Latest news with #pettech
WIRED
08-07-2025
- Business
- WIRED
These Are the Best Deals We've Found on Pet Tech for Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day has expanded to four days. From automatic litter boxes to at-home DNA test kits, here are the best pet-related deals we've found (so far). All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Amazon Prime Day is arguably the best time of the year to upgrade your pet's digs for way less dough. As the pet tech writer here at WIRED, I have strong opinions about which (often pricey) pet gear is worth the money. From automatic litter boxes to feeders and fountains, and even DNA testing kits and pet cameras, I've pulled together the best Prime Day pet deals on WIRED-tested gear for this event, which runs July 8-11. I'll be updating with more deals as I find them, so make sure you're checking back often. You'll find a wider selection of bargains in our Absolute Best Prime Day Deals roundup and Prime Day liveblog. WIRED Featured Deals Pet Deals This upgraded version of Petlibro's wet automatic feeder is the best on the market right now. This automatic feeder is specifically designed to store and schedule wet-food meals using what's essentially a mini fridge. The refrigeration uses thermoelectric cooling and stays at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and cooling is paused 30 minutes before the scheduled feeding time to make sure it's at the ideal temperature. With the newest upgrade, the bowls are now stainless steel—less chance for whisker fatigue with wide bowls or feline acne with bacteria-harboring plastic—and they're numbered, so you can easily correlate feedings to specific bowls in-app. Through the connected app, you can alter schedules, manually feed on demand, and control how long it's opened—there's even a sensor to make sure it doesn't close while your kitty is feeding. At this price, it's well worth the money. This automatic feeder is my personal favorite and the one I recommend for most people. Like other high-tech pet gadgets, it's controlled via an app on your phone, where you can make and adjust feeding schedules remotely, and it logs when feedings occurred. Best of all, the built-in 1080p HD camera with night vision allows you to watch and hear your pet eat even when far away, and you can communicate with them via speaker. I love checking the camera when I'm away so I can see what is going on around the bowl and how much food is left. It's basically like a mini pet camera plus a feeder. This is the lowest price we've seen this year at less than $100. This automatic litter box (8/10 WIRED Recommends) uses a camera and AI to monitor usage and actually lets you see your cat's stool to help more closely monitor their health. The front arm has a camera attached, which manually and automatically tracks motion so you can see the outside and inside of the litter box (it doubles as a built-in security camera, too). It uses AI to recognize which cat used the box and takes videos so you can replay exactly what was happening inside of the box, and can even review the images of their stool to make sure nothing looks out of whack. The connected app logs and monitors usage, including the number of times used and the average duration (again, a great tool to monitor your cats' health). Now at $750, this usually pricey upgrade is the lowest price we'll probably see this year (or at least until Black Friday). I have a fluffy and beautiful (but dumb) dilute calico named Clover whom I've long suspected has some Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest cat in her. I tested her and found she has about 10 percent of each in her genetic makeup. Testing is super simple—they send you everything you need, and all you have to do is register your kit online, swab your cat's mouth with the provided instrument, seal the package back up, and send it to the post office. It takes about five or so weeks for results, which include important information about genetic health markers, dental conditions, ancestry, and DNA. Now on discount for $85, this kit is a great deal—not to mention a heck of a lot less expensive than a stressful trip to the vet. I just started testing this mini pet camera from Furbo, and I'm impressed. It's compact and relatively inexpensive—made even more affordable with the Prime Day discount. This little camera can be mounted for greater range, has two-way audio so you can talk to and hear your pet while away, has video recaps, and uses Furbo Nanny. Nanny is a subscription service that offers real-time alerts and smart insights and sends notifications when there's unusual activity or emergencies. Plus, at $25, this is the lowest price I've ever seen for this smart pet cam. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today .
