some trial and error involved with over-the-air reception, and DVR products are no different. (Tablo has some helpful tips on optimizing reception, with or without an over-the-air DVR.) 5. Is an ATSC 1.0 DVR still worth getting? Broadcasters must support ATSC 1.0 until at least February 2027, but because ATSC 3.0 isn’t backward-compatible with existing tuners, it’s hard to envision them leaving the old standard behind in that timeframe. Many TV makers are still shipping new sets with ATSC 1.0 tuners, and there’s no federal mandate forcing anyone to move onto the new standard. Barring some government intervention that leads to a surge in ATSC 3.0 adoption, ATSC 1.0 DVRs should still have a long lifespan ahead. Other over-the-air DVRs we’ve tested Plex supports over-the-air DVR with a Plex Pass subscription, which costs $5 per month, $40 per year, or $120 for life. It requires a compatible TV tuner and media server setup similar to that of Channels DVR, and while it doesn’t have as many neat features, the pay-once subscription option makes it worth considering. AirTV Anywhere is an over-the-air DVR from a subsidiary of Dish Network, designed to integrate with Dish’s Sling TV streaming service. Plug in an antenna, and you can watch or record live TV through the Sling TV app, even without a subscription. The lack of subscription fees is great, but recording capabilities are limited, and Sling hasn’t updated the product line since 2020, which doesn’t instill confidence. Jellyfin’s open-source software runs on any desktop computer and uses an HDHomeRun tuner to capture video from an antenna. While it’s free to use, the setup is a hassle, the companion apps are unintuitive, and you must supply your own TV-guide data, which you’ll most likely need to pay for anyway. Skip it unless open-source is part of your personal tech manifesto. SiliconDust offers its own DVR software for HDHomeRun tuners, but it no longer offers the Scribe tuner hardware that had built-in recording capabilities. That means you need a separate desktop computer to create and store the recordings. Its software is less refined than both Plex and Channels DVR, so we recommend those solutions in conjunction with an HDHomeRun tuner for DIY-minded users. Mediasonic sells subscription-free DVRs for less than $40 under the Homeworx brand, with no subscription fees. The experience is cruder than every other option we’ve mentioned here, but you can’t argue with the price.

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsVery lightweight, easy to maneuverLots of smart modesVery affordableConsFeels flimsyLight quality looks a bit cheapBulbs are very spaced out and can look nakedOur VerdictGovee’s string lights don’t look all that fantastic, but they’re fine for casual use–and it’s hard to beat the price.  Price When Reviewed£129.99 (30m), £79.99 (15m) Best Prices Today: Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 (30m) Retailer Price £129.99 View Deal Govee £129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There are few easier ways to liven up a large, dark space than to drape string lights over it. There’s just something about balls of light hanging overhead–especially if they are in color–that sets a mood for good times. They’re also an effective way to bring lighting to places where it wouldn’t otherwise be practical, like the expanse of a yard.  Like LIFX and Nanoleaf, its main competitors in the smart string-light market, Govee’s string lights are modular, and up to three strands, each 48 feet long, can be connected in a daisy-chained sequence. Govee includes all three strands in the box that I reviewed (that’s 144 feet total). Lengths of 48 feet ($80) and 96 feet ($130) are also available (and at the time of this writing, all Govee Outdoor String Light 2 sets are discounted through the Govee website).   The Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 look a bit cheap and less than vibrant, but the price is impossible to beat. Design and installation Efforts have clearly been made to keep costs under control here. The all-plastic bulbs are designed in a basic Edison style–each about 3.5 inches in height with a translucent white cover–and are attached to a chunky black base. The whole setup feels a little flimsy, though this plastic design keeps the string very lightweight. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart bulbs. The base of each bulb features a curving component that sticks out from the bottom and which can be used to hang the bulb directly from a hook or a zip tie. Alternately, clips are included that you can snap around the thin cord for another way to hang the string. The clips also give you some extra flexibility: Snap the clip around both strands of wire on either side of the bulb, and the bulb can then dangle down a few inches. Or just snap the clip to a single strand of wire and you can keep the bulbs in a tighter line. Zip ties are also included in the box.  With 15 bulbs per strand, there’s nearly 3 feet of cord between each bulb. I thought the 2 feet of space between LIFX’s String Light bulbs was a lot, but the Govee lights can feel especially naked. However, note that the distance between bulbs can be shortened considerably by using the clips as described above, which eats up a lot of the excess wiring.  Govee’s lights offer lots of length to work with, but color quality is limited.Christopher Null/Foundry Each 48-foot strand includes a three-prong connector at each end. This connector includes a waterproof wire nut to secure the strands together. The entire kit carries an IP65 weatherproofing rating, meaning it’s dust-tight and resistant to powerful jets of water from any angle (you can read up about IP ratings here). At the plug end of the chain is a small breakout box and an AC adapter. This adds another 10 feet of wiring to the mix that you’ll need to account for when stringing the lights. The breakout box features a single power button only; this button is also used to reset the lights to factory defaults if needed.  Each bulb offers a maximum brightness of 100 lumens. Power draw is stated at a maximum of 54 watts; Govee doesn’t specify whether that figure is for the 48-foot stand or the full 144-foot system, but for what it’s worth, I got just 40.5 watts with all three segments connected at full power. Lights can be clipped directly from the base or attached with plastic clips that attach to the wiring.Christopher Null/Foundry Wireless setup and Govee app The Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 kit uses the same Govee Home app as all Govee products, and I found setup to be painless, as the lights were automatically discovered via Bluetooth without requiring additional prompting. A quick series of steps bridged the lights to my 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, at which point they were up and running without even requiring a firmware update.  Govee’s app gives you no shortage of things to do with the lights, whether you want to set a static white color temperature (temperature range is not specified), pick an individual color for each bulb, or choose from countless themes in the app. Many of these themes are dynamic and can be used to set any number of moods or holiday vibes, whether you want a seductive mood or a full-on rager. A music mode lets the lights shift in brightness and color in tune with ambient music as detected either via the microphone on the breakout box or the mic on your phone–your choice. Alexa and Google Assistant are both also supported.  Govee’s app lets you configure lights for the entire strand or each bulb individually.Christopher Null/Foundry Performance There’s endless flexibility here, but I couldn’t help but feel that, even after significant testing time, the lights looked a bit cheap and less than vibrant. It doesn’t help that a number of Govee’s preloaded themes (especially the music mode) rely on blunt, primary colors, giving the lighting an elementary school auditorium feeling, which understandably may not be the vibe you’re going for. There’s no shortage of tweakability, though–you can configure lighting for the entire strand at once or drill down to each bulb individually.  Should you buy the Govee String Lights 2? If you do end up choosing Govee’s lights, you’ll probably want to spend a significant amount of time massaging things in the color picker and dimmer settings to find the right mood. Even then, keep your expectations in check.  At $120, though, the price is impossible to beat. Nanoleaf’s 147-foot Outdoor String Lights kit will cost you $280 today (we reviewed the 98-foot version of Nanoleaf’s string lights), and LIFX’s String Light tops out at 72 feet–and will cost you even more. If you want to kit out your backyard with smart string lights without spending much more than you would with standard LED string lights, Govee’s solution is worth a look, provided you temper your expectations surrounding color quality.  Updated July 23, 2024 with more details about power draw.

