Even at a brief glance, the Subaru Crosstrek clearly prioritizes rugged design and personality over any semblance of aerodynamic efficiency. Subaru’s best-seller also comes only in all-wheel drive, to stay true to customer expectations of all-weather confidence and the appeal of an aspirational adventure lifestyle. And yet, the latest-generation Crosstrek’s new hybrid variant improves power and torque output significantly, while simultaneously resulting in the most efficient Crosstrek to date.

Any consideration of aerodynamic improvements for this generation can best be thought of as minor. And yet, the wheel well vents do reduce turbulence and pressure while more cleanly skirting air around the side panels. And some mild smoothing versus the previous generations include tiny elements like the forward-facing edge of the roof rail mounts. However, reduced plastic cladding on the hybrid Crosstreks that might seem intended to improve airflow counterintuitively came about only because Subaru builds the hybrids in Japan for all international markets, and only Americans prefer going overboard on tacky plastic trim pieces.

More importantly than aero, the Crosstrek now shares a hybrid powertrain with the Forester SUV. If a naturally aspirated 2.5 L horizontally opposed Boxer four-cylinder engine sounds familiar from Subarus over the past four decades, in reality, this hybrid system significantly works over the flat-four versus even current internal-combustion siblings. This year introduces a host of mechanical modifications to the cylinder head, block, camshaft, crank pulley, fuel system, intake, exhaust, cooling, and more. But more importantly, the engine now runs on an Atkinson cycle, which holds the intake valves open longer to reduce piston resistance during the expansion stroke, resulting in reduced power output but improved fuel efficiency.

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At the Dash Forward keynote, DoorDash has unveiled a cute electric delivery robot named Dot that was designed specifically for quick neighborhood trips. Dot is around one-tenth the size of a car, can move up to 20 mph and can navigate not just roads, but also bike lanes and sidewalks. It’s small enough to fit through doorways and driveways and can help local businesses meet demand from people who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own homes. The robot was developed in-house by DoorDash Labs to integrate with the company’s new Autonomous Delivery Platform, an AI dispatcher that matches orders with the best delivery method. 

“You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers,” said Stanley Tang, the head of DoorDash Labs. “That’s the insight behind Dot.” To start with, the company is launching an early access program for Dot in Tempe and Mesa, Arizona. DoorDash said it’s the beginning of Dot’s commercial deployment and that the robot will make its way to new markets in the future. 

The company has assured Dashers the Dot will not replace them. Human dashers will still handle the “vast majority” of its deliveries, and Dot is supposed to allow them to pick up the more high value ones while it fills in the gaps for local trips that don’t pay as much. DoorDash said that it needed to conjure up more “innovative ways to keep pace with demand” to support more local businesses and as it expands to new regions. It also previously teamed up with Coco Robotics to offer sidewalk robot deliveries in LA and Chicago, and it offers drone deliveries in Christiansburg, Virginia and Frisco, Texas.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-introduces-a-cute-delivery-robot-named-dot-130036016.html?src=rss

Since it began rolling out AI Mode at the start of March, Google has been slowly adding features to its dedicated search chatbot. Today, the company is releasing an update it hopes will make the tool more useful for visual searches.

If you’ve tried to use AI Mode since Google made it available to everyone in the US, you may have noticed it responds to questions about images with a lot of text. Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search, admits it can be “silly” to see text in that context, and so the company has been working on applying AI Mode’s “query fan-out” technique to images. Now, when you prompt AI Mode to find you images of “moody but maximalist” bedrooms for instance, it’s better equipped to respond to that request, with an algorithm that will run multiple searches in the background to get a better understanding of exactly what it is you’re looking to find.

Google has built this feature to be multimodal, meaning you can start a conversation with an image or video. And as you can probably guess, Google believes these capabilities will be particularly useful in a shopping context. You could use AI Mode to shop before today, but Google argues the experience benefits greatly from the more visual responses the chatbot is able to generate. What’s more, it’s better able to make sense of tricky queries like “find me barrel jeans that aren’t too baggy.” Once AI Mode generates an initial response, you can ask follow-up questions to refine your search.

As with any Google update, it may take a few days for the company to roll out the updates it announced today to everyone. So be patient if you don’t see the new, more visual experience right away.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-ai-mode-gets-better-at-understanding-visual-prompts-130001201.html?src=rss

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In Lifehacker’s series, “A Guide to Automating Your Entire Home,” we’re highlighting all the ways you can power your home with autonomous technology, room by room. Whether you want to build a smart security system, turn a “dumb” device smart, or simply control your lights from your phone, this guide will help walk you through it.

Temperature is crucial to your comfort at home, and smart tech can help you find that perfect balance—starting with smart thermostats, but extending to other devices and apps to help through the summer and winter months.

