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Did you know that Aqara's smart home devices can double as a mesh network, boosting the signal for all your connected devices? Unlike Wi-Fi which can struggle with thick walls and long distances, Aqara's Zigbee mesh network creates a web of interconnected devices. Each Aqara sensor or switch acts as a repeater, extending the signal to even the farthest corners of your home. This ensures reliable connectivity for all your Aqara devices, no matter where they are placed. We're excited to share that The Ambient recently featured Aqara's strengths in their comprehensive smart home hub review. Their in-depth exploration of Aqara's offerings highlights the strengths of our ecosystem, including: - A Range of Reliable and Affordable Devices: Aqara's Zigbee-based system boasts a wide variety of sensors, switches, plugs, and more, all designed to seamlessly integrate into your smart home. These devices are not only dependable but also offered at competitive prices. - Cross-Platform Compatibility: Aqara empowers you to leverage your preferred smart home platform, be it Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. This flexibility ensures your Aqara devices work effortlessly within your existing setup. - Future-Proof Technology: Aqara stays ahead of the curve by embracing Matter, the emerging smart home standard. This commitment ensures continued compatibility with future smart home devices. We're dedicated to providing user-friendly and secure smart home solutions. Thank you, The Ambient, for recognizing Aqara's commitment to innovation and ease of use! Read the full article below. https://lnkd.in/e5__SCsy

Did you know that the Aqara Door Lock U100 is one of only three smart locks that supports Matter currently? What is Matter? Imagine a world where your smart home devices seamlessly communicate with each other, regardless of brand or platform. That's the promise of Matter, a collaborative effort by industry giants like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. Matter establishes a common language for smart home devices, simplifying setup, use, and compatibility. No more worrying about whether your smart lock works with your phone or your light bulb connects with your smart speaker. If it's Matter-compatible, it should work flawlessly within any Matter-enabled smart home ecosystem. We're excited to be featured in The Verge comprehensive guide to Matter, the revolutionary new standard for smart home devices! While Matter launched in May 2024, it's still in its early stages. The good news: Matter now supports most major device types, including door locks, thermostats, lights, and sensors. Additionally, security features are built directly into the standard, offering peace of mind for connected homes. However, there are still some limitations. Matter doesn't yet support cameras, garage door openers, or some advanced features for existing device types (like PIN codes for smart locks). Additionally, not all platforms support all Matter features yet. The Aqara Smart Lock U100 is among the first smart locks to integrate Matter compatibility, offering users a glimpse into the future of smart home security. Benefits of Aqara U100 with Matter: - Effortless Control: Lock and unlock your door using any Matter-compatible platform, including your favorite voice assistant. - Unmatched Convenience: Enjoy a variety of unlocking methods: fingerprint, voice command, keypad, phone app, or even traditional keys. - Enhanced Security: Matter's built-in security features provide an extra layer of protection for your smart home. Check out the full article here! https://lnkd.in/gyj5wSZP

Smart Home Gadget Reviews: Top Picks for 2024 Smart Home Gadget Reviews: Top Picks for 2024 The smart home market continues to grow in 2024, offering a wide range of gadgets that enhance convenience, security, and energy efficiency. From voice-activated assistants to smart security systems, here are some of the top-reviewed smart home gadgets this year. 1.Google Nest Hub Max For those seeking a versatile smart display, the Google Nest Hub Max stands out. It features a 10-inch display, perfect for video calls, streaming, and smart home control. Integrated with Google Assistant, it’s an excellent hub for managing your entire smart home ecosystem. Reviewers praise its seamless integration with other Google products and its ability to act as a smart security camera. 2.Philips Hue Smart Bulbs When it comes to smart lighting, Philips Hue continues to dominate. These smart bulbs are not only energy-efficient but also highly customizable, allowing users to change colors, dim lights, and set schedules through the app or voice commands. Reviewers appreciate its ease of installation and compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. 3.Ring Video Doorbell 4 Security is a top priority for many smart home owners, and the Ring Video Doorbell 4 delivers. This doorbell camera offers clear HD video, motion detection, and two-way audio. Reviewers note the improved video quality and faster response times, making it a reliable choice for monitoring your home. These smart home gadgets, backed by positive reviews, provide excellent performance and integration. Whether you’re focused on home security, lighting, or overall smart control, these devices are highly rated for transforming any house into a smart home. via Blogger https://ift.tt/OfgPCyE September 22, 2024 at 03:30PM

