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You can now generate AI art on your TV with a Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi 4 can act as an AI art generator device. You can use your voice to generate those images.
One of the great uses of Raspberry Pi is helping you build home assistants that can enhance your life in many ways. The latest one that caught our attention is DevMiser's open-source project called Lumina, which uses Raspberry Pi 4 to generate AI artwork and automatically displays it on TVs.
tvOS 17.4 beta lets anyone control an Apple Music SharePlay session, even if they don't pay
Apple TV now gets the CarPlay treatment
While the primary focus in the past few hours has been on the major changes introduced in iOS 17.4, a significant tvOS beta feature has gone unnoticed. We've just discovered that tvOS 17.4 beta 1 no longer requires SharePlay participants to pay for individual Apple Music subscriptions. Instead, as long as a paid subscriber starts the session, any smartphone user can join. The Cupertino firm first brought this feature to CarPlay with iOS 17, but it has now made its way to the Apple TV, too.
Samsung’s extended TV lineup can give you the home theater you’ve always wanted
QLED 8K widescreen TVs and do-it-all projectors beef up Samsung’s portfolio
If you’ve been saving to upgrade your home theater, there’s no better time to start shopping than the beginning of the calendar year. With manufacturers debuting everything from their latest soundbars to TVs, your best chance to get your hands on the latest technology is now. Samsung is one of the many companies that has expanded its product lineup to kick off 2024, and if you want to revamp your home theater setup, you’re in luck.
Google is hiking the price of Nest Aware by up to $30/year
Google has raised the price of its Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus subscription plans by up to $20 and $30 per year, respectively.
Back in May 2020, Google launched its updated Nest Aware plans with simplified pricing, essentially offering a single subscription for all your Nest smart home devices instead of having to pay separately for each piece of hardware. Fast-forward three years, and the company is hiking the price of these plans by up to $30/year depending upon which subscription you opt for.
Android TV's new Shop tab is going to simplify movie night
Android TV is getting a much-needed update in the form of a new Shop tab that will give users a new way to rent and buy movies.
Some of the best TVs on the market right now are backed by almost invisible operating systems that make it easier to enjoy all your favorite content with a seamless yet evolving menu system. Google's Android TV is one of the more popular operating systems that can found on a number of different products from brands like Sony, TCL, Sharp, Hisense, and many more.
YouTube TV's multiview feature goes beyond sports with latest test
YouTube is starting to broaden its multiview feature with new content pairings.
With the increasing price of terrestrial TV plans, many users have looked to online streaming services to get a better deal for roughly the same content. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side, as increased costs to run these services have caused monthly prices to balloon. YouTube TV subscribers experienced this pain back in March when the service hiked up its price from $65 to $73 per month. In the days following the price increase, many users complained, but YouTube threw users a bone by releasing multiview to the masses during its broadcast of the March Madness tournament. Now, the company is expanding the multiview feature, going beyond sports content to include news, weather, and more.
Google Home's new script editor will let users create powerful custom automations
A new way to customize automations in your home if you've got some coding skills.
Today, Google announced a new script editor for Google Home on web and also the Google Home Public Preview app. As far as what this means, users will now be able to harness the power of a scripting tool to bring powerful automations to smart home projects.
Amazon expands Echo lineup with new smart speaker, earbuds, and more
Amazon is looking to bring Alexa to a wider audience by cramming tons of features in attractively-designed hardware with super-affordable price tags.
Amazon has unveiled a new range of Echo products, including the all-new Pop smart speaker that brings Alexa to an even lower price point than the Echo Dot. Alongside the Echo Pop, the company also announced the Echo Show 5, Echo Show 5 Kids, and the all-new Echo Buds. According to Amazon, the new products are designed to give customers even more options to access Alexa at different price points and in different form factors.
Google Home updates at I/O 2023 feature app redesign and new Pixel home panel
Google unveiled a slew of new Google Home features at I/O 2023, including a mobile app redesign, a Pixel home panel, and expanded Matter support.
Though much of the attention at Google I/O has been directed toward the expected release of the Google Pixel 7a and the Google Pixel Fold, the company also announced a slew of updates coming to the smart home. Google previewed its plans to support Matter, the smart home interoperability standard the company worked to develop, at last year's conference. This year, Google is expanding Matter support throughout Google Home and is even bringing Matter to iPhone users in the coming weeks. Plus, Google debuted a new mobile app and a Pixel-exclusive home panel.
Google TV gets a performance boost thanks to latest update
Google's rolling out a new update for Google TV that will improve performance and also free up some storage space.
Even the best Google TV streaming devices can use some improvement, and thankfully, Google has been providing a consistent stream of updates for its platform and devices, making it one of the best media streaming devices out right now. With its latest update now rolling out, Google intends to deliver a smoother experience for users by increasing the performance of devices, while also freeing up storage space.
New Google Pixel Tablet leak leaves little to the imagination for the companion dock
The product listing revealed details about the product, pricing, and also a release date.
