Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord: Sigmund extended his love of the Apple TV to the keyboard color of his new silver iPad Magic Keyboard, changing out the white keys for black versions. Members had lots of thoughts about Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PCs that claim to outperform the M3 MacBook Air. Tim did...
Apple Needs to Stop Leaning on the iPhone for Support
“Hey, Siri, turn off the TV.” “I’m sorry, something went wrong; please check that your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as this HomePod.” This common refrain in our household is emblematic of a current problem facing Apple: its frequent reliance on the iPhone to prop up the rest of the ecosystem. For context,...
Tadoº Announces New Range of Smart Heating Products Supporting Matter Over Thread
Tadoº, the European-based smart heating company, has announced a new line of products called tadoº X. These products feature upgrades from the company’s previous V3+ range, support the new Matter smart home standard, and are built on the Thread protocol for a more reliable connection.
Tadoº also announced a new product, the Heat Pump Optimizer X. This device controls heat pumps, an increasingly popular way to heat homes that is more efficient and not dependent on fossil fuels. Tadoº says the new tadoº X range “has been designed to make Smart Thermostats and the new Heat Pump Optimizer X more accessible for millions more households across Europe to cut both their energy bills and impact on the climate.”
The tadoº X line includes the following products:
- Smart Thermostat X
- Smart Radiator Thermostat X
- Wireless Temperature Sensor X
- Heat Pump Optimizer X
- Bridge X (which serves as a Thread border router)
Amongst the notable upgrades, the Smart Radiator Thermostat X now features a USB-C rechargeable battery that can be detached without removing the whole device from the radiator. The Heat Pump Optimizer X can be used with tadoº’s smart energy tariffs to shift operation times to periods of the day when energy prices are cheaper. Finally, the tadoº Bridge X that serves as a Thread border router, allowing your devices to connect to each other and the Internet, is not necessary if you already have a HomePod mini or the Wi-Fi + Ethernet version of the latest-generation Apple TV 4K, as these also serve as Thread border routers.
As before, the tadoº range is compatible with the Apple Home app, but most features – such as advanced scheduling and checking battery levels – are only available in the tadoº app. The devices also integrate with an optional subscription called ‘Auto-Assist’ that gives access to additional features including Energy IQ, Care & Protect, Geofencing, and Open Window Detection. This service costs €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, but each tadoº X product comes with 12 months free.
I have personally used tadoº products for over three years now (and covered them recently in our home accessories roundup), and I’ve seen genuine savings in my usage. (tadoº claims an average of 22% savings based on internal usage data.) One flaw I’ve sometimes encountered is dropped connections, as the previous V3+ range could only connect to a single bridge that had to also connect via ethernet to my router. The move to Thread should hopefully alleviate these issues.
I will have to wait for the new tadoº range, however, as it is not launching in the UK yet. In response to an inquiry about this, tadoº told me the company has a September target release date in the UK and other European countries. They also confirmed an additional product, the Wireless Smart Thermostat X, which connects to traditional gas boilers like the one I have, will be released at that time. This will enable efficient usage through the ability to remotely turn the boiler off if no radiator thermostats are on.
Another detail provided to me is that the Auto-Assist feature, which was previously complimentary to Apple users, was a limited offer through Apple. As such, after the 12-month trial, the service will now cost the standard €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, even if you are an Apple Home user.
The new tadoº X range is now available in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark.
Tusks Is a New Mastodon Client with an Interesting Twist
Blogging has experienced many stages of popularity over the years. It reached a peak in the early ’00s before subsiding as social media platforms like Twitter became the most common way to share quick thoughts rather than longer essays. The decline of Twitter had a huge effect on blogging, as it rose again to the...
Aurora Borealis Photos, Apple Notes Quick Tips, and Plenty of iPad Pro Follow-up
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord: Members were making good use of their iPhones’ cameras to capture the beauty of the aurora borealis. Future double act Evan and Devon were back, this time talking about Background Sounds on iOS and how to use them in noisy surroundings. Evan also asked about creating a...
Is the Response to ‘Crush!’ a Taste of Things to Come for Apple?
This week’s column originally started to take shape late Tuesday night when I couldn’t get the image of Apple’s ‘Crush’ advert out of my head. I had such a visceral reaction to seeing so many things deliberately and cruelly destroyed. Unlike many, I wasn’t upset because of the reasonable connection people drew between this and...
Letting Loose, Dictation Summaries, and Another Federico Meme
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord: The #let-loose-event channel was full of reactions from members both during and long after the event. There were lots of interesting points of view shared. We also ran a small poll in the channel to gauge members’ buying plans. Interestingly, many members are waiting to see what...
Two Weeks with the Nothing Ears Sent Me Down a Sound Profile Rabbit Hole
Nothing recently launched two new pairs of earphones in their ‘Ear’ range, featuring Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), improved audio, and a new transparency mode similar to the one on AirPods Pro. The brand is known for its transparent designs, which showcase the inner electronics of the devices. I really wish Apple would try it, but...
Getting Ready to Let Loose, AI in iOS 18, and a Great Gaming Setup
The Club MacStories+ Discord now has a channel dedicated to discussing next week’s ‘Let Loose’ Apple event: #let-loose-event. Members have been talking about their hopes and expectations. T.G. Cid had clear expectations and wish casting: “Realistic expectation: OLED Pros (12.9/11), Mini-LED Airs (12.9/11) at M3. New Minis (A-series) with Mini-LED. New pencil and Magic Keyboard....





