Anker-owned Eufy is debuting a quartet of new security cameras that come with dual lenses, including a video doorbell, a floodlight cam, a solar-powered camera, and an indoor pan-and-tilt camera.

Besides their dual-lens capabilities, the Eufy cameras will also support a new AI-powered “cross-camera tracking” feature that allows two or more Eufy cameras to follow you from one camera to another, and then automatically splice the footage into a single video. 

Aside from showing off the new cameras, Eufy reps addressed the brand’s disastrous security breach last year, promising greater transparency as well as announcing that Eufy had brought on cyber-security expert Ralph Echemendia, aka “The Ethical Hacker,” as a consultant.

Going back to the new cameras, Eufy’s Video Doorbell E340 comes with two lenses: a 2K wide-angle lens for viewing visitors and other nearby activities, plus a 1080p lens beneath for packages.

![Eufy Video Doorbell](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eufy-Video-Doorbell.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Ben Patterson/Foundry

Slated to arrive for $179.99, the Security Video Doorbell E340 has IP65-rated weather protection (denoting total protection from dust ingress as well as resistance to light jets of water), and it can run about five to six months on battery power, or you can connect it to your home’s existing low-voltage doorbell wiring.

Color night vision is part of the package, as well as up to 128GB of local video storage on a microSD card. 

Also available now is the Eufy SoloCam S340, which comes with its own solar panel as well as wall mounts for both the camera and the panel. (The camera component is pictured below.)

![Eufy SoloCam](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eufu-SoloCam.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Ben Patterson/Foundry

Similar to Eufy’s new video doorbell, the $199.99 SoloCam has two lenses: a wide-angle 3K lens and a telephoto 2K lens. Both lenses, plus a spotlight, are integrated in a pan-and-tilt head that offers AI-assisted object tracking.

Eufy promises up to three months of battery life from the SoloCam’s rechargeable battery, or “forever” power when the cam is used with the solar panel. Up to 8GB of eMMC local video storage is supported, along with color and infrared night vision.

Next up, the Eufy Indoor Cam S350 is another dual-lens and pan-and-tilt model, with both a wide-angle 4K lens and a 2K telephoto lens. 

Operating on wired power, the $129.99 Indoor Cam comes with AI object tracking, along with infrared night vision, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support, and up to 128GB of local video storage on a microSD card.

![Dufy Indoor Cam](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eufy-Indoor-Cam.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Ben Patterson/Foundry

The cam also offers a privacy mode that turns the lens to the wall while deactivating video recording.

Finally, the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 arrives with yet another dual-lens design, including a 3K wide-angle lens and a 2K telephoto lens.

Dual floodlights offer up to 2,000 lumens of illumination with a 4,000-Kelvin cool-white color temperature, while the IP65-rating chassis promises total protection from dust as well as resistance to light water jets.

![Eufy Floodlight Cam](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eufy-Floodlight-Cam.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Ben Patterson/Foundry

The $219.99 Floodlight Cam E340 boasts support for up to 128GB of microSD local video storage, plus dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support.

All the new Eufy cameras will work with Alexa and Google Assistant, and they can also connect to Eufy’s HomeBase 3, which offers up to 16TB of local storage.

Also, when connected to the HomeBase 3, the Eufy cameras will support the manufacturer’s latest feature: cross-camera tracking, which can stitch together footage of a single motion event from different Eufy cameras.

Beyond Eufy’s new camera lineup, any Eufy cam that works with the HomeBase 3 will “eventually” get access to the cross-camera tracking feature, which will become a paid subscription service following a brief trial period. The subscription price for the feature has yet to be determined.

Asked how Eufy is handling last year’s revelations that its supposedly local-only security cameras were in fact communicating with the cloud, a Eufy rep told me that the manufacturer would be “more transparent” about when and how its devices use the cloud.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer has been working with Ralph Echemendia, “The Ethical Hacker,” who met with Eufy’s product team to “share his views” about the security and privacy issues that the brand needed to fix. Echemendia was expected to speak at a Eufy event in New York on Tuesday evening.

[Eufy found itself in hot water late last year](https://www.techhive.com/article/1441481/eufy-security-issues.html) after a security researcher claimed he could access a thumbnail of a video event recording from his Eufy Doorbell Dual, as well as pictures of faces that were recognized in the clip, on Eufy’s AWS servers, even though he had disabled the doorbell’s cloud access. 

[The Verge managed to verify the researcher’s claims](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23486753/anker-eufy-security-camera-cloud-private-encryption-authentication-storage&sref=https://www.techhive.com/article/1441481/eufy-security-issues.html) while also revealing that it managed to “stream video from a Eufy camera, from the other side of the country, with no encryption at all.”

We’ll have full reviews of Eufy’s new security cameras once we get our hands on review units, so stay tuned.

Eufy’s latest cams boast dual lenses, cross-camera tracking

Will Google’s Nest Protect smoke detector ever work with the Google Home app? That’s what Nest Protect users are asking themselves following Google’s most recent promise to bring the popular and well reviewed smoke alarm into the Google Home fold.

Owners of the [Nest Protect](https://www.techhive.com/article/583054/nest-protect-review.html) have repeatedly asked Google if the smoke detector would ever be integrated into Google Home, the primary and recently updated app that manages Google’s various smart home products.

As it stands, Nest Protect users must use the legacy Nest app to configure and control the smoke alarm, meaning owners of the alarm who also have newer Nest products are stuck using two apps to manage their various Nest devices.

[One thread on the Google Nest Community](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Protect/Nest-Protect-do-not-appear-in-Google-Home-App/m-p/462746/highlight/true#M7888&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-2018807-1-0-0) forum started as far back as December 2021, and it’s drawn more than 300 replies since.

Earlier this week, the thread jerked back to life when a [Google Nest community manager entered the chat](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Protect/Nest-Protect-do-not-appear-in-Google-Home-App/m-p/462746/highlight/true#M7888&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-2018807-1-0-0) and offered a glimmer of hope to frustrated Nest Protect users.

