Ben PattersonSenior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and home-theater devices.
Samsung HW-S60A review: This $280 all-in-one soundbar packs Alexa and AirPlay 2
The rare budget soundbar that boasts both built-in Alexa and AirPlay 2 support.
HBO Max temporarily slashes its ad-free subscription price by 50 percent
Shortly after its exit from Amazon Channels, HBO Max is chopping its ad-free subscription rate in half, but only for a limited time.
How to add a delay to a Google Assistant routine
Don’t want Google to immediately perform certain actions in a routine? Just add some delays. Here’s how.
Revamped Sonos Beam soundbar adds Dolby Atmos and eARC support
The second-gen Beam squeezes a beefier CPU into the same compact shell, allowing for virtualized Dolby Atmos height effects.
Sonos to support high-res Amazon Music, along with Dolby Atmos Music
Almost all Sonos S2 speakers will let you stream 24-bit Amazon Music tunes, while the two latest Sonos soundbars will offer Dolby Atmos Music support.
There’s a new way to trigger Google Assistant routines
Google Assistant recently learned one of Alexa’s tricks: the ability to start a routine when you dismiss an alarm. Here’s how to set it up.
Sonos hikes prices of its most popular speakers, including the Sonos Arc and Sonos One
The price increases range from $10 to $100 and take effect September 12.
Amazon unleashes its own 4K Fire TVs and a revamped Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Amazon is now making its own TVs, complete with Alexa and Dolby Vision. Also: a new Fire TV Stick 4K is on the way.
Philips Hue’s new dynamic lighting scenes are missing two key features
Philips Hue dynamic scenes have finally arrived, but a pair of fairly obvious features are—for now, anyway—missing in action.
Hulu will hike its monthly on-demand rates by $1 in October
Starting on October 8, on-demand Hulu will cost a buck more per month.
Trouble hearing Alexa? The new Adaptive Volume setting can help
Alexa’s voice can have a tough time cutting through the noise of a dishwasher or loud conversation, and that’s where the Adaptive Volume setting comes in.
WiZ unveils new smart lamps, ceiling lights, and smart plug
WiZ’s latest Wi-Fi smart lights include a tappable table lamp, a new line of ceiling lights, its first spotlight, and a power-monitoring smart plug.
Philips Hue smart bulbs can now sync with Spotify
A new Spotify integration for the Hue app lets you sync your color Hue lights with your Spotify playlists. Also coming soon: dynamic scenes, brighter A19 bulbs, and more.
Wyze true wireless Buds come with $44 price tag but no noise cancellation
Arriving with a transparency mode but no noise cancellation, the Wyze Buds are even more affordable than the ANC-enabled Wyze Buds Pro.
SimpliSafe unveils its first proper outdoor cam
Looks like SimpliSafe is finally getting serious about outdoor security cameras.