Latest news with #smartDevices
Phone Arena
7 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Amazon's one-of-a-kind Echo Hub is down to a new record low price ahead of Prime Day 2025
Have you gotten your wallets and bank accounts ready for quite possibly the biggest shopping days of this summer? Well, I'm here today to try to convince you to forget all about the Prime Day 2025 dates announced by Amazon a couple of weeks ago and go ahead and spend some of that money right now if you happen to be in the market for a certain Echo device with an 8-inch screen in tow and built-in smart home hub functionality. I'm not talking about the Echo Show 8, mind you, and as the name suggests, the Echo Hub is technically not a smart display designed to show stuff like YouTube videos or Netflix movies. Instead, this bad boy's (almost) sole purpose is to control and bring together all your other smart home devices and accessories. 2024 Release, Smart Home Control Panel with Alexa, 8-Inch Display with 1280 x 800 Pixel Resolution, Dual Stereo Speakers, Built-in Zigbee Smart Home Hub Functionality, Compatible with Thousands of Alexa Devices and Accessories, Four Microphone Arrays, White Color, Amazon Prime Membership Required Buy at Amazon Unveiled back in the fall of 2023 with a recommended price of $179.99 attached to its name, the first-of-a-kind Echo Hub hasn't received a sequel in the meantime, and if you ask me, a second edition is unlikely to come out this year either. As such, I see no reason for you to wait and snub Amazon's highest discount to date on this particular product. We're talking a very nice 60 bucks (or 33 percent) you can currently slash off that list price in a single white color with an obligatory Prime membership. Will this unprecedented deal be available during Amazon's actual Prime Day event next week? Probably, but what if the e-commerce giant runs out of inventory until then? After all, this is a unique product, and if you dig its functionality, it's pretty hard to turn down at its lower-than-ever price. With built-in dual stereo speakers, the Amazon Echo Hub can play music from your favorite streaming platform without you having to lift a finger, and thanks to the power and versatility of Alexa, your voice will make the "smart home control panel" effortlessly perform many other tasks as well. Still, the Echo Hub's key selling point remains its ability to work in conjunction with "thousands" of Alexa-compatible devices like thermostats, speakers, locks, and many others to keep your home always connected and secure. Including when you're away. What's not to love here? Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
My One Must-Do Smart Home Tip When I'm Going on Vacation -- That Everyone Forgets
I provide plenty of ways a smart home can make your house easy to manage when you're on vacation, but there's one simple step I always take before I leave, even if I'm only going to be gone for a couple of days. Yes, those smart devices are great at managing my house, letting me control the temperature and see if anyone unlocks my door or turn on lights while I'm away. But there's one step I need to take to make sure my home is smart and ready before I head out the door. I forgot it a few times, and regretted it almost immediately. So for those of you adopting smart home devices, here's the trick. Open all your home apps to check connections and updates Give your smart home devices a check to make sure they're connected before you go. Tyler Lacoma/CNET It sounds simple, but you'd be amazed how many times I've checked an app remotely only to find that the Wi-Fi connection no longer works because of router or app updates, or that I needed to enable a new firmware upload before I left -- and that's not always something you can do remotely. So, sometime between packing bags and pulling out of the driveway, I do a quick check of all the current home apps I'm using. It's typically enough to open the app and check its Wi-Fi connection and firmware settings. If there's a security camera or pet cam I use, I check the live view to make sure it's functioning (that usually means everything else on the device is working, too). If it's something like a leak detector or motion sensor, popping into the home page to check that the device status is live and reporting is usually enough. For smart thermostats, I check that the temperature readings are accurate and that I can adjust the temperature from my phone. For devices that are connected to a central platform like Apple Home, I drop in and make sure all of my device tiles are active and working. Usually, this only takes about a minute if everything is working. If an app runs into connection problems or has dropped my Wi-Fi and needs to be reset, then I'm glad I checked. I spend a few more minutes reconnecting or updating as needed. Then it's vacation time, and I don't have to worry about devices going silent on me. Don't forget an app run-through before leaving your smart home. And if you're getting tired of managing that many apps, I have a handy little guide on cutting down on home app use that you might appreciate, too. Bon voyage!
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Ejada Systems signs strategic partnership with Huawei
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – ejada Systems, the leading provider of digital transformation solutions in Saudi Arabia, has announced a strategic partnership with Huawei, the world's leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. The partnership aims to develop customized artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enhance the Kingdom's digital infrastructure and empower key sectors. The collaboration focuses on integrating Huawei's advanced AI computing infrastructure with ejada's sector-specific expertise in delivering tailored digital solutions across finance, government, and healthcare. The partnership builds on a strong track record of joint projects and technical integration between the two companies in the ICT sector, reflecting their shared commitment to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and advancing a sustainable digital economy. An executive meeting was held between Mr. Fawwaz Abu El Nasr, CEO of ejada Systems, and Mr. David Shi, Vice President of the ICT Marketing and Solution Sales, Huawei, during which the partnership's scope and strategic technical priorities were formalized. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Fawwaz Abu El Nasr, CEO of ejada Systems, stated: 'Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate the development of localized AI solutions capable of addressing the needs of vital sectors across the Kingdom. We believe AI will be a key pillar of digital transformation, and by combining our domain expertise with Huawei's capabilities, we are positioned to deliver advanced solutions that improve service efficiency and foster innovation.' This strategic agreement marks a new milestone in the ongoing collaboration between ejada Systems and Huawei, as both companies work to create tangible impact across Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure and support institutions in their journey toward smarter, more adaptive solutions. -End- About ejada ejada, a leading Information Technology (IT) services provider headquartered in Saudi Arabia, empowers organizations across the Middle East and Africa (MENA) to thrive in today's digital landscape. The Company helps businesses and public-sector entities achieve and maintain a competitive edge through innovative IT solutions and services specifically designed to support their digital transformation journey. ejada sets itself apart by offering a unique combination of local expertise and global reach combining a locally based, culturally aware workforce with comprehensive cross-industry solutions and strategic
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- News.com.au
Your devices are listening to you, here's how to keep your data safe
Once upon a time, 'home tech' meant a microwave with a popcorn button. Now? Your fridge can suggest dinner, your lights know when you're feeling romantic, and your doorbell can recognise your mother-in-law before you do. As an Australian tech expert and author, I've seen first-hand how smart homes are changing the way we live – for better and occasionally for weirder. Welcome to the age of the smart home – where convenience is queen, and your devices are always listening (and sometimes talking back). The rise of the digital housekeeper Smart homes have shifted from novelty to near necessity. Whether it's a voice assistant that queues up your favourite podcast while you cook, a thermostat that adjusts to your body clock, or a vacuum that maps your floor plan with military precision, these devices are all about making life easier. And let's be honest – most of us are loving the convenience. Yelling 'turn off the lights' from bed, checking your front door camera from the beach … it's the stuff of Jetsons dreams. But while these gadgets are undeniably helpful, they're also quietly collecting data. And lots of it. What exactly are they learning? Every time you interact with a smart device, it picks up more than just your commands. Your smart speaker knows your music preferences, wake-up time, and whether you're a loyal almond milk drinker. Your smart TV tracks what you watch, when, and for how long. Even your robot vacuum? It's got a better map of your house than you probably do. Individually, these bits of data might seem harmless. But combined, they build a detailed profile of your routines, preferences, and even your mood. Here in Australia, we're on track to hit 357 million internet-connected devices by the end of 2025, with smart home adoption expected in 91 per cent of households. That's a lot of tech -and a serious amount of personal data floating around. Who's collecting this data – and why? Most smart devices send data back to their parent companies – think Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung. The official line is that it helps improve services, personalise your experience, and yes, target you with ads. But here's the thing – more than half of smart home users don't actually understand how their data is collected or used. That's especially true with devices like smart thermostats, which might seem innocuous but can reveal a lot about your daily routines. As artificial intelligence gets baked into more of these systems, that knowledge becomes even more powerful – and potentially more problematic. The privacy trade-off (and why it doesn't have to be scary) Let's call it for what it is: we're all trading a bit of privacy for convenience. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Think of it like using a loyalty card at the supermarket. You get discounts and rewards, but the store gets insight into your shopping habits. With smart homes, the exchange is similar – just with higher stakes. What matters is understanding the deal. If we know what we're giving away, we're better placed to make decisions about what we're comfortable with. And it's something we should be teaching our kids too: privacy is a form of currency in the digital age. Smart home safety checklist • Mute when not in use – Most smart speakers have a physical mute button. Use it. • Limit permissions – Only give apps access to what they truly need. • Update regularly – Security patches matter. • Use strong passwords – And don't stick with the default ones. • Check your settings – Most devices let you control what's collected and shared. Want to know what your device knows about you? Here's a simple way to dig deeper. Try popping this prompt into your favourite AI chatbot: 'You are a privacy and cybersecurity expert. Explain what data is collected by a [insert brand/model] smart [device type], how that data is stored and used, and how I can access, limit, or delete it.' It's a great way to start a conversation with your tech – and take back a little control. The future of smart living Smart homes aren't just here to stay – they're evolving fast. AI-powered systems are already starting to anticipate our needs before we ask. Think lighting that shifts to suit your mood or playlists that kick in when your stress levels spike. We're even seeing emotion-sensing tech that can detect tone of voice and respond accordingly. Imagine your home knowing you've had a rubbish day – so it dims the lights, queues up your comfort show, and orders Thai. Not bad, right? But as our homes become more intuitive, the line between helpful and invasive starts to blur. The goal is to find a balance – embrace the benefits while staying informed and in control. Because your home should be your sanctuary, not a surveillance hub.
Android Authority
17-06-2025
- Android Authority
NFC just got a serious range boost, and your next smartwatch is going to love it
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR The new NFC Release 15 specification increases range from 5mm to up to 2cm, making alignment less critical to initiating a compliant connection. This extended range will make NFC connections quicker and more reliable in the future, especially for smaller devices like smart watches and smart rings. It also introduces support for the NFC Digital Product Passport (NDPP), allowing phones to serve as payment terminals. Unless you're picking up something in the extreme budget range, most Android phones come with NFC these days. NFC, short for Near Field Communication, is handy for contactless payments and other short-range proximity-based use cases. This short-range is getting an upgrade with the NFC Forum's latest NFC Release 15 specification. The highlight of this NFC Release 15 specification is its extended range for certified compliant NFC contactless connections, going from the current 5mm to up to 2cm, which is a 4x increase. This may seem like a tiny change, but this extended range means that NFC chips on devices needn't be as precisely aligned as they currently need to be. This would allow NFC connections to start sooner, making the process quicker and more reliable, especially on smaller form factor devices like smartwatches and smart rings. The range is still very short, and you still need a fair amount of user intent to initiate a connection. Still, you needn't awkwardly dance your wrist around on the payment terminal to make a payment, as both devices will have a wider acceptable area for the connection handshake. Wait, but aren't there devices already operating at 2cm distance? Yes, there are, and this spec release creates a standard for more of them to come up, ensuring they continue to play nice with each other. Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Another highlight is the support for the NFC Digital Product Passport (NDPP) standard, which allows you to use your mobile phone as a payment terminal instead of requiring a dedicated device. More technically, the standard includes a data-agnostic framework that allows a single NFC tag embedded in a product to store and transmit both standard and extended DPP data using common NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) records. NFC Release 15 will be made available to adopter-level members and the public sometime in Fall 2025, and the certification compliance process will also begin then. Higher-level NFC Forum members can already download the Technical Specifications for this NFC Release 15. As you can imagine, products compatible with the specification will take a while to reach the market, but I am optimistic about the future. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
