Whither Spotify HiFi? Great question.  Announced more than three (!) years ago, Spotify HiFi was supposed to finally bring lossless audio to the world’s biggest streaming-music service.   Pop stars were trotted out to promote the new feature, experts detailed the benefits lossless audio would bring to listeners, and a launch window was announced.  And then… nothing.  Three years after Spotify announced HiFi, we’re still wondering what happened to the feature. Of course, there’s been no shortage of Spotify HiFi rumors and leaks, with many of them promising that this time, S ..read more

I’ve been a satisfied Apple TV 4K owner for years—still happily using the 2017 version—but I haven’t exactly set it up the way Apple intended. By default, Apple TV assigns a single click of the home button to its “TV” app. This serves as a universal streaming guide, with an “Up Next” row for shows you’ve been watching followed by recommendations from various streaming providers. Clicking the home button a second time leads to a more traditional app launcher, with icons arranged in a grid. I prefer to switch up this default behavior so a single click jumps straight to the Apple TV’s app launch ..read more

TP-Link’s Tapo smart-home brand announced the launch of the wireless Tapo SolarCam (model Tapo C402 KIT) today. The budget-priced Wi-fi security camera comes bundled with a solar panel that should eliminate the need to retrieve and recharge its battery. The Tapo SolarCam aims to eliminate common inconveniences associated with traditional security cameras, such as complex wiring, frequent battery recharges, and dependence on nearby power outlets. By harnessing solar power, the camera can continuously monitor with just 45 minutes of direct sunlight daily. Users can attach the solar panel direct ..read more

If you installed a home security system in your home, be it a connected camera or a sensor-based alarm setup, you probably received a sign with the company’s name or logo on it. Putting up this sign in front of your home might seem like a good burglar deterrent, as it could warn potential intruders of your protection. But many security experts say that home security signs might make you more of a target, not less. And, just maybe, putting up a sign for a security system you don’t own might be a wiser move. That’s not to say security signs are useless, of course. According to a 2012 study done ..read more

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Handy manual remote control Self-emptying dustbin with UV Effective floor mopping Long battery life Lots of spare accessories Cons Lighter max suction at just 4,000 Pa Dustbin empties very loudly Sometimes erratic emptying of dust bin Our Verdict When you can’t decide between a good price or full features, consider the Ultenic T10 Pro. It offers vacuuming, mopping, and a self-emptying bin, and the app is loaded with extras. Price When Reviewed $399.99 Best Prices Today: Ultenic T10 Pro Retailer Price $349.99 View Deal Ultenic $399.99 View Deal ..read more

Navigating the Roku home screen isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. While Roku still has the simplest streaming interface overall, it’s gradually becoming more complicated with extra menu cruft and new banner ads. Even Roku’s app grid, once a beacon of user-friendly design, is becoming filled with redundant shortcuts and content tiles. Fortunately, you can still take a handful of steps to restore some of Roku’s hallmark simplicity. With just a couple minutes of setup, you can have a calmer, less-cluttered Roku home screen. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best ..read more

Siri will get a much-needed, generative-AI boost with the arrival of Apple Intelligence later this year, but what happened to the HomePod?  While Apple saw fit to demonstrate Siri’s upcoming AI abilities on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, there was no mention of the revamped Siri coming to the HomePod smart speaker—odd, given that the HomePod is to Siri what Amazon’s Echo speaker is to Alexa.  The HomePod did get some updates during Apple’s WWDC parade, including a SharePlay feature that lets family, friends, or anyone else queue up tracks on the speaker.  But the HomePod was ignored ..read more

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Versatile when paired with the new Keypad Touch Responsive, with quick logging Inexpensive Cons Incredibly bulky Tiny bolts make for difficult physical installation Encountered some app hangs Our Verdict SwitchBot’s new retrofit lock works well enough, but its appearance will be too brutalist for many homes. Price When Reviewed $119.99 (lock only); as reviewed with $59.99 Keypad Touch: $179.98 Best Prices Today: SwitchBot Lock Pro Retailer Price SwitchBot $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Pric ..read more

Wondering what happened to that promised HomePod feature that lets family, friends, or anyone else queue up tracks on the speaker? Turns out Apple didn’t forget about it.  Among the many announcements during its annual WWDC keynote on Monday, Apple revealed that SharePlay music control for the HomePod and HomePod mini is finally on the way. News of SharePlay for the HomePod didn’t actually merit a mention during Monday’s on-screen WWDC presentation; instead, it was hidden in a press release.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers ..read more

It was all Apple Intelligence, all the time during Apple’s WWDC Keynote on Monday, while all the Home app got was this lousy slide–and to add insult to injury, it had to share. For those keeping track, this marks the second year in a row that Apple’s Home app got barely a mention during the company’s annual WWDC event (Home did get a full-on revamp for iOS 16), although there were a few modest iOS 18 announcements for Home if you looked carefully.  So if you were hoping for a demo showing a generative AI-boosted Siri controlling smart home devices, well, it didn’t happen. But we did get ..read more