Smart Home, Smart Live, Smart Solutions
With the GRILLPLATS, the Swedish furniture company IKEA expands its smart home range with a new smart plug. This compact device transforms conventional electrical appliances into intelligent components of a connected home. Smart plugs are among the simplest ways to transform an existing home into a smart home. They are plugged in between the wall socket and the appliance, enabling control […]
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To kick off the gardening season, there's an attractive spring offer for the new Navimow i2 series*. This model range was recently introduced and brings modern technologies for automated lawn care to any garden. Now is the perfect opportunity to switch to an intelligent robotic lawnmower from the i2 series and let the robot take care of your lawn for you. Newly introduced: […]
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Home Assistant has released its monthly update, version 2026.3. The new version brings several practical improvements for automations, energy monitoring, and voice control. Particularly interesting are a new feature for robot vacuums, an enhanced energy dashboard, and experimental wake word detection on Android smartphones. What is Home Assistant? Home Assistant is an open platform for smart home systems that allows users to […]
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The Shelly Plug M Gen3 is a smart Wi-Fi socket for indoor use that combines classic switching functions with modern technology. In addition to remote control of connected devices, the plug offers integrated power metering and Matter support for seamless integration into smart home systems such as Home Assistant. Installation and setup: Installing the Shelly Plug M Gen3 […]
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With the SONOFF Orb wall switches and wall sockets, Sonoff is launching a new generation of smart flush-mounted components on the European market. The series is designed for European Type E and Type F (Schuko) sockets and is permanently integrated into a standard flush-mounted box. Depending on the model, SONOFF uses either Matter over Wi-Fi or Zigbee, thus covering various smart home applications […]
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The recently introduced Homematic IP wall switch – 6-gang, 230 V – clearly focuses on simple and direct operation of the smart home system. Many smart home systems increasingly emphasize app control. Switching lights on or off, operating blinds, adjusting heating settings, or activating security functions – all of this is done […]
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IKEA has released a new firmware update for its smart KLIPBPOK water leak sensor: Version 1.0.11 is now available via Home Assistant and can be updated directly from the dashboard. The water leak sensor is based on the open Matter standard, is small, easy to install, and has already proven popular with many users for monitoring critical areas such as under […]
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I'm a big fan of Home Assistant because hardly any other smart home system evolves so consistently and regularly. With each update, not only does the range of functions grow, but also its everyday usability. This was also the case in February: On February 4, 2026, Home Assistant 2026.2 was released – a release that focuses primarily on clarity, user-friendliness, and […]
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With the Navimow i2 series, Segway is launching the official successor to the popular i1 series, the i105 and i108 models, on the European market. The new model range focuses on wireless navigation, advanced sensors, and easy setup via an app. The target group is primarily private garden owners who want to automate lawn care without laying a traditional boundary wire […]
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The Home Assistant community regularly generates new ideas for controlling a smart home efficiently and elegantly. Besides classic dashboards on tablets or wall displays, an alternative approach is increasingly coming into focus: a dedicated display with an E-Ink screen. A project recently presented in the subreddit demonstrates how an e-paper display can serve as a stylish control element […]
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With the latest generation Echo Show 8, Amazon is focusing its smart speakers more on smart home use. The device no longer functions solely as an Alexa voice assistant with a screen, but instead integrates several key wireless standards into a single system. These include Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, which acts as a border router. This allows the Echo […]
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The FRITZ! Smart Energy 250 from AVM is a power sensor for digital electricity meters that reads consumption data directly and makes it available in the smart home. In addition to using it in the FRITZ! Smart Home system, we are currently also testing the integration of the sensor into Home Assistant to analyze the energy data and incorporate it into automations. We have a separate article on the […]
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With the MYGGSPRAY motion sensor, IKEA is launching a compact, Matter-compatible motion sensor that can be used not only within the IKEA ecosystem but also in open systems like Home Assistant. This article explains how the sensor works, what requirements it needs, and how to integrate it with Home Assistant. Brief product overview: IKEA MYGGSPRAY The […]
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Navimow is presenting new versions of its highly successful Navimow i105 at CES 2026. With these newly introduced robotic lawnmowers, Navimow is specifically targeting demanding gardens and focusing on all-wheel drive, precise navigation, and AI-supported obstacle detection – all without a boundary wire. The new Navimow i2 AWD and the further developed Navimow i2 LiDAR are the main attractions. In addition, Navimow […]
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Home Assistant 2026.1 kicks off the new year with an update, delivering a compact yet targeted minor release. The focus is clearly on an optimized user experience, more intuitive automations, and improved settings organization. While the update is somewhat smaller due to the holidays, it includes several features designed to simplify everyday life in the smart home.
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With the KAJPLATS LED bulb (E27), IKEA expands its portfolio with a decorative light source for the smart home. The bulb is ideal for users who want to flexibly automate their lighting and seamlessly integrate it into modern systems such as Home Assistant, Aqara, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. Brief introduction: IKEA KAJPLATS LED bulb […]
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IKEA recently introduced the TIMMERFLOTTE temperature and humidity sensor. An over-the-air (OTA) firmware update is now available. The update from firmware version 1.0.18 to version 1.0.21 can be performed directly via Home Assistant. Update notification directly in Home Assistant: After integrating the IKEA TIMMERFLOTTE into Home Assistant, a notification about an available update will appear in the device settings.
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With the TIMMERFLOTTE, IKEA expands its smart home portfolio with a compact solution for measuring temperature and humidity. The sensor is primarily aimed at rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, or basements, where the indoor climate plays a crucial role. In combination with Home Assistant, the TIMMERFLOTTE can not only be read but also used specifically for automations […]
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Thanks to the open Matter standard, the MYGGBETT door/window sensor from IKEA can be directly integrated into Home Assistant. This eliminates the need for a traditional hub from IKEA or similar companies. Instead, the sensor communicates via Thread and is integrated into Home Assistant. This makes the MYGGBETT particularly appealing for users who want to manage their smart home locally, independently of manufacturers, and without […]
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With the BILRESA, IKEA expands its smart home range with a compact, Matter-compatible remote control. The device is aimed at users who want to control their smart home functions easily and without a smartphone or voice assistant. Matter Standard and Smart Home Compatibility: The IKEA BILRESA remote control supports the open Matter standard, allowing for flexible integration into modern smart home systems. In conjunction with the IKEA […]
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