5 Things to Consider When Making Your Home Smart Imagine arriving home after a long day. You unlock your door with a fingerprint, ask Alexa to turn on the AC, and check the video doorbell on your phone when the delivery person rings. You dim the lights, play Netflix, and relax. This is the convenience of a smart home—a dream for many, especially younger generations. If you’re considering automating your home, here are five essentials to focus on: 1. Smart Switches Smart switches replace traditional ones, letting you control appliances via smartphone or voice commands. They save energy and add convenience. Choose switches compatible with your home’s wiring and automation system for seamless integration. 2. Video Door Phones (VDP) VDPs enhance security by letting you see and communicate with visitors remotely. Modern VDPs connect to your phone, with advanced features like motion detection and recording. Opt for a system with high-resolution video, clear audio, and easy integration with locks and CCTVs. 3. CCTV Systems A reliable CCTV system is essential for security, deterring intruders, and monitoring your property. Look for high-definition video, night vision, and cloud storage. Wireless and solar-powered options are also worth considering for hassle-free setup. 4. Digital Door Locks Digital locks offer security and convenience, allowing access through PINs, fingerprints, cards, or smartphones. They can track entries and exits, providing peace of mind. Check for features like multiple access methods, battery life, and ease of installation. 5. Wi-Fi Networking A strong Wi-Fi network connects all your smart devices. Invest in a quality router or a mesh network to ensure seamless coverage and eliminate dead zones. Secure your network to protect your devices and personal data. Conclusion Building a smart home transforms your lifestyle with convenience, security, and efficiency. Focus on these five key elements—smart switches, VDPs, CCTVs, digital locks, and a strong Wi-Fi network—to create a system tailored to your needs. Embrace the future with a home that works smarter for you. This version retains the key details while simplifying and reducing word count. Let me know if you need further adjustments!

https://lnkd.in/eb7a4WqH 10 Most Common Smart Home Issues (and How to Fix Them) Back when you were a kid, living in a “smart home” probably sounded futuristic. Something out of Back to the Future II or The Jetsons. Well, we don’t yet have flying cars, but we do have video telephones as well as smart refrigerators and voice-activated lights. But even the most advanced technology can have analog problems. Hackers can get past weak passwords. Bad connections can turn advanced into basic pretty quickly. Have you run into any issues with your smart home gadgets? Not to worry! We’ve got your back when it comes to troubleshooting several common smart home issues. Here are some of the most frequent problems along with simple steps to get your smart haven back on track. 1. Connectivity Woes Are your smart gadgets refusing to connect to Wi-Fi? The main claim to fame of smart devices is that you can access them wirelessly. An internet connection is also vital to integrate several devices into a smart home hub. If your device is having connection issues, check the basics first. Restart your router and your devices. If that doesn’t work, ensure you’ve positioned your router centrally. This gives you optimal signal strength. Consider a mesh network for large houses. Or invest in a Wi-Fi extender for better coverage. 2. Device Unresponsiveness Now that we have voice-activated devices, we expect them to always answer. It can be frustrating when a device won’t respond to its “wake word.” We might even raise our voice and ask again… only to be ignored. Are you having trouble with your smart devices not responding to commands? A simple power cycle (turning them off and on) can often do the trick. Check for software updates on your devices. As well as the corresponding apps. Updating software can fix bugs and improve performance. 3. Battery Drain Smart devices, especially those battery-powered, can drain quickly. Adjust settings to reduce power consumption. Disable features you don’t use. Such as notification lights or constant background updates. Consider replacing batteries with high-quality ones for optimal performance. 4. Incompatibility Issues Not all smart devices are created equal. Just because it says “smart” on the box doesn’t mean it plays well with others. When a new device won’t interact with your network, it can mean money down the drain. Before you buy, check to ensure your devices are compatible with each other. Build your devices around your smart home platform. Review the manufacturer’s specifications thoroughly to avoid compatibility headaches. 5. Security Concerns Security is paramount in a smart home. There have been horror stories about hacked baby monitors. These stories can get real very fast. You need to pay attention to securing your devices. Rather than getting caught up in plugging them in as fast as possible.

The craze for smart home gadgets in 2024 is growing by the day 👏 And we are excited to be featured in Educba's Top 10 Cheap Smart Home Gadgets in 2024. Our Motion Sensor P1 stands out for their affordability, functionality, and ease-of-use. This sleek and versatile device boasts a wide 170-degree field of view, ensuring comprehensive coverage for your living space. Whether you're monitoring a room for security purposes or integrating motion-triggered automation into your daily routine, the Motion Sensor P1 delivers unparalleled performance. One of the standout features of the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is its seamless compatibility with major smart home ecosystems, including Alexa and Google Assistant. Moreover, the Motion Sensor P1 is designed with longevity in mind, boasting up to 5 years of battery life. This lifespan ensures minimal maintenance and hassle-free operation, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of smart home technology without the constant need for battery replacements. Whether you're a tech enthusiast looking to expand your smart home ecosystem or a homeowner seeking to enhance security and efficiency, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 offers a cost-effective solution that doesn't compromise on performance. Read the full article here! https://lnkd.in/eBSbemhe

