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Gavin Campbell, TJ Huddleston, & Seth Johnson

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The HomeTech Podcast features news, opinions, insights, and advice on all things Smart Home | Co-Hosted by Home Automation Pros Gavin Campbell, TJ Huddleston, & Seth Johnson

11 Sept

HomeTech 588: CEDIA and IFA 2026

On this week's show: TiVo decides skipping commercials should cost something, LG TVs face some very ugly privacy claims, Home Assistant 2026.9 brings a big Modbus cleanup, UniFi tries a friendlier whole-home Wi-Fi pitch, and Sonos rolls out Beam Ultra, Ace Ultra, and a whole new Sonos 27 software story. We also hit new gear from both CEDIA and IFA, a full mailbag of feedback for Gavin, project updates, and so much more! HomeTech HeadlinesApple announces September iPhone launch eventTiVo Plans to End Free Automatic Commercial Skipping in November, Tests Paid Premium Replacement Service | Cord Cutters NewsLG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devicesHomey expands beyond the app with the Portal touchscreen and rotary controllerJBL takes on Sonos with new multi-room Cove speakersShelly launches first smart camera at a budget price without any subscriptionsSonos Launches Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra Pre-Orders in Canada | iPhone in CanadaHow Sonos rebooted itselfSonos 27: Why Your System Keeps Getting BetterIntroducing UniFi Travel Router Long-RangeIntroducing Whole-Home WiFi by UniFiProStudio by Josh.ai Raises the Bar for Custom Home Control, Integration, & Installation at CEDIA Expo 2026AVA OS 3.0 Adds Over 100 New Features to SystemsAudio Pad Series | Architectural Audio Integrated into Faceplates | Magna AudioCEDIA Announces Winners of 2026 Smart Home Awards AmericasGovee expands its smart lighting lineup at IFA 2026 with dual-zone outdoor lights, a simulated skylight, and new COB stripsAqara expands its global smart lighting range with Thread and Zigbee support at IFA 2026These new robot lawn mowers trim your edgesRoborock expands beyond the living room with automated pool cleaners and LiDAR mowers at IFA 2026iRobot unveils the Roomba DuoFeedbackICO – The Smart Pool MonitorSmart Pool Water Analyzer | Make Pool Care Effortless - iopoolDroplet: Smart Home Water SensorTailwind iQ3 Smart Automatic Garage Door ControllerESPHome Tesla BLE“How Many Gavins” Calculator2026.9: There's room on this busE-Wand™ Single Unit – Current Luxury
28 Aug

HomeTech 587: CEDIA 2026, Hacked Cameras, and the $80 Echo Dot

On this week's show: CEDIA’s first-timer list hints at where custom integration is heading next, Sonos teases a new soundbar, Control4 gets new Google Home and Google TV integrations, Wyze builds privacy right into a $40 indoor cam, Amazon raises prices on Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle gear while also handing some Fire TV users Alexa Plus for free, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more! Are These First-Time CEDIA Expo Exhibitors the Next Big Thing in Custom Integration?Sonos Teases New Soundbar Ahead of September Hardware Reveal | iPhone in CanadaChowmainsoft Introduces Google Home and Google TV Integrations for Control4HomeTech HeadlinesRecessed Entry Sensor - Ubiquiti StoreMova’s latest robot vacuum solves the kitchen stool problemWi-Fi 8 is the first wireless upgrade in years that isn’t chasing speed, and home networks need itThe lens in Wyze’s new $40 indoor camera retracts for privacyHackers Compromised 14,500+ Dahua Devices Using Credential Attacks, Auth Bypasses, and P2PFCC officially decides gigabit speeds are too good for youAmazon just hiked the prices for Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle products by up to 60 percentFire TV users are getting an Alexa Plus update – for freeAqara expands H1 Matter lighting lineup with new downlights and spotlightsFrom the homeautomation community on Reddit: I reverse engineered the Litter Robot 4 to control it 100% locally via Home Assistant. Custom firmware and install guide in description!From the homeautomation community on Reddit: I reverse-engineered local Ecobee control and put it on PyPI (no cloud, no dev key, no Home Assistant)From the homeassistant community on Reddit: Samsung Family Hub Reborn: Turning a Fridge Touchscreen into a Home Assistant Dashboard 🏠🥳Video: I Finally Sorted Out My Box of Mystery USB CablesTreedix USB Cable Tester 2.4" Screen for eMarker PD3.0/3.1 ResistorKorg nanoKONTROL2 Slim-Line USB Control Surface, BlackPhoton | Bring your agents to iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and beyondHot Dog Stand – The Game
21 Aug

