| Cult of Mac

Is your smart light bulb giving passwords to hackers?

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A research paper found TP-Link's Tapo L530E smart bulb suffers four security flaws.
A research paper found TP-Link's Tapo L530E smart bulb suffers four security flaws.
Photo: TP-Link

A popular smart light bulb from TP-Link suffers from severe security flaws that could give hackers passwords and other information, researchers said Wednesday.

A paper examined four flaws in the bestselling TP-Link Tapo L530E, which works with Apple’s HomeKit platform.

Belkin’s Wemo smart-home brand taps the brakes on Matter standard

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Wemo products like this dimmer switch work with HomeKit over Thread, but forget about Matter certification for now.
Wemo products like this dimmer switch work with HomeKit over Thread, but forget about Matter certification for now.
Photo: Belkin/Wemo

Belkin’s smart-home accessories brand, Wemo, is “backing away from Matter and dimming our dreams of a smart home utopia.” That’s according to a report published Wednesday.

At a time when companies are rushing to ready products for the new smart-home networking standard, which is meant to let different brands work together, Wemo’s hesitation is a surprise.

Its products work only with HomeKit. Now it looks like that won’t change anytime soon.

Thread-enabled door and window sensor launches HomeKit automations

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The Onvis CT3 contact sensor works exclusively with HomeKit, Siri and the Home app.
The Onvis CT3 contact sensor works exclusively with HomeKit, Siri and the Home app.
Photo: Onvis

Onvis updated its formerly Bluetooth-only CT3 contact sensor with the Thread wireless protocol. That means it should work smoothly with HomeKit and Siri. It won’t just let you know when doors or windows open or close, it will launch related automations.

This is especially good news if you want to jack up home security by automatically tripping alarms or turning on lights when a door or window opens.

LG software update brings Apple services to hundreds of smart TV brands

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Apple TV+ is just one of the features coming to more smart TVs.
Apple TV+ is just one of the features coming to more smart TVs.
Photo: Apple

Consumer electronics maker LG added Apple TV, Apple Music, AirPlay and HomeKit to its webOS Hub Tuesday, making Apple’s core services available to smart TVs from 200 brands that use the custom software.

The update starts rolling out Friday in more than 100 countries and regions. It could provide quite a boost to Apple globally as new users try the features.

What new HomePod temperature and humidity sensors can do for you

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What new HomePod temperature and humidity sensors can do for you
Here's how to take advantage of the temperature and humidity sensors in HomePod 2 and HomePod mini.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

HomePod 2 and (surprise!) HomePod mini both include temperature and humidity sensors. These can be used by Apple’s Home app to control HomeKit accessories. Or just tell you how hot or cold it is in your living room.

Here’s how to use the sensors in Apple’s large and small smart speakers.

Apple prepares for return of Home app architecture upgrade

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iOS 16.2 bring in a new Home architecture upgrade option.
New HomeKit Architecture
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple apparently plans to re-release its update to the underlying architecture of its HomeKit home-automation system in the near future. The upgraded platform for the Home app is included in the latest iOS and iPadOS betas.

The company briefly made this update available to all users in December before withdrawing it due to unspecified problems.

Protect your valuables with Yale’s new HomeKit-enabled smart safes

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Yale's new smart safes come in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi versions.
Yale's new smart safes come in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi versions.
Photo: Yale Home

Worried about keeping your valuables safe? Venerable lock maker Yale said Tuesday it has two new smart safes for you: Yale Smart Safe and Yale Smart Safe with Wi-Fi.

And you can control the new safes using the Home app via HomeKit. Or, in the case of the Wi-Fi-enabled safe, with the Siri voice assistant.