AllYouCanTech

Uncover 5 Essential Outdoor Smart Gadgets You Were Unaware You Required

From intelligent speakers to lighting systems, temperature regulators, and robotic vacuums, there’s a smart home solution for nearly every space within your residence or enterprise. This includes technology for both indoor and outdoor settings, although outdoor products often receive less attention. It’s unfortunate, as there are countless outdoor smart devices available, such as security-enhancing items like weather-resistant lights, cameras, and floodlights. That’s the reason we compiled this list of five outdoor smart gadgets you didn’t realize you needed until today. It’s time to shine a light on this technology.

Names like Arlo, TP-Link, and Govee are among the more well-known and dependable manufacturers in the realm of internet-connected devices, and we’re here to highlight them. Each of the five gadgets we’ve chosen is straightforward to install, easy to manage and personalize, and comparatively affordable (except for one high-end item we couldn’t resist including). To create this list, we mainly focused on technology that serves a function, improves an area, or addresses a specific issue efficiently.

A smart plug

The Kasa EP40A Outdoor Smart Plug enables you to manage your outdoor power with assistance from Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple HomeKit. There’s no need for a hub setup inside your home. Just plug the Kasa EP40A into the outdoor outlet you wish to automate and download the Kasa app to link it to Wi-Fi. With a range of 300 feet, you should not encounter any connectivity issues, and you can use the Kasa app to design custom schedules and timers for the two devices you decide to connect.

Ideal for applications from outdoor lighting to powered speakers, the Kasa EP40A has an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. When one of the plugs isn’t being used, simply attach the weatherproof lid to safeguard the internal components. While many users will likely want to manage the EP40A via smart assistants like Alexa and Siri, we appreciated the presence of two manual power switches on the device, allowing individual control of each outlet. So, even in the event of Wi-Fi failure, the plug can remain operational.

A strand of smart lights

If you’re looking to add a touch of style to your backyard patio or increase visibility for security reasons, the Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 is a 144-foot strand of lights we recommend. This RGBICW system provides vibrant and vivid multi-color illumination, as well as warm and cool white hues, creating a more serene ambiance than an animated one. The anti-UV materials protect each bulb from prolonged exposure to sunlight, and its IP65 rating ensures solid dust and water protection. However, the control module is only IP44-rated, so ensure the plug you choose is not exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Once you connect it to Wi-Fi, you can download the Govee Home App (available for both iOS and Android) to control your lights remotely. You can adjust the brightness, shift colors, or select from 47 different scenes to infuse your outdoor space with some much-needed charm. The system is compatible with both Alexa and Google Home, enabling you to manage your outdoor lighting through voice commands and tailored automation.

A smart padlock

When it’s time to secure a bike or lock up a shed or gate, the igloohome Smart Padlock 2 is one of the best tools for the task. Forget about losing a key yet again. This smart padlock revolutionizes your backyard security while simplifying your life. Like a traditional padlock, this IP67-rated smart lock is robust, able to withstand temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 122 degrees. The shackle is rust-resistant, and the lock body is designed to resist corrosion, ensuring that Mother Nature won’t compromise your tech.

The Smart Padlock 2 features a rechargeable battery that can last up to nine months before it needs recharging, at which point you simply connect it to a USB-C charger for about an hour. In terms of smart technology, the Padlock 2 is compatible with the free igloohome app, allowing you to check the lock’s usage and send access codes to authorized individuals. And perhaps the best aspect, the Padlock 2 doesn’t even need Wi-Fi to function — just Bluetooth. However, to remotely use the app, an internet connection is necessary to monitor your smart lock.

A couple of security cameras

Home security is something that’s invaluable. Selecting a reputable brand is also crucial when it comes to the safety of you and your loved ones. That’s why we chose the Arlo Essential Security Camera (2-Pack) as our preferred outdoor surveillance solution. Delivering 2K

Three Key Enhancements Boost ChatGPT’s Effectiveness with GPT-5

the wait for the long-awaited GPT-5 models has concluded. Following months of anticipation, users can finally begin to leverage OpenAI’s advancements in technology. Although some have debated with CEO Sam Altman regarding this assertion in the hours since its release, the organization refers to GPT-5 as its “finest model” thus far — and in numerous respects, it truly is.

OpenAI asserts that GPT-5 has progressed in all the areas it previously excelled in the last version, encompassing coding, mathematics, writing, image generation, and beyond. Nonetheless, there are additional key modifications that will enhance the user experience with ChatGPT following this week’s upgrade.

In addition to the visual app updates, including a revamped ChatGPT interface featuring customizable colors for dialogue bubbles, a voice button, and text highlighting, there are several significant upgrades behind the scenes, such as the removal of the model selector, the introduction of new personalities, and a major enhancement to voice mode. Here’s an overview of these new features.

iOS 26 Update Brings AirPod Functionality to Address Significant Problem

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iOS 26 brings numerous enhancements for Apple devices, including the long-anticipated feature that allows control of AirPods audio through CarPlay.

Mac Application Synchronizes Workflow with Nature’s Cadence

**Portal App For Mac Aligns Your Workflow With Nature’s Cadence**

Portal for Mac is an exceptional application on the App Store, designed by indie developers at Portal Labs. It improves well-being during work, browsing, or leisure. The app changes your wallpaper with vibrant landscapes and spatial audio, immersing you in the splendor of nature. Recently, Portal unveiled its most ambitious feature to date—Circadian Flow. This functionality syncs with your local time, providing curated scenes that mirror the natural light and sounds of the day, with the goal of restoring the natural rhythm that affects sleep, energy, and mood.

Version 1.6 of Portal also includes numerous updates:
– **Favorite Playlists:** Users can build a flow of their preferred portals.
– **Audio Balancing:** Ensures consistent volume across various portals for seamless transitions.
– **Serene Nature Collection:** New portals shot in Iceland, highlighting rare instances of tranquility.

Portal for Mac is accessible on the Mac App Store with a 7-day free trial. It presents subscription choices at $69.99 per year, $12.99 per month, or a lifetime subscription for $299.99, granting full access to both Mac and iOS versions.

Grok’s Loss to OpenAI in AI Chess Tournament: Evaluating Its Importance

the BBC’s article prompted me to ponder one main question while reading: Why does this matter to me?

The rationale behind questioning the significance of this competition stems from the fact that tech firms have traditionally utilized chess as a benchmark for evaluating the capabilities and advancements of machine learning models. This practice has been so prevalent that today’s chess engines typically outmatch human players. However, chess does not equate to real-world scenarios.

With the abundance of news articles highlighting the advancements in AI, it may seem somewhat odd for me to sit here and criticize the reality that Grok was defeated by OpenAI in chess. Although it’s easy to interpret Elon Musk’s post on X regarding the result as just his usual self-promoting commentary, his insights on Grok’s chess performance being merely a byproduct are indeed quite accurate.

Microsoft Copilot Users Receive Complimentary Access to GPT-5

GPT-5 live broadcast. The forthcoming AI experience of the next generation is accessible to every ChatGPT user, including those utilizing ChatGPT Free accounts. To gain access, simply establish a ChatGPT account and remain signed in. Following that, GPT-5 will be free of charge, although there are constraints on usage.

However, ChatGPT is not the sole platform providing complimentary access to GPT-5. On Thursday, Microsoft declared that GPT-5 will be offered at no cost within multiple Copilot products, encompassing the web version of the application and the Copilot apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. Furthermore, GPT-5 will drive AI functionalities in the premium Microsoft 365 Copilot suite of productivity tools, Microsoft Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio Code, and GitHub Mobile. Additionally, GPT-5 will be made accessible to developers in Azure AI Foundry.

Netflix Resurrects Overlooked Dwayne Johnson Fantasy Film

“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” a follow-up to 2008’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” was the type of classic film that blended Jules Verne-inspired visuals with a generally cheerful atmosphere — and, although critics didn’t exactly label it a work of art, audiences still came out in large numbers. So much so, in fact, that the film ultimately surpassed $330 million at the international box office.

Following that, however, the film essentially followed the path of many mid-level blockbusters from the early 2010s. It sort of just disappeared into the background of Johnson’s body of work — eclipsed by movies such as his “Fast & Furious” series and other family-friendly escapades like “Jumanji.”

Enter Netflix. Or, to be more precise, the arrival of “Journey 2” on Netflix, where it’s currently experiencing a resurgence. At the time of writing, the film holds the #5 spot on the streamer’s daily U.S. Top 10 chart, a surprising revival for a fantasy adventure that had nearly disappeared.