HomeTech 586: Distracted by Paperclips

On this week's show: the Open Home Foundation puts Community Day 2026 on the calendar, Apollo makes ESPHome a little less breadboard-y, Petlibro reminds everyone why cloud-dependent pet gear is a terrible way to miss dinner, and Whisker proves AI still can’t always tell one cat from another. We also hit Brilliant’s new managed-service subscription, Comcast turning routers into motion sensors with a privacy asterisk, Aqara pushing Matter camera controls forward, Sonos news, plus CEDIA-bound gear from DreamWall and DoorBird, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more! Community Day 2026: Save the date! – Open Home FoundationESPHome Starter Kit is shipping!Universal Paperclips (Game)HomeTech HeadlinesCats and dogs are missing meals after a popular smart feeder went downWhisker’s AI-powered litter robot thinks my cats swapped bodiesBrilliant Launches Subscription Service for Managed Smart Home AutomationDreamWall to Debut New Generation of Outdoor CooLED MicroLED Video Wall Solutions at CEDIA Expo 2026DoorBird Launches the New D22x Series - Residential SystemsComcast adds motion sensing to millions of its newer routers, with a privacy catch | TechCrunchSonos gets ready to launch new Ace Ultra headphonesSonos Adds Live Activities Support on iPhoneAqara enables PTZ camera control through Matter on the G350SEED - SEED Early Access | A brand new world, ready to be populatedWhats Up, Reynoldsburg?
14 Aug

HomeTech 585: Bad Gavin, Smart Donut

On this week's show: CEDIA Expo 2026 is almost here with hundreds of product debuts on deck, GE talks up US-made chips in connected laundry, Home Assistant finds a new way to boss around Apple devices, Google Home on iOS may be turning lights on just for fun, Alexa+ lands in Australia, Sonos learns some Lutron tricks, OpenAI’s hockey-puck AI speaker rumor rolls on, ESPHome gets a much friendlier desktop app, plus a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more. Oberlin, OhioHomeTech HeadlinesHundreds of New Products Anticipated to Debut at CEDIA Expo 2026GE Appliances doubles down on US-made chips.iOS 27 Flips the Script: Home Assistant Can Now Control Your Apple DevicesDolby Vision 2 is officially available on select Hisense TVs - EngadgetA Google Home bug is randomly turning on smart lightsAmazon's Alexa+ Assistant Launches in Early Access in Australia“Hey Sonos, open the shades.”OpenAI speaker to be hockey puck-sized and cost over US$300: reportSimplify your ESPHome setup with the new desktop appWiiM Bar | Display-First Dolby Atmos SoundbarBadgers : animated music video : MrWeebl
7 Aug

HomeTech 584: First, They Came for the Robot Vacuums

On this week's show: the FCC’s robot ban turns out to include future robot vacuums and mowers, which may make the next robovac harder to buy without making it much safer; Roku decides budget streamers are a premium experience now; Apple’s smart home hub and Siri refresh are reportedly getting closer; Sonos is teasing some kind of AI move for September; UniFi adds a Thread border router and beefs up Protect; plus new gear from Zooz, Aqara, Xiaomi, Homey, SmartThings, and Home Assistant, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more! HomeTech HeadlinesThe US is banning foreign robotsThe US government just banned RoombasRobot vacuums are included in US robot banThe ban on robot vacuums won’t make them safer. But it may make your next one worseThe US Just Banned New Chinese Robot Vacuums and Mowers: Canada Could Be Next | iPhone in CanadaRoku raises streaming stick prices by up to 60 percentZooz 800 Series Z-Wave Long Range Motion Dimmer ZEN12 800LRXiaomi’s smart washing machines are finally going globalSonos Is Reportedly Planning Something Big for AI in SeptemberApple’s long-awaited smart home Siri AI refresh is achingly close to realityApple Could Start New Smart Home Push as Early as OctoberUbiquiti’s new SuperLink Gateway HA brings professional Thread hardware to UniFiUniFi Gets Its Own Thread Border RouterIntroducing UniFi Protect 7.2Homey is a rare smart home platform that is Matter 1.5 certifiedSmartThings quietly brings Matter 1.6 to beta hub firmwareFinally: Aqara launches dual-protocol Matter and Thread smart plugs in the UK and EUHome Assistant 2026.8 beta adds Matter doorbell events and simpler setupFireAvert joins Works with Home AssistantBuilding the device database together: Public preview now live – Open Home FoundationGitHub - GuiPoM/ha-sentinel: HA Sentinel — proactive health monitoring for Home Assistant integrations and appsESPHome Starter KitMaslow4 Large Format CNC
25 Jul