Not only does a smart tech overhaul like this mean more precise temperature control, it also helps cut down on energy bills, because you’re only heating and cooling when you need to. These systems can be operated remotely via apps, set to work on a schedule, and can sometimes even automatically adapt to the local weather conditions.

Smart thermostats

A smart thermostat is a good starting point for most people. They’re simple to set up in most cases, replacing the thermostat on your wall and connecting to the same internal wiring: Google, for example, has a complete guide to installing a Nest thermostat. Once you’ve disconnected the power, it’s typically a 20- to 30-minute job, although on older properties some more work and extra connections might be required.

You can then control the temperature in your home through the physical smart thermostat itself, and through the companion app on your phone. Many smart devices will hook up to a smart home platform (or two) as well, which gives you extras like voice control (through an AI assistant such as Alexa), and tighter integration with everything else in your smart home.

If you already have a home full of devices that work with Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, or Google Home, then it makes sense to buy a smart thermostat to match. It means you’ll have more options for controlling your gadgets (through an Apple TV 4K box, for example, if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem).

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more advanced features. Smart thermostat features can vary depending on the model and manufacturer, but most offer a broadly similar set of functions: The ability to set up heating and cooling routines to work on a schedule, remote access when you’re away from home, and smart adjustments based on weather, time, or sensor readings from around your home.

You could, for example, have the smart thermostat automatically adjust to your current location (reported by your phone), so putting your HVAC system into a power-saving mode when you’re out at the office, then starting to heat up rooms again when you’re on the way back. Or maybe you can have the temperature automatically adjusted while you sleep, maintaining a consistent coolness based on sensor readings overnight.

As well as the Google Nest Thermostat mentioned above, you’ve also got devices like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. Its capabilities include being able to adjust temperature in relation to humidity—via the bundled smart sensor—and timing its heating and cooling for periods when electricity is going to cost the least amount, as much as possible.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium

$219.99
at Amazon

$259.99
Save $40.00

$219.99
at Amazon

$259.99
Save $40.00

The Honeywell T5 Smart Thermostat is one of the most customizable devices of its type around, which extends to the information shown on its clear touchscreen panel, and you can schedule heating and cooling timings for up to a week in advance. The accompanying Resideo app means easy access to all the controls from a phone or tablet.

Smart thermostat accessories

Smart vents give you a little bit more control over how and when specific rooms are heated and cooled, whether this control is automated or handled manually. A Flair Smart Vent, for example, can be operated through a dedicated app or through a wider smart home system.

Then you’ve got smart ceiling fans—rather than having you switch these fans on or off manually, you can set them to operate on a schedule, or have them enabled or disabled depending on the temperature. They start up when needed, and you might not have to lift a finger.

With ceiling fans and some other devices (such as smart lights), you can opt to make the connected switch smart rather than the device itself. So, invest in a Lutron Caseta Smart Switch, and you can control a connected ceiling fan from your phone or tablet, or through the Amazon Alexa app and devices. It can be automated based on timings, temperature, and your location, like the other smart devices in your home.

Air purity is something else that you might consider looking at, with devices like the Levoit Air Purifier available. It’s another device that plugs into the Alexa ecosystem, enabling control via apps and smart speakers, and it can scrub dust and pollen from the air across an area of up to 1,073 square feet.

Levoit Air Purifier

$182.99
at Amazon

$219.99
Save $37.00

$182.99
at Amazon

$219.99
Save $37.00

There are also spot heating and cooling fans that work separately to a smart thermostat, giving you on-demand temperature control across a smaller space—you can move these from room to room as needed, and they often come with support for app control and at least some level of integration with your other smart home devices.

Another example here is the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1, which throws in air purification features as well. While the cooling isn’t active (it’s just blowing air around), the heating is, and it can come in useful all the year round—and again, it can be operated via an app in addition to a physical remote control and the buttons on the device itself.

One final option: Smart blinds. These are handy to have at night, but they also help you manage the temperatures in specific rooms. If there’s a room that’s a real sun trap, you can set a smart blind to block out the sunshine during the hottest part of the day, so it’s relatively cool whenever you decide to go into it.

Something like the Zstarr Motorized Smart Blind works well here. Via the remote control, you can set up timings for raising and lowering the blinds, and it can be plugged into Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart ecosystems as well if you need it to work with your other smart devices.

There are plenty of ways to approach this, and you can add devices as you need once you’ve got the essentials in place. Eventually, it’s possible to get the temperature of every room carefully calibrated using the right gadgets and apps—with the devices all working on a schedule of your choosing, and in combination with each other.

Camembert writes: In a move that is sure to make Ripple nervous, traditional financial network Swift announced yesterday that it is partnering with Consensys and more than 30 global banks to build a blockchain based network that will run in parallel with its traditional network. Interestingly, unlike XRP, there is no native coin, rather it aims for interoperability (probably using Chainlink with whom the company did case studies for a few years already). There is also a strong focus on regulatory compliance. There are several news articles and opinion pieces on this event; I linked the Reuters article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Smart home devices can streamline a lot of your day-to-day tasks: With an internet connection and some simple automations, you may never have to carry house keys, turn off the lights, or touch your thermostat. But all of this convenience comes at a potential cost, as smart tech is vulnerable to attack by cyber actors, leaving your personal data and your privacy at risk.

