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.
Best of CES 2021: The smart home and home entertainment products that captured our attention
Attending a virtual tradeshow is a suboptimal experience, but these new offerings still made an impression.
Ring rolls out end-to-end encryption for select doorbells and security cameras
Available starting today, end-to-end encryption adds another layer of protection for your Ring video recordings, although implementing it also means giving up some key features.
Nanoleaf Shapes – Triangles review: Nanoleaf adds variety to its new line of light panels
Nanoleaf’s impressive Hexagons light panels just got some company.
Twinkly Strings 250 LEDs Multicolor review: These smart string lights deliver dazzling effects
The Twinkly app scans each individual LED in the string, setting the stage for eye-popping animations.
The best holiday 2020 deals on TVs, soundbars, media streamers, and more
4K TVs, immersive soundbars, Bluetooth headphones, and other home entertainment accessories are getting big holiday discounts.
Vizio Elevate review: This Dolby Atmos soundbar's swiveling drivers are no gimmick
The front drivers on Vizio's high-end Elevate soundbar rotate to bounce height audio cues off your ceiling.
Disney+ pulls a Netflix, hikes its subscription price
Prepare to cough up an extra buck for Disney+, starting next year.
Cyber Monday 2020: Best deals on smart lights, security cams, and other smart home gear
Jump-start your smart home with these Cyber Monday deals on smart lights, robot vacuums, security cameras, video doorbells, and more.
Black Friday Hulu deal: Get a full year of cord-cutting for $1.99 a month
Hulu is offering 67 percent off its ad-supported subscription plan for Black Friday.
Apple HomePod Mini review: Apple’s $99 smart speaker needs to be either better or cheaper
If the HomePod Mini were $50 rather than $99, we’d really have something.
Nanoleaf’s Thread-enabled A19 and LED Lightstrip debut in Apple stores
The new Nanoleaf lights can connect to the soon-to-arrive HomePod Mini, which acts as a Thread border router.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) with Clock review: The clock-equipped Echo Dot gets a spherical makeover
Aside from its new spherical design, the revamped Echo Dot with Clock doesn’t veer far from the original’s winning formula.
Philips Hue Iris review: This gorgeous accent light supports both Zigbee and Bluetooth
Now compatible with Bluetooth, the revamped Philips Hue Iris is twice as bright as the original.
Polk Audio MagniFi 2 soundbar review: Virtual 3D audio and built-in Chromecast, but iffy bass
The 2.1-channel MagniFi 2 soundbar from Polk Audio does a solid job at delivering virtualized 3D audio, but gets tripped up by its mediocre bass response.
The new A19 color smart bulbs from Hampton Products are reasonably priced, but some key features, such as a vacation mode, are MIA.
Articles by Ben Patterson
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