“We can confirm that supporting Nest Protect in Home App is indeed on our roadmap,” the Google community manager wrote. “We understand that this has been a long desired capability and the team is fully committed to expanding Home App support to cover the much loved Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.”

But if the Google rep was hoping to add a little cheer to the lengthy support thread, that’s not quite what happened. The reason: Nest Protect users have heard promises of Google Home integration before. 

Way back in 2020, [Google told Nest Protect owners](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://9to5google.com/2020/07/04/google-home-nest-protect/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-2018807-1-0-0) that their devices would appear in the Google Home app “in the coming months.” But those months eventually turned into years, and annoyed Nest Protect users are still waiting.

“Google’s home strategy is completely confused,” [wrote one user](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Protect/Nest-Protect-do-not-appear-in-Google-Home-App/m-p/422556/highlight/true#M7006&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-2018807-1-0-0). “Multiple apps managing different devices. We want one app, one brand. Sort it out Google, surely you have the cash.”

Google recently rolled out a [redesigned version of its Home app](https://www.techhive.com/article/1816970/google-home-app-redesign-matter-support-ios.html) and promised that its oldest, first-generation Nest cameras would finally be able to leave the Nest app behind and make the move to Home.

But for the Nest Protect, the wait for an eventual Google Home app migration continues.

First launched back in 2013, the Nest Protect smoke and carbon-monoxide detector got a revamp in 2015, and it’s that second-generation version that’s still on the market today.

Despite its age, the Nest Protect is still among the most highly regarded smart smoke detectors. In our 2017 [Nest Protect review](https://www.techhive.com/article/583054/nest-protect-review.html), we praised the alarm for its “clear and versatile alerts,” easy setup, and rapid smoke detection.

Nest Protect users still waiting for Google Home support

I’ve been around audio and computer technology long enough to have seen lots of “next big things” fizzle when interesting concept transitions to real-world product. After spending some quality demo time with the xMEMS company and its silicon micro-speaker, I can say this concept has the potential to deliver audiophile-quality earbuds at very consumer-friendly prices.

xMEMS draws its name from MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems), a technology that incorporates both electronics and mechanical elements at the microscopic level. MEMS are already used in a host of applications, including small microphones; my xMEMS demo was related to using MEMS to build high-end, but inexpensive audio products, including earbuds.

The company’s micro-speakers are silicon chips with piezo-electric flaps mounted on top that deform and relax rapidly when hit with transitory electrical signals. The resulting vibration moves air, creating sound. In essence, the silicon chip on which the micro-speaker is built performs the same task that a magnet would in a conventional speaker, and the flaps perform the role of a traditional speaker’s cone.

What are the specs behind xMEMS’ technology
-------------------------------------------

I was impressed with [the specifications xMEMS touts](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://xmems.com/blog/solid-state-fidelity-the-era-of-ultra-high-resolution-mems-speakers-has-arrived/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1790188-1-0-0) even before I heard its demo: Flat frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz–or higher, if you want it; blazingly quick response and settling times (i.e., the speed at which a speaker starts and stops vibrating, respectively); device resonance above 10kHz, where the effect is minimal, are all far better than the best specs I’ve seen for traditional audiophile speaker designs.

xMEMS’ Montara, Cowell, and Montara Plus microspeakers are produced on silicon wafers at TSMC’s fab at a cost per unit that should allow an earbud manufacturer to build an audiophile-quality product with retail prices in the $125 to $200 price range.

![](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6_CowellWafer.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

xMEMS’ microspeakers are produced on silicon wafers to allow for maximum uniformity.

xMEMS says the sonic uniformity of a microscopic product produced on wafers saves vendors tons of money. Normally, speakers must be sorted according to their relative merits before they can be matched as stereo pairs. Non-uniformity in frequency response, resonance, and/or transient response can play havoc with a set of speakers’ fidelity.

![](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cowell-and-dime.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

To give you and idea of the size we’re talking about, this is an xMEMS’ Cowell micro-speaker –the type that would be used in a earbud–on top of a dime.

MEMS micro-speakers have other advantages, too: The absence of magnets means speaker designers don’t need to compensate for the interference that magnetic fields produce.

And xMEMS says its product is rated IP58 for protection from dust (particulate matter won’t cause failure) and water (they can be submersed in up to three meters of water for 30 minutes). And that’s for the components themselves, even before they’re put inside an enclosure. So, if you forget to take your xMEMS-based earbuds out of your pocket before you toss your pants in the wash, you won’t ruin find them ruined after the spin cycle. Looking for [more in-depth information about IP codes](https://www.techhive.com/article/578310/ip-ratings-explained.html)? Just click the preceding link.

xMEMS also produces a solid-state, dynamic (open/closed by signal) physical shutter, called Skyline, that OEMs can employ to exclude or admit ambient sound. The Skyline can enable more versatile, combination open-ear/closed-back headphone designs.

![](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/7_Skyline_IC.png)

The Skyline dynamic air vent can shut out or let in ambient noise, allowing for dual open-ear/closed -back headphone designs.

The final component I was shown was a tiny speck of an amplifier, the Aptos, which is featured in the schematic below. That image also shows how xMEMS speakers can be combined with traditional audio speakers to increase bass response.

Today, xMEMS’ micro-speakers are designed only for captive-air (in this case, the space inside your ear canal) audio devices such as earbuds and hearing aids; however, the company is working on a free-air design (essentially meaning no enclosure is required) that could be used in applications where more air needs to be moved, such as portable Bluetooth speakers or bookshelf speakers.

> The xMEMS demo delivered impressive sound

The sonic quality I heard from xMEMS’ 3D-printed earbuds prototype prove company’s specs aren’t just hollow numbers. The three things I look for when reviewing audio products–punchy bass, easily discernible and realistically rendered acoustic instruments, and accurate high-end frequencies with some sparkle, if you want it–were all accounted for.

![](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/9_ModuleGroup.png?w=1200)

xMEMS micro-speakers are so small they can be combined with conventional drivers in hybrid designs with accentuated sonic characteristics.

I lay most of the credit for the tight bass and mid-range accuracy on the lightning-fast transient response and settle times, but xMEMS also plays up the lack of phase distortion and, of course, the product’s super-high resonant frequency.

Note that I heard both the Montara Plus bare as well as the Cowell, the latter functioning as a full-range speaker sitting atop a 9mm traditional speaker (shown above), where it provided additional thump and sub-bass.

I also checked out the Skyline vent, which also worked as advertised. The ambient noise arriving had a tinny quality, but I’m guessing that was at least partially due to the 3D-printed earbud’s housing.

> The future of MEMS technology in speaker design

There are simply too many advantages, not the least of which are affordable retail products with incredibly accurate sound, for MEMS speakers to not impact the earbud market in a big way. I suspect audiophile earbud vendors will soon be crying in their beer over the advent of cheap, high-quality sound for the masses. And to that, I say “tough.”

This new tech promises inexpensive, audiophile-quality earbuds

It’s been nearly two years since the second-generation Amazon Echo Show 5 display appeared on the scene, and now there are hints that a third-gen Echo Show 5 is on the horizon.

[AFTVnews spotted a listing](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-leaks-the-existance-of-an-unreleased-3rd-gen-echo-show-5/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1804187-1-0-0) for an [“Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Generation)” on this Amazon help page](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-leaks-the-existance-of-an-unreleased-3rd-gen-echo-show-5/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1804187-1-0-0), which includes links to a [pair of UK](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://d1ergij2b6wmg5.cloudfront.net/S3+Cloudfront/EFD/Echo+Show+5+3rd+Gen/UK+Declaration+of+Conformity_Echo+Show+5+(3rd+Generation).pdf&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1804187-1-0-0) and [EU regulatory documents](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://d1ergij2b6wmg5.cloudfront.net/S3+Cloudfront/EFD/Echo+Show+5+3rd+Gen/EU+Declaration+of+Conformity+-+Echo+Show+5+(3rd+Generation).pdf&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1804187-1-0-0) that appear to reference the unannounced display.

We’ve reached out to Amazon for comment.

It would make sense for a new Echo Show 5 to break cover right around now. The [second-generation Echo Show 5](https://www.techhive.com/article/579521/amazon-echo-show-5-2nd-gen-review.html) (pictured above) arrived about two years after the [first five-inch Echo Show](https://www.techhive.com/article/583896/amazon-echo-show-5-review.html), which itself debuted back in 2019. 

Given that the Echo Show 5 (and indeed, most of Amazon’s Echo speaker and display line) seem to be on a two-year release schedule, a revamped version of the smallest Echo Show is about due.

Despite the fact that we got an updated Echo Show 5 two years ago, even the current model is feeling pretty long in the tooth.

That’s because the second-generation Echo Show 5 added only a couple of improvements over the original, including a marginally sharper camera (two megapixels, versus 1MP for the first Echo Show 5) plus the addition of a proximity sensor (which, among other things, can be used to trigger Alexa routines).

The second-gen Echo Show 5 also took _away_ something: a 3.5mm audio-out jack, which allowed you to connect a wired speaker to the first-generation Echo Show 5.

Otherwise, the latest Echo Show 5 is almost identical to the first, complete with the same wedge-like design and 5.5-inch, 960 x 480-pixel display. 

Also unchanged is the quad-core, Arm-based MediaTek processor that powers both the first- and second-gen Echo Show 5. That underpowered chip made for slow going even when the Echo Show 5 was brand-new; nowadays, following a series of display updates, performance feels positively glacial.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s other Echo Show displays have received much more substantial improvements, with the [Echo Show 8](https://www.techhive.com/article/579467/amazon-echo-show-8-second-gen-review.html) getting a big camera upgrade (13 megapixels, up from 1MP) and the [Echo Show 10](https://www.techhive.com/article/579263/amazon-echo-show-10-review.html) now sporting a motorized screen that can follow you around the room.

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more developments on a possible third-gen Echo Show 5, not to mention updates for Amazon’s other Echo Show displays.

Amazon appears to be prepping a third-gen Echo Show 5

Three years ago at CES, Samsung took the wraps off a novel feature as far as soundbars go: the ability to sync the drivers on their newest soundbar models with the speakers on high-end Samsung TVs. 

Besides delivering more immersive audio for users, [Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature](https://www.techhive.com/article/584270/samsung-soundbars-ces-2020.html) offers a key benefit for the company itself: helping to ensure that Samsung TV customers chose a Samsung soundbar to go with their Sammy sets.

That lesson clearly wasn’t lost on LG, which will take the stage at CES in January with a pair of new soundbars that–surprise!–can sync their drivers with the speakers of supported LG TV sets.

LG’s WOW Orchestra feature will work on the SC9S, a new 3.1.3-channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and an “exclusive” mounting bracket for use with LG C2 and C3 OLED TVs, as well as the SE6S (pictured above), a revamp of last year’s Eclair soundbar that ditches the wireless sub for an all-in-one 3.0-channel configuration.

Besides arriving on the two new LG soundbars, WOW Orchestra will be coming to most of LG’s 2022 soundbar lineup via a mid-year firmware update, the company said.

WOW Orchestra is part of LG’s new WOW Synergy strategy, which includes WOW Interface, a Roku TV Ready-style feature that allows LG TV owners to control the settings on their (supported) LG soundbars using their TV’s on-screen interface.

![LG SC9 soundbar with TV](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SC9_SmartFunction_SmartUp_04.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

LG’s new soundbars will feature a new mounting bracket designed to complement its LG’s C2 and C3 OLED TVs “perfectly,”

LG has offered soundbar features in the past that relied on an LG-made TV. For example, TV Sound Mode Share allows more recent LG soundbars to tap directly into the audio processing abilities of an LG TV, bypassing the soundbar’s own sound modes.

But while TV Sound Mode Share was a nifty but skippable extra, LG is marketing WOW Orchestra as a core feature for unlocking the full audio performance of your new LG soundbar, similar to how Samsung promotes its Q-Symphony soundbars.

WOW Orchestra and WOW Interface aren’t the only new features coming to LG’s 2022 and 2023 soundbars.

