Ring debuts new indoor/outdoor security cameras and LED lighting

 Ring has a few new products on display at CES 2018, including a new version of its Stick Up Cam security camera, and a Stick Up Cam Elite with upgraded features. There’s also new smart lighting it’s offering following the acquisition of Mr. Beams, a company dedicated to creating connected LED lights for use on pathways, as spotlights and in other outdoor capacities. Ring’s… Read More

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Ring acquires smart LED light company Mr. Beams

 Ring, the connected home security gadget startup, has acquired Mr. Beams, a maker of LED lighting with wireless connectivity and motion-sensing capabilities. The Mr. Beams acquisition is intended to help Ring bolster its existing portfolio of connected doorbells, video cameras and combination floodlight/cameras with affordable, modular lighting that can integrated with Ring’s software… Read More

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Smart lock maker Otto suspends operations

 Otto showed the world its digital lock in August. Four months later, the company has suspended operations. Hardware is hard. It’s a cliche for a reason.
The company made the decision just ahead of the holidays, a fact that founder and CEO Sam Jadallah recently made public with a lengthy Medium post now pinned to the top of the startup’s site. The extended survey of the Bay Area… Read More

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Amazon acquires connected camera and doorbell startup Blink

 Amazon has acquired Blink (via Slashgear), a startup founded in 2014 that builds connected Wi-Fi home security cameras, as well as a new video doorbell introduced earlier this week. The company got its start via a crowdfunding campaign that raise…

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Kuri the adorable home robot starts shipping to pre-order customers

 Kuri, the home robot that wants to be more companion and less Roomba, has begun shipping out to customers. Kuri creator Mayfield Robotics, a Bosch-owned startup, revealed that its initial shipments have gone out via FedEx – which means it technically met its goal of beginning to ship the photogenic little friend bots prior to the end of 2017, if only just. Kuri was originally unveiled… Read More

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Amazon’s latest Echos show the smart home space hitting its stride

 Amazon’s Echo lineup got a refresh earlier this year that included a brand new version of its basic Echo, well as an Echo Plus with integrated smart home hub, and the stalwart Echo Dot – unchanged, but still a compelling device at its price point. The new lineup of devices also made its way to more markets this year, including an expansion to Canada just this month, which is why I… Read More

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Baidu and Xiaomi are working together on internet of things and artificial intelligence

 Baidu, China’s answer to Google, and Xiaomi, which has modeled itself on the success of the America’s most successful technology manufacturer in Apple, have announced a strategic partnership to tackle two emerging technologies, internet of things and artificial intelligence. Announced today at Xiaomi’s first developer conference in Beijing, the alliance is a marriage between… Read More

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The Parrot Bebop 2 Power lets you boldly go where no drone has gone before

 Parrot, the original household drone company, recently released the Bebop 2 Power, an upgraded version of the Bebop 2 with a better camera, better controls, and more battery life. This fierce flier can swoop for up to sixty minutes with the included batteries and a first-person view is available using Parrot’s VR glasses and a cellphone. I was quite please with the drone’s… Read More

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