MarkWattTech
@markwatttech.bsky.social
Software Developer by day, Content Creator by Night. Father of 3 and totally Tech obsessed!
Anyone else eyeing up those AliