Latest Technology

Image: Shelly European smart device manufacturer Shelly is launching 11 automation devices that can connect to the home from over a mile away. Shelly says its new and updated Wave devices are built around the Z-Wave Long Range (Z-Wave LR) specification , and will be available in the US in the first half of 2025. The benefits of Z-Wave LR are similar to those offered by Amazon’s Sidewalk IoT network in that both can extend connectivity to devices beyond your home Wi-Fi network, without the need for expensive LTE data. Z-Wave LR was announced back in 2020, but products that actually use it are only just starting to hit the market. The wireless protocol touts several features that are beneficial for large homes and commercial environments, such as eradicating the need for a mesh network with multiple signal repeaters. Instead, Z-Wave LR devices operate on a star network topology, which connects directly to devices via a central gateway hub. Z-Wave LR has a maximum line-of-sight wir...

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images We didn’t all flock to a new platform or build on a thrilling new protocol. We went everywhere, and did everything, all at once. Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/ScLAKzm

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images Authorities in the US are considering a ban on TP-Link internet routers over national security concerns due to their repeated links to Chinese cyberattacks. Investigators at the Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments have all launched probes into the company, according to the Wall Street Journal , with TP-Link reportedly being subpoenaed by an office of the Commerce Department. The WSJ reports that US authorities may ban the sale of TP-Link routers within the country next year. Action taken against TP-Link would likely fall to the incoming Trump administration. TP-Link holds roughly 65 percent of the US router market for homes and small businesses, and its internet communications products are used by the Defense Department and other federal government agencies. The company’s market dominance is at least partly driven by the extreme low cost of its routers. The US Justice Department is investigating whether T...

Michelle Rohn / The Verge The internet is forever. But also, it isn’t. What happens to our culture when websites start to vanish at random? Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/ELw5RyW

Illustration by Hugo Herrera / The Verge The Federal Trade Commission has approved a new rule preventing hotels and ticket sellers from hiding extra fees associated with a purchase. Under the rule , businesses must provide “up-front disclosure” of the total price of a hotel stay, vacation rental, or live event tickets before checkout. The rule, which was first proposed last year , targets the “resort,” “convenience,” and “service” fees that often covertly raise the final price of a hotel stay or tickets for a live concert or sporting event. It doesn’t ban companies from charging these kinds of fees; it just requires them to disclose the total cost of a purchase (including fees) when advertising or displaying their price. Additionally, businesses must display the total price of a purchase “more prominently than most other pricing information.” Though businesses can still exclude shipping fees and taxes from advertised prices, they must now show these fees before customers start en...

Image: Honda Out to prove that the sports coupe is far from dead , Honda announced the return of the Prelude with an all-new hybrid-electric powertrain. It’s been over two decades since Honda last released a new Prelude, but the company began laying the groundwork for its return with the release of a concept version last year. Now, a hybrid Prelude is scheduled to arrive in the US in 2025. It will also mark the debut of Honda S+ Shift, a new drive mode that the company says “further advances Linear Shift Control to deliver maximum levels of driver engagement.” The company is describing the Prelude as having “two motors,” but that doesn’t make it dual-motor or AWD. Honda’s hybrid powertrain has had two motors for several generations, both of which sit adjacent to the internal combustion engine. The debut of Honda S+ Shift “One electric motor acts as a generator, creating electricity for the battery and propulsion,” Honda spokesperson Chris Naughton said, “and the other is a ...

Illustration: The Verge Google Home is testing a new feature that will allow friends and family members to help manage smart devices around your home. Two access levels are available: “Admin” which provides full control over account and device permissions, and “Member” for people who require more limited access. Google says that Admin access is for “trusted partners or people who co-manage the home with you.” Admins can add, remove, and manage users, add and remove devices, and link subscriptions to the home account. Members can manage basic device controls like viewing live security camera feeds, and adjusting personal settings like voice and face match assistant features. Two further permission tiers are available for Members: “Settings” to fully control devices and home-wide settings like automation and Nest Wifi device network features; and “Activity” to authorize access to device and home-wide history for things like cameras, locks, and sensors. The customizable Member acce...