Michael BrownExecutive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor and covers the connected-home and home-entertainment markets. He built his own smart home in 2007, which he uses as a real-world test lab when reviewing new products. Michael also reviews routers and networking products for TechHive and PCWorld.
Creative's Super X-Fi Headphone Audio Holography demo blew my mind
If Creative's Super X-Fi Headphone Audio Holography is as good when it ships as what the company is demoing at CES, it will forever change your perception of headphones.
3M Filtrete Smart Air Filters confirm it: Bluetooth is everywhere and in everything
A Bluetooth pressure sensor monitors the useful life of your HVAC filters and pings you when they need to be replaced.
Netgear targets gamers with its Nighthawk Pro Gaming router and SX10 LAN switch
Netgear's Nighthawk Pro Gaming router and Nighthawk SX10 LAN switch boast gamer-centric network management software.
Samsung’s Harman group is playing the field, building smart speakers with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana.
After nearly 10 years of R&D, Phyn Plus is ready to protect your home from water damage
This high-tech valve analyzes water flow in your home’s supply lines to detect leaks and can shut off the water in the event of a catastrophic break.
Z-Wave 700 promises to give new smart home devices longer range and better battery life
The new platform can extend the smart home into the yard and enable sensors to run for more than 10 years on a coin-cell battery.
D-Link’s latest COVR whole-home Wi-Fi systems look a lot more like whole-home Wi-Fi systems
The company’s first efforts in this space were much more conventional.
Vivint Smart Home’s Streety is like a high-tech neighborhood watch
The free app will allow neighbors to view live feeds and request recordings from each other’s security cameras.
The Linksys WRT32XB gaming router is tailor-made for the Xbox One series
Yeah, it looks just like the Linksys WRT32X from last fall, but Linksys says this one’s designed to recognize and prioritize Xbox gaming traffic.
Linksys expands it Velop mesh Wi-Fi router line, adding a new dual-band model
Dual-band components will interoperable with tri-band modules and vice versa.
The best smart home products of 2017
These are the smart home hubs, thermostats, speakers, smart locks, lighting controls, security cameras, and routers that will dominate early 2018 and beyond.
Amazon Echo vs. Google Home: One of these smart speakers is better than the other
Operating both platforms is a recipe for confusion, so which one deserves the coveted spot in your smart home?
Amazon Echo Plus review: Not plus enough
Amazon’s mid-range smart speaker comes up just a little short.
Music sounds fantastic on Samsung’s flagship soundbar, but it needs more oomph for soundtracks.
Amazon Echo, Echo Plus or Echo Spot: Which Alexa smart speaker is right for you?
The answer was easy when there were just two models. Now Alexa is all over the place.