Security platform Abode has produced a new smart home automation engine

So, it looks like Abode (rhymes with home, roots in Middle English, not to be confused with big-A Adobe) has quietly launched a new smart home automation system that will interface with smart home products including Nest, Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, and more. The company’s latest wingding is called “Adobe Cue,” a platform that users can use to create, edit and manage Abode automations. The company doesn’t directly call it out in their release, but it sounds very much like it’s running on an IFTTT (If This, Then That) model that analyzes current conditions and then automates a response, well, automatically. Through Cue, Abode users can create, edit, and manage their smart home devices through automations that dictate how the smart home platform responds to certain conditions. An Abode automation is much like skills for Amazon’s Echo devices or Google Assistant’s actions, meaning a user-defined rule that tells the system how to react when specific events occur. The Abode automation consists of two fundamental components: a trigger and an action. In other words, When an event happens (trigger), Then perform the thing (the action). If this, then that — ta da, you’ve built yourself an IFTTT platform. The tricky part here is Abode’s definition of “conditions.” This is an additional layer of customization that the smart home automation platform hasn’t advertised previously. The company says that it has added a third component, meaning that its automation platform only responds when an event occurs (and then it performs the programmed action, but only if the trigger is actually true, meaning that smart home actions are conditioned upon what the smart home platform is detecting at the time. “The introduction of the conditions layer makes the Abode Cue the new standard for how intelligent your home can be with an install-it-yourself smart home security system and it sets Abode apart from any other DIY solution currently available,” said Abode CEO and founder Christopher Carney in a release. “We took feedback from our dedicated customer base to heart and have created the Abode custom engine to be more powerful than any other program currently available that helps users customize their smart home experience.” Beyond the introduction of a third layer of smart home automation commands, Cue enables Adobe users to create automations that feature multiple triggers (grouped together with the word “Or”) and multiple actions (grouped together with the word “And”). Users can also create automations in groups that include “Status Triggers,” changing modes from Home to Away; “Location Triggers,” (triggering actions based on the geolocation of a linked mobile device); and “Schedule Triggers,” which automate actions based on a user-defined schedule or time-slash-day-based triggers. Abode is a somewhat rogue operation in the smart home market, founded in 2014 by former ADT executive Carney to offer a no-contract home security platform with comprehensive smart home security functionality. Roku might be known for its streaming sticks and smart TVs, but the brand also has a strong presence in the smart home market. From video doorbells and smart lights to plugs and motion sensors, Roku’s smart home catalog is surprisingly robust. The catalog is set to expand in the coming months, as Roku has officially revealed two upcoming security cameras — the Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus. The Roku Battery Camera Plus is the most enticing of the two, as it can get up to two years of battery life on a single charge (the Battery Camera gets up to six months). They can also be combined with an optional solar panel to extend their battery life. Beyond that, most specs are shared — including 1080p resolutions, color night vision, and the option to receive motion alerts when activity is detected around your home. Skylight is responsible for a variety of smart display alternatives with a focus on organization and schedule planning. Last summer, it launched the premium Cal Max — a 27-inch smart calendar that we called a “streamlined smart display alternative.” Since its arrival, Skylight has continued to roll out new features to the device, and now you’ll find a powerful feature called Routines available across the Skylight Calendar lineup. Designed to simplify chores and build good habits for the entire family, it’s a unique new feature that changes how you interact with the display. The idea behind Routines is simple — offer visual feedback and an easy-to-use interface to make it easier than ever to keep track of (and complete) all your chores. These can be set up on a recurring schedule, allowing you to program in everything from a quick 15 minutes of reading before bedtime or a few minutes each morning for your kids to brush their teeth. Routines can be customized with various emojis and color-coding to help keep track of them, and a fun confetti animation is triggered once they’re complete. Summer is just around the corner, and Dreo is gearing up for its arrival by launching several new smart devices. Some products are available now, while others will arrive within the next few months, though all are specifically designed to help you stay cool and improve your indoor air quality. The Dreo Summer 2025 lineup includes fans, portable air conditioners, air purifiers, and humidifiers, most of which are bundled with useful smart features to improve their performance and give you easy ways to control their settings. The most premium of the bunch is the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 319S — its 10,000 BTU system is powerful, quiet, and drainage-free, making it an excellent way to cool your home. It also works with both Google and Alexa, and voice controls are supported for ease of use.