Here’s what you need to know to secure your smart home.

Is your smart home secure?

The short answer: not by default. Smart homes have vulnerabilities at multiple levels, from the devices themselves to your home network to the physical endpoints, like your phone, that have access to and control over your Internet of Things (IoT).

To start, IoT devices may have weak built-in security protocols or lack clear instructions to help users lock them down from factory settings, leaving them open to hackers, who have to exert very little effort to access your data or spy on you. Wifi routers and smart home devices often have default credentials that are publicly available and therefore easy to get past—and data show that the vast majority of users have never changed their router admin password or adjusted any factory settings. If your home network isn’t secure, nothing connected to it can be considered secure either.

Smart devices can also be integrated into botnets, allowing threat actors to conduct malicious activity like account takeovers and malware distribution using your home network. A recent instance of this was a campaign known as BADBOX 2.0, which targeted off-brand consumer electronics manufactured in China.

Bill Budington, a senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), notes the digital divide may increase the risk for some consumers, who may seek out cheaper devices from low-cost manufacturers that have weaker security and far less to lose in terms of reputation if they are implicated in vulnerabilities compared to companies like Amazon.

Finally, security can be compromised if your physical devices fall into the wrong hands. For example, if you control your smart home using apps on your phone, a threat actor could gain access in the event said phone is lost, stolen, or hacked.

Smart homes can compromise privacy

Left unsecured, smart home devices can also put your privacy (and potentially your safety) at risk. Internet-connected cameras, from baby monitors to pet cams, are vulnerable to hacking, and threat actors can use them to surveil you and your home. This may include snooping on and tracking your movements, “shoulder surfing” to collect sensitive personal information, recording audio and video footage of your private activities, and sharing or selling live feeds on the dark web. (In a particularly alarming incident in 2018, a hacker reportedly issued verbal threats toward a four-month-old through a Nest-brand baby monitor.)

Your smart tech is likely collecting a lot of information about you in the course of its normal activities—all of which could be exploited. For example, your robot vacuum creates and utilizes a map of your physical layout to know where to go, and usage patterns from various automations can be used to track your movements and confirm when you’re away from home.

There’s also the possibility that your smart home devices are compromising your data in ways you aren’t aware of and haven’t actively consented to. A 2023 report from security experts—led by the nonprofit IMDEA Networks and Northeastern University—shows that IoT devices may inadvertently expose personal information that can be harvested and sold to companies involved in surveillance capitalism. Researchers found that spyware apps and advertisers abuse local network protocols to access sensitive data, making it easier to profile users.

No security standards for smart homes

There isn’t a single set of cybersecurity standards that smart home companies have to follow or an easy, centralized resource for users to research this information. Earlier this year—during the last few weeks of the Biden administration—the Federal Communications Commission launched the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark voluntary labeling program to incentivize device manufacturers to improve security and help consumers buy with confidence. However, the agency later launched an investigation into the program, delaying its rollout.

For now, consumers are left to do their own due diligence. In 2017, the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation created a resource called *Privacy Not Included, with reviews of products measured against “minimum security standards” and breakdowns of any privacy concerns. The site doesn’t appear to have been updated in the last year, but you can still find detailed information about the privacy and security history of well-known smart home manufacturers like Amazon, Google, Wyze, and Ecobee.

Otherwise, Budington suggests simply searching the device you’re considering (and the company that makes it) before buying to see if researchers or users have reported any concerns.

How to improve smart home security

Securing your smart home starts with securing your internet connection via your router. We’ve got a whole guide to protecting your home network, but at the very least, you should change any default router settings—admin usernames, passwords, and network names—to something unique and not personally identifiable and turn on encryption in your wireless security settings. Regularly check for updates, which provide patches for security flaws, and audit the devices connected to your network to identify anything suspicious and remove those you no longer use.

You can add another layer of security with a guest network set up specifically for your IoT devices. That way, if your smart devices are compromised, everything connected to your primary network (such as computers and phones with access to your personal and financial accounts) will be protected.

According to Budington, one way to further mitigate vulnerability is to reduce the number of devices with their own wireless connection, running them through a secure, centralized hub instead. Home Assistant is a self-hosted option that can be installed on a Raspberry Pi or a traditional PC or used with the plug-and-play Home Assistant Green. Hubitat also gives you local control over your device data and integrates with a variety of products, including those compatible with the Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter standards.

Once your network is secure, you’ll want to take similar steps with each of your IoT devices. Change default usernames and passwords to unique, secure alternatives and enable all available security features, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, in the device settings. Ensure your devices (and any apps used to control them) receive automatic firmware updates.

