AllYouCanTech

5 Unexpected Findings about Smart Home Technology

5 Uncommon Insights About Your Smart Home

The smart home is rapidly becoming a fixture in our lives, as many households now have a couple of smart gadgets. Typically, this includes a smart speaker, a smart TV, and possibly a smart video doorbell. Yet, the smart home is capable of so much more. As people accumulate additional devices, they start to see how effortlessly they can integrate them all for unified control over various functions, whether through a single button press or a voice command.

For instance, create a “Good Morning” scenario that illuminates the lights, sets your preferred morning news channel on a smart speaker, adjusts the thermostat since no one will be home, and automatically locks the front door at 9 a.m. after you’ve left for the day in case you forget to do it yourself. You might have motion sensors that recognize your presence in a room to turn lights on and off or alert you when unwanted guests or mischievous pets are where they shouldn’t be. The opportunities are limitless, and regardless of how much you believe you understand about a smart home, there’s always more to discover.

You can incorporate helpful sensors

In addition to the most popular smart home gadgets, there are beneficial sensors that you might not even know exist. These include smart water leak detectors from companies like Moen and First Alert. Place one in areas prone to leaks, such as underneath the sink, next to the toilet or washing machine, or near a basement sewer drain. If it detects moisture, it can notify you via the app and even trigger an alarm, allowing you to take action before it escalates into an expensive issue.

There are outdoor motion detectors from brands like Philips Hue that can notify you when someone or something approaches a designated area. Position one near your car in the driveway, linked to smart lights that illuminate to deter a would-be thief in the night. Additionally, you can configure them to send alerts for any detected motion.

There are even sensors you can attach to a window that send a notification if it’s opened. Sorry kids, no more sneaking in your boyfriend or girlfriend at night like they do in films! These merely scratch the surface of the less common smart sensors on the market for homes.

Transform any device into a smart one with a plug

Upgrade older devices into smart devices with smart plugs — convenient accessories that are among the must-have smart home gadgets. They resemble conventional adapters and fit into a standard AC outlet. However, they come with integrated Wi-Fi, transforming anything plugged into them into a remotely controllable device.

This is particularly useful for small appliances such as automatic coffee makers. Prepare the water and coffee grounds the night prior, then turn on the machine from your bed in the morning so a fresh brew is ready by the time you wake up. They can also be used for items like fans and lamps.

Smart plugs are especially ideal for seasonal decorations and outdoor lighting. Plug the Christmas tree into one and schedule it to turn on automatically or control it remotely. No more contorting behind branches and ornaments to reach the plug or darting out of bed to turn off the lights you forgot about.

They aid in energy conservation

Smart home technologies, including smart thermostats, lighting, and switches, have a valuable secondary benefit: they promote energy efficiency. For instance, a smart thermostat adapts to your behavior over time, especially when interacting with other devices through motion detection. If you typically maintain a 9-5 work schedule, it can take this and motion sensing into account to slightly adjust the temperature, preventing unnecessary heating or cooling in an empty home.

Additionally, programming lights on a timer ensures they aren’t accidentally left on, wasting energy. Consider the expense of forgetting to turn off all lights while you’re away for a weeklong holiday! Motion sensors can also control lighting based on room occupancy. The latest interoperability standard for smart devices, Matter 1.4, even includes water heaters for more effective home utility management and automation.

Creating routines in an app, such as “Good Night,” that automatically powers down the lights, television, decreases the thermostat a few degrees, and shuts off other non-essential devices, can conserve energy effortlessly.

Smart AI predicts requirements

Both Google and Amazon have recently rolled out upgrades to their home control and voice assistant systems, making artificial intelligence even more sophisticated. Their assistants now engage with users in a more conversational manner. They don’t just respond to your requests but can also foresee them.

Google has updated Google Assistant to Gemini, allowing you to request a recipe, and it will automatically add the necessary ingredients to your grocery list. Tell it you’re preparing to cook and need to turn on the lights, and it will intuitively understand you mean in the kitchen. Provide specific instructions, like

How to Keep Watching Anime After Crunchyroll Concludes Its Free Plan

Cord Cutter News reports that as of January 1, 2026, Crunchyroll will discontinue its ad-supported service. Therefore, the only method to access shows from the platform will require an active paid subscription. Currently, Crunchyroll maintains the same three subscription tiers: the base plan at $7.99/month, Mega Fan at $11.99/month, and the premium Ultimate Fan at $15.99.

Although the service has not yet revealed any intentions to modify its pricing structure, it is now concentrating on growing its number of paying subscribers. This shift follows Crunchyroll’s merger with Funimation a few years ago, establishing the streaming service as the leading anime platform available. Nonetheless, if you’re seeking alternative avenues to stream anime without cost, here are three options that may appeal to you.

Inactive Volcano Erupts Following More Than 10,000 Years

On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Hayli Gubbi, a volcano located in Ethiopia’s Afar Region, erupted for the first time in documented history. Researchers estimate that the last significant activity took place between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago, yet records from this isolated region are virtually lacking. The fact that a volcano is inactive does not imply it won’t erupt unexpectedly.

Hayli Gubbi is positioned at the southern extremity of the Erta Ale Range, part of the East African Rift System, the zone where the African continent is literally splitting apart. The eruption expelled an ash plume soaring to nearly 45,000 feet (13,700 meters) high, well within the typical cruising altitude for commercial aircraft, which is normally between 33,000 and 40,000 feet.

The eruption commenced around 11:30 a.m. local time and was mostly complete by 11 p.m. on the same day. The eruption’s power tore apart Hayli Gubbi’s summit, forming an additional crater approximately 650 feet (200 meters) wide, along with a smaller third crater. In Semera, a city located about 120 miles (190 kilometers) to the south, residents heard the explosion and felt the shock wave. Analysis of satellite data indicated that the plume contained around 220,000 tons of sulfur dioxide mixed with ash and crushed rock.

### Ash from Hayli Gubbi reached India in 35 hours

The ash plume was transported across the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, blanketing Yemen and Oman before descending into southern Pakistan and northern India. Reports indicated that by 11 p.m. on November 24, the plume reached Delhi, covering approximately 2,566 miles (4,130 kilometers) from its origin. This distance is comparable to that from New York to Los Angeles, accomplished in only 35 hours.

Volcanic ash poses a risk to aircraft, as the ash particles can obstruct the intake systems of jet engines. At high altitudes, silica deposits can melt and create a glass-like residue that can cause engine malfunctions. Air India canceled 11 flights, and Akasa Air suspended its services to the Middle East. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued advisories for pilots to report any encounters with ash.

Hayli Gubbi is categorized as a shield volcano, which typically has mild eruptions, making this explosive event unusual. The eruption is classified as sub-Plinian, defined by powerful vertical columns and extensive ash dispersion. This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of volcanoes within the East African Rift System.

### Villages buried under ashfall

Although the eruption was abrupt, it was not entirely unforeseen, due to early-warning indicators of volcanic activity. Nearby, the Erta Ale volcano exhibited explosive behavior on July 15, alongside a magma intrusion that moved southeast along a dike towards Hayli Gubbi. Fissure vents emerged along the rift, with the nearest group situated just 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) from the volcano’s crater. Earlier this year, satellite observations also detected ground uplift. From July 25 to November 18, a peculiar white cloud appeared within the crater. These anomalies suggest magma movement inside the crater, paving the way for this eruption.

The worst-hit areas were the towns affected by ashfall. Afdera, a village located 17 miles (28 kilometers) west of the volcano, found itself buried in volcanic ash. Residents reported issues such as breathing difficulties and severe coughing, leading to the deployment of emergency medical teams to the area.

Aside from ash, the eruption released around 220,000 tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, potentially affecting local air quality. This eruption exemplifies the unpredictability of dormant volcanoes, even after a silence lasting 10,000 years.

How Does Apple CarPlay Link: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?

Apple CarPlay advice and techniques to maximize its use. However, have you ever thought about whether CarPlay connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi? The brief answer is both, particularly in newer vehicles that allow for wireless CarPlay connectivity — in contrast to a wired USB link between your iPhone and the automobile. When initiating a wireless CarPlay session, your iPhone initially employs Bluetooth to create a secure connection and to seek authorization to pair.

After your vehicle grants iOS the go-ahead, Wi-Fi takes charge, forming a closed network to facilitate data synchronization and to ensure your CarPlay-compatible applications operate seamlessly while you drive. You’ll also want to confirm that cellular data is activated, as navigation, music streaming, and other connected functionalities depend on it. Certain CarPlay-equipped vehicles are capable of both wired and wireless connections, while some are exclusively wired. But what if you’re operating one of the early CarPlay models that didn’t incorporate Bluetooth at all? Let’s discover.