Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Senior Reviewer, Smart Home

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 8

Everyone’s talking about home robots. But they still can’t do anything.

The buzz at IFA was all around robotics — humanoids, quadrupeds, and wheeled bots designed to be household helpers and companions. I was on a panel (watch it here) where roboticists and entrepreneurs insisted that in five years everyone will know someone with a humanoid at home.

I don’t buy it. Yes, I saw some impressive-looking robots. But behind almost every one was a human with a PlayStation controller.

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 7

Watch this Roomba spit out another Roomba.

The Roomba Duo is a new concept from iRobot. Two vacuums in one: the larger robot is a vacuum and steam mop (I watched it suck up pasta from carpet) and the smaller one sits on top. When the Duo finds areas it can’t reach, it uses a mechanical arm to lower the second bot to the floor.

It feels like an overly complex solution to the traditional limitations of robot vacuums, but it’s nice to see some ambition from iRobot.

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 7

SwitchBot made an AI Furby that’s also a smart home controller.

The Kata Mini is one of those weird AI companions that have little purpose other than to be cute and creepy — speaker and microphone on your keychain plushie, anyone?

But the Mini, a portable, camera-less version of a Kata Friend companion, can also control SwitchBot smart home products. That’s a new way to turn on the lights. It’s coming later this year.

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 4

PSA: The SmartThings V3 hub is nearly sold out.

And they won’t be making more, meaning there won’t be a way to add Z-Wave devices to a SmartThings smart home. Aeotec, which makes both hubs for Samsung, told me they have about 10,000 left, which may last through the end of the year. Samsung discontinued the V3 last year and replaced it with the Smart Home Hub 2, which has twice the performance, but doesn’t support Z-Wave.

The Smart Home Hub (aka SmartThings V3 hub), right, is on the outs. It’s been replaced by the Smart Home Hub 2 (left).

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 4

Tell us how you really feel, Home Assistant.

The fiercely open-source smart home platform had its first-ever booth at IFA this week and, true to form, didn’t pull any punches.

<em>It’s a beautiful, custom embroidered sign</em>.

<em>The booth is a popular spot on the show floor.</em>

1/3Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 4

These color-matched Belkin accessories almost make me want to buy a MacBook Neo.

Along with the chargers and cables, Belkin showed off matching power banks for its colorful laptop at IFA this week. The UltraCharge Pro 20K Power Bank ($99.95) and BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank 5K ($59.95) in matching Neo colors are Apple Store exclusives. The entire collection could really cheer up my desk on a dreary Monday morning.

<em>Belkin’s entire line of Mac Book Neo accessories.</em>

<em>The power bank has an integrated 70 watt cable and digital display.</em>

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Belkin’s entire line of Mac Book Neo accessories.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 4

Dyson launches three new robot vacuums.

The Nurovi range features a robot mop with spinning pads, a vacuum-only option, and an upgraded version of its Spot+Scrub AI, which adds UV detection and comes in white. Nurovi supposedly stands for “neural intelligence” combined with a camera-based vision system, which makes the robots better at navigation than prior models — based on limited demos I saw at IFA in Berlin. All three robots go on sale this month.

<em>The Dyson R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub UV, $1,199, is a vacuum and mop with UV detection to spot and identify stains using Dyson’s signature green illumination. It has 30,000 Pa suction power, and the roller mop extends to clean edges.</em>

<em>Left, the Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry, $549, is a vacuum-only robot, with 21,000Pa and a smaller auto-empty dock. Right, the Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry, $699, uses spinning mopping pads instead of a roller mop. It’s available at Costco.</em>

<em>The R2’s triangular mopping pads can extend and are designed to give better coverage.</em>

<em>The R1 doesn’t have a mopping function.</em>

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The Dyson R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub UV, $1,199, is a vacuum and mop with UV detection to spot and identify stains using Dyson’s signature green illumination. It has 30,000 Pa suction power, and the roller mop extends to clean edges.