Ben PattersonSenior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and home-theater devices.
The latest version of Philips Hue’s Lightstrip Plus is perfect for accent lighting and it doesn’t require a bridge, but we’re concerned about its durability.
Google Assistant’s new Family Bell feature adds structure to endless summer days
Now you can ask Google to set daily reminder bells for the whole family, as well as set the mood for school and broadcast messages to a specific room.
ADT will sell and install Nest devices under $450 million Google deal
Nest cameras and displays will soon become the “cornerstone” of ADT’s smart home offerings, Google says.
Movies Anywhere unveils its own Watch Together feature
Now you can co-watch any title in your Movies Anywhere locker with up to nine friends, although your guests might need to jump through some hoops to start watching.
Spotify’s Group Session feature now allows for remote listening with friends
You no longer need to be in the same room to launch a Spotify Group Session with your buddies.
Nest thermostat won’t connect to Wi-Fi? Try these fixes first
Google will send you a free replacement for a Nest thermostat that’s suffering from the dreaded w5 Wi-Fi error, but there are also some troubleshooting steps you can try.
Reuters, Fubo Sports Network, The Bob Ross Channel, Kidoodle TV, and more are now streaming on Plex, and they’re all free (though ad-supported).
You can finally stream Netflix on a Google Nest Hub or Hub Max smart display
The Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max just became the first smart displays to support Netflix streaming.
EU launches antitrust probe focusing on Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
EU regulators want to know whether voice assistants are giving companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Google an unfair advantage by limiting choice and collecting data on their users.
Spotify debuts charts for top and trending podcasts
Now there’s an easier way to find the hottest and most popular podcasts on Spotify.
LG SN8YG review: A feature-packed soundbar that doesn’t neglect the basics
The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support is great, but the rich mid-range audio is even better.
Everything we know—and don’t know—about Google’s new smart speaker
Google is being awfully coy about its latest smart speaker. We’ve teased out some facts and made some educated guesses.
Roku backtracks on combining over-the-air channel guide with streaming TV listings
Turns out some users didn’t like over-the-air TV listings mixed with dozens of streaming TV channels.
Amazon Fire TV adds Sling TV, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV to its live programming guide
Sling TV and YouTube TV will appear in Amazon Fire TV’s Live TV tab starting today, while Hulu + Live TV is coming soon.
Roku adds premium and over-the-air channels to its live TV programming guide
Live programming from HBO, Showtime, Starz and more now appear in Roku’s linear programming grid, along with local over-the-air channel listings.
Articles by Ben Patterson
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