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Smart Home Insider

AppleInsider
Matter
Homekit
Apple
Apple Home
Smart Home Technology
Smart Home
Home Automation
Sonos
Apple Homekit
Energy Management
Smart Home Devices
Philips Hue
Aqara
Apple TV
Thread
Switchbot
Samsung
CES 2024
Matter 1.5
Smart Locks

Learn about the latest smart home news on Smart Home Insider! Host Andrew O'Hara discusses the weekly news, exclusive interviews, in-depth how-to's, smart home automations, integrating Siri Shortcuts, and reviews his recent smart home projects with an added focus on Apple Home & Matter.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes335Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Smart Home Insider

Latest Episodes

Andrew O'Hara covers a big week in smart home news. We've updates from Apple, a whole lineup of new smart home devices from Amazon, and we review the new HomePod mini 2.

Apple news

• tvOS 27.2 lets you pair the new Siri Remote with older Apple TVs,... more

YouTube

AI data centers are driving up hardware costs, Matter is gaining momentum, and Nanoleaf is joining forces with SwitchBot to expand beyond lighting. In this episode of Smart Home Insider, host Andrew O’Hara talks with Nanoleaf CEO Gimmy Chu about the ... more

YouTube

Apple just turned the smart home into a full-blown ecosystem play—and Andrew O'Hara and Sigmund Judge break down why the new Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2, HomeView, and Apple Home accessories could change how you live with your devices.

If you care a... more

YouTube

Andrew O’Hara and Dan Turk break down Apple’s newly confirmed smart home event on October 13, then dig into the bigger story: Apple’s long-awaited push into smart home hardware. They also cover Ring’s new smart lock and why it got overshadowed almost... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Gimmy Chu
CEO of Nanoleaf, a smart-lighting and connected-device company.
Nanoleaf
Episode: Nanoleaf CEO on the SwitchBot Merger and the Future of Smart Lighting
Sigmund Judge
Apple TV expert and creator behind Screen Times, Magic Rays of Light and TVOS Today
Screen Times
Episode: Hands on with Apple HomeView, Apple TV 4K, & HomePod mini 2 with Guest Sigmund Judge
Dan Turk
Smart home commentator with experience in public relations.
Episode: Apple & LG Rumored to Partner in an Effort to Fill Your Smart Home
Raj Sundar
Senior Director of Product Management at Xthings
Xthings
Episode: Apple's Smart Home Plans Start to Materialize & Smart Home Security with Ultraloq's Raj Sundar
Leif Lindner
CEO of IFA Berlin
IFA Berlin
Episode: Apple iPhone 18 Event Confirmed & IFA 2026 Preview with Leif Lindner
Dan Wroclawski
Senior Home and Appliances Writer for Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Episode: Flight Tracking Poster, Schlage Sense Pro Review, & Listener Questions with Dan Wroclawski from Consumer Reports
Avi Rosenthal
Chair of the Board for the Z-Wave Alliance
Z-Wave Alliance
Episode: U.S. Bans Foreign Robovacs & How Z-Wave is Staying Relevant in 2026 with Guest Avi Rosenthal
Alan Coleman
Chief Product Officer at Plume
Plume
Episode: Public Beta of tvOS 27, Thread Humidifier, & Smart Home Wi-Fi with Plume CPO Alan Coleman
Ann Olivo
VP of Marketing for Thread Group; Corporate Campaigns Manager for Silicon Labs
Thread Group / Silicon Labs
Episode: How Thread is Fixing Smart Home Networking with Ann Olivo

Host

Andrew O'Hara
Host of Smart Home Insider; long‑time reviewer and commentator on smart home ecosystems with a focus on Apple Home and Matter.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 624 ratings
  • Apple Intelligence for Cameras

    Apples asking price for 5 cameras is BS. I’m hoping there is some sort of information that we are missing. Keep up the good work Andrew

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tatathegreat
    Canadaa month ago
  • Still lacks focus on the smart home

    Entirely too much of Apple’s hardware updates that are NOT Apple Home related. Change the name to Apple Insider Podcast. Oh, wait… that already exists.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Leemoknows
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Interviews (3rd Update)

    Just finished watching (on Apple Podcasts App) the video and its time for an addition to my earlier reviews.

    Your interview with Mehul from Matic was excellent. I’ve been interested in Matic but had not taken the time to research the differences versus other vacuums. It’s obvious Mehul is passionate about his company and the Matic Vacuum as most co-founders would be, but Andrew was willing to ask the hard questions and even follow up with some of your specific issues with Matic.

    Based on... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Retired Technologist
    United States2 months ago
  • Latest Episode with Avi

    Do not have this Avi on again. He took over the show and then says it’s not a political show. But we all know what he is directing everyone to do. The fact you even published this episode is crazy. You are amazing Andrew, but need to be careful with some of these idiots that come on.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ddausend
    United States3 months ago
  • Fix it

    More about Apple Home related smart home products! ADT was on the show this week. Seriously?! I’m NEVER going to use ADT, EVER! Stop this silliness.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Leemoknows
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive feedback on staying current with evolving smart home standards.
Some praise the guest lineup and hands‑on product insights.
Many enjoy practical setup tips and real‑world testing notes.
Criticism centers on audio quality and pacing in some episodes.
Listeners appreciate deep dives into Apple HomeKit and Matter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#189
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#185
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#191
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#205
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#95
Ireland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#98
Philippines/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nanoleaf CEO on the SwitchBot Merger and the Future of Smart Lighting
Q: Walk us through the MCP a little bit. You're basically able to tie this into your AI agents or platforms and control your lighting. How did you guys work on this, and how are different ways that people could utilize this?
Chu says MCP exposes baseline lighting controls to AI so users and developers can create personalized automations and applications, such as scheduling a bright sunrise or changing lights based on stock movements. Some devices still require a computer running the Nanoleaf desktop app to relay commands.
Nanoleaf CEO on the SwitchBot Merger and the Future of Smart Lighting
Q: How do you guys have two versions of outdoor lights, and how do they differ?
Chu explains that the SwitchBot and Nanoleaf lights are currently designed for different ecosystems and customer bases. The SwitchBot lights work with its app, while Nanoleaf offers features such as music streaming and MCP-based AI control; the companies are working toward cross-app functionality.
Hands on with Apple HomeView, Apple TV 4K, & HomePod mini 2 with Guest Sigmund Judge
Q: So what do you think is the biggest contributor to the new higher cost on the Apple TV?
Judge thinks the built-in microphones contribute to the higher price and says the hardware may have been planned before costs rose. He views the new model as aimed at everyday Apple users but priced more like enthusiast hardware.
Hands on with Apple HomeView, Apple TV 4K, & HomePod mini 2 with Guest Sigmund Judge
Q: What do you think of it?
Judge likes the new Apple TV 4K's capabilities, including its A19 chip, AV1 decoding and support for four HomePods, but considers the price a drawback. He also wishes Apple had made more of its gaming potential.
Apple Event Rumors, New Sonos Gear, & How Matic Is Reinventing Robovacs with Co-Founder Mehul
Q: You mentioned LiDAR early on. Why not combine LiDAR with RGB sensors to improve perception, and what's your stance on sensor fusion for Matic?
Mehul explains that the robot's eyes and a 3D understanding from the camera, plus a side IR illumination for night, are sufficient for navigation. He argues that more sensors don't automatically translate to better behavior and emphasizes the importance of placement (top-down vantage point) and robust software more than additional hardware. The robot uses sensors where they provide real value and prioritizes privacy and reliability over simply adding more eyes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Home Insider

What is Smart Home Insider about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Smart Home Insider delivers a steady stream of weekly smart home news, hands-on product reviews, and expert interviews focused on Apple HomeKit, Matter, Thread, and related ecosystems. Episodes typically cover device launches, software updates, ecosystem interoperability, and practical setup tips, often with live demos, Q&A, and sponsor reads. A distinctive strength is a recurring emphasis on local control, privacy, and cross‑protocol compatibility, with frequent guests from standards bodies, major vendors, and industry press. The show remains practical for builders and DIY enthusiasts while staying approachable for casual smart home buyers who want real-world guidance on choosing platforms and devices that play well together. A notable edg... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Smart Home Insider?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Smart Home Insider:

1. AppleInsider Podcast
2. 9to5Mac Happy Hour
3. 9to5Mac Daily
4. Primary Technology
5. The MacRumors Show

How many episodes of Smart Home Insider are there?

Smart Home Insider launched 6 years ago and published 335 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Smart Home Insider?

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What guests have appeared on Smart Home Insider?

Recent guests on Smart Home Insider include:

1. Gimmy Chu
2. Sigmund Judge
3. Dan Turk
4. Raj Sundar
5. Leif Lindner
6. Dan Wroclawski
7. Avi Rosenthal
8. Alan Coleman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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