You should also check your device’s privacy settings, removing permissions that aren’t essential for it to function and disabling features you won’t use. For example, you could turn off location tracking on your smart thermostat and disable voice control for devices other than your voice assistant.

Finally, while we’ve focused mostly on digital threats, your smart home isn’t immune to physical compromise. Be aware of ways your devices can be accessed, such as those installed on the exterior of your house, and ensure phones and tablets and the apps on them that control IoT devices are secured with a PIN or biometric authentication.

Remember that, by nature, anything connected to the internet is at least somewhat vulnerable to attack. You’ll have to consider your own risk tolerance and weigh the convenience of having a smart device against the potential for it to be compromised—and your privacy along with it. You may find that there are some things that you simply don’t need to automate, and therefore you can stick with the “dumb” alternative.

Smart home devices can streamline a lot of your day-to-day tasks: With an internet connection and some simple automations, you may never have to carry house keys, turn off the lights, or touch your thermostat. But all of this convenience comes at a potential cost, as smart tech is vulnerable to attack by cyber actors, leaving your personal data and your privacy at risk.

Here’s what you need to know to secure your smart home.

Is your smart home secure?

The short answer: not by default. Smart homes have vulnerabilities at multiple levels, from the devices themselves to your home network to the physical endpoints, like your phone, that have access to and control over your Internet of Things (IoT).

To start, IoT devices may have weak built-in security protocols or lack clear instructions to help users lock them down from factory settings, leaving them open to hackers, who have to exert very little effort to access your data or spy on you. Wifi routers and smart home devices often have default credentials that are publicly available and therefore easy to get past—and data show that the vast majority of users have never changed their router admin password or adjusted any factory settings. If your home network isn’t secure, nothing connected to it can be considered secure either.

Smart devices can also be integrated into botnets, allowing threat actors to conduct malicious activity like account takeovers and malware distribution using your home network. A recent instance of this was a campaign known as BADBOX 2.0, which targeted off-brand consumer electronics manufactured in China.

Bill Budington, a senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), notes the digital divide may increase the risk for some consumers, who may seek out cheaper devices from low-cost manufacturers that have weaker security and far less to lose in terms of reputation if they are implicated in vulnerabilities compared to companies like Amazon.

Finally, security can be compromised if your physical devices fall into the wrong hands. For example, if you control your smart home using apps on your phone, a threat actor could gain access in the event said phone is lost, stolen, or hacked.

Smart homes can compromise privacy

Left unsecured, smart home devices can also put your privacy (and potentially your safety) at risk. Internet-connected cameras, from baby monitors to pet cams, are vulnerable to hacking, and threat actors can use them to surveil you and your home. This may include snooping on and tracking your movements, “shoulder surfing” to collect sensitive personal information, recording audio and video footage of your private activities, and sharing or selling live feeds on the dark web. (In a particularly alarming incident in 2018, a hacker reportedly issued verbal threats toward a four-month-old through a Nest-brand baby monitor.)

Your smart tech is likely collecting a lot of information about you in the course of its normal activities—all of which could be exploited. For example, your robot vacuum creates and utilizes a map of your physical layout to know where to go, and usage patterns from various automations can be used to track your movements and confirm when you’re away from home.

There’s also the possibility that your smart home devices are compromising your data in ways you aren’t aware of and haven’t actively consented to. A 2023 report from security experts—led by the nonprofit IMDEA Networks and Northeastern University—shows that IoT devices may inadvertently expose personal information that can be harvested and sold to companies involved in surveillance capitalism. Researchers found that spyware apps and advertisers abuse local network protocols to access sensitive data, making it easier to profile users.

No security standards for smart homes

There isn’t a single set of cybersecurity standards that smart home companies have to follow or an easy, centralized resource for users to research this information. Earlier this year—during the last few weeks of the Biden administration—the Federal Communications Commission launched the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark voluntary labeling program to incentivize device manufacturers to improve security and help consumers buy with confidence. However, the agency later launched an investigation into the program, delaying its rollout.

For now, consumers are left to do their own due diligence. In 2017, the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation created a resource called *Privacy Not Included, with reviews of products measured against “minimum security standards” and breakdowns of any privacy concerns. The site doesn’t appear to have been updated in the last year, but you can still find detailed information about the privacy and security history of well-known smart home manufacturers like Amazon, Google, Wyze, and Ecobee.

Otherwise, Budington suggests simply searching the device you’re considering (and the company that makes it) before buying to see if researchers or users have reported any concerns.

How to improve smart home security

Securing your smart home starts with securing your internet connection via your router. We’ve got a whole guide to protecting your home network, but at the very least, you should change any default router settings—admin usernames, passwords, and network names—to something unique and not personally identifiable and turn on encryption in your wireless security settings. Regularly check for updates, which provide patches for security flaws, and audit the devices connected to your network to identify anything suspicious and remove those you no longer use.

