Pocket-lint Daily - new Apple HomePod and Ikea smart lights

Hi there! By Chris Hall | Thursday January 19 2023 Good morning.  - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Second-gen Apple HomePod ups the audio performance and adds Matter support APPLE What's happened? Apple has [unveiled a replacement]( for its 2018 HomePod smart speaker. Why does it matter? The HomePod (2nd generation) introduces a larger speaker to the line-up again, with the original having been phased out in 2021 and only the HomePod mini continuing. It features a similar design to before but with a number of improvements inside and out. What's my take? The original HomePod didn't launch quite as smoothly as some other Apple products: it was expensive and not all that smart, with Siri limiting the experience when compared to some of its rivals. But, the HomePod mini corrected a lot of that, and the 2023 HomePod has clearly adopted lessons learned with the smaller speaker. It now supports Matter, so can play a role at the centre of your smart home, while it also supports Spatial Audio, so should be able to deliver a better Dolby Atmos music experience. The price has also come down, starting at $/£299, so it could be a lot more attractive as a smart speaker option.  Ikea takes on Philips Hue with Pilskott smart lighting now available IKEA What's happened? Ikea has made available a [couple of elegant smart lighting products]( that can be remotely controlled. They can currently be purchased in the UK and Europe. Why does it matter? The light on both the Ikea Pilskott LED Floor Lamp and Pendant Lamp can be adjusted using Ikea's own Tradfri wireless dimmer or the Ikea Home smart app for mobile. What's my take? In all honesty, Ikea has offered Philips Hue-stye smart bulbs for a while, but the Pilskott range shows that, like its counterpart, the retailer wants to expand the remote-controlled experience to elegant designs too. This is important for smart lighting to kick on to another level, as a smart home newcomer might baulk at the cost of a smart bulb in comparison to a conventional LED alternative. But, they could be more receptive to a natty design and, once used to app control, decide to expand the system. It's just a shame that while Ikea's two solutions - Tradfri and Pilskott - work with the same controls, they aren't Matter certified or compatible with third-parties. Still, it's an affordable way to get a taste of what smart lighting can do.  Lenovo Smart Paper initial review: Your next notebook? POCKET-LINT What's happened? ReMarkable has enjoyed a small corner of the e-paper writing scene for a while, but the competition is growing fast, with the likes of the Kindle Scribe and more recently, Lenovo Smart Paper wanting to make its mark. We caught up with the latter device at CES 2023 to see if it was noteworthy. Our quick verdict The Lenovo Smart Paper is a nicely-built writing device offering a range of convenient connectivity functions. First impressions are good, with a quality slim design and good pen feel. [Read our first impressions.](  In Case You Missed it Hogwarts Legacy players will need to [set aside 75 hours]( to finish it properly. --- You can now pay for [Twitter Blue annually]( and save money. --- There's 40% off the Ring wired video doorbell today, [coming in at $38.99]( instead of $64.99. That's a $26 price cut on the HD video security camera, with two-way audio, motion detection, night vision and Alexa access.  From The Gear Loop MALIK-SKYDSGAARD/UNSPLASH How to maintain your running shoes: The best care advice for keeping your kicks fresh. [Read all about it.](  And finally... POCKET-LINT Apple has launched two new, more powerful Mac minis. [Here's how they compare to each other and the previous model.](  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. In this edition, we talk about the EE Pocket-lint Awards 2022 and discuss all the winners. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.