(SPONSORED) AiDot is back with its latest Matter smart home device, the WELOV Matter P200 Pro Air Purifier –  the world’s first Matter-certified air purifier.  The WELOV P200 Pro air purifier, which we’ve been using here at The Ambient HQ to keep our air clean, not only expands AiDot’s diverse range of Matter-enabled devices but also underscores its commitment to driving the adoption of future-proof technology in the smart home sector.  Embracing Matter for Seamless Integration  Matter is an industry-unifying smart home standard, powered by a who’s who of the tech world. Th ..read more

Pros No subscription fees Excellent image quality Onboard smart detection and tracking Bright security light Cons Dual View reduces image quality Security lights can reflect off faces, reducing detail Product name: Introduction Type: Outdoor mains-powered security camera and light Connectivity: Dual bands Wi-Fi 6, 5 and 2.4GHz Ecosystems: Amazon Alexa, Google Home Following a range of successful dual cameras such as the Solocam S340 and the Indoor S350 comes the big boy of the bunch: the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340. It has all of the same motorised pan-and-tilt functions as the ..read more

Offering customization and simplicity, the new Sonos app is the most significant update yet Sonos has announced its biggest app redesign yet, completely changing how you access music, content and your Sonos system.  It will, of course, take some getting used to, but the five tabs at the bottom of the current Sonos app that consist of My Sonos, Browse, System, Search and Settings are being replaced with one customizable homescreen incorporating all content and controls. There’s a new aesthetic too, with Sonos introducing a slightly more contemporary feel to the app, but that’s not what you ..read more

Apple first revealed HomeKit Secure Video at WWDC back in June 2019, and it’s kind of a big deal in the smart security camera world. The platform changes the way video cameras work with HomeKit and there has been a big push in the last few years with brands going live with smart security cameras and smart video doorbells that match the standard. We’ve written about Secure Video a few times since it was first announced, and we couldn’t help but notice that a lot of the information surrounding, despite it being available for a couple of years now, is… unclear. So we’re going to use this guide to ..read more

Dyson announced something a little different to its usual product launches at the beginning of April in the form of CleanTrace. It took me a few reads of the press release to understand what CleanTrace was and what it was trying to offer, but now I have been to Dyson’s HQ in Malmesbury and I’ve not just seen CleanTrace in action, but I’ve used it myself too.  This is everything you need to know about CleanTrace – the ‘product’ that allows you to visualise your vacuuming skills in real-time, what I learned when I tried it out and what you can expect when it arrives later this year. (Image ..read more

Pros Compact and discreet design Great features in app Excellent performance Alexa and Google Assistant integration Cons Boundary wire takes a while to setup No on-device screen Manual cutting height adjustment Husqvarna Automower Aspire R4: Introduction Type: Robot lawn mower, boundary wire Docking: Plugged in, 1 A charging current Navigation system: Singlesearch Robot lawn mowers might not be at the top of your shopping list, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be. They are without a doubt one of life’s luxuries, but they are also exceptionally low maintenance once setup and ..read more

Pros Amazing smokey flavour Excellent app features 7 cooking modes Weatherproof Cons Slow pre-heating Not dishwasher safe Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: Introduction (Image credit: The Ambient) It was only a few months ago that Ninja took the covers off of the Pro XL version of its Woodfire electric grill, and now the convection cooking specialist has a new top dog for the range by way of the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL. The Connect part of the moniker, you may have guessed, refers to the new connectivity features of the latest Woodfire Pro model, allowing you to sync up the Nin ..read more

Pros Great range HomeKit compatible Native app is ok Alexa, GA and SmartThings Cons Security concerns Some minor translation issues SmartThings integration needs work Only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Meross, founded in 2016 and based in Chengdu, China is fast becoming one of the most prominent players for affordable smart home devices. Unlike many of its homeland rivals, Meross has a range of HomeKit compatible devices – including smart plugs, lights and switches – as well as offering compatibility with both Alexa and the Google Assistant. I first published a Meross review back in 2021 but a lot ..read more

Sky has updated Entertainment OS with some great new features Sky has updated its Entertainment OS that runs on both Sky Glass and Sky Stream with a number of new features. Some of the new features are designed to help you access the content you want to watch quicker, while others enhance the experience, especially when it comes to sports and gaming.  The updates to Entertainment OS are rolling out in a couple of stages so if you have Sky Glass or Sky Stream at home, or you’re considering getting it, there are some updates you will get access to right away, while others will appear a litt ..read more

Chinese smart light specialist Govee has taken the covers off of its latest innovative illumination offerings; the Govee Lamp Pro and the Govee Lamp 2. The Pro, as the name suggests, is the flagship of the brand’s ever-growing lamp range – but we’ll start with the Lamp 2 for a couple of reasons. The first being that it’s available right now and ships with Matter compatibility. The Lamp Pro goes on sale on 22 April and, while Matter compatibility is promised, it’s not arriving until a software update lands further down the line. Standing 60 inches high, the Govee Lamp 2 is a follow up to the Go ..read more