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.
Spotify nixes 10,000-item limit for saved music libraries
Spotify fanatics, rejoice: no more will you need to prune your collections of songs and albums because your Spotify library is maxed out.
Want to listen to Spotify remotely with your friends? There’s an app for that
Just like the late Turntable.fm app, JQBX lets you create remote listening rooms for your friends. You will, however, need a Spotify Premium account to indulge.
Samsung’s 2020 soundbar lineup to be offered for sale starting this month
First revealed at CES, Samsung’s latest high-end soundbars work together with the speakers on Samsung TVs.
Hands-on: HP Elite Dragonfly, the first laptop with an integrated Tile tracker
The HP Elite Dragonfly will be an easier laptop to track, thanks to its embedded Tile module.
How to make your Google/Nest smart speakers, displays, and cameras listen for suspicious sounds
Thanks to Google’s new Nest Aware plans, Google Home and Nest devices can now keep an ear out for the sounds of smoke alarms and breaking glass.
Wink's switch to mandatory subscriptions gets pushed back a week
Wink users now have seven more days to decide whether to pay a monthly subscription fee or jump to a new platform.
5 ways to improve your relationship with Google Assistant
Learn how to change the sound of Google Assistant’s voice, teach it your nickname, make your conversations flow better, and more.
Spotify’s Group Session feature lets your friends control your music queue
Once you've created a Group Session, your friends can take charge of your Spotify tunes in real time.
The $100 Ring Video Doorbell gets a feature-packed upgrade, finally
The second-generation Ring Video Doorbell boasts better video quality, privacy zones, and an additional “near” zone, all for the same $100 price as the original model.
Google will switch on mandatory two-factor authentication for Nest accounts this month
If you haven’t already locked down your Nest account with two-step authentication, Google will do it for you starting in May.
Rumors point to a new Sonos Playbar with Dolby Atmos, plus refreshed Play:5 and Sub
Is a new HDMI-equipped Playbar finally about to happen?
Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb review: Ring dips its toe into traditional smart bulbs
This new A19 smart bulb plays nice with Ring doorbells, security cameras, and motion-sensing lights, but it lacks the advanced features that some other smart lighting systems offer.
Hey Google sensitivity setting arrives for Google Home and Nest devices
The new setting helps solve the problem of Google Assistant either not hearing its wake word, or accidentally thinking it did hear it.
Plex adds free TV shows and movies from Crackle
Plex users can now stream free (albeit ad-supported) movies and TV shows such as "Captain Phillips," "Patriot Games", "Hell’s Kitchen," and more.
Sonarworks’s SoundID Listen software aims to wring better sound out of your headphones
The just-released software for Windows and Mac customizes and (hopefully) improves the audio your headphones deliver, based on a personalized profile.