Lenovo Smart Home Essentials is the company's new product line for the connected home. It's starting off humbly with a camera, a wall plug, and a light bulb — consequently, I feel like there should be a joke here, but I'm drawing a blank. These will be compatible with both Alexa and Assistant right out of the gate, too.
Read MoreLenovo Smart Home Essentials is the company's first steps in creating its own connected ecosystem
Target releases Target Connected for Android, an app to control the retailer's own smart lamps and nightlights
Apparently Target has its own line of smart lamps, for which the US retailer released an iOS app called Target Connected back in October 2016. Now that app is available for Android devices, though without Google Assistant integration or any groundbreaking features, it's far from anything to get excited about. Oh, and it tries to sell you stuff from Target.com.
Read MoreAmazon announces Cloud Cam security camera and Amazon Key in-home delivery service
Around a month ago, we heard rumors that Amazon was planning to release a home security camera and a pair of smart glasses. Today, one of those became official, as Amazon announced the Cloud Cam. The intelligent indoor camera costs just $119 and aims to bring home security features to consumers who might not previously have been able to afford such hardware.
At the same time, the company is launching a new home access service called Amazon Key. This Prime-exclusive scheme is designed to allow Amazon delivery personnel to briefly enter your home and leave packages inside your door, all under that watchful gaze of the Cloud Cam.
Read MoreLynky is the first Google Assistant-enabled touchscreen smart home hub
Amazon may have been first to the touchscreen assistant punch with the Echo Show, but there's compelling evidence to suggest that Google is readying a Home device with a display, too. In the meantime, another company is offering the first Google Assistant-enabled touchscreen home hub, and it's called Lynky.
The diminutive device includes a 5" multi-touch display, with two far-field microphones and 2W stereo speakers. Two versions are available. One can sit on a flat surface and is powered by USB. The other is to be mounted to a wall where it can be hooked up to pre-existing light switch wiring.
Read More[Update: Sony joins the fun] Third party Google Assistant speakers are coming this fall, and so is support for appliances
When the Google Assitant SDK was announced back in April, we knew it would only be a matter of time before we saw third party speakers with the Assistant built in. Google has announced the first three of those speakers at IFA 2017 in Berlin, and we can expect to learn more about them over the next few days.
Read MoreRing announces the second generation of its popular video doorbell
Home security company Ring has had great success with its range of video doorbells and security cameras. The self-styled "most popular video doorbell in the world" was Ring's first product all the way back in 2014 and it quickly gained a foothold in the market. The company has since updated it with the more powerful Video Doorbell Pro, which increased the quality to 1080p but required a pre-existing hardwired bell setup. Ring is now ready to refresh the original product and has announced the Video Doorbell 2.
Read MoreEero announces second generation home WiFi system, including the cordless Eero Beacon
Eero was among the first companies to usher in a new wave of mesh WiFi systems. The startup's goal was clear: Introduce easy to set up and incredibly powerful WiFi across homes that suffer from poor signal. The three-pack of attractive white routers wasn't cheap but performed commendably, and the companion Android app also won many plaudits. After numerous OTA updates improving the service, as well as the release of performance doubling TrueMesh software, Eero is now refreshing its hardware offering with not one but two new devices.
Read More[Deal Alert] Philips Hue 2nd Gen Starter Kit on sale for $94.99 at Best Buy with VISA Checkout
I'm sure by now we've shined the light on enough Philips Hue deals for you to know all about the WiFi connected bulbs. I mean, you're a bright bunch, I don't think I can really illuminate any new details about the system that you haven't read before.
If you've had even the dimmest impression that you'd like to try a smart lighting system, then you really should take a look at the deal Best Buy has going on right now. You can grab a Philips Hue 2nd Gen Starter Kit for the glowing price of just $94.99 – a price which is a lot lighter on your wallet than the normal $180.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
[I/O 2015] Brillo And Weave Are The Foundations Of Google's Internet Of Things Push
We're still weeding through the fantasmagoric dump of announcements, features, and all the new things that Google has gifted us with yesterday during its I/O keynote, and we now reach the company's push for a unified and improved Internet of Things ecosystem. It was only a week ago that we heard rumors of this new venture, which seems to be a rethought [email protected] initiative that is adapted for broader purposes, and it's now official.
There are two pillars to Google's new ecosystem: Brillo and Weave. While information on both is still sparse for now, Brillo will be the OS that runs on the smart "things", while Weave is the communications layer between Brillo devices.
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