TechCrunch
27-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
PetLibro's new smart camera uses AI to describe your pet's movements, and it's adorable
PetLibro, the pet tech startup known for its automatic feeders and filtered water fountains, has just launched its latest product, the AI-powered Scout Smart Camera, designed to provide pet owners with real-time insights into their furbabies' activities and behaviors. Scout is similar to other pet cameras on the market; it monitors your pet in real-time and features two-way audio, allowing you to communicate with them if they're getting into mischief. The companion mobile app allows users to control the camera's movements, although the camera is also designed to detect and automatically follow their pet as they move past it. It can also make a chirping noise to grab their attention if you can't find them. What sets this device apart, however, is its AI capabilities. Scout uses pet recognition technology to track various activities, such as when your pet eats (which is helpful if they chew on things they shouldn't), drinks water, uses the litter box, or simply walks across the screen. It also captures surprise selfies of your pet when they are detected and provides daily highlights, storing clips in the cloud with up to a 30-day history. Additionally, Scout can recognize multiple pets, allowing it to track their activities separately. Users can currently set individual profiles for two pets in the app. 'Early on, our models struggled to tell similar-looking pets apart, which we knew was needed in many multi-pet pet households. Traditional facial recognition failed when pets moved quickly or shared features. This led us to develop a dynamic, first-of-its-kind (for an AI pet cam), feedback-driven system that improves through real-world use over time,' York Wu, founder and CEO, told TechCrunch. Image Credits:PetLibro A standout feature I appreciated as a pet owner is that the device doesn't just notify you of your pet's activities; it also provides cute descriptions. One of my favorites during testing was, 'Zelda is calmly strolling across the shiny floor, her nose pointed forward as she explores her surroundings with gentle curiosity.' How adorable is that? Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Another way PetLibro's Scout camera stands out is its ability to share devices with up to five other family members and friends. If you're interested in trying the device, it's priced at $100. There are multiple subscription plans available; however, to access the AI features, you can opt for either the standard tier, which costs $12 per month, or the premium tier, priced at $17 per month. Another pet camera company, Furbo, offers a similar device that includes an AI 'Nanny' assistant for $7 per month. The camera itself is priced at $210. While PetLibro's Scout camera is priced lower than Furbo's, it currently lacks a key feature found in Furbo's offering: the ability to detect and alert owners to barking sounds. PetLibro is actively working on adding this, along with meowing detection, which may broaden its appeal, as Furbo is primarily marketed to dog owners. Additionally, the Scout device doesn't have a food dispenser, but PetLibro plans to integrate AI capabilities with select feeders and fountains, aiming to differentiate its growing product line from competitors. It should be noted that the company's privacy policy indicates that its system collects image and video data captured by the camera for use in improving the device, including its AI features. Other smart cameras, such as Google Nest and Amazon Ring, also state in their privacy policies that they collect user data to improve their services. According to PetLibro, the data is handled in accordance with cybersecurity standards. The device doesn't use audio for AI data collection.
The Independent
19-06-2025
- The Independent
One Tech Tip: No more lost cats and dogs. Use tech to track your pet
'Have you seen the cats?' That's a common refrain in my household because our two felines, Maple and Juniper, can venture outside through a flap in the backdoor. Like many other London house cats, they're free to come and go, roaming the surrounding backyards and beyond, equipped with microchips to identify them if they get lost. If your cat likes to prowl outdoors for long stretches, or your dog has a tendency to run off, it can be distressing when they don't return as expected. If you're worried about your furry friend's whereabouts, technology can help you keep tabs on them. How pet tech works Dedicated pet trackers are collar-worn devices that typically use GPS signals to pinpoint the location of the animal wearing them. They use a 4G cellphone signal or your home Wi-Fi connection to relay the position to a smartphone app. There are many products on the market. Tractive, Jiobit and Pawfit are among brands that offer trackers for both dogs and cats. Devices for the latter are generally smaller and lighter. Dog trackers with integrated collars are available from Fi and Whistle. PetTracer is a cat collar that uses both GPS and radio signals from a home base station. FitBark, also for dogs, has an Apple Watch app to monitor location and other activity. Garmin has a range of GPS dog collars that work with handheld devices resembling walkie-talkies, but they're pricey and aimed at outdoors enthusiasts like hunters. Phone signals Most trackers let you designate a safe zone on a map, usually your house and surrounding area, and alert you if your pet has left it. They usually operate on the 4G LTE spectrum commonly used by wireless carriers. It typically has the longest range of any cellular signal, said Andrew Bleiman, Tractive's executive vice president for North America. That means strong connectivity in most of Europe and North America 'unless you're in a really far flung place like the middle of a national park,' Bleiman said. What it costs Exact price depends on brand and model. Most devices sell