I wonder how many signatures we could get for an EU initiative that would require manufacturers to sell same quality "dumb" counterparts to their regular "smart" offerings of appliances and electronics, at the same or lower price.
Dumb TVs, washing machines, coffee makers, toothbrushes, etc. that would not require apps, wifi, bluetooth, phoning home, ads, etc.
Remove anything extra that is not required for the core use case of the product.
What's new in Home Assistant?
2025.7 was filled with so many good things we're bringing you 3 feature highlight videos this month! 
Here's Chapter 1 - Assist asks the questions!
Find the blueprint and what else is new this release on our blog 
https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2025/07/02/release-20257/
You don’t need much to create a smart home information center -- just a Raspberry Pi Pico, an ePaper panel, a battery, and some Python
https://www.makerspace-online.com/smart-home-info-center/?utm_source=mms
#RaspberryPi #PiPico #Python #SmartHome #ePaper #MakerProject #makerspace
Design Milk : The Aqara G410 Is a Smart Doorbell and Home Hub in One https://design-milk.com/the-aqara-g410-is-a-smart-doorbell-and-home-hub-in-one/ #doorbellcamera #securitycamera #SmartSecurity #homesecurity #Technology #smarthome #doorbell #security #Aqara #Main
Energie sparen im Smart Home? Mit dem richtigen Energiemanagement in Home Assistant behält man den Überblick über Stromverbrauch und -erzeugung. Das Dashboard zeigt dir, wo du optimieren kannst – egal ob PV-Anlage oder stromfressende Geräte. #SmartHome #HomeAssistant https://hobbyblogging.de/energiemanagement-in-home-assistant
We have another addition to our Works with Home Assistant program to share - Zooz!
They bring an awesome selection of device types and certified the first Z-Wave devices in the program this year. 
Learn more about what devices they certified in the latest blog 
#HomeAssistant #SmartHome #HomeAutomation
https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2025/07/15/zooz-joins-works-with-home-assistant/
Energie sparen im Smart Home? Mit Home Assistant wird's einfach! Das Energie-Dashboard gibt dir den vollen Überblick über Verbrauch und Erzeugung – so erkennst du die Stromfresser und kannst gezielt optimieren. Wer nicht schaut, verliert! https://hobbyblogging.de/energiemanagement-in-home-assistant #SmartHome #HomeAssistant #EnergieManagement
"But it’s alarming how easy it is for smart device makers to decide that your property won’t work. There’s no easy solution to this problem. "
Uhhh ... yes there is. Use standard protocols or open the APIs. Every device that requires vendor-managed cloud control should be considered as having a limited lifetime, which could blow at any moment.
(I put my Dreo fans and Roborock vacuum in this category. i priced that into my initial purchase decision.)
One more note!
While smart home stuff can seem intimidating/overwhelming at first, it's really no worse than what most people already know.
If we compare:
With:
It's not really any worse, and like, if someone already gets the idea of a display cable adapter, a smart home bridge isn't that far of a leap 
One of my "core" beliefs is that technology exists to make our lives easier. So I've tried my best to make every purchase that's "smart home" related, something that solves a pre-existing (so I don't go looking for new ones...) problem.
Whether this set of purchases, the smart lights I've accumulated, so I no longer leave the lights on for days because I straight up forget to turn them off (ADHD) or some other purchase...
It's always there to make my life easier 
Why these devices specifically?
Because I can now create automations that turn on the airco and air-purifier based on both forecasted and real-time temperature and air quality.
This should help with my (3) medical conditions that are affected by heat and (2) affected by poor air quality 
Smart home additions 2025Q3:
2x Temperature + Humidity sensors (Zigbee) Airco (App + Google home) Zigbee 
Matter Bridge
Air Purifier (Homekit)
Homekit Google Home bridgeI'm really pleased with the "Thirdreality" bridge to add Zigbee devices, the sensors are from the same brand. For the price (each ~20eur) it's a steal.
blog! “Howto: Connect IKEA's Trådfri Zigbee Bulbs to a Philips Hue Hub”
Written because it pissed me off. I hope this helps you in your hour of need.
You have to do one bulb at a time. If you plug in multiple bulbs and try to pair them, it won't work. I don't know why.
You will need a portable lamp - or some other way to bring the bulb as…
Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/07/howto-connect-ikeas-tradfri-zigbee-bulbs-to-a-philips-hue-hub/
⸻
#hue #IoT #lights #SmartHome
PSA: if you have any Belkin Wemo Smart Home Devices, now is the time to reset them and set them up with HomeAssistant, Thread or Apple HomeKit!
(If you are one of the people who knows how to set up HomeAssistant (I’m not one), there’s going to be a lot of people needing your help!)
https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 #SmartHome #HomeKit #Wemo #HomeAssistant #Thread
Omote
"OMOTE is an ESP32 based open source universal remote. Its capacitive 2.8” touchscreen provides an intuitive and snappy user interface for switching devices and settings. No hub or docking station is required as the remote features infrared, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. With its well optimized power consumption, OMOTE can run for months on a charge. And since the design files are open source, you can fully customize them to your devices and needs."
Self-Host Weekly (11 July 2025)
#SmartHome news, software updates and launches, a spotlight on #Kan -- a self-hosted #kanban app, and more in this week's #newsletter recap!
Belkin is going to discontinue their Wemo app and cloud service after 31 January 2026. The devices compatible with HomeKit and Thread will be able to continue working, without the app.
https://9to5mac.com/2025/07/10/belkin-ending-support-for-most-of-its-wemo-smart-home-accessories/
- - -
Belkin va discontinuer leur app et service infonuagique Wemo après le 31 janvier 2026. Les appareils compatibles HomeKit ou Thread vont pouvoir continuer à fonctionner sans l’app.
// Article en anglais //
Wemo plugs were among the first #SmartHome items I got almost a decade ago. They stayed reliable, but I eventually realized the limitations/problems of cloud-based devices like this & started bringing everything under local control. I finally got rid of my last Wemo smart switch back in November, precisely so I don't find my gizmos bricked like these will soon be.
https://9to5mac.com/2025/07/10/belkin-ending-support-for-most-of-its-wemo-smart-home-accessories/
Well I guess that’s the end of #wemo. I was just about to replace the relay in my smart plug but I guess I’ll not bother now. Any recommendations for an alternative?
In 2025.7, we made improvements to the Areas dashboard.
The dashboards the community has shared helped shape this design 
and we would love to see how it works for you. Even if you already have the perfect dashboard, try it out!
Share your thoughts here 
https://forms.clickup.com/2533032/f/2d9n8-32191/NK2MUOVKXQVH2L0NHI
