When it comes to smart homes, a couple of universal truths stand out. First, it’s inevitable that your robot vacuum will become an honorary family member. Second, no matter how advanced your setup, there will always be that one stubborn light that refuses to turn on, defying any logical explanation. These peculiarities are part and parcel of the smart home experience.

Despite the promise of futuristic convenience, perfecting a smart home setup remains a complex endeavor. Navigating through a maze of different standards and ecosystems can be daunting. You’ll find yourself customizing control systems and designing features that should be simple. While the industry is moving toward more user-friendly solutions, we’re not quite there yet.

In the latest episode of The Vergecast, we delve into the intricacies of smart home technology with our resident expert, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy. Throughout the episode, Jennifer addresses listener questions about smart home dilemmas. She shares valuable tips, offers purchasing advice, and imparts her extensive knowledge on topics ranging from Apple’s smart home initiatives to high-end smart home brands, and even smart faucets, Home Assistant, Matter, and smoke alarms.

For those with lingering questions, whether for Jennifer or anyone else, The Vergecast team encourages you to reach out via the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11 or email at vergecast@theverge.com. While you’re welcome to inquire about anything, smart home topics are a frequent subject for Jennifer. To further explore the topics discussed in this episode, we’ve included some useful links to get you started.