PCWorld reports that Home Assistant has launched a major update to its default overview dashboard, replacing the old cluttered interface with a clean, organized design featuring three main sections. The redesigned dashboard includes Favorites for quick device access, Areas for room-specific control, and Summaries that aggregate devices by type with easy setup options.

Apple is mandating users upgrade to its new Home architecture by February 10, 2026, or risk losing control of HomeKit-connected smart devices and automations. PCWorld reports the updated system no longer supports iPads as home hubs, requiring an Apple TV 4K ($129+) or HomePod ($99) instead. Despite initial rollout problems in 2022, the re-released architecture since iOS 16.4 promises improved reliability and efficiency for smart home management. Well, this is it: After a series of delays, Apple is finally nixing support for its old Home architecture, meaning those still relying on the previous version of Apple's Home framework have some decisions to make--quickly. The moment of truth arrives February 10, 2026, less than a week away.

Google Home now supports smart button triggers for routines, filling a significant automation gap that Alexa and HomeKit have long offered users. PCWorld reports the update includes additional triggers like humidity levels, robot vacuum status, and contact sensor alerts for enhanced home monitoring.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. If you use AI tools all the time, one of the biggest frustrations is switching back and forth between tabs. If you don't want to interrupt your workflow, try switching to BrowserCopilot AI . This new AI Chrome plugin puts some of the most popular AI tools right into your browser, so you don't have to switch back and forth. BrowserCopilot is a Chrome-based AI assistant that lives directly inside your browser, so it can help on the exact page you are already using.

PCWorld reports that DuckDuckGo's recent poll revealed 90% of respondents prefer searching without AI integration, highlighting growing user resistance to AI-powered search features.

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How to claim Verizon's $20 outage credit The new tool can ensure you're looking at a real video and not AI slop. A Ring camera mounted on the wall. Ring has launched a new tool that can tell you if a video clip captured by its camera has been altered or not. The company says that every video downloaded from Ring starting in December 2025 going forward will come with a digital security seal. "Think of it like the tamper-evident seal on a medicine bottle," it explained. Its new tool, called Ring Verify, can tell you if a video has been altered in any way.

The Meross smart plug mini boasts excellent compatibility and slim construction. On the hunt for new smart plugs to upgrade your home automation? One of our favorite picks, the Meross MSS110 Smart Plug Mini, is currently marked down on Amazon. The two pack is discounted from $34 to $27, and the four pack is down to $34 from its usual price of $52 . These plugs help add smart functionality to otherwise dumb devices around your home, like lamps or fans, so they can be included in your routines.

PCWorld reports that Microsoft is adding AI-powered coloring book generation to Windows Paint, allowing users to create custom pages from text descriptions. This Copilot AI feature will be available on Copilot+ PCs and includes a new fill tolerance slider for more precise coloring effects. Notepad is also receiving updates with lightweight formatting, Markdown support, and faster AI text generation capabilities for enhanced productivity. Adult coloring books have long been a great gift idea for Christmas and birthdays, and now it seems like Microsoft is catching onto their popularity. According to a recent blog post, Windows Insiders are now starting to get access to a new update that adds two features to Windows Paint, one of which is AI-generated coloring books. With the new Coloring Book feature, you can ask Copilot AI to generate a series of coloring book pages according to your descriptions. Microsoft shows an example of cute cats on donuts (see above). The generated pages can then be saved or pasted directly onto the workspace, where you can then color them in yourself. The Coloring Book feature in Paint will only be available on Copilot+ PCs.

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