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.
Philips Hue unveils a 1,600-lumen white A21 bulb, and revamps its Lightstrip Plus and Bloom lamp
Philips Hue’s new white A21 bulb is the brand’s brightest bulb yet, and it supports both Bluetooth and Zigbee.
Yeelight Smart LED Bulb 1S (Color) review: A solid Wi-Fi smart bulb saddled with a glitchy app
The Yeelight Yeelight Smart LED Bulb 1S (Color) is bright enough and boasts some clever lighting features, but its quirky app gave us trouble.
Voice Match, hotword sensitivity and more coming to third-party Google Assistant speakers
Some of Google Assistant’s best features, including the ability to pick a "preferred" speaker, won’t be limited to first-party Google devices anymore.
SunBriteTV’s outdoor Pro 2 Series 4K HDR TV is designed to weather the elements
The updated Pro 2 4K TV from SunBriteTV features its own heating and cooling systems, as well as a built-in media cabinet.
Swann’s Wire-Free Security Camera boasts free facial recognition and cloud storage
Swann's new Wi-Fi-enabled 1080p $149 security cam supports both Alexa and Google Assistant.
How to drop in on all your Amazon Echo devices at once
Besides Alexa's new ability to let you drop in on all your Echo devices at once, you can now set reminders on all your Echo speakers and displays, too.
Anker delays HomeKit compatibility for its recently announced Eufy Indoor Cams
HomeKit compatibility for the new Eufy Indoor Cams will have to wait until next month, but there’s a silver lining for this particular cloud.
HomeKit-exclusive Eve Cam slated to ship this month
Eve Systems’s $150 indoor security camera supports Apple’s Secure HomeKit Video protocol.
Roku rolls out a programming guide for its free streaming TV channels
The new programming grid for The Roku Channel will arrive following the launch of about 30 new streaming TV channels.
Google’s Advanced Protection Program now supports Nest users
You can now use Google’s toughest authentication protocol if you have Nest cameras, thermostats, or other devices associated with your Google account.
Amazon’s fashion-centric Echo Look camera will stop working in July
Time is up for Amazon’s $200 Echo Look, which snaps photos of your outfits and makes Alexa-powered fashion suggestions.
Hulu, Plex roll out group watch party features
Both Hulu and Plex have started testing features that let far-flung friends and loved ones stream videos together.
Netatmo adds a siren to its Smart Outdoor Camera
Netatmo's new Smart Outdoor Camera with Siren boasts (wait for it) a built-in siren designed to scare away intruders.
Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box gets support for IR remotes, Dolby Vision/HDR10+, and voice control
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box can now be controlled with a third-party infrared remote control or with voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri.
This compact device does an impressive job of syncing your Hue lights with your TV without any detectable latency, but it’s pricey, and there’s no remote.