Govee has released the second generation of its Outdoor Deck Lights in the US. The set (model H3401) has ten individual lights that you screw or stick onto a fence, wall or deck railing, and it works with Matter. Notebookcheck reported the launch on 18 October 2026, Dandy Gadget gives 16 October as the US release date, and T3 covered it on 22 Octob
Wyze has launched the Bulb Cam Pan Color, a security camera built into a colour smart bulb. The Verge reported the launch on 22 October 2026, and the camera is listed in Wyze's store for $99.98, twice the price of the original $49.98 Bulb Cam from last year. The new model adds a motor, so the camera can turn and follow whatever it is tracking.
The Template integration in Home Assistant is getting a new platform: water_heater. The change was merged on 22 October 2026, and its documentation went into the next branch two days later, which puts it on track for Home Assistant 2026.11. It fills a gap that hot water owners know well. A boiler driven by a relay, an ESPHome board or a heat pump i
Aqara has added two lights to its Matter range in China: an E14 version of the LED Bulb T2 and a multicolour LED Strip T2. Matter Alpha reported the launch on 21 October 2026, citing Aqara's Chinese channels. Neither product has a global release date yet.
SwitchBot announced its Permanent Outdoor Lights on 20 October 2026: a 30-metre string of lights meant to stay under the eaves, a balcony or a pergola all year. It is on sale now from SwitchBot's website and Amazon at a list price of US$239.99 (CA$299.99). HomeKit News quotes US$189.99 with a coupon. SwitchBot has not announced European pricing.
GE Lighting, which belongs to Savant, announced on 20 October 2026 that its battery-powered smart shades can now be ordered in custom sizes, with more fabrics and a second roll direction. The custom shades start at $299.99 and are sold only through shop.gelighting.com and Amazon.com. Other retailers keep selling the pre-sized versions. When we chec
A heating automation in Home Assistant, or its Generic Thermostat integration, makes every on/off decision on the server. When Home Assistant restarts for an update, or Wi-Fi between it and the relay drops, nothing is in charge of the heater. ESPHome's thermostat climate platform moves the control loop onto the ESP32 itself. The board reads the tem
Eve Systems' MotionBlinds have so far come in two forms: blinds made to measure, or an upgrade kit that motorises a blind someone already owns. On 19 October 2026 the German site appgefahren reported a third option. Eve now sells ready-made MotionBlinds roller blinds through Amazon and Otto, with prices starting at €179.95 including the Matter moto
IKEA will start selling its LILJEBAGGE smart radiator thermostat in Germany at the start of 2027. An IKEA spokesperson told heise online on 19 October 2026 that sales are planned to begin "right at the start of the new year". The German product page, so far reachable only through a direct link in the IKEA app, lists the price as €14.99. IKEA has no