Also on tap is Triple Level Spatial Sound, which leverages the front- and up-firing drivers on LG soundbars to add a “virtual middle” level of sound that helps create a “dome of sound” around listeners, while a “Smart Up-mixer” can upmix stereo 2.0-channel audio to 9.1.2-channel sound.

LG says its [triple up-firing speakers for height cues](https://www.techhive.com/article/579909/lg-soundbars-ces-2022-add-improved-drivers-room-correction.html), which were introduced at CES 2022, will be making their way to the manufacturers mid-tier soundbars, including the new SE6S Eclair all-in-one soundbar.

As for the upcoming 3.1.3-channel SC95 soundbar, LG says the included bracket has been designed to fit LG’s C2 and C3 TVs “perfectly,” offering an alternative to wall-mounting the SC95 separate from the TV.

The bracket can be used in both wall-mount and stand configurations, while also ensuring that the SC95’s  triple up-firing speaker array is “optimally” placed in relation to the screen.



At CES 2023, LG will pull a Samsung with its new soundbars

Got a Google Nest speaker or display? If so, you’re all set for Matter, the long-anticipated smart home standard that’s poised to bridge the gaps between ecosystems such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s HomeKit.

Google has long promised that its Nest smart devices would both work with and control upcoming Matter devices. As recently as October, [Google detailed which of its speakers and displays would connect Matter-enabled smart devices](https://www.techhive.com/article/1341203/google-nest-matter-update.html) together, as well as which Nest products would allow Matter gadgets to tap into the internet.

The only thing standing between those Nest devices and Matter compatibility is a software update, and that update will begin rolling out today, according to a Google spokesperson. The update should install itself automatically.

As of today, the following Google Nest speakers, displays, and routers can act as hubs for Matter devices: the Nest Mini, the Nest Audio, the first- and second-generation Nest Hub, the Nest Hub Max, and the just-released Nest Wifi Pro.

Additionally, the second-gen Nest Hub, the Nest Hub Max, and the Nest Wifi Pro can also act as Thread border routers, capable of connecting Matter-enabled devices to the internet thanks to their built-in Thread radios.

Besides switching on Matter support for its Nest speakers and displays, Google said that it has enabled Matter for Android’s Fast Pair feature, which should streamline the process of connecting Matter devices to the Google Home app as well as a user’s home network.

Looking ahead, Google says it’s teamed up with Samsung SmartThings on a “smoother” version of Matter’s Multi-Admin functionality, which allows for cross-platform control of Matter devices.

Meanwhile, a Matter-enabled version of the Google Home app for iOS is slated for 2023, according to Google.

There’s been a flurry of Matter-related announcements since the [Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) finally kicked off the smart home standard](https://www.techhive.com/article/1371582/matters-launch-is-just-the-first-step-towards-the-smart-home-dream.html) last month, with a parade of ecosystems and smart devices manufacturers trotting out their Matter plans.

Back in October, Apple rolled out [Matter support as part of iOS 16.1](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://developer.apple.com/apple-home/matter/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1435854-1-0-0), while Amazon is set this month to [update 17 of its Echo devices with Matter over Wi-Fi support](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/3/23438286/amazon-matter-support-alexa-echo-smart-home-platform&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1435854-1-0-0).

Formerly known as Project CHIP, Matter is an IP-based protocol that’s compatible with Wi-Fi, ethernet, and Thread.

Matter has the backing of some of the biggest names in the smart home market, including Amazon, Google, Signify (owner of the Philips Hue smart lighting brand), and Samsung’s SmartThings.

A trickle of Matter-enabled devices have hit the market since the CSA ratified the Matter standard in the fall, and many more are expected next year.

Google Home, Smart Speakers

Now You Can Use Your Android and Nest Devices to Pair With Matter

Google Nest speakers and displays get Matter updates today

The headlines for Alexa have been dire of late, with word of [massive layoffs in Amazon’s Alexa division and chatter that the Alexa group is hemorrhaging cash](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/11/amazon-alexa-is-a-colossal-failure-on-pace-to-lose-10-billion-this-year/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-579886-1-0-0). 

In another development from earlier this year, Amazon shuttered [Alexa.com](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://alexa.com/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-579886-1-0-0), with Amazon [saying prior to the shutdown](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://support.alexa.com/hc/en-us/articles/4410503838999&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-579886-1-0-0) that it was a “difficult” decision. 

So what does that mean for Alexa?

Well, no matter the financial tribulations that Alexa appears to be facing, the truth is that Alexa.com the website had nothing to do with Alexa the voice assistant.

Founded back in 1996, just a few years after the birth of the World Wide Web, Alexa Internet was a [service that tracked and compared the traffic of websites](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://alexa.com/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-579886-1-0-0), gathering browsing data from the Alexa Toolbar (subsequently replaced by browser extensions) as well as sites that had installed the Alexa script on their pages.

Amazon snapped up Alexa Internet and the Alexa.com domain back in 1999, a full 15 years before Alexa the voice assistant made her first appearance.

Back in the day, a site’s Alexa traffic ranking was a big deal. Not only could website owners stack their properties up against competitors, they could also raise their advertising rates if their rankings were high enough. The Alexa Toolbar was also a popular helper app for browsers that, among other tools, included a then-novel popup blocker. 

But times change, and Alexa Internet eventually found itself in an increasingly competitive field. While there were once plenty of loyal Alexa.com users around, Amazon clearly felt that the cost of keeping the site operational was no longer worth the expense.

The e-commerce giant announced its intention to close down Alexa.com in December 2021, and the service finally went dark on May 1, 2022.

So yes, Amazon owns both Alexa the Internet site and, you know, Alexa, but the two entities are otherwise unrelated, and Amazon’s decision to shut down Alexa.com had nothing to do with Alexa’s current predicament.

If you _do_ want to visit Alexa (the digital assistant) on the web, you can still go to **[alexa.amazon.com](http://alexa.amazon.com?tag=techhivecom-20&asc_refurl=https://www.techhive.com/feed)**.

On that webpage, you can perform many of the Alexa-related functions that appear on the Alexa app, including adjusting Alexa preferences, setting alarms and reminders, [managing skills and connected smart home devices](https://www.techhive.com/article/578292/how-to-make-alexa-forget-your-smart-devices.html), and more.

**_Updated on November 23, 2022_** _with recent news developments._

Amazon shut down Alexa.com. What does that mean for Alexa?

Is Roku looking to expand beyond the living room? It certainly looks that way, with word that a variety of Wyze-made smart home products stamped with the Roku brand were found in a big box store.

As [reported by Zatz Not Funny!](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://zatznotfunny.com/2022-10/roku-smart-home/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1349840-1-0-0), a redditor [posted pictures of a “smart light strip” in a purple Roku box at Walmart](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Roku/comments/y07v3x/not_sure_if_anyone_really_cares_found_some/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1349840-1-0-0), with the user adding that they’d spotted some “LED bulbs and security cameras” as well.

![Roku smart light strip at Walmart](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Roku-smart-light-strip.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

It sure looks like Roku is getting into the smart home business.

[Negative\_Source\_7316/Reddit](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Roku/comments/y07v3x/not_sure_if_anyone_really_cares_found_some/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1349840-1-0-0)

Zatz Not Funny! also found a couple of shipping manifests detailing several “white-labeled Wyze products,” including “a Roku color bulb, Roku white bulb, Roku lightstrip, Roku smart plug, Roku indoor cam, and a Roku pan cam.”

Beyond the products themselves, Zatz claims that a “seemingly confirmed” Roku Smart Home channel and a “dedicated” smart home app are on tap.

We’ve reached out to both Roku and Wyze for comment.

Up until now, Roku has appeared content to stay in the streaming and home-theater space, offering a range of streaming-video devices, its Streambar and Streambar Pro soundbars, Roku TVs made in partnership with third-party manufacturers, and a line of wireless speakers and subwoofers.

Roku has also been aggressively pushing The Roku Channel, its ad-supported streaming video service with scores of free linear TV channels, as well as Roku Originals, which were [originally scooped up from the defunct Quibi](https://www.techhive.com/article/579411/rebranded-as-roku-originals-roku-collection-of-quibi-videos-will-debut-may-20.html).

That said, there have been hints that Roku was eying the smart home space, with [Protocol reporting as early as last year](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.protocol.com/roku-smart-home&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-1349840-1-0-0) that the streaming was seeking a product manager for a “Home Technologies” division to “develop \[Roku’s\] home technology product strategy.”

Roku-branded smart home products spotted in the wild

If the gear Anker Innovations showed off Thursday night is any indication, the company has been busy on several fronts. In its first On Board event of the post-pandemic world, the company previewed a laser Nebula projector, a Eufy home security system, and a huge PowerHouse battery pack with enough juice to get you through a blackout—or a glamping trip. The best might be yet to come, with a teaser about fulfilling USB-C Power Delivery potential. More on that later. 

The $800 Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector (pictured up top) is available now and is not much bigger than a beer can. Powered by lasers, the Capsule 3 delivers full HD resolution at a claimed brightness of 300 lumens that should be plenty for binging Netflix’s _Dahmer_ outdoors at night or in dark room. In addition to auto keystone correction (so the image is always rectangular) and autofocus (so its pinpoint sharp), the Capsule 3 has a built-in Android TV 11 computer for Chromecast streaming from a phone or tablet or running any of 7,000 available apps. 

The best part is that you don’t even need an AC outlet to put on a show. That’s because the Capsule 3’s internal battery pack can power it for up to 2.5 hours on a charge. With the Capsule 3 Laser, all you’ll need is a screen, or at least a white sheet tacked to a wall. Some popcorn wouldn’t hurt.  

![Anker Eufy Edge Security System](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eufy-Security-2-cameras.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Anker Innovations

After three years of development, the EufyCam 3 is ready for monitoring and protecting your home. Capable of 3840 x 2160 resolution, the solar-powered security camera’s lithium battery needs two hours of sunlight a day to keep going and connects to a home Wi-Fi network over the 2.4GHz band. We have more details on the [Eufy Edge Security System](https://www.techhive.com/article/1338724/the-eufy-edge-security-system-has-solar-powered-4k-cameras.html) at the preceding link. Anker has a matching tabletop security console in the works that can show multiple camera feeds. 

Easily, the most powerful new Anker product is the PowerHouse 767. Rated at 2,048 watt-hours of energy, its 2,400-watt peak output can run a small home or camper’s worth of appliances, including a refrigerator, microwave and even a TV and computer.  It’s outfitted with four AC outlets, a 30-amp RV connector, three USB-C power ports, and two USB-A power ports.  

![Anker PowerHouse 767](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Anker-PowerHouse-767..jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Anker Innovations

Based on Anker’s GaN Prime Galium Nitride charging technology, it’s among the most efficient appliances of its kind, and its Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is rated to last for 3,000 charge cycles. Not expected until mid-November, it will have two add-ons, including battery packs to double its capacity and optional solar panels for true off-gridders. It’s so big and heavy that the PH 767 has wheels and an extendable handle for grab-and-go maneuvers. In fact, the most mobile part of it is the app that lets you remotely monitor and control the charging process. 

The best may be yet to come for Anker with its CEO Steven Yang teasing a new USB-C technology that fulfills its Power Delivery promise by pushing 240 watts. That’s enough for even the most power-hungry notebook. Yang said to look for it in 2023.  

Anker debuts new smart home and entertainment devices

As it does each year, Amazon will draw back the curtain on its new hardware devices at the end of September, and along with the usual Echo and Ring refreshes, we can expect some eye-popping surprises, such as the Alexa-enabled Echo Astro robot. What’s in store for this year?

First, the details: Amazon’s annual hardware event will take place this year on September 28, starting at 9 a.m. Pacific time. The event will be virtual this year, but unlike livestream keynotes from Apple and Google, Amazon’s hardware event will be by invite only. We’ll have full coverage of Amazon’s 2022 hardware event as it happens, so stay tuned.

So, what can we expect to see at Amazon’s event next week? The e-tailing and smart home giant is keeping mum for now, but we can make some educated guesses.

New Amazon Echo devices
-----------------------

Amazon always has some new Echo hardware to show off at its annual event, and we’re guessing speakers will be the focus this year. It’s been two years since the [Amazon Echo Dot](https://www.techhive.com/article/578926/amazon-echo-dot-4th-gen-review.html) and the [full-size Echo](https://www.techhive.com/article/578933/amazon-echo-4th-gen-review.html) got a refresh, while the [Dolby Atmos-enabled Echo Studio](https://www.techhive.com/article/578299/amazon-echo-studio-review.html) is now three years old, and [Echo Sub](https://www.techhive.com/article/583517/amazon-echo-sub-review-add-some-serious-bass-to-your-echo-or-echo-plus-speakers.html) is even older. Each of those speakers is due an for update.

As for Amazon’s Echo Show displays, we’re not counting on seeing much that’s new. The [wall-hanging Echo Show 15](https://www.techhive.com/article/579727/amazon-echo-show-15-unveiled.html) was unveiled just last fall, while the [Echo Show 5 and 8](https://www.techhive.com/article/579402/amazon-upgrades-the-echo-show-5-and-8s-cameras-rolls-out-an-echo-show-5-for-kids.html) were both updated last spring. It has been a couple years since the [Echo Show 10](https://www.techhive.com/article/579263/amazon-echo-show-10-review.html) and its rotating display were announced, but that model got such a radical redesign that we doubt it will get a successor (though you never know).

Finally, what about the [Astro](https://www.techhive.com/article/579728/amazon-astro-alexa-on-wheels.html), Amazon’s crazy smart home robot on wheels? The Astro was announced with great fanfare last year but remains in “Day 1” early access mode, meaning you can only buy one (for $999!) with an invite. Will Amazon finally unleash Astro on the masses, or will it be quietly tucked in a closet, similar to the ill-fated [Echo Loop](https://www.techhive.com/article/579001/amazon-unveils-next-gen-echo-frames-drops-echo-loop-smart-ring.html) smart ring? We’ll find out soon.

New Ring and Blink devices
--------------------------

Last year, Amazon showed off its [Ring Alarm Pro with an integrated Eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi router](https://www.techhive.com/article/579800/ring-alarm-pro-review.html). That was something of a big-ticket item, so don’t be surprised if Amazon has more nuts-and-bolts Ring devices to unveil.

Blink also got some updated during Amazon’s 2021 hardware event, including its [first video doorbell](https://www.techhive.com/article/579720/blink-unveils-video-doorbell-floodlight-cam-mount.html) and a floodlight for its outdoor cam, so it’s likely Amazon’s _other_ smart security brand will have some wares to show off.

Back to Ring, the brand announced [Ring Virtual Security Guard](https://www.techhive.com/article/579723/ring-alarm-professional-monitoring-gets-more-expensive.html), a fee-based add-on that allows professional monitoring services to keep tabs on motion alerts from your Ring security cameras. The $99 service is still in invite-only early access, but perhaps Amazon will announce a wide-availability timeline next week.

Then there’s Ring’s headline-grabbing [Always Home Cam](https://www.techhive.com/article/579721/ring-flying-always-home-cam-ship-date.html), the automated drone that flies around your home looking for intruders. The $250 Always Home Cam made a huge splash when it was first announced back in 2020, and last year Amazon said it would finally start offering it to customers on an invite-only basis. Well, here we are in 2022, and the Always Home Cam still requires an invitation before you can buy one. Is this the year when the Always Home Cam will truly take flight, or is it destined to be grounded? We’ll be looking for clues next week.

Amazon Sidewalk, Matter, and other odds and ends
------------------------------------------------

It’s been a couple years since Amazon first announced [Sidewalk](https://www.techhive.com/article/579396/amazon-sidewalk-network-will-connect-to-echo-devices-tile-trackers-and-level-locks.html), its ambitious smart device network that enabled multiple Ring, Echo, and other compatible devices to work together, creating a low-power, long-range network large enough to cover an entire neighborhood. Sidewalk can help smart home users install motion sensors and other low-power, low-data devices outside their homes without the need for Wi-Fi, and the budding standard now has partners such as Tile and Level, makers of the Level lock. Will we hear more of Sidewalk’s progress next week? Hopefully.

There’s also Matter, the impending smart home standard that promises to bridge the gaps between the Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home smart ecosystems. Expected to arrive this fall, Matter leverages Thread to connect disparate smart devices together in a secure, low-power, and self-healing mesh network, and all the big smart home players have been detailing their Matter support recently, Amazon included. We could well get another Matter update next week.

Last but not least, we should expect the unexpected. The Astro and Always Home Cam were both curve balls, and last year we got the [Amazon Glow](https://www.techhive.com/article/579717/amazon-glow-revealed.html), a interactive gadget for kids that combined a display, a projector, and an object scanner. Will there be a similar surprise this year? I’m betting yes.

Amazon’s big hardware event slated for Sept. 28: What to expect

TP-Link says some of its Tapo smart home products, which have been available in Europe for more than two years, are now available to U.S. consumers via Amazon. The company had previously [announced its intentions at CES](https://www.techhive.com/article/579939/tapo-smart-home-line-coming-to-the-u-s.html) last January. The launch of budget-priced products includes two indoor security cameras, two outdoor models, and a color LED light strip.

The Tapo C210 pan/tilt security camera ($34.99) is capable of panning its lens 360 degrees and tilting it up and down over a 114-degree arc. The Tapo C110 Spot camera ($29.99) is a stationary model with a 105-degree field of view. TP-Link says both indoor cameras features 2K resolution, AI-based motion and person detection, black-and-white night vision with 30-foot range, and two-way audio with a built-in siren and light alarm.

Each of the cameras can host a microSD card with up to 256GB of capacity (buyers will need to provide their own card), and there’s an optional subscription service for up to 30 days of video storage in the cloud.

TP-Link’s Tapo C310 and Tapo C320WS outdoor security cameras ($49.99 and $59.99 respectively) are also outfitted with 4-megapixel image sensors capable of delivering 2K resolution. The Tapo C320WS (pictured up top) features integrated spotlights and a starlight sensor for enhanced night-vision performance. Like the indoor models, these outdoor cameras support two-way audio, and are outfitted with slots to accommodate up to 256GB microSD cards for local storage, in addition to available subscription for cloud storage.

The Tapo Smart L900-10 LED light strip ($44.99) is a full-color model. The box shot TP-Link provided indicates that two strips measuring 16.4 feet each will be powered by a single wall wart and controller. TP-Link’s press release, however, states that the strip is 32.8 feet long, so presumably the two strips can be connected to each other. The L900-10 features up to 16 million colors, supports dimming, and can by synchronized to music.

TP-Link launches its Tapo smart home brand in the U.S.

With its latest app update, Signify-owned Philips Hue now lets you have two or more Hue Bridges tied to a single Hue account, but that doesn’t fix the biggest limitation of the Hue Bridge: its 50-device limit.

The Hue update went live this week (as [first noted by HueBlog](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://hueblog.com/2022/04/13/philips-hue-now-allows-multiple-bridges-per-account/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-632059-1-0-0)), and it adds the new option under the “My account setting.” Here’s how it’s described in the app: “Multiple bridges per account using Hue Homes. Always out of home control.”

The key detail here is “out of home control;” namely, you must sign in to your Hue account to control your Hue lights when you’re away from home, and up until now, you could only assign one Hue Bridge per Hue account.

Previously, users with more than 50 Hue devices–and thus, more than one Hue Bridge–had to create separate Hue accounts to control their lights when they were away. Now, Hue users with more than one bridge at home no longer need to juggle accounts when trying to control their lights while they’re out and about.

That’s a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Zigbee-enabled Hue Bridge only supports a maximum of 50 devices, and dealing with more than a single bridge is a royal pain. (Yes, first-world problems, but still.) The Zigbee protocol that the Philips Hue system is based on _generally_ supports up to 250 nodes. It’s feasible to have Zigbee networks with more than 250 nodes, but that can become more complicated than a DIY system such as Hue should be.

Fifty Hue devices might sound like a lot, but it’s surprisingly easy to reach that limit; after all, most of us have more than one light in each room (my kitchen, for example, has six Hue bulbs, as well as an under-counter light strip.) And you can have Hue lights indoors as well as outside–on your porch, outside exterior doors, and in your landscaping. Also, you’ll need to consider that the device limit includes Hue accessories, such as buttons, motion sensors, dimmer switches, and third-party Friends of Hue devices. If you’re all-in with Hue lighting, you might hit that 50-device pretty quickly. (You actually _can_ cram more than 50 devices on a single Hue Bridge; 63 is the hard limit. But once you cross the 50 mark, reliability can take a nosedive). 

Version 4.0 of the Hue app added the ability to quickly switch between two bridges, but there’s still a virtual wall between the Hue devices on one bridge and the Hue devices on another. In other words, you can’t tap a button to control all your Hue lights across two bridges simultaneously, nor can a single automation include Hue lights across both bridges. 

Luckily, there are workarounds, such as third-party apps like [iConnectHue](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://iconnecthue.com/more-lights-more-bridges-but-still-one-app/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-632059-1-0-0) that seamlessly support two Hue bridges. Apple’s HomeKit platform will also let you add and control multiple Hue bridges at once. Still, it’s vexing that the official Hue app only allows you to control one Hue bridge at a time.

Hue creator and head of technology George Yianni addressed the Hue bridge’s 50-device limit at last year’s IFA conference in Berlin, where Hue app version 4.0 was first announced. Here’s what he said at the time:

> _We keep the limit the way it is for now because we don’t want to compromise the reliability. This limit that we have at 50, that really lets us guarantee no matter how your home setup is made that it will work really well._

That logic makes perfect sense, but it also leaves the Hue ecosystem with (as one Reddit user described it) with [an inherent “scalability” problem](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Hue/comments/u2c7rc/just_added_a_second_bridge_its_pretty_much/i4j9nyr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-632059-1-0-0). Indeed, there’s a lengthy thread at the Hue subreddit riddled with complaints from dedicated Hue users looking for elegant ways to [control multiple Hue bridges simultaneously](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Hue/comments/u2c7rc/just_added_a_second_bridge_its_pretty_much/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-632059-1-0-0). Unfortunately, there aren’t any silver bullets so far.

It’s not clear if Hue is actively working on better ways to extend the 50-device limit of the Hue Bridge, or whether it’s even possible to do so without releasing all-new hardware. I’ve reached out to Hue for comment.

Philips Hue’s latest update doesn’t solve its bridge problem

Monoprice has announced the availability of three new THX Certified Compact loudspeakers: A soundbar, a multi-purpose speaker, and a pair of satellite speakers. All three of the new offerings bear Monoprice’s Monolith branding.

Each of the new speakers is designed for wall mounting in smaller home theaters, THX Certified Compact criteria specifying room sizes up to 1,000 cubic feet with a viewing distance of around eight feet from a TV or video projector screen.

![Monoprice Monolith M-OW3 passive soundbar](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Monolith-M-OW3-soundbar-sideview.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Monoprice designed its Monolith M-OW3 soundbar for wall mounting.

Monoprice

Each speaker features 4.5-inch concentric drivers with inset 20mm silk dome tweeters and optimized wave guides. Keyholes on the backs of the cabinets allow for hanging the speakers on the wall, and spring-loaded wire terminals are provided for connecting speaker cables. Being passive speakers, you’ll need to provide amplification, typically via a surround-sound A/V receiver.

The [Monolith M-OW3](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41286&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629390-1-0-0) soundbar ($499.99) features three of those 4.5-inch/20mm tweeter/waveguide combos to deliver left, center, and right channels in a single cabinet. Each driver is supplemented by two 4.5-inch passive radiators. Monoprice says the soundbar delivers flat frequency response from 70Hz to 20kHz.

![Monoprice Monolith M-OW1 on-wall speaker](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Monolith-M-OW1-satellite.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)

Monoprice offers its Monolith M-OW1 loudspeaker for $299.99 each. They can be deployed as center, front left and right, and/or surround channels. 

Monoprice

Monoprice’s [Monolith M-OW1](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41285&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629390-1-0-0) on-wall speakers ($299.99 each) utilize a single driver with a pair of 4.5-inch passive radiators mounted on either side. Monoprice says this speaker is “ideally suited for use as a front-, center-, and surround-channel speaker” and that it delivers the same frequency response as the soundbar.

For home theater enthusiasts looking for an even more enveloping audio experience, the Monolith THX Certified Compact satellite speakers ($249.99 per pair) feature single drivers in MDF cabinets.

![Monoprice Monolith THX Certified Compact satellite speakers](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Monolith-THX-Certified-Compact-satellite-pair.jpeg?quality=50&strip=all)

Monoprice says its Monolith THX Certified Compact satellite speakers are suitable for stereo, height, and surround channels.

Monoprice

Monoprice recommends using these speakers for left/right, height, and/or surround configurations. These speakers are much smaller than their larger siblings, but Monoprice says they deliver frequency response all the way down to 80Hz.

For those looking for more boom in their room, Monoprice recommends deploying one of its THX Certified Monolith subwoofers. A good candidate for pairing with these particular speakers would be the company’s [8-inch, 150-watt powered sub](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41289&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629390-1-0-0) ($349.99).

Monoprice ships new THX Certified Compact speakers

The next time you watch a live Fox show on a Vizio TV, you might see an “interactive” ad overlay delivered by the TV itself.

Vizio announced last week that it will [begin displaying “Jump Ads”](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220331005913/en/VIZIO-Introduces-Jump-Ads-to-Connect-Linear-TV-With-Streaming&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629189-1-0-0) during certain linear (a.k.a. live) TV shows. Currently in beta, the Jump Ads program is designed to direct viewers to “supporting” apps on Vizio’s SmartCast platform hosting streaming episodes of the show they’re watching live.

Fox is the first network to test Vizio’s new Jump Ads, and it’s currently running the overlays at the end of the premiere episode of “Welcome to Flatch.” 

The banner ad sits at the bottom of the screen, with a “Stream the First 7 Episodes” promo and a message that reads “Watch Welcome to Flatch on FOXNOW.” In the bottom-right corner of the screen are “Watch Now” and “Dismiss” buttons.

The new Jump Ads are powered by Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, a popular (with smart TV manufacturers) and controversial (with viewers) technology that scans the pixels on a TV screen to determine what program is being viewed. 

In the case of Jump Ads, Vizio says it’s using ACR to detect when a participating show is being watched, while “additional proprietary Vizio software” serves the ad overlay at the appropriate time.

Vizio’s Jump Ads appear to be focused only on “bridg\[ing\] the gap between linear TV and streaming services,” and the company’s announcement makes no mention of the ads being used for other purposes, such as hawking products or other TV programs. We’ve reached out to Vizio for comment.

Vizio isn’t the only smart TV manufacturer to employ ACR; in fact, most of them do, partly to collect and sell data about viewing habits, but also to help personalize a TV’s user interface. We’ve previously noted that [Roku TVs use ACR tech](https://www.techhive.com/article/583646/in-defense-of-smart-tv-snooping.html) to show users where they can stream episodes of live TV shows, similar to Vizio’s Jump Ads experiment (albeit without the live overlays).

Most TV manufacturers that use ACR allow users to turn the technology off. For Vizio SmartCast TVs, the procedure is to press the Menu button on the remote, then select **System > Reset & Admin**, highlight **Viewing Data**, the press the right arrow to turn the setting off.

While Vizio’s Jump Ads appear fairly innocuous, the matter of smart TVs serving ads on top of live TV shows is always a sore point for viewers.

Earlier this year, there was a brief kerfuffle when [Roku users spotted ad overlays](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/s5ik5y/welp_this_is_the_last_time_i_purchase_or/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629189-1-0-0) for random products on top of live TV shows, including at least one NFL football game. [Roku eventually blamed a bug](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/01/some-roku-smart-tvs-are-now-showing-banner-ads-over-live-tv/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-629189-1-0-0) for the issue, which doesn’t appear to have recurred.

Vizio tests “Jump Ads” during live TV shows on its smart TVs

We’ve long thought of Sonos as being all about connected audio, from the Sonos One smart speaker to the Sonos Amp. But it turns out Sonos may have more than audio on its mind, with the company putting out feelers about a “new home theater project” potentially involving streaming video.

[Protocol has unearthed a series of job postings](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.protocol.com/entertainment/sonos-tv-home-theater-os&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-625042-1-0-0) related to a “Next Generation Home Theater OS,” including a UX (user experience) lead, a product manager for developing an “OS & Media Platform roadmap,” and a “Head of Partnerships” for home theater who would “play a pivotal role in connecting users to the content and services they love.”

Meanwhile, [posting on LinkedIn about a “new home theater project,”](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569484&url=https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6910990918468714496/&sref=https://www.techhive.com/feed&xcust=3-1-625042-1-0-0) Sonos Chief Innovation Officer Nick Millington put out a call for those with “experience…in a streaming media-related field” such as video.

Sonos is certainly no stranger to streaming media, what with its deep bench of connected speakers and its Sonos Radio streaming service. Sonos also has its home theater-focused soundbars, including the Beam (the [second-generation version](https://www.techhive.com/article/579768/sonos-beam-2nd-gen-review.html) came out last fall) and the [Sonos Arc](https://www.techhive.com/article/578605/sonos-arc-review.html).

But Sonos doesn’t have anything like a streaming video player, nor a soundbar with an integrated streaming player, like the [Roku Streambar](https://www.techhive.com/article/578921/roku-streambar-review.html).

The job postings found by Protocol don’t give any hint as to what kind of new hardware Sonos might be planning. 

That said, the job listings (which appear to have been posted only days ago) touch on such qualifications as knowledge of “OS product management,” “modern operating systems” such as Android TV, “A/V codecs,” and DRM, which makes it sound like Sonos is mulling something more than just another soundbar.

Protocol also reports that the idea of a Sonos soundbar “capable of running smart-TV apps” was (at the very least) “under consideration” at some point.

We’ve reached out to Sonos for comment.

TechHive