for less than $100. However, keep in mind you'll also have to pay a subscription fee for the cell service to function. While that could cost $100 or more a year, for some pet owners it's worth the 'peace of mind,' Bleiman said. Battery life The collars usually have a built-in rechargeable battery but battery life varies. Most will be last at least two to three days before they need charging, and a lot longer in ideal conditions. One big factor is signal strength. The battery will drain faster if the device has to work harder to pick up the GPS or connect to Wi-Fi. Some save power by not sending coordinates in the safe zone. Other features Like fitness watches for humans, pet tracking apps offer health and activity monitoring features. You can see how long your cat or dog has spent resting or exercising on a daily or hourly basis. But be aware, a tracker is 'not going to keep your pet in the backyard," Bleiman said. It will only "alert you when they leave the virtual fence area that you set up.' How to use it This One TechTip was inspired by Maple, who once went AWOL for days. It turned out he was hanging out in a backyard 10 doors down the street. We only found out after the residents got hold of a pet microchip scanner to look up our contact details to let us know so we could retrieve him. Tractive provided a loaner device to try. Using the included breakaway collar, we put it on Maple, who clearly didn't like it at first. He dashed out the back door and jumped through a hole in the fence. Over the next day, I used the Tractive app to monitor his movements. It showed his travels back and forth onto various neighboring properties. He came back to rest for a few hours around midnight, went out to prowl again around 3 a.m, then came back after an hour to nap some more. It was fascinating to see where he was spending his time. According to the app's 'heatmap," one of Maple's favorite spots was the same backyard where we had to retrieve him previously. Losing track About 24 hours after I attached the Tractive collar on Maple, I noticed he was no longer wearing it. It had somehow come off. If you can't find your pet's exact location, or the device gets lost, Tractive has a 'radar' feature to pinpoint it with your phone's Bluetooth. Other brands have similar features. On the app's map, I could see it was in a nearby backyard and that I was getting closer because the circle was getting bigger. But I couldn't figure out where it was and, not wanting to disturb the neighbors, I gave up. Bleiman recommends using a harness for cats that don't like collars, but I'm not convinced. Microchips It's common for cats and dogs to be implanted with microchips, with the details added to a database. That makes it much easier to reunite owners with lost dogs and cats, even if they've strayed hundreds of miles away or gone missing for years. Pet microchips, about the size of a grain of rice implanted just below the skin, are legally required in some European countries. There's no federal law in the U.S., though some places like Hawaii now require them, so check with state or local authorities. But there's some confusion about what microchips can do. Because they don't have a power supply, they can't be tracked in real time. Whoever finds your pet would need to take it to a vet or a shelter to can scan the device for contact details. Air Tags and similar devices are another option Many pet owners use Bluetooth trackers like Apple's Air Tags, Samsung's SmartTags or similar devices from Tile, Cube and Chipolo, which rely on low-power signals relayed by passing smartphones. Bluetooth trackers have a range of 100 to 500 feet (30 to 150 meters), depending on the model. The batteries last for months if not longer, and there's no need to pay for a subscription. However, they're not specifically marketed for pets. That hasn't stopped pet owners, judging from many recommendations they've posted in online forums. Chipolo advises that its round plastic trackers are only for 'in-house pets like house-trained cats and smaller dogs' and warns against using them on "larger dog breeds and outdoor cats." Still, they can be a solution for some pet owners. 'Bluetooth is a totally reasonable solution if you're in a downtown urban core,' Bleiman said. 'But pets move fast. And if you're in a wooded park, or you're in a suburban area — let alone a more rural or wilderness area — it's pretty unlikely your pet is going to be close to a Bluetooth device." ___ Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
One Tech Tip: No more lost cats and dogs. Use tech to track your pet
LONDON (AP) — 'Have you seen the cats?' That's a common refrain in my household because our two felines, Maple and Juniper, can venture outside through a flap in the backdoor. Like many other London house cats, they're free to come and go, roaming the surrounding backyards and beyond, equipped with microchips to identify them if they get lost. If your cat likes to prowl outdoors for long stretches, or your dog has a tendency to run off, it can be distressing when they don't return as expected. If you're worried about your furry friend's whereabouts, technology can help you keep tabs on them. How pet tech works Dedicated pet trackers are collar-worn devices that typically use GPS signals to pinpoint the location of the animal wearing them. They use a 4G cellphone signal or your home Wi-Fi connection to relay the position to a smartphone app. There are many products on the market. Tractive, Jiobit and Pawfit are among brands that offer trackers for both dogs and cats. Devices for the latter are generally smaller and lighter. Dog trackers with integrated collars are available from Fi and Whistle. PetTracer is a cat collar that uses both GPS and radio signals from a home base station. FitBark, also for dogs, has an Apple Watch app to monitor location and other activity. Garmin has a range of GPS dog collars that work with handheld devices resembling walkie-talkies, but they're