You can add another layer of security with a guest network set up specifically for your IoT devices. That way, if your smart devices are compromised, everything connected to your primary network (such as computers and phones with access to your personal and financial accounts) will be protected.

According to Budington, one way to further mitigate vulnerability is to reduce the number of devices with their own wireless connection, running them through a secure, centralized hub instead. Home Assistant is a self-hosted option that can be installed on a Raspberry Pi or a traditional PC or used with the plug-and-play Home Assistant Green. Hubitat also gives you local control over your device data and integrates with a variety of products, including those compatible with the Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter standards.

Once your network is secure, you’ll want to take similar steps with each of your IoT devices. Change default usernames and passwords to unique, secure alternatives and enable all available security features, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, in the device settings. Ensure your devices (and any apps used to control them) receive automatic firmware updates.

You should also check your device’s privacy settings, removing permissions that aren’t essential for it to function and disabling features you won’t use. For example, you could turn off location tracking on your smart thermostat and disable voice control for devices other than your voice assistant.

Finally, while we’ve focused mostly on digital threats, your smart home isn’t immune to physical compromise. Be aware of ways your devices can be accessed, such as those installed on the exterior of your house, and ensure phones and tablets and the apps on them that control IoT devices are secured with a PIN or biometric authentication.

Remember that, by nature, anything connected to the internet is at least somewhat vulnerable to attack. You’ll have to consider your own risk tolerance and weigh the convenience of having a smart device against the potential for it to be compromised—and your privacy along with it. You may find that there are some things that you simply don’t need to automate, and therefore you can stick with the “dumb” alternative.

Would you pay $20 for an AI-powered browser? Opera is betting on it with the release of its $19.90 (per month) “next generation AI browser,” Opera Neon, meant for people who use AI every day. The Norwegian company first announced Neon in May and has now launched it to a limited number of users. 

According to Opera, “it’s a browser built to not only let you browse the web, but to also use agentic AI to act for you and with you as you browse and work on complex projects. Opera Neon moves beyond a simple AI chat to execute tasks, create code, and deliver outcomes directly within the browser experience.”  

Opera Neon includes features such as Tasks, which acts as your own workspaces to use AI for things like comparing and analyzing sources. There’s also Cards, which is made up of reusable AI prompts, versus having to rewrite the same prompt over and over again. You can make your own prompts or pull them from the community’s collection. 

Then there’s Neon Do, which works with a Task to navigate the web for checking sources, looking at information, completing forms and more. 

Opera is hoping that this “premium, subscription-based browser” will entice users enough to pay $19.90 per month, rather than use free options such as Google’s Gemini-powered Chrome features. You can join the waitlist to try it yourself, with Opera claiming more spots will become available soon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/operas-ai-browser-will-cost-you-20-a-month-123022110.html?src=rss

Would you pay $20 for an AI-powered browser? Opera is betting on it with the release of its $19.90 (per month) “next generation AI browser,” Opera Neon, meant for people who use AI every day. The Norwegian company first announced Neon in May and has now launched it to a limited number of users. 

According to Opera, “it’s a browser built to not only let you browse the web, but to also use agentic AI to act for you and with you as you browse and work on complex projects. Opera Neon moves beyond a simple AI chat to execute tasks, create code, and deliver outcomes directly within the browser experience.”  

Opera Neon includes features such as Tasks, which acts as your own workspaces to use AI for things like comparing and analyzing sources. There’s also Cards, which is made up of reusable AI prompts, versus having to rewrite the same prompt over and over again. You can make your own prompts or pull them from the community’s collection. 

Then there’s Neon Do, which works with a Task to navigate the web for checking sources, looking at information, completing forms and more. 

Opera is hoping that this “premium, subscription-based browser” will entice users enough to pay $19.90 per month, rather than use free options such as Google’s Gemini-powered Chrome features. You can join the waitlist to try it yourself, with Opera claiming more spots will become available soon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/operas-ai-browser-will-cost-you-20-a-month-123022110.html?src=rss

Cleaning is one of those necessary chores that most of us don’t have much enthusiasm for. It’s often demanding and tedious work, and while you’re taking care of it, you do so with the knowledge that you’re going to have to do it all again next week.

There’s some good news, though, for the cleaning-averse: Modern day tech can handle a lot of these jobs on your behalf, as smart cleaning gadgets continue to get better and better. In recent years, they’ve become more reliable and more effective, and you’ve got a host of different models to choose from.

This introduction to smart cleaning technology will bring you up to date on the products that are available, and what they can do for you. Yes, you can have a home that’s neater and cleaner—with just a few button presses.

The pros and cons of cleaning tech

The big positive from investing in smart cleaning gadgets is, of course, that you won’t have to do these jobs yourself, so the hours you save can be put towards doing something you actually enjoy.

