Sonos app gets dark Now Playing screen, improved menus
You’ve got to hand it to the Sonos team. Despite the crush of competition for whole home audio from heavyweights such as Amazon (Echo), Google…
Smart Home
Smart home news, reviews, how-tos, market trends, commentary by Clinton Stark. The connected home with voice assistants Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Homekit, Sonos, home automation, smart home hubs and lights, air purifiers and wildfire air solutions for the home.
CES Smart Home News: Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings apps to get overhauls
Philips to launch Hue 3.0, Hue Entertainment sync platform, and outdoor lights. Samsung, meanwhile, is doubling down on SmartThings and consolidating 40 apps in an…
Smart Home Audio: Amazon should create dedicated Alexa music app for its Echo speakers
With its recent addition of “Everywhere” mode, Amazon is pushing hard into the whole home audio market. Traditionally that’s been the domains of the likes…
HomePod delay a massive miss by Apple
Delaying HomePod to 2018 means Apple will lose buyers to Amazon and Google this holiday season. It could be a very costly decision.
Amazon Echo sales show no signs of slowing, smart speakers to be in half U.S. homes by 2022
Amazon. Google. Microsoft. Sonos. And a raft of other up-and-comers. All are making so-called smart speakers. But why? According to TechCrunch a new report out…
Smart Home News: Samsung SmartThings dongle announced for NVIDIA Shield
This is an interesting development. Well, at least for smart home and home automation enthusiasts it might be. SmartThings (now owned by Samsung) today announced…
Lutron rolls out major app update for its Caséta smart home lighting system
“This is a big one!” Lutron today at the CEDIA Expo 2017 announced a “completely redesigned” version of its app for its Caséta wireless smart home…
Trendspotting: At 76% share Amazon Echo is running away with smart speaker market
Amazon jumped into the voice-enabled digital assistant (aka smart speaker) market early, and now it appears to be reaping major dividends. A new report from…
Amazon adds whole home audio to Echo speakers, gives Sonos the ultimate death stare
It's called Multi-Room Music and the new feature enables several Echo smart speakers to stream music in sync across the home.
Smart Home Dimmer Switch Buying Guide: Which is best?
Stark Insider’s buying guide for smart home dimmer switches. If you’re on the hunt for dimmer switches for your current or planned smart home, there’s…