Hey I know that we’re only in month three of 2026 and there are new products being introduced all the time. However, Aqara came out with a banger of a smart lock, the Aqara U400 that has now raised the bar.
It actually dethroned my previous favorite smart lock of all time, the Lockly Visage Zeno on one of my doors.
Why is the Aqara U400 so cool?
The Aqara 400 is the first available smart lock to support UWB (Ultra Wide-Band) here in the U.S. This technology enables you to unlock your door just by approaching it with your phone in your pocket or Apple Watch on your wrist. I’m not talking about waving your phone or watch in front of the lock (that’s Apple Home Key technology which this lock supports too), no I mean just having a compatible device on you.
I let this one slip by, but don’t worry I recorded a video that you can review the latest updates to the Lightroom Ecosystem. This includes Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom on mobile.
If you followed that original video, you might have noticed that newer accessories (like Govee Matter lights) pair successfully but then inevitably throw a dreaded “No Response” error in the Apple Home app a few minutes later.
After diving deep into the latest UniFi OS updates and the strict networking requirements of the Matter protocol, I’ve completely overhauled my UniFi configuration. We are ditching the tedious port-specific firewall rules and fixing the multicast settings that are silently breaking your smart home.
This is important: While I initially visualized this setup around a UDM-Pro, UniFi’s form factors have diversified. But whether you have a cylindrical Dream Machine or Dream Router, or a rack-mount Dream Machine Pro, Pro Max, or next-gen Gateway, they all run the exact same UniFi OS, and this guide is the definitive update for all of them.
Here is the bulletproof way to configure your modern UniFi gateway for Apple Home, Home Assistant, Homey Pro, and Matter.
1. Ditch the Port Rules for “Stateful” Firewall Rules
In my original video, I had you create a Network Object for specific ports (80, 443, and 5353 for mDNS) and build rules around them. Delete those rules.
I had one Ring camera left and this was the wakeup call I needed to dump it!
It’s been a while, but if there was ever a time to talk about ditching the blue ring, it’s right now. Honestly, the honeymoon phase with Ring didn’t just end—it hit a wall during this year’s Super Bowl. What was supposed to be a “heartwarming” ad about using AI-powered cameras to find a lost puppy (the “Search Party” feature) actually ended up creepier than intended.
For a lot of people, seeing a neighborhood-wide surveillance net tracking a golden retriever felt like a one-step jump away from tracking them. Toss in the leaked internal emails about “zeroing out” crime, the constant subscription price hikes, and that messy (and now-cancelled) partnership with the license-plate-trackers at Flock Safety, and it’s easy to see why so many of us are over it. If you’re tired of “surveillance-as-a-service” and want your privacy back, it’s time to look at some better ways to keep an eye on your front porch.
My first recommendation is to move to a camera system with local storage and no subscriptions!
Adobe has officially launched Photoshop on iPhone, bringing the power of Photoshop to your pocket! This all-new app is designed to make professional-grade image editing more accessible and intuitive for mobile users. Whether you’re a photographer, designer, or content creator, you can now edit, retouch, and composite with precision—all from your iPhone.
Key Features of Photoshop on iPhone
Familiar Photoshop Tools, Optimized for Touch
• Work with layers, selections, masking, and adjustments just like you would on the desktop.
• The interface is reimagined for a seamless mobile-first experience.
Hey everyone, especially those in the US. Happy Thanksgiving and, of course, Happy Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There are some really good deals this year, and I thought I would take a moment to share a few of my favorites. As usual, these are gear deals that I use and would recommend. Some links may be affiliate links that help the page but don’t cost you any extra. So, let’s get to the savings:
It’s that time of year again, and as a tech reviewer and photographer, I usually get a new iPhone to have better tech, get camera improvements, be able to make recommendations, and answer your questions. This year was no different. I got the new iPhone 16 Pro.
Let me answer the first question I get when I say what I just said: “Why didn’t you go with the iPhone 16 Pro Max?” People are usually shocked when I say, “I don’t like the bigger phone!” After all, what’s not to like? It’s a bigger screen, usually longer battery life, and a feature or two that the regular “smaller” Pro model doesn’t have. So why wouldn’t I get the 16 Pro Max? Here’s why: I had a 13 Pro Max, and all I remember saying for an entire year was, “I can’t wait till the iPhone 14 Pro comes out so that I can go back down in size.”
I didn’t like the bigger iPhone at all. It wasn’t hand-friendly for one-handed use, and I always felt like I was going to drop it. It was too bulky for my pocket. I just didn’t like it, and I don’t miss it.
It’s that sale that many of us wait for each year, and this year, there are actually some pretty great savings on gadgets and smart home gear. I’m sharing my list of things I either own and love that are on sale or things that I actually bought this year, too.
So, in no particular order:
Eve Flare
25% Off (was $99.95, now $74.95)
Eve Flare is a rechargeable portable smart LED lamp that not only can you change the color of but also take it with you to the patio, pool or any other setting as it’s IP65 water resistant. I already have two of these and just bought a third for my office.
I feel like I’ve gone full circle on robot vacs. I started with Roomba and then got swayed to other brands (Roborock) with better AI/performance and mopping. However, they became overly complicated to maintain, and I’m back to Roomba with this j7+. I bought one at $599 and am now buying a second at this half-off price for upstairs. It works better than any other robot vacuum I’ve used.
I’m happy to share the news about today’s Adobe Photography Release (May 2024). There are updates across the Lightroom Ecosystem, including Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom on Mobile, and Lightroom on Web.
Today, we are introducing a groundbreaking feature in Lightroom-Generative Remove, powered by Firefly. This innovative tool allows you to effortlessly eliminate distractions from your photos with a single brush stroke, all without the need to switch to Photoshop.
We’ve also improved Lens Blur (which was in Early Access), making it easier than ever to control the depth of field in your photos with professional results.
Easily remove distractions with Generative Remove (early access)
Available on Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom for mobile (iOS & Android), Lightroom for web, and Adobe Camera Raw
With Generative Remove, powered by Firefly, you can easily remove unwanted objects and distractions, even on complex backgrounds, in just a few simple steps.
I create social posts and videos several times a week to share with my community. Most of the time, I need to create that content while I’m on the go and in the moment, which means that I want to do it on my phone. Last year, Adobe completely revamped Adobe Express on the web with a modern interface that offered several new features. However, the mobile app was still based on the old platform.
