smart home devices Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

March builds on Google Home automations, expands Nest’s Yale Lock support

Google Home is implementing significant updates in March, including improvements to the Gemini voice assistant's interaction with smart home devices through room-level commands. Users can now issue commands like "turn off the kitchen," targeting specific devices. The update introduces new automation triggers, such as "Security system is armed" and "Device is plugged in." Google is also expanding its partnership with Yale Smart Lock, allowing users to view lock history and receive notifications through the Google Home app. The Gemini update enhances voice assistant capabilities, utilizing users' home addresses for contextually relevant responses, and improving accuracy for commands related to notes, reminders, calendars, and alarms. Additional features include enhanced responses for informational queries, fewer interruptions during speech, increased reliability for automations, improved accuracy in playing new songs, and a new “Live Search” feature for Google Home Premium subscribers. A software patch for Nest Wifi Pro is also set to enhance security and performance. Gemini for Home was first unveiled in late 2022, with early access starting in October, and users have reported positive experiences with features like "Ask Home."

Tech Optimizer

February 19, 2026

We all need digital protection and the ESET Home Security Plan is the bees knees

ESET's HOME Security Ultimate is available for .99, down from its original price of .99, offering a 50% discount. The package includes features such as unlimited VPN, dark web scanning for identity protection, credit report monitoring, identity threat alerts, Social Security Number tracking, lost wallet assistance, and million insurance coverage. It provides real-time protection against malware, advanced AI-powered threat detection, a robust firewall, and network shield. The plan emphasizes proactive identity protection and secure online activities, including safe banking and browsing modes.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

Google Home is finally making devices easier to add

Google has introduced a new feature in the Google Home app that allows users to manually search for smart home devices when QR code scanning or automatic pairing fails. The feature, labeled "Add a different way," includes a curated list of supported brands and a search bar for easier device location. The updated pairing flow also incorporates device images for visual confirmation. This feature is being rolled out with the Google Home app version 4.6.55.1 and will reach a broader user base shortly. Users are advised to update their app to access the new feature, which may be rolled out gradually.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

6 Free Apps To Automate Tasks on Android

In daily life, people engage in repetitive phone actions that shape their routines, such as turning off Wi-Fi or silencing notifications. Android devices offer basic automation features, but true automation potential lies in apps that allow personalized routines. Samsung Galaxy users can utilize Modes and Routines, integrated into One UI 5.1, to create preset profiles and custom automations based on triggers like time and location. Google’s Action Blocks enable users to create customizable shortcuts for complex tasks with a single tap, leveraging Google Assistant. Automate by LlamaLab uses a visual flowchart interface for routine creation, allowing users to design automation flows with over 320 building blocks available. aProfiles focuses on profile-based automation, adjusting settings based on time and location, while IFTTT allows users to create applets for connected services, with limitations on custom applets for free users. MacroDroid offers a three-part structure for automations, with over 100 triggers and actions, and a template library for pre-made macros, while the free version limits users to five macros.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

4 Essential Android Smartwatch Apps You Should Always Install First

Google Gemini's Wear OS app is a successor to Google Assistant, offering voice control, AI-driven reasoning, and automation for tasks like checking the weather, sending messages, and managing smart home devices. It enhances fitness app management, allowing users to control workouts without touching the device. Gemini integrates with Google services for real-time health inquiries and improves email productivity by summarizing and drafting responses. Google Keep is a note-taking app that allows text and voice input for capturing ideas and creating lists on an Android smartwatch. It features quick access through watch tiles and complications but lacks full editing capabilities. Strava is a fitness tracking app that allows users to monitor activities directly from their smartwatch, using built-in GPS to log routes and metrics. It syncs data to the mobile app after workouts, though social features are limited on the watch. SleepisolBio is a sleep management app that tracks heart rate and sleep patterns, offering therapy options and personalized recommendations. It operates on a freemium model, providing many features for free, but requires smartphone setup for effective use on a smartwatch.

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

Google Home app update finally makes moving devices from Nest app less painful

Google updated its Google Home app on December 10, allowing users to transfer multiple Nest devices from the Nest app to the Google Home app with a single tap. This update simplifies the process, which previously required transferring devices one at a time. Users can now transition Nest cameras, thermostats, locks, and smoke alarms from 2015 into the Google Home ecosystem. This feature is part of Google's strategy to consolidate Nest devices within the Google Home app and is currently available only to users in the Google Home Public Preview program.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

New Windows 11 ‘PC you can talk to’ ad pushing Copilot is proving divisive – and I can see it seriously backfiring

Microsoft has released a holiday advertisement featuring its 'Hey Copilot' voice input and AI capabilities in Windows 11, set to the song A-Punk by Vampire Weekend. The ad showcases family-oriented scenarios, such as syncing Christmas lights to music and navigating assembly instructions with Copilot's assistance, including a cameo from Santa. Viewer reactions have been mixed, with some expressing skepticism about Copilot's capabilities and suggesting humorous voice commands. Concerns have been raised regarding the disconnect between the ad's portrayal of Copilot's functionality and the actual limitations of the technology, particularly its inability to connect smart home devices to a Windows 11 PC. Users appreciate advancements in voice input technology but feel that the advertisement may oversell its current capabilities, leading to potential disappointment.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

3 Samsung apps I wish other brands would copy

A user has developed a renewed appreciation for Samsung's software, particularly One UI 8, highlighting three pre-installed apps for their functionality and user-friendliness: 1. Clock: The Samsung Clock app allows a snooze interval of up to 60 minutes, adjustable even after the alarm has sounded, and offers unlimited snoozes, catering to users with chronic pain or fatigue. 2. Reminder: The Reminder app features an updated interface that simplifies setting location-based reminders and offers various templates, making it more user-friendly compared to competing apps. 3. Modes and Routines: This app enables users to create automations based on existing device data, such as weather-based notifications, and provides customizable templates for routines. Additionally, the Now Brief feature serves as a central hub for daily information but has room for improvement.

AppWizard

November 1, 2025

3 widgets I can’t wait to try on Android Auto

Google is introducing home screen widget support for Android Auto, currently codenamed “Earth.” This feature is in early stages and has limitations, such as not supporting all widgets or allowing multiple installations simultaneously. Among the potential widgets is Fuelio, which tracks refueling expenses and locates gas stations, offering Quick Actions for logging refueling and Trip Control for journey recording. The Google Home Favorites widget allows users to control smart devices from their car. The KWGT app enables users to design custom widgets for personalized functionality.

AppWizard

October 13, 2025

I ditched Android emulators for this open-source app, and I can’t imagine ever going back

The integration of Android applications into desktop environments is increasingly popular due to their superior functionality compared to desktop versions. Applications like WhatsApp and Google Maps demonstrate enhanced usability on Android, with features such as flexible window resizing and better multitasking capabilities. Waydroid is an open-source project that allows Android apps to run on Linux systems without the performance issues associated with traditional emulators. It utilizes Linux namespaces and shares the host OS's kernel for near-native performance. Users can customize their experience by choosing builds with or without Google apps, and once installed, Android apps integrate into the PC's application menu. Waydroid offers smooth performance and the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously, although it has some limitations, such as restricted hardware access and notification issues. Despite these drawbacks, Waydroid presents a viable solution for users looking to combine Android and desktop computing.