These gadgets don’t get tired, sick, or irritable, and will work at any time of the day or night—though you don’t necessarily want a robot vacuum humming away at 4 a.m.. In many cases they can be operated remotely and work autonomously, so they can be taking care of the chores while you’re out at work or on vacation.

You can get smart devices to wash your windows for you.
Credit: Ecovacs

You are going to have to make an initial investment in the technology, and, for some devices, a rather sizable one. The argument can be made that hiring someone to do your cleaning is a better option than getting robots to do it: They might do a more thorough job, depending on the person and the gadget you’re comparing them to, and you can give them more specific instructions. However, getting cleaners in does involve giving someone else access to your home, and finding a mutually convenient time. It will also be an ongoing expense.

There are a few more cons to consider. One is that a certain amount of tidying up and preparation work is often required before the robots can take over. You may have to pick up toys and clothes, for example, so the robot vacuum can vacuum. By the time you’ve done that, you might think it makes more sense to just do the whole job yourself.

Many smart devices can be controlled via an app.
Credit: iRobot

What’s more, these gadgets require a certain level of maintenance: Depending on the device, you need to empty them out, supply them with power, water, and cleaning products, and perhaps even clean parts of them yourself. Like any piece of hardware, they will experience wear and tear, and will eventually need to be replaced.

There’s one other consideration to think about, which is that manual cleaning is a great way to exercise. Studies have shown that domestic duties can give you enough of a workout to extend your lifespan and improve a host of different health markers, so you might want to use some of the time that these gadgets are saving you to head out for a run or for a session at the gym.

The best smart cleaning gadgets you can buy

If you’ve decided that you want to transform your home into one that cleans itself, you can automate a number of different processes using a number of different devices. There’s plenty of choice out there, so the usual rules apply: Take your time to research the various options and the features they’re offering versus their price, and find as many reviews as you can from people who’ve used them.

Robot vacuums and mops

This is the obvious place to start, as these are the gadgets that usually come to mind when you think of smart cleaning tech. You can find single-purpose devices that only vacuum or only mop, or devices that combine both functions.

While early models had their issues with reliability and cleaning power, the robot vacuums you can buy today are generally more impressive in terms of how clean they can get your carpets and floors. You’ll find features like LiDAR and camera-powered mapping and obstacle avoidance, self-emptying capabilities, and auto-adjustments depending on what surface is being cleaned.

Often, everything these machines do can be organized through a companion app, so you can set the cleaners to work on a specific schedule, as well as set zones or rooms that are off limits. We’re even starting to see robot vacuums that can climb up the stairs, so they really can get your whole house vacuumed and mopped without an assist.

The Roborock Saros 10R comes with its own docking station.
Credit: Roborock

These cleaners can be a significant investment. The Samsung Jet Bot+ costs $600 and brings with it automatic emptying, LiDAR-based navigation around your rooms, smart suction adjustments, and an advanced 5-layer HEPA filtration system for trapping dust. If you’ve got more to spend, the Roborock Saros 10R can be yours for $1,600, and offers top-tier suction, obstacle avoidance, corner and edge cleaning, and automatic emptying via the supplied dock.

Smart window washers

You can also put robots to work on your windows—although there are fewer models to choose from. Using suction to work their way across windows, cleaning and drying as they go, leaving you with window panes free of dust and grime. Again, these tools can be managed via an app, though a bit more manual setup is required to get them in position to start cleaning.

The Ecovacs Winbot series includes some of the best window cleaning options on the market at the moment. The Ecovacs Winbot W2 Pro Omni costs $450, and can work while plugged in or via its built-in battery. It has a triple-nozzle system is combined with a cleaning cloth for effective performance as it methodically travels across windows of almost any size or type.

The LG WM6700HBA comes with AI settings.
Credit: LG

Smart washers and dryers

Then there are devices that add some extra smarts to existing appliances, such as smart washers and dryers. These pieces of hardware elevate clothes cleaning with a variety of useful and intelligent tricks, including the ability to adjust cleaning and drying cycles to the type and size of load, remote control via mobile apps, and a number of self-maintaining mechanisms.

A good example is the LG WM6700HBA, which will set you back $1,250. There’s on-board AI assistance to work out the best cycles for the clothes you’re washing, an automatic dispenser for just the right amount of detergent and fabric softener to cut down on waste, and remote operations and monitoring via the LG ThinQ app.

Smart dishwashers

Finally we have smart dishwashers, which use automated technology to give your crockery and cutlery a better clean than standard appliances might. The features are similar to those you’ll find on smart washers and dryers: Sensing technology for understanding what’s been loaded in and adjusting the cleaning accordingly, remote app control and smart home integration, and as much automated maintenance and self-cleaning as possible.

Take a look at the Bosch 500 Series, which is priced at $1,250 at the time of writing. It has intelligent sensors to check cleaning progress, an AutoAir feature that automatically pops the dishwasher door open when cleaning is finished to let air circulate, and the option of operating cleaning cycles and other dishwasher features from an app on your phone.

Cleaning is one of those necessary chores that most of us don’t have much enthusiasm for. It’s often demanding and tedious work, and while you’re taking care of it, you do so with the knowledge that you’re going to have to do it all again next week.

There’s some good news, though, for the cleaning-averse: Modern day tech can handle a lot of these jobs on your behalf, as smart cleaning gadgets continue to get better and better. In recent years, they’ve become more reliable and more effective, and you’ve got a host of different models to choose from.

This introduction to smart cleaning technology will bring you up to date on the products that are available, and what they can do for you. Yes, you can have a home that’s neater and cleaner—with just a few button presses.

The pros and cons of cleaning tech

The big positive from investing in smart cleaning gadgets is, of course, that you won’t have to do these jobs yourself, so the hours you save can be put towards doing something you actually enjoy.

These gadgets don’t get tired, sick, or irritable, and will work at any time of the day or night—though you don’t necessarily want a robot vacuum humming away at 4 a.m.. In many cases they can be operated remotely and work autonomously, so they can be taking care of the chores while you’re out at work or on vacation.

You can get smart devices to wash your windows for you.
Credit: Ecovacs

You are going to have to make an initial investment in the technology, and, for some devices, a rather sizable one. The argument can be made that hiring someone to do your cleaning is a better option than getting robots to do it: They might do a more thorough job, depending on the person and the gadget you’re comparing them to, and you can give them more specific instructions. However, getting cleaners in does involve giving someone else access to your home, and finding a mutually convenient time. It will also be an ongoing expense.

There are a few more cons to consider. One is that a certain amount of tidying up and preparation work is often required before the robots can take over. You may have to pick up toys and clothes, for example, so the robot vacuum can vacuum. By the time you’ve done that, you might think it makes more sense to just do the whole job yourself.

Many smart devices can be controlled via an app.
Credit: iRobot

What’s more, these gadgets require a certain level of maintenance: Depending on the device, you need to empty them out, supply them with power, water, and cleaning products, and perhaps even clean parts of them yourself. Like any piece of hardware, they will experience wear and tear, and will eventually need to be replaced.

There’s one other consideration to think about, which is that manual cleaning is a great way to exercise. Studies have shown that domestic duties can give you enough of a workout to extend your lifespan and improve a host of different health markers, so you might want to use some of the time that these gadgets are saving you to head out for a run or for a session at the gym.

The best smart cleaning gadgets you can buy

If you’ve decided that you want to transform your home into one that cleans itself, you can automate a number of different processes using a number of different devices. There’s plenty of choice out there, so the usual rules apply: Take your time to research the various options and the features they’re offering versus their price, and find as many reviews as you can from people who’ve used them.

Robot vacuums and mops

This is the obvious place to start, as these are the gadgets that usually come to mind when you think of smart cleaning tech. You can find single-purpose devices that only vacuum or only mop, or devices that combine both functions.

While early models had their issues with reliability and cleaning power, the robot vacuums you can buy today are generally more impressive in terms of how clean they can get your carpets and floors. You’ll find features like LiDAR and camera-powered mapping and obstacle avoidance, self-emptying capabilities, and auto-adjustments depending on what surface is being cleaned.

Often, everything these machines do can be organized through a companion app, so you can set the cleaners to work on a specific schedule, as well as set zones or rooms that are off limits. We’re even starting to see robot vacuums that can climb up the stairs, so they really can get your whole house vacuumed and mopped without an assist.

The Roborock Saros 10R comes with its own docking station.
Credit: Roborock

These cleaners can be a significant investment. The Samsung Jet Bot+ costs $600 and brings with it automatic emptying, LiDAR-based navigation around your rooms, smart suction adjustments, and an advanced 5-layer HEPA filtration system for trapping dust. If you’ve got more to spend, the Roborock Saros 10R can be yours for $1,600, and offers top-tier suction, obstacle avoidance, corner and edge cleaning, and automatic emptying via the supplied dock.

Smart window washers

You can also put robots to work on your windows—although there are fewer models to choose from. Using suction to work their way across windows, cleaning and drying as they go, leaving you with window panes free of dust and grime. Again, these tools can be managed via an app, though a bit more manual setup is required to get them in position to start cleaning.

The Ecovacs Winbot series includes some of the best window cleaning options on the market at the moment. The Ecovacs Winbot W2 Pro Omni costs $450, and can work while plugged in or via its built-in battery. It has a triple-nozzle system is combined with a cleaning cloth for effective performance as it methodically travels across windows of almost any size or type.

The LG WM6700HBA comes with AI settings.
Credit: LG

Smart washers and dryers

Then there are devices that add some extra smarts to existing appliances, such as smart washers and dryers. These pieces of hardware elevate clothes cleaning with a variety of useful and intelligent tricks, including the ability to adjust cleaning and drying cycles to the type and size of load, remote control via mobile apps, and a number of self-maintaining mechanisms.

