Smart home upgrades just dropped: faster voice, smarter locks and some bold moves from Apple and IKEA. Let's hit the highlights.
Home Assistant Voice Adds Speed, Smarts, and 21 Languages
Chapter 10 upgrades Home Assistant’s voice game: faster playback, multilingual support, smarter audio, and DIY hardware options. It’s a big step toward local, personalized voice control.
iOS 26 Adds Smarter Wi-Fi Features
Apple’s iOS 26 introduces Captive Assist, which syncs public Wi-Fi login info across devices, and Wi-Fi Aware, enabling peer-to-peer connections for third-party apps. Both features aim to make connecting and sharing easier without needing internet access.
Nuki Smart Lock Launches in the U.S.
After a decade of success in Europe, Nuki is bringing its smart lock system to the U.S. market. The lock offers keyless entry, remote access, and seamless integration with major smart home platforms. It’s designed for easy installation and secure control—giving users smarter access to their homes.
IKEA Dirigera Hub Becomes a Full Matter Controller
IKEA just dropped a spicy upgrade for its Dirigera hub: it’s now a Matter Controller and Thread Border Router. That means you can onboard and run third-party smart devices straight from the IKEA Home Smart app, no extra hubs needed. With this beta firmware, IKEA’s no longer just dabbling - it’s stepping into the big leagues of smart home ecosystems.
That's all for now.
Thanks for reading, more coming soon.