Articles by Ben Patterson
Alexa’s big AI makeover: 8 burning questions answered
It’s been more than a year since we got our first glimpse of an AI-supercharged Alexa. What happened?
The number of Matter-enabled thermostats just grew by one
The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat joins a handful of Matter-ready models that can work with Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
Max will start cracking down on password sharers next week
Get ready for some “gentle messaging” if you’re sharing someone else’s Max account.
Eve finally fulfills a promise to Android smart home users
It’s years late and comes with serious limitations, but an Eve app for Android is here, at last.
Apple just pushed a key smart home feature into 2025
You’re still going to be able to order your robot vacuum around with Siri—just not quite yet.
Google smart speakers are starting to sound like Gemini
A few Google Home users are hearing a new voice coming from their Nest smart speakers, and it sure sounds like the new Gemini-enhanced Google Assistant.
Netflix with ads: What you need to know
The ad-supported version of Netflix has changed substantially since launch, rolling out better video quality, offline downloads, and more.
Is Spotify HiFi finally on the way? Here's the latest on the overdue feature
Spotify's CEO has dropped more hints about a "higher-priced" tier with "better sound quality." But when is it coming?
Google is bringing older Nest Cams back into the fold
The biggest headache about using newer and legacy Nest cameras together is finally going away.
Apple’s rumored home hub might borrow from Amazon and Google
As Apple’s anticipated home “command center” comes into focus, some of its purported features have a familiar ring.
Google Home is getting its first Gemini AI-powered features
Your Nest cam video histories and Google Home automations are about to get juiced by Gemini.
Looks like Apple could get serious about the smart home in 2025
With chatter ramping up about security cameras and a smart “command center,” Apple appears poised to double down on its smart home efforts in 2025.
Freevee is going away, for real this time
Nearly nine months after denying any plans to shutter its ad-supported Freevee streaming service, Amazon has announced it will do just that.
Matter tackles a major pain point with its latest update
As it stands, adding Matter devices to multiple smart ecosystems is a royal pain, but version 1.4 of the Matter standard paves the way for a smoother process.
Google Gemini just took another step toward smart home control
If you're an Android user, you can ask Gemini to control smart lights, thermostats, and more via the Gemini app.
Now here's what an Apple smart display should look like
Could the long-awaited HomePod with a screen resemble this classic Mac throwback? I sure hope so.
Turn your rental into a smart home: 8 easy upgrades
Renting? Check out these apartment-friendly smart devices, from smart speakers and lights to video doorbells and water leak detectors.
Hack Netflix: 6 ways to find something awesome to watch
Picking just the right Netflix video for a given night isn’t the chillaxing experience it could be. Find out how to take a deep dive into Netflix’s collection of movies and TV episodes, slicing and dicing its categories to pinpoint the perfect video.