Google Opens Up Its Smart Home To Everyone: Google is opening up API access to its Google Home smart home platform, allowing app developers to access over 600 million connected devices and tap into the Google Home automation engine. In addition, Google announced that it'll be turning Google TVs into Google Home hubs and Matter controllers. The Verge reports: The Home APIs can access any Matter device or Works with Google Home device, and allows developers to build their own experiences using Google Home devices and automations into their apps on both iOS and Android. This is a significant move for Google in opening up its smart home platform, following shutting down its Works with Nest program back in 2019. [...] The Home APIs are already available to Google's early access partners, and Google is opening up a waitlist for any developer to sign up today. "We are opening up access on a rolling basis so they can begin building and testing within their apps," Anish Kattukaran, head of product at Google Home and Nest, told The Verge. "The first apps using the home APIs will be able to publish to the Play and App stores in the fall." The access is not just limited to smart home developers. In the blog post, Matt Van Der Staay, engineering director at Google Home, said the Home APIs could be used to connect smart home devices to fitness or delivery apps. "You can build a complex app to manage any aspect of a smart home, or simply integrate with a smart device to solve pain points -- like turning on the lights automatically before the food delivery driver arrives." The APIs allow access to most devices connected to Google Home and to the Google Home structure, letting apps control and manage devices such as Matter light bulbs or the Nest Learning Thermostat. They also leverage Google Home's automation signals, such as motion from sensors, an appliance's mode changing, or Google's Home and Away mode, which uses various signals to determine if a home is occupied. [...] What's also interesting here is that developers will be able to use the APIs to access and control any device that works with the new smart home standard Matter and even let people set up Matter devices directly in their app. This should make it easier for them to implement Matter into their apps, as it will add devices to the Google Home fabric, so they won't have to develop their own. In addition, Google announced that it's vastly expanding its Matter infrastructure by turning Google TVs into Google Home hubs and Matter controllers. Any app using the APIs would need a Google hub in a customer's home in order to control Matter devices locally. Later this year, Chromecast with Google TV, select panel TVs with Google TV running Android 14 or higher, and some LG TVs will be upgraded to become Google Home hubs. Additionally, Kattukaran said Google will upgrade all of its existing home hubs -- which include Nest Hub (second-gen), Nest Hub Max, and Google Wifi -- with a new ability called Home

Aqara’s Thread-based Motion and Light Sensor P2 ($33.99) has been on my smart home wish list since it was announced way back in 2022 — and now, it’s finally here. My home runs on motion sensors, and I’ve been using Aqara’s Zigbee-based ones for years. They’re among my favorites due to their low price, small size, simplicity, and rock-solid reliability. But they require a hub, which adds complexity and makes them harder to recommend.  What makes the new P2 different is that it uses Matter-over-Thread instead of Zigbee. This means that, in theory, it will connect directly to your smart home platform of choice — Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc. — no Aqara Zigbee hub needed. It’s also $10 cheaper than the Eve Motion ($49.95), the only other Thread / Matter motion sensor available today. I’ve had the P2 set up in my smart home for a couple of days, and functionally, it’s the same great Aqara motion sensor I know and love. In almost all respects, the P2 is identical to Aqara’s Zigbee-based P1 motion sensor ($24.99); all that’s changed is the connectivity and battery life. But in my short amount of time with it, I can’t see that the addition of Matter and Thread has brought significant improvements — and in some ways (battery life in particular), they’ve made it worse. The Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2. Aqara nailed the design for a motion sensor years ago, and it has not messed with success. The P2 sports the same versatile stand as the P1, which lets you twist and angle the sensor 360 degrees to get the perfect field of view. Its flexibility provides more range than my other favorite Zigbee-based sensor, the Philips Hue Motion Sensor ($44.99) with its magnetic mount.  The P2 is easy to mount on a wall or ceiling thanks to the supplied sticky pads; you can even stick it under furniture, something that’s hard to do with the chunky Eve Motion. I would like to see a screw mount option — my husband is very averse to sticky tape on our painted walls. But there is also the option to just pop it on a flat surface and not use the mount at all.  The Aqara P2 has the same design and flexible mount as the P1. The P2 has the same wide-angle PIR sensor and light (lux) sensor as the P1 and can similarly detect motion up to 23 feet away and over 170 degrees horizontally. Its built-in light sensor can be used for automations in Apple Home and SmartThings. (It shows up in Google Home but can’t be used as a trigger and is not in Alexa at all.) This is useful for having shades automatically lower when it gets too bright or to only turn the lights on when it drops below a certain brightness level. The P1’s light sensor only works in the Aqara app and isn’t exposed to third-party platforms, so the P2 has a leg up here. The P2’s light sensor can be used for automations in Apple Home and SmartThings But bizarrely — because it is a Matter device — the P2 doesn’t work with

