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.
LG SN8YG review: A feature-packed soundbar that doesn’t neglect the basics
The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support is great, but the rich mid-range audio is even better.
Google’s Seasonal Savings feature is rolling out to more Nest thermostats
The free Seasonal Savings feature can help you shave up to five percent off your annual heating and cooling costs.
Vizio’s first OLED TVs are coming this fall, and they’re priced to move
Vizio also revealed pricing and availability for its largest LCD TV to date, along with the rest of its new TVs for 2020.
HomeKit in iOS 14: Support for facial recognition and adaptive lighting
HomeKit will soon be able to automatically change the color temperature of your lights throughout the day, as well as tell you who’s waiting on your doorstep.
Plex app lets you stream free movies and TV shows without an account
The Android version of the Plex app now lets anyone watch free ad-supported videos, no account required, while the iOS app will soon get the feature as well.
Sonos Arc: A Dolby Atmos performance evaluation
Make sure your TV supports eARC if you want to experience Dolby Atmos on the Sonos Arc soundbar.
Yeelight Smart LED Bulb 1S (Color) review: A solid Wi-Fi smart bulb saddled with a glitchy app
The Yeelight Yeelight Smart LED Bulb 1S (Color) is bright enough and boasts some clever lighting features, but its quirky app gave us trouble.
How to drop in on all your Amazon Echo devices at once
Besides Alexa's new ability to let you drop in on all your Echo devices at once, you can now set reminders on all your Echo speakers and displays, too.
Anker delays HomeKit compatibility for its recently announced Eufy Indoor Cams
HomeKit compatibility for the new Eufy Indoor Cams will have to wait until next month, but there’s a silver lining for this particular cloud.
HomeKit-exclusive Eve Cam slated to ship this month
Eve Systems’s $150 indoor security camera supports Apple’s Secure HomeKit Video protocol.
Hulu, Plex roll out group watch party features
Both Hulu and Plex have started testing features that let far-flung friends and loved ones stream videos together.
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.
Logitech unveils HomeKit Secure Video-enabled Circle View security cam
This $160 follow-up to Logitech’s Circle 2 will support HomeKit Secure Video as soon as it ships.
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.