Smart Home & IoT

Carlsbad – September 18, 2026 -- Arlo Technologies has launched Arlo Secure 7, a software update that adds AI-driven threat detection and automatic video summaries to its home security cameras, rolling out to subscribers over the next month.

Threat Assessment flags break-ins and fires within seconds

The new Threat Assessment feature scans camera footage to distinguish real emergencies -- break-ins, fire, armed threats, or theft -- from routine activity. When it detects a high-risk event, the system automatically responds, turning on a camera's siren or spotlight, sending urgent alerts that override Mute and do-not-disturb settings, or escalating the situation to a live Safety Agent for possible emergency dispatch. Arlo says the feature is designed to trigger action within seconds of an event being detected.

Tulsa – September 18, 2026 -- Tulsa-area homeowners facing triple-digit September heat followed by sudden cold fronts can cut utility bills using smart thermostats, according to Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, a home services company based in Glenpool, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma electricity costs have climbed 26.9% in five years

Average residential electricity costs in Oklahoma have risen 26.9% over the past five years, according to Energy Factbook and U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That increase has made energy efficiency a bigger priority for households managing fall's unpredictable temperature swings.

New York – September 18, 2026 -- BOOX has unveiled three new E Ink devices -- the Note Air6 C, Note Mini C, and Palma 3 -- all running Android 16 with built-in Google Play Store access to more than 2 million apps.

The Note Air6 C targets note-takers and readers who want an all-in-one workflow.

Priced at $579.99 and available now, the 10.3-inch color notebook features a Kaleido 3 display with 4096 colors and 300 ppi black-and-white resolution. New V4.3 firmware adds Dual Notes for side-by-side document annotation, an enhanced Calendar Memo with a Lasso tool, and Talk Insights, an AI-powered meeting and audio transcription feature. The device pairs with the included BOOX Pen3 stylus, offering 4096 pressure levels, and an optional keyboard folio that connects via pogo pins and charges through its own USB-C port. It runs on an octa-core 4nm processor with 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, and a 3700mAh battery, weighing roughly 430g at 5.8mm thin.

New York – September 18, 2026 -- Canon has unveiled the EOS R8 Mark II, a full-frame mirrorless camera that keeps the 24.2-megapixel sensor of its predecessor while adding in-body image stabilization, a rear joystick, and a deeper buffer for burst shooting. The camera is available as a body alone or bundled with the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens.

The body gets a sharper, more angular redesign

Compared to the smooth curves of earlier Canon models, the R8 Mark II features a more angular shell with fewer visible controls on top. The mode dial, power switch, record button, and M-Fn button remain in familiar spots, but the video mode switch beside the viewfinder housing has been removed.

A long-requested joystick finally arrives

Canon has added a multi-controller joystick to the back of the camera, letting users move autofocus points and navigate menus more easily. The AF-on button has also been relocated for a more comfortable grip.

Irvine, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Kiwibit has launched the Bird Feeder 2 Pro, which it calls the world's first smart bird feeder with 4K HDR imaging and auto-focus. The device went on sale in the United States on Sept. 15 through Kiwibit's website and Amazon.

The feeder brings phase-detection auto-focus to backyard birdwatching for the first time

An upgraded high-resolution image sensor and phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) keep birds sharp as they move or change distance from the camera. HDR imaging preserves detail across both bright and shaded areas of the frame.

Woodinville – September 18, 2026 -- PowerA has released a new line of officially licensed Harry Potter gaming accessories for Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, marking the start of a multi-year partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products.

Four Hogwarts houses get their own Switch 2 gear

The debut lineup includes a Nintendo Switch 2 Advantage Wireless Controller priced at $69.99 and Nintendo Switch 2 Protection Cases at $24.99, each themed around one of the four Hogwarts houses. The designs let fans display their house pride directly on their gaming setup.

Xbox controllers feature Chibi art and Quidditch styling

An Xbox Wired Controller, priced at $34.99, depicts Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and other characters in a Chibi-inspired art style. A pricier Xbox Advantage Wireless Controller, at $99.99, draws on the visual language of Quidditch and includes gold-accented details.

Buena Park, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Yamaha has unveiled the B200A, a 23.5-inch Dolby Atmos sound bar aimed at bedrooms, apartments, home offices and gaming setups where space is tight. The compact bar will cost $249.95 and hits shelves in November 2026.

The B200A squeezes 3D audio into a small footprint

Yamaha combined Dolby Atmos with its Hi-Fi engineering background to build an audio field around listeners rather than just projecting sound forward. A built-in subwoofer handles low-end output, and a Bass Extension mode adds extra punch for movies and games without requiring a separate subwoofer unit.

"The B200A was designed for people who want better sound without giving up valuable space," said Alex Sadeghian, Yamaha's director of consumer audio. He said the bar targets bedrooms, apartments, home offices and gaming setups where users want immersive sound in a simple, everyday package.

San Francisco – September 17, 2026 -- WaterField Designs launched the SteamPack, a $179 structured case built to carry a full Steam Deck setup, including the dock, two Steam Controllers, power brick and cables, available starting 8 a.m. PDT Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 at SFBags.com.

The case solves a portability gap between the handheld and its accessories

While the Steam Deck itself travels easily, the dock, controllers and cords needed for big-screen play do not, according to the company. The SteamPack organizes all of these components so a user can bring a complete setup to a hotel, a friend's home or any other destination with a display.

Seattle – September 16, 2026 -- Tineco closed out IFA 2026 with a string of awards for three new floor care products, covering steam cleaning, wet-dry washing and cordless vacuuming.

The FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam, FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam and PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch each received the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026.

The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam heats water to 230°C in seconds

The S9 Artist Boost Steam also won the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026 Indoor Cleaning Technology Gold Award, plus recognition from Smarthome Assistant and a Tech Star 2026 honor from GameStar Tech. Its BoostSteam technology reaches 230°C, producing steam in 20 seconds on first use and as fast as five seconds afterward. The device pairs high-temperature steam with Tineco's intelligent floor-washing system in one machine.

Hoofddorp – September 12, 2026 -- EZVIZ has introduced a new lineup of AI-powered video doorbells, video intercoms, and gate openers designed for European homes, showcased in Hall 1.2 at IFA. The company's smart access portfolio won recognition at the Digital Trends Publisher Awards during the event.

The EP8 Ultra doorbell adds a built-in AI screen for shared entryways

The EP8 Ultra, launched shortly before IFA, features dual cameras that detect both visitors and packages -- a rarity among current models, according to EZVIZ. It also includes an interactive screen with AI characters for more personalized interactions and on-device facial recognition designed to reduce energy use, aimed at multi-family building entrances.