Today we are excited to announce the launch of our Motion and Light Sensor P2, its new generation motion sensor built upon the Thread protocol and the industry-unifying Matter standard. The native Matter connectivity offers unparalleled compatibility across smart home platforms including Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. With Matter's local networking capabilities, the P2 sensor ensures enhanced responsiveness and reliability.
“In the rapidly expanding global market for Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, Aqara has achieved remarkable success, distributing over 100,000 units last year,” states Cathy You, Aqara Senior Vice President, Global Business and Strategy. “The launch of the Motion and Light Sensor P2, which combines our renowned sensor technology with the latest in connectivity protocols and standards, encapsulates our forward-thinking approach and our commitment to delivering smart home solutions that are ready for tomorrow's advancement.” The Motion and Light Sensor P2 integrates an ultra-wide angle PIR motion sensor with a standalone illumination sensor, providing precise detection up to 7 meters (ca. 23 feet) and 170° horizontally. This facilitates a range of use scenarios from automated lighting and security enhancement to climate control. The sensor also measures light intensity independently of motion detection, enabling sophisticated lighting and window covering control for optimal comfort and energy efficiency. Engineered for longevity, the Motion and Light Sensor P2 boasts a robust battery life of up to two years, ensuring dependable operation with minimal maintenance. As a Thread-enabled device, the Motion and Light Sensor P2 connects to any Matter controller with Thread Border Router functionality, and allows use across multiple compatible platforms thanks to Matter's multi-admin feature. Furthermore, the sensor offers a few Aqara Home exclusive features such as customizable sensitivity and detection timeout settings for tailored performance. Users can fine-tune both parameters through the Aqara Home app, which requires our own Thread-enabled Matter controller, for example the upcoming Hub M3. As part of our expanding Thread-enabled product line, the Motion and Light Sensor P2 exemplifies the Company’s dedication to elevating smart home experiences through enhanced interoperability and simplicity. Additional Thread devices from us are expected in the coming months, including the aforementioned Hub M3 and the retrofit home access solution Smart Lock U200. Shop now on Amazon or through authorized retailers globally!

Google Opens Up Its Smart Home To Everyone: Google is opening up API access to its Google Home smart home platform, allowing app developers to access over 600 million connected devices and tap into the Google Home automation engine. In addition, Google announced that it'll be turning Google TVs into Google Home hubs and Matter controllers. The Verge reports: The Home APIs can access any Matter device or Works with Google Home device, and allows developers to build their own experiences using Google Home devices and automations into their apps on both iOS and Android. This is a significant move for Google in opening up its smart home platform, following shutting down its Works with Nest program back in 2019. [...] The Home APIs are already available to Google's early access partners, and Google is opening up a waitlist for any developer to sign up today. "We are opening up access on a rolling basis so they can begin building and testing within their apps," Anish Kattukaran, head of product at Google Home and Nest, told The Verge. "The first apps using the home APIs will be able to publish to the Play and App stores in the fall." The access is not just limited to smart home developers. In the blog post, Matt Van Der Staay, engineering director at Google Home, said the Home APIs could be used to connect smart home devices to fitness or delivery apps. "You can build a complex app to manage any aspect of a smart home, or simply integrate with a smart device to solve pain points -- like turning on the lights automatically before the food delivery driver arrives." The APIs allow access to most devices connected to Google Home and to the Google Home structure, letting apps control and manage devices such as Matter light bulbs or the Nest Learning Thermostat. They also leverage Google Home's automation signals, such as motion from sensors, an appliance's mode changing, or Google's Home and Away mode, which uses various signals to determine if a home is occupied. [...] What's also interesting here is that developers will be able to use the APIs to access and control any device that works with the new smart home standard Matter and even let people set up Matter devices directly in their app. This should make it easier for them to implement Matter into their apps, as it will add devices to the Google Home fabric, so they won't have to develop their own. In addition, Google announced that it's vastly expanding its Matter infrastructure by turning Google TVs into Google Home hubs and Matter controllers. Any app using the APIs would need a Google hub in a customer's home in order to control Matter devices locally. Later this year, Chromecast with Google TV, select panel TVs with Google TV running Android 14 or higher, and some LG TVs will be upgraded to become Google Home hubs. Additionally, Kattukaran said Google will upgrade all of its existing home hubs -- which include Nest Hub (second-gen), Nest Hub Max, and Google Wifi -- with a new ability called Ho