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October 24, 2026 — No Comments

Siri AI on HomePod: Why Your Old Speakers Miss Out

Smart homeSiri AI
Last updated: 16 October 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
The new Siri is coming to HomePod mini 2. Not to the HomePods I already own.

Siri AI on HomePod stops at the new HomePod mini 2. Apple confirmed on 14 October 2026 that the original HomePod mini will not get it, and the first HomePod is not on the list either. I own two first-generation HomePods and three original minis, so every speaker in my home is on the wrong side of that line.

I have pre-ordered an Apple HomeView to see how much the new Siri changes things. It will replace one of my three minis, the one in the kitchen. That was always the plan, to be honest. It has just been a long wait.

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Published by Stiv in Apple, Consumer Tech, Technology lover
Tags: apple, apple home, Apple HomeView, Apple Intelligence, Apple TV 4K, Apple UK, HomePod, HomePod Mini, ios 27, Siri, Siri AI, smart home, smart home UK
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October 13, 2026 — No Comments

Apple Welcome Home Event: What It Means for Your UK Smart Home

Apple Welcome Home event, UK view: HomeView, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 prices, release dates and the new LG cameras.

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Published by Stiv in Apple, Consumer Tech, Smart Home, Tech News, Technology lover
Tags: apple, Apple event, apple home, Apple Home Collection, Apple HomeView, Apple TV 4K, Apple UK, Apple Welcome Home event, HomePod, HomePod Mini, matter, Siri AI, smart home, smart home UK
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August 6, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Garden Gadgets UK 2026: 12 Picks Worth Buying Now

Twelve garden gadgets tested against real independent reviews, with confirmed UK prices, one honest downside each, and a plain answer on what to buy now versus wait for Black Friday.

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Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Consumer Tech, Green fingers, Smart Home
Tags: garden gadgets, garden gadgets UK, outdoor tech, robot lawnmower, smart doorbell UK, smart garden, smart home, smart home UK
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November 19, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Hue Bridge Pro Review UK 2026: Is the Philips Hub Worth It?

Last updated: 26 March 2026

If you are still working out which ecosystem to commit to, start with our smart home guides instead.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

If your smart-home lighting setup now involves more bulbs than your family has opinions, you need a proper conductor. That's exactly what the Philips Hue Bridge Pro sets out to be. In this Hue Bridge Pro review, we'll dig into whether Signify's upgraded hub truly earns the "Pro" badge, or if it's just the old Bridge in a new graphite suit. After several months of real-world use, here's our honest verdict.

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Published by Stiv in New home, Reviews, Technology lover
Tags: hue accessories, hue lightstrip, hue motionaware, hue sync tv, matter smart home, philips hue bridge pro, philips hue bridge pro review, philips hue bridge vs pro, philips hue review, smart home UK, smart lighting hub
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October 31, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Smart Plugs UK: Tested and ComparedBest Smart Plugs in the UK

Last updated: 24 March 2026

Plugs are usually the cheapest way in, but they are one part of a bigger picture. Our smart home guides hub covers the rest of it.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5

Smart plugs remain one of the cheapest and easiest ways to start building a smarter home. After testing and comparing the best smart plugs UK buyers can get right now, the Tapo P110M is still our top pick for 2026. It offers Matter support, real-time energy monitoring and a compact design, all for under £17. Here is how it stacks up against the Philips Hue, Eve Energy and Meross alternatives.

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Published by Stiv in Reviews, Smart Home, Technology lover
Tags: best smart plug UK, best smart plugs UK, Cool Curation techies, energy monitoring plug, Eve Energy, Matter smart plug, Meross smart plug, Philips Hue Smart Plug, smart home UK, smart plug comparison, smart plug review 2025, Tapo P110M review
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October 30, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Tapo P110M Smart Plug Review UK — Best Budget Matter Plug

Last updated: 24 March 2026

For where a plug sits in the wider setup, we have collected everything in our smart home guides.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 5/5 — Ice cold

Looking for a Tapo P110M review you can trust? Good, because this compact little smart plug has earned a permanent spot in our setup. If you want a smart plug that plays nicely with every major ecosystem, tracks your energy use in real time, and costs less than a couple of cinema tickets, the Tapo P110M is one of the best options in the UK right now. It combines Matter support, energy monitoring and a genuinely thoughtful design at a price that's hard to argue with.

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Published by Stiv in Reviews, Technology lover
Tags: Best budget smart plug, Matter smart plug, smart home UK, Smart plug review UK, Tapo energy monitoring, Tapo Matter support, Tapo P110M review

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