Smart

Australian television actor and director Alister Smart has died, according to industry website TV Tonight, which published a tribute under its 'Vale' obituary banner. Smart was a familiar face in Australian television across decades of acting and directing work. The announcement has prompted remembrances from viewers and industry figures, though full details of his death and career honours have not yet been widely reported.

Apple's long-rumoured smart home camera is reported to be designed without the ability to record video, according to a new report. The claim suggests the device would focus on live viewing and smart home integration rather than storing footage, a notable departure from rival security cameras such as those from Ring and Nest. The news is drawing debate about privacy trade-offs and how useful a home camera would be without recordings.

Retailers are rolling out early Prime Day discounts on smartwatches and fitness trackers ahead of Amazon's official sale event. PCMag is highlighting the deals, covering price cuts across popular wearables. Shoppers looking to buy a fitness band or smartwatch are being encouraged to take advantage of the pre-sale offers rather than waiting for the main event, with more early promotions expected in the coming weeks.

A roundup highlights five lower-cost Amazfit smartwatches as alternatives to expensive models from premium brands. The piece compares features and prices, arguing shoppers can get solid fitness tracking, battery life and smart features without paying top-tier smartwatch prices. It lands as consumers weigh rising wearable costs and look for better value in the crowded fitness tracker market.

A comparison is making the rounds pitting Google's Fitbit Air against Noise's REP fitness tracker, weighing price against features to help buyers decide which wearable to pick. Coverage breaks down the two devices' pricing, tracking capabilities, battery life and smart features side by side.

An amateur astronomer pointed two smart telescopes, the Dwarf Mini and the Seestar S50, at the same target for the night: M43, De Mairan's Nebula, within the Great Nebula in Orion, M42. The resulting images are being shared with the astronomy community, a popular pastime as Orion returns to winter skies in the northern hemisphere.

Bus passengers who do not use smartphone ticketing apps often pay more than those who buy digital tickets, raising concerns about a two-tier system that disadvantages older people, those on low incomes, and others without mobile phones. Critics argue transport operators should keep affordable cash and paper options, while the shift to app-only fares continues to spread across public transport networks.

Pakistani reviewers and shoppers are debating whether budget kitchen gadgets and smart organizers sold locally are actually worth the money. Content examining cheap household items available in Pakistan is attracting large audiences, reflecting growing interest in affordable home organization products. Viewers appear to want honest assessments before spending on inexpensive tools that often promise more than they deliver.

Home Assistant, the open-source smart home platform, has announced it is renaming its cloud service, arguing that large technology companies have degraded what 'the cloud' means through subscriptions, data harvesting and lock-in. The company says the new name reflects its different approach, with servers run by its partner Nabu Casa funding development. Readers online are debating whether the rebrand meaningfully changes anything or is largely a marketing move.

Retailers are rolling out early October Prime Day discounts on home improvement products, covering power tools, yard care equipment, smart home devices and holiday lights. Shoppers are browsing the deals ahead of the main sale event, with coverage highlighting which tool and smart home bargains are worth grabbing before prices change.

Meta is opening its Muse AI agent to independent and DIY hardware developers, reportedly offering free smart home devices to encourage experimentation on the platform. The move signals Meta's push to expand its AI assistant beyond first-party products and into a broader ecosystem of third-party gadgets. Details on eligibility and how developers can access the program remain limited so far.

SKYX Platforms is reportedly pursuing a merger with Deako, a provider of smart-home electrical systems, in a move aimed at scaling its plug-and-play electrical technology across the residential market. The proposed combination would bring together SKYX's platform products with Deako's installed base, strengthening its position in the growing smart-home sector. Details on deal terms and timing have not been disclosed.

A personal finance tool called SpotFunds is promoting a 'smart spending coach' that nudges users before they overspend rather than after, helping them stretch discretionary money between paychecks. The pitch argues that real-time warnings beat retrospective budgeting, and the team is reportedly seeking a 50 Apple developer account as it builds out the product. Early reaction online is modest but focused on the timing-of-alerts idea.