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.
Fabriq Chorus review: This Alexa-powered smart speaker is an excellent value
It sounds great, can operate on battery power, and comes with a charging dock.
Amazon Echo (2nd generation) review: Better than the original, but not as important
Interested in voice-based home control? Buy an Echo Dot. Interested in multi-room audio? Buy a Sonos One.
Smart bulb or smart switch? Startup Noon Home says smart bulbs are dumb
Noon Home’s OLED switches promise to deliver designer lighting using your home’s existing fixtures.
Harman Kardon Invoke smart speaker review: Cortana could be a strong smart home system—someday
The Invoke is a good speaker, and Microsoft’s digital assistant has potential, but it’s too immature for us to give it a strong recommendation today.
Amazon Echo Show review: This is the best Echo (but it’s also the most expensive)
Adding a display makes Amazon’s smart speaker even better, but it also balloons its price tag.
Google Home Mini review: It doesn’t outdo the Dot
But Google’s answer to Amazon’s Echo Dot couldn’t have come soon enough.
ONvocal Bluetooth headset review: These headphones put Amazon’s Alexa in your head
But this isn't the first headset we'd choose for music listening.
Google announces $49 Google Home Mini to compete with Amazon’s Echo Dot
The introduction couldn't have come soon enough to counter Amazon's smart home momentum.
Sonos reveals Sonos One, an Alexa-enabled speaker that will support AirPlay 2 and Google Assistant
The Sonos One won’t be exclusive to Alexa, the speaker will incorporate Google Assistant in 2018.
Roku revamps its entire line of media streamers and slashes the price of its Roku Ultra
Several models support voice recognition, 4K resolution, and HDR.
Anker SoundCore A3102 Bluetooth speaker review: Inexpensive, but surprisingly not cheap
An off-the-hook price-to-performance ratio renders this small speaker a good value.
C by GE Sol review: GE has transplanted Alexa’s brain into a funky lamp
You might love or hate this smart lamp's design, but it's practically a must have if you use C by GE smart bulbs.
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2 loudspeaker review: These floor-standers sound as exquisite as they look
You don’t need anything more for critical listening, but you’ll want to pair them with a subwoofer—at least—for home theater use.
Echogear Outlet Shelf review: A brilliant, if not always practical, shelving idea
You’re plugging stuff in that outlet, so why not make use of the space around it?
Sony incorporates Google Assistant into its new wireless smart speaker
But the Sony LF-S50G Wireless Speaker looks less like Google Home and more like Apple’s HomePod.