A good example is the LG WM6700HBA, which will set you back $1,250. There’s on-board AI assistance to work out the best cycles for the clothes you’re washing, an automatic dispenser for just the right amount of detergent and fabric softener to cut down on waste, and remote operations and monitoring via the LG ThinQ app.

Smart dishwashers

Finally we have smart dishwashers, which use automated technology to give your crockery and cutlery a better clean than standard appliances might. The features are similar to those you’ll find on smart washers and dryers: Sensing technology for understanding what’s been loaded in and adjusting the cleaning accordingly, remote app control and smart home integration, and as much automated maintenance and self-cleaning as possible.

Take a look at the Bosch 500 Series, which is priced at $1,250 at the time of writing. It has intelligent sensors to check cleaning progress, an AutoAir feature that automatically pops the dishwasher door open when cleaning is finished to let air circulate, and the option of operating cleaning cycles and other dishwasher features from an app on your phone.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses are now on sale, but actually buying a pair will be a bit more complicated than ordering a pair of Meta’s other smart glasses. That’s because Meta isn’t allowing online sales of its display glasses. Instead, they are only available by reservation at a handful of physical retail stores.

For now, the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are available at select Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters and Best Buy locations in the United States. Verizon will also start carrying the glasses sometime “soon,” according to Meta. The company will also allow people to demo and buy a pair at its own Meta Lab locations. These include the Burlingame, California space that opened as the “Meta Store” in 2022, as well as pop-ups in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York opening in the coming weeks. 

In order to actually get your hands on a pair, though, you’ll need to book an appointment for a demo at one of these stores through Meta’s website. According to Meta, this is “to make sure customers get the glasses and band that’s perfect for them.” (In my own experience with both the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and the Orion prototype, the neural wristband requires a snug fit to function properly.) An appointment will also give shoppers the opportunity to order prescription lenses for the glasses. The glasses only support a prescription range of -4.00 to +4.00, though, so they won’t be compatible with all prescriptions.

The company recently said it’s seen “strong” demand for demos and it looks like most locations are already booked out for several weeks, judging by Meta’s scheduling website. It will also be difficult if you don’t live near a major city. For example, Sunglass Hut’s website currently lists just seven locations where demos will be available. 

The good news is that Meta does plan to eventually increase availability. The company has said the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses will be available in Canada, France, Italy and the UK beginning in “early 2026” and that it expects buying options will “expand” the longer they’re on sale. 

Sales of the glasses, which are Meta’s first to incorporate a heads-up display, will be closely watched. At $799, the glasses are significantly more expensive than the rest of the frames in Meta’s expanding lineup of “AI glasses.” But, as I wrote after my recent demo at Meta Connect, the display also enables wearers to do much more than what’s currently possible with the existing Ray-Ban or Oakley models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-buy-and-try-the-meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-121500138.html?src=rss

Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses are now on sale, but actually buying a pair will be a bit more complicated than ordering a pair of Meta’s other smart glasses. That’s because Meta isn’t allowing online sales of its display glasses. Instead, they are only available by reservation at a handful of physical retail stores.

For now, the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are available at select Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters and Best Buy locations in the United States. Verizon will also start carrying the glasses sometime “soon,” according to Meta. The company will also allow people to demo and buy a pair at its own Meta Lab locations. These include the Burlingame, California space that opened as the “Meta Store” in 2022, as well as pop-ups in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York opening in the coming weeks. 

In order to actually get your hands on a pair, though, you’ll need to book an appointment for a demo at one of these stores through Meta’s website. According to Meta, this is “to make sure customers get the glasses and band that’s perfect for them.” (In my own experience with both the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses and the Orion prototype, the neural wristband requires a snug fit to function properly.) An appointment will also give shoppers the opportunity to order prescription lenses for the glasses. The glasses only support a prescription range of -4.00 to +4.00, though, so they won’t be compatible with all prescriptions.

The company recently said it’s seen “strong” demand for demos and it looks like most locations are already booked out for several weeks, judging by Meta’s scheduling website. It will also be difficult if you don’t live near a major city. For example, Sunglass Hut’s website currently lists just seven locations where demos will be available. 

The good news is that Meta does plan to eventually increase availability. The company has said the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses will be available in Canada, France, Italy and the UK beginning in “early 2026” and that it expects buying options will “expand” the longer they’re on sale. 

Sales of the glasses, which are Meta’s first to incorporate a heads-up display, will be closely watched. At $799, the glasses are significantly more expensive than the rest of the frames in Meta’s expanding lineup of “AI glasses.” But, as I wrote after my recent demo at Meta Connect, the display also enables wearers to do much more than what’s currently possible with the existing Ray-Ban or Oakley models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-buy-and-try-the-meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-121500138.html?src=rss