HomeTech 583: OpenAI Wants In, Nice Wants Out

On this week's show: OpenAI may be building a screen-free AI home companion, Nice is skipping CEDIA 2026 and insisting everything is fine, the 2026 TV Shootout crowns both Samsung and Sony, Philips Hue might stick a camera on your TV, and a TP-Link Kasa camera vulnerability report is a rough reminder to patch your gear. We also chat about a touchscreen Zigbee switch from Zemismart, an open-source robot vacuum project, Matter Server 9.1.0, the Only Fan Controller update, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more! HomeTech HeadlinesOpenAI Reportedly Developing Screen-Free AI Companion for Smart HomeNice Announces It Has Pulled Out of CEDIA Expo 2026The 2026 Kings of TV Are Crowned at Value Electronics TV Shootout - Residential SystemsZemismart Launches Zigbee Touchscreen Light Switch With Power MonitoringPhilips Hue’s latest camera might be for your TV.IoT-Vulnerability-Research-Public/TP-Link_Kasa_EC71/Kasa_EC71.md at main · BadChemical/IoT-Vulnerability-Research-PublicMatter Server 9.1.0 Releasedxcancel.com/ThirdRealityIncOnly Fan Controller v1.2.1Jimothy
17 Jul

HomeTech 582: Which Switch is Which?

On this week's show: Apple wants smarter Home cameras, but only if you spring for the 2TB iCloud plan, IKEA quietly makes Matter less annoying, and Matter cameras from Tapo, Aqara, EZVIZ, and friends are finally becoming a real category. We also get into Josh.ai adding DMX and DALI for the fancy-lighting crowd, Sonos trimming some of the people you’d think it should keep, a coax-powered floodlight for those Wi-Fi dead zones, Ecowitt’s Kickstarter water tester, new Home Assistant-friendly gear from IoTorero and Third Reality, a pick of the week, project updates, and so much more! The story behind Erling Haaland and his taxidermy raccoon: ‘Lock the doors, let’s make this special’HomeTech HeadlinesTHIRDREALITY Smart Wall Outlet, Dual Independent Control for 2 Sockets, Individual Power Monitoring, Zigbee Repeater, Compatible with Home Assistant & SmartThings, ETL CertifiedWQT01: Smart Water Quality TesterChannel Master’s Pro Floodlight uses coax to bring smart lighting to your garden’s dead zonesApple Intelligence in Apple Home will require the $10-a-month iCloud Plus plan.Sonos Sacks Top Designers Behind its Premium Speakers | iPhone in CanadaJosh.ai Now Offers Native DMX & DALI Support - Residential SystemsIKEA updates DIRIGERA hub with Matter 1.4.2 support and improved network stabilityTapo, Aqara, Ulticam, and EZVIZ: All the Matter-certified camerasIoTorero joins Works with Home AssistantHermes Agent — The Agent That Grows With YouIrriSense 2 | 4-in-1 Smart Sprinkler & Irrigation System | AiperElegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K – Best 3D Printer for Beginners & ProsPrismML — Announcing Bonsai 27B: The First 27B-Class Model to Run on a Phone
10 Jul

HomeTech 581: YOLO Updates

On this week's show: Apple makes Apple Home hubs a lot pricier, Samsung puts a $5 toll booth in front of the SmartThings API, and Matter itself keeps inching toward “maybe this really will work.” We also hit a THIRDREALITY timer clock, an interesting universal remote hub, Level’s rough week, Netflix’s new profile email rule, project updates, a pick of the week, and so much more! Building an Apple Home just got pricier: New hardware hikes affect key Matter hubsHome Tech HeadlinesNew - THIRDREALITY Smart Timer Light TL2,Digital Clock,60GHz mmWave Radar,RGB Light,Light Sensor,Simple Setup,Countdown Timer,Matter Enabled,2.4GHz WiFi only,Compatible with Alexa, Apple Home,Google HomeDREO Brings Matter Connectivity to TurboPoly™ Fan 765S, Furthering its Open Ecosystem CommitmentOpenInfrared Point: Universal Remote HubIntroducing UniFi Network 10.5Hackers target UniFi as critical exploits surfaceCrestron Launches Configure Pro Platform for Crestron Home OSJosh.ai Showcases AI-Powered Home Control with New Experiential VideoHunter Douglas Alta Window Fashions Motorized Shades Now Compatible with PowerView AutomationSamsung will soon start charging to access its smart home APIA New Enhanced SmartThings API Experience - SmartThings BlogNetflix now requires every user profile to be tied to unique email addressSmart lock maker Level has been gutted and its founders are outMatter Just Underwent a Major Stress Test for Supporting Large-Scale DeploymentsHome Assistant upgrades to Matter 1.5.1 with a better codebaseThe Matter upgrade you’ve been waiting forInside the room where the smart home industry is still betting on MatterDroplet the #1 Smart Home Water Sensor - Hydrific, part of LIXIL

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The HomeTech Podcast features news, opinions, insights, and advice on all things Smart Home | Co-Hosted by Home Automation Pros Gavin Campbell, TJ Huddleston, & Seth Johnson