HomeTech.fm Episode 551 - Fingerprints, Floods, & Futureproofing
Nov 21, 2025
Explore the thrilling intersection of AI and neighborhood safety with claims that smart tech could reduce crime. Discover the latest in Zigbee 4.0's long-range capabilities and hear about a groundbreaking leak sensor from Shelly. Dive into Kaleidescape's new compact server for cinephiles and see how Wyze's upgraded smart lock does in real-world testing. Alongside tech reviews, the hosts share personal project updates and humorous takes on quirky smart home setups!
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Conference Filled With Agentic AI Demos
- Gavin attended Microsoft's Ignite and found the conference dominated by agentic AI demos and agent management tools.
- He observed demos of agents emailing other agents and worried about job displacement.
Zigbee 4.0 Targets Long Range And Interop
- Zigbee 4.0 adds sub-gigahertz support, BLE onboarding, and batch commissioning to improve range and interoperability.
- Backwards compatibility helps, but new chips are needed for low-power long-range features rolling out in 2026.
Pick Flexible, Low-Power Leak Sensors
- Choose flood sensors with long sensor cables and multi-protocol support for flexible installs.
- Prefer Zigbee or Matter for lower battery drain over Wi‑Fi where local control matters.