Despite Google's Pixel Tablet first making an appearance roughly a year ago, we've yet to see the device making its way to retail channels. Anticipations run high for Google's upcoming tablet, with hopes that it could become one of the best Android tablets on the market. The company has shared its ambitions with the tablet since its public debut, and although we've been getting leaks here and there, it's still unclear as to when this device will make its real debut. As we wait for that to happen, it looks like the Pixel Tablet Standalone Charging Dock has popped up on Amazon, which could really mean anything at this point, but let's hope that the tablet isn't far behind.
Google Nest Thermostat now supports Matter for seamless connectivity
The Nest Thermostat is getting a welcome update, bringing Matter support to the connected thermostat.
It's been a slow roll-out for Matter, with potentially over a hundred products in the pipeline but only a fraction of those actually arriving to retail over the past few months. And if you've been looking to use your existing products, major companies that have signed on to support the protocol have been moving at a snail's pace to get its products updated. But that's to be expected with something new and with so many moving parts involved. Luckily, Google is finally bringing Matter support to its Nest Thermostat, just four months after it initially announced the update.
Netflix Basic with ads plan expands support for Apple TV
The new ad-supported plan is now accessible through Apple TV.
Back in November, Netflix released its ad-supported tier, giving users a new and more affordable way to enjoy its content. Unfortunately, those with Apple TVs weren't able to utilize the new plan, as restrictions by Netflix were put into place. Now, it looks like users can finally take advantage of the new ad-supported tier, as a new update has been issued by Netflix, bringing your favorite Netflix programming to Apple TV at a lower monthly price point.
Nanoleaf's new Essential line brings seamless connectivity with support for Matter
Nanoleaf is introducing two new lights in its Essential line that will offer support for Matter.
Nanoleaf has been around for a decade, introducing new and elaborate lighting setups that can be used for your home, office, or even specialized areas like a game or movie room. While the possibilities really are endless when it comes to designs, there was always a pain point, which required users to stick with only one brand of product, sometimes making it hard to create the perfect lighting setup. However, with the introduction of Matter, companies have been able to introduce a line of products that can be mixed and matched, making it easier to combine smart home solutions from different brands.
YouTube TV rolls out multiview feature amid price hike
It looks like YouTube TV has had a change of heart and is rolling out Multi View support to everyone.
YouTube dropped a pretty big piece of news yesterday, alerting new and existing customers that it would be increasing the price of its YouTube TV service, rising from an already high $65 per month to an eye-watering $73. As you can imagine, this news was not received well, and many on the internet swore that they'd be canceling service once their month came to an end. Then, something happened, and YouTube began the wide release of its multiview feature people have been requesting for quite some time.
Apple HomePod with 7-inch display could debut in 2024
It looks like Apple's HomePod could get a huge upgrade in 2024.
Apple's HomePod just got a new release back in January, offering a faster processor, better Wi-Fi connectivity, powerful sound, support for Thread, and more. While the speaker is rated reasonably well, perhaps one of the things that could be improved is its physical touch controls. Although a handful of options are on the top of the speaker, most are just for simple music playback controls. And for most, maybe that's enough, but it looks like Apple might become a bit more ambitious with its next release, as it could add a 7-inch display to the next HomePod.
Ring's Battery Doorbell Plus offers wide FOV, higher resolution, and long battery life
Ring's stepping up its battery-powered doorbell camera with its latest release, offering numerous improvements over its previous versions.
Ring has been producing smart home products for quite some time, offering a wide variety of products like doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras, indoor cameras, alarms, and more. So while a new doorbell camera from the company might not sound all that exciting, its latest model, the Battery Doorbell Plus, actually offers a number of improvements over its predecessor, making it a worthwhile upgrade or great new purchase for someone looking to secure their home.
Sonos debuts Era 300 and Era 100 speakers, built for an immersive listening experience
The Era 300 and Era 100 speakers from Sonos further push the sound experience while also focusing on sustainability.
Sonos has been around for two decades, and in that time, the company has established itself in its own space, creating simple yet elegant audio products for home and on the go. In its journey, the company has often pushed the boundaries of technology, making efforts to continuously innovate, while also providing its customers with a premiere sound experience. Today, Sonos is introducing its new line of speakers, debuting the Era 300 and Era 100.
Nothing speaker makes first appearance in new leak, showing off its unique design
This is our first look at what could be a Nothing speaker. Nothing CEO Carl Pei did tease of a new product coming next month. Perhaps this is it.
During Mobile World Congress, Carl Pei announced that the upcoming Phone 2 would run on a Snapdragon 8 series processor. At the same time, Pei also shared that something new was on the horizon from the company, set to arrive next month. As to what, that's anyone's guess, but a newly leaked render might just hold the key, giving us an early look of what's to come.
Google TV revamp adds landing pages, offering an easier way to access your content
Google TV is making it easier to find the movies and shows you love by consolidating the content into new landing pages.
For the most part, TV interfaces were pretty boring before the introduction of smart TVs. Thankfully, now, most TVs offer a choice, allowing you to stick to a more basic menu system produced by the manufacturer or utilize a smart TV interface from brands like Google. Over time, Google TV has bolstered its feature set, providing an all-in-one experience, and giving users an easier way to access all of their content. Today, the company is making things even easier by introducing four new landing pages to its platform, giving users a seamless way to access content.