Gone are the days when home security meant clunky alarms and a vigilant neighbor. The proliferation of low-cost, easy-to-install Wi-Fi security cameras has made it possible for anyone with a bit of tech savvy to secure their home with a sophisticated surveillance system. Deploying a camera or two is a sound way to beef up your home security, but integrating those cameras with other smart home devices will be a transformative move for your home’s safety and convenience. Leverage your cameras by linking them to other smart products and platforms–such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit–and you’ll you gain unified control over your entire security system. This means you can monitor and adjust settings with simple voice commands or a few taps on your smartphone. The security enhancements you’ll experience are significant. Imagine your lights automatically illuminating when your camera detects motion, deterring potential intruders. Or pairing cameras with video doorbells and smart locks so you can see and speak to visitors remotely and unlock the door for trusted guests from anywhere. Integrating your security cameras with smart home devices allows you to customize your system to ensure it works seamlessly with your lifestyle, providing greater peace of mind and making your home more responsive to your needs. Here’s what you need to know to get started. an inexpensive indoor security camera Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) Read our review The role of security cameras in a smart home Let’s start with the basics: security cameras. These products have evolved from simple recording devices to sophisticated sentinels that can detect activity in and around your home, notify you of these events, and even ward off intruders. Whether you’re looking at indoor or outdoor models, today’s security cameras come packed with features that enable them to vigilantly ensure your home security. High-resolution video captures clear, detailed footage, making it easier to identify faces, license plate numbers, and other important details. Night vision ensures your home is protected even in complete darkness. Intelligent motion detection distinguishes between different types of movement, such as animals, people, or vehicles, reducing false alarms and ensuring you’re alerted only to genuine threats. Some models even include built-in sirens or lights that can be activated remotely to scare off trespassers. You’ll find our highly recommended security cameras at the preceding link. By themselves, security cameras allow you to monitor your home anytime and anywhere. But you’ll take your home security to another level when you pair them with one or more of the following smart home devices. a security camera and floodlight in one Ring Floodlight Cam Pro Read our review Smart lighting Smart lights–whether in the form of bulbs, fixtures, or in-wall controls–are one of the easiest and most effective additions you can make to your security setup. Smart lighting can do more than just add ambiance to your living room, it can act as a powerful deterrent to would-be burglars. For example, you could configure your front porch lights to automatically illuminate the moment your camera picks up movement. This sudden burst of light can startle porch pirates and potential intruders and make them think twice about approaching your home. With smart lighting systems, you can also create dynamic lighting patterns that create the illusion your home is occupied even when you’re away. Those same smart lights can be configured to trigger along with your security camera and alarms to act as a more forceful deterrent should an intruder actually get inside your home. Combining smart lights with your security cameras in this way gives you a robust system that not only captures potential threats but also proactively wards them off. We’ve evaluated all the latest products, and these are our top picks in smart lighting. smart bulbs don't need to cost a lot Wyze Bulb Color Read our review Best Prices Today: $34.99 at Wyze Video doorbells and smart entry locks These devices are an excellent upgrade to your front door security. A video doorbell equipped lets you see and talk to anyone who rings your bell, no matter where you are. But you can only see them when they’re directly in front of the doorbell. Integrating it with outdoor security cameras allows you to expand the coverage area, so you can monitor the entire approach to your door, capturing every angle and ensuring you’re never caught off guard. These are the video doorbells we recommend most. Smart locks add another layer of convenience and security. Forget to lock the door? No problem. Just use your phone to secure it remotely. You can also set your smart lock to automatically lock or unlock based on your phone’s location, making fumbling for keys a thing of the past. Some of our favorite smart locks can even open with fingerprint or with an NFC device. When combined with your security cameras and video doorbell, you get a seamless and comprehensive security solution that effectively prevents unauthorized entry to your home. one of our favorite smart deadbolts Kwikset Halo Touch Read our review Smart sensors and alarms Smart sensors and alarms are vital components in a fully integrated security system. Smart sensors come in various forms, including door/window sensors, motion detectors, and glass-break sensors. When integrated with your security cameras and smart door locks, these sensors can provide comprehensive coverage of your home’s entry points. For instance, if a door sensor detects that a door has been opened unexpectedly, it can trigger your security camera to alert you and start recording immediately. You can instantly check the live feed to see who’s at your door. If it’s an expected visitor, great! If not, you can take immediate action, whether it’s alerting the authorities or using your camera’s speaker to scare off the intruder. Smart alarms further enhance this setup by providing immediate auditory alerts in response to detected threats. These alarms can be integrated with your overall smart home system, allowing them to respond to triggers from other devices, such as motion detectors or security cameras. For example, if your security camera detects an intruder, the smart alarm can emit a loud siren to scare off the intruder and alert anyone nearby. Additionally, many smart alarms can send notifications to your smartphone, ensuring that you are promptly informed of any potential issues. We have our favorite smart home systems. turn your lights on when you open a door Philips Hue contact sensor (1-pack, white) Read our review Price When Reviewed: £34.99 Best Prices Today: £34.99 at Philips Hue Smart home hubs At the heart of any well-integrated smart home security system is a smart hub. This device acts as the central control point, managing all your connected devices and ensuring they work together seamlessly. Popular smart hubs like Samsung SmartThings and Hubitat are designed to integrate with a wide range of smart home products, including security cameras, lights, sensors, and alarms. Setting up a smart hub is relatively straightforward. Most hubs come with a companion app that guides you through the process of connecting your devices. Once everything is linked, you can create custom automations and routines that enhance your home security. For example, you can set up a routine where your security cameras automatically start recording when your smart lock is tampered with or where your smart lights flash to alert you of an intrusion. A smart hub also simplifies the management of your security system. Instead of juggling multiple apps for different devices, you can control everything from a single interface. This centralization not only makes it easier to monitor your home but also ensures that your devices are working together in harmony. our favorite smart home hub Aeotec Smart Home Hub Read our review Cloud storage and data security Cloud storage has become a crucial feature for security cameras. It offers a reliable and secure way to store your video footage, ensuring that you have access to recordings whenever you need them. However, not all cloud storage options are created equal, and it’s important to choose a solution that prioritizes data security and privacy. Many security camera manufacturers offer their own cloud storage plans, which can vary in terms of storage capacity, retention periods, and cost. It’s worth comparing these options to find the one that best meets your needs. For instance, some services offer continuous recording, while others only save clips triggered by motion or sound. When it comes to data security, look for cloud storage providers that offer strong encryption and other security measures to protect your footage from unauthorized access. Some services also offer additional features like two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of protection to your account. In addition to cloud storage, consider local storage options such as microSD cards or network-attached storage (NAS) devices. These alternatives can provide additional redundancy, ensuring that you always have a backup of your important footage. our favorite diy home security system Ring Alarm Pro (8-piece kit) Read our review Maximizing your home security: practical tips and tricks Integrating security cameras with other smart devices can seem daunting, but with a few practical tips and tricks, you can maximize your home security without breaking a sweat. Plan your setup: Before you start buying devices, take some time to plan your smart home security setup. Identify key areas that need monitoring and decide which devices will work best in each location. Start small: If you’re new to smart home technology, start with a few key devices and gradually expand your system as you become more comfortable. This approach allows you to learn the ropes without feeling overwhelmed. Consider compatibility: One of the most important aspects of integrating security cameras with other smart devices is ensuring compatibility. It’s often easier to stick with one brand or platform to ensure seamless integration and control. For example, if you’re using Amazon Alexa, choosing cameras, lights, and other devices that are Alexa-compatible can simplify setup and operation. Similarly, sticking with products from a single manufacturer can guarantee better compatibility and customer support. However, many smart home platforms are designed to work with multiple brands, so do your research to ensure that all your chosen devices are interoperable. Use automation: Take advantage of automation features to create routines that enhance your security. For example, set your smart lights to turn on and off at random intervals when you’re away to give the impression that someone is home. Regular maintenance: Keep your devices updated with the latest firmware and software to ensure they are operating at their best. Regularly check for updates and perform maintenance tasks like cleaning your camera lenses and testing your sensors. Educate your family: Make sure everyone in your household knows how to use the security system. Teach them how to arm and disarm the system, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to access the live camera feeds. Privacy considerations: Ensure that your cameras and other smart devices are positioned in a way that respects the privacy of your household members and neighbors. Avoid placing cameras in sensitive areas like bedrooms or bathrooms and be mindful of where outdoor cameras are pointed. Test regularly: Periodically test your security system to ensure all devices are functioning correctly. Conducting routine checks can help you catch any issues early and ensure that your system is always ready to protect your home. Stay informed: The world of smart home technology is constantly evolving. Stay informed about new products, features, and security updates. Subscribing to newsletters from trusted sources and joining online communities can keep you up to date with the latest trends and best practices. A smarter, safer home Integrating security cameras with other smart devices is more than just a trend; it’s a smart investment in your home’s security and your peace of mind. By combining the power of modern security cameras with smart lighting, video doorbells, smart locks, sensors, and smart home hubs, you create a comprehensive and responsive security system that keeps you informed and in control, no matter where you are.