pricey and aimed at outdoors enthusiasts like hunters. Phone signals Most trackers let you designate a safe zone on a map, usually your house and surrounding area, and alert you if your pet has left it. They usually operate on the 4G LTE spectrum commonly used by wireless carriers. It typically has the longest range of any cellular signal, said Andrew Bleiman, Tractive's executive vice president for North America. That means strong connectivity in most of Europe and North America 'unless you're in a really far flung place like the middle of a national park,' Bleiman said. What it costs Exact price depends on brand and model. Most devices sell for less than $100. However, keep in mind you'll also have to pay a subscription fee for the cell service to function. While that could cost $100 or more a year, for some pet owners it's worth the 'peace of mind,' Bleiman said. Battery life The collars usually have a built-in rechargeable battery but battery life varies. Most will be last at least two to three days before they need charging, and a lot longer in ideal conditions. One big factor is signal strength. The battery will drain faster if the device has to work harder to pick up the GPS or connect to Wi-Fi. Some save power by not sending coordinates in the safe zone. Other features Like fitness watches for humans, pet tracking apps offer health and activity monitoring features. You can see how long your cat or dog has spent resting or exercising on a daily or hourly basis. But be aware, a tracker is 'not going to keep your pet in the backyard," Bleiman said. It will only "alert you when they leave the virtual fence area that you set up.' How to use it This One TechTip was inspired by Maple, who once went AWOL for days. It turned out he was hanging out in a backyard 10 doors down the street. We only found out after the residents got hold of a pet microchip scanner to look up our contact details to let us know so we could retrieve him. Tractive provided a loaner device to try. Using the included breakaway collar, we put it on Maple, who clearly didn't like it at first. He dashed out the back door and jumped through a hole in the fence. Over the next day, I used the Tractive app to monitor his movements. It showed his travels back and forth onto various neighboring properties. He came back to rest for a few hours around midnight, went out to prowl again around 3 a.m, then came back after an hour to nap some more. It was fascinating to see where he was spending his time. According to the app's 'heatmap," one of Maple's favorite spots was the same backyard where we had to retrieve him previously. Losing track About 24 hours after I attached the Tractive collar on Maple, I noticed he was no longer wearing it. It had somehow come off. If you can't find your pet's exact location, or the device gets lost, Tractive has a 'radar' feature to pinpoint it with your phone's Bluetooth. Other brands have similar features. On the app's map, I could see it was in a nearby backyard and that I was getting closer because the circle was getting bigger. But I couldn't figure out where it was and, not wanting to disturb the neighbors, I gave up. Bleiman recommends using a harness for cats that don't like collars, but I'm not convinced. Microchips It's common for cats and dogs to be implanted with microchips, with the details added to a database. That makes it much easier to reunite owners with lost dogs and cats, even if they've strayed hundreds of miles away or gone missing for years. Pet microchips, about the size of a grain of rice implanted just below the skin, are legally required in some European countries. There's no federal law in the U.S., though some places like Hawaii now require them, so check with state or local authorities. But there's some confusion about what microchips can do. Because they don't have a power supply, they can't be tracked in real time. Whoever finds your pet would need to take it to a vet or a shelter to can scan the device for contact details. Air Tags and similar devices are another option Many pet owners use Bluetooth trackers like Apple's Air Tags, Samsung's SmartTags or similar devices from Tile, Cube and Chipolo, which rely on low-power signals relayed by passing smartphones. Bluetooth trackers have a range of 100 to 500 feet (30 to 150 meters), depending on the model. The batteries last for months if not longer, and there's no need to pay for a subscription. However, they're not specifically marketed for pets. That hasn't stopped pet owners, judging from many recommendations they've posted in online forums. Chipolo advises that its round plastic trackers are only for 'in-house pets like house-trained cats and smaller dogs' and warns against using them on "larger dog breeds and outdoor cats." Still, they can be a solution for some pet owners. 'Bluetooth is a totally reasonable solution if you're in a downtown urban core,' Bleiman said. 'But pets move fast. And if you're in a wooded park, or you're in a suburban area — let alone a more rural or wilderness area — it's pretty unlikely your pet is going to be close to a Bluetooth device." ___ Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip. Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
19-06-2025
- Associated Press
One Tech Tip: No more lost cats and dogs. Use tech to track your pet
LONDON (AP) — 'Have you seen the cats?' That's a common refrain in my household because our two felines, Maple and Juniper, can venture outside through a flap in the backdoor. Like many other London house cats, they're free to come and go, roaming the surrounding backyards and beyond, equipped with microchips to identify them if they get lost. If your cat likes to prowl outdoors for long stretches, or your dog has a tendency to run off, it can be distressing when they don't return as expected. If you're worried about your furry friend's whereabouts, technology can help you keep tabs on them. How pet tech works Dedicated pet trackers are collar-worn devices that typically use GPS signals to pinpoint the location of the animal wearing them. They use a 4G cellphone signal or your home Wi-Fi connection to relay the position to a smartphone app. There are many products on the market. Tractive, Jiobit and Pawfit are among brands that offer trackers for both dogs and cats. Devices for the latter are generally smaller and lighter. Dog trackers with integrated collars are available from Fi and Whistle. PetTracer is a cat collar that uses both GPS and radio signals from a home base station. FitBark, also for dogs, has an Apple Watch app to monitor location and other activity. Garmin has a range of GPS dog collars that work with handheld devices resembling walkie-talkies, but they're pricey and aimed at outdoors enthusiasts like hunters. Phone signals Most trackers let you designate a safe zone on a map, usually your house and surrounding area, and alert you if your pet has left it. They usually operate on the 4G LTE spectrum commonly used by wireless carriers. It typically has the longest range of any cellular signal, said Andrew Bleiman, Tractive's executive vice president for North America. That means strong connectivity in most of Europe and North America 'unless you're in a really far flung place like the middle of a national park,' Bleiman said. What it costs Exact price depends on brand and model. Most devices sell for less than $100. However, keep in mind you'll also have to pay a subscription fee for the cell service to function. While that could cost $100 or more a year, for some pet owners it's worth the 'peace of mind,' Bleiman said. Battery life The collars usually have a built-in rechargeable battery but battery life varies. Most will be last at least two to three days before they need charging, and a lot longer in ideal conditions. One big factor is signal strength. The battery will drain faster if the device has to work harder to pick up the GPS or connect to Wi-Fi. Some save power by not sending coordinates in the safe zone. Other features Like fitness watches for humans, pet tracking apps offer health and activity monitoring features. You can see how long your cat or dog has spent resting or exercising on a daily or hourly basis. But be aware, a tracker is 'not going to keep your pet in the backyard,' Bleiman said. It will only 'alert you when they leave the virtual fence area that you set up.' How to use it This One TechTip was inspired by Maple, who once went AWOL for days. It turned out he was hanging out in a backyard 10 doors down the street. We only found out after the residents got hold of a pet microchip scanner to look up our contact details to let us know so we could retrieve him. Tractive provided a loaner device to try. Using the included breakaway collar, we put it on Maple, who clearly didn't like it at first. He dashed out the back door and jumped through a hole in the fence. Over the next day, I used the Tractive app to monitor his movements. It showed his travels back and forth onto various neighboring properties. He came back to rest for a few hours around midnight, went out to prowl again around 3 a.m, then came back after an hour to nap some more. It was fascinating to see where he was spending his time. According to the app's 'heatmap,' one of Maple's favorite spots was the same backyard where we had to retrieve him previously. Losing track About 24 hours after I attached the Tractive collar on Maple, I noticed he was no longer wearing it. It had somehow come off. If you can't find your pet's exact location, or the device gets lost, Tractive has a 'radar' feature to pinpoint it with your phone's Bluetooth. Other brands have similar features. On the app's map, I could see it was in a nearby backyard and that I was getting closer because the circle was getting bigger. But I couldn't figure out where it was and, not wanting to disturb the neighbors, I gave up. Bleiman recommends using a harness for cats that don't like collars, but I'm not convinced. Microchips It's common for cats and dogs to be implanted with microchips, with the details added to a database. That makes it much easier to reunite owners with lost dogs and cats, even if they've strayed hundreds of miles away or gone missing for years. Pet microchips, about the size of a grain of rice implanted just below the skin, are legally required in some European countries. There's no federal law in the U.S., though some places like Hawaii now require them, so check with state or local authorities. But there's some confusion about what microchips can do. Because they don't have a power supply, they can't be tracked in real time. Whoever finds your pet would need to take it to a vet or a shelter to can scan the device for contact details. Air Tags and similar devices are another option Many pet owners use Bluetooth trackers like Apple's Air Tags, Samsung's SmartTags or similar devices from Tile, Cube and Chipolo, which rely on low-power signals relayed by passing smartphones. Bluetooth trackers have a range of 100 to 500 feet (30 to 150 meters), depending on the model. The batteries last for months if not longer, and there's no need to pay for a subscription. However, they're not specifically marketed for pets. That hasn't stopped pet owners, judging from many recommendations they've posted in online forums. Chipolo advises that its round plastic trackers are only for 'in-house pets like house-trained cats and smaller dogs' and warns against using them on 'larger dog breeds and outdoor cats.' Still, they can be a solution for some pet owners. 'Bluetooth is a totally reasonable solution if you're in a downtown urban core,' Bleiman said. 'But pets move fast. And if you're in a wooded park, or you're in a suburban area — let alone a more rural or wilderness area — it's pretty unlikely your pet is going to be close to a Bluetooth device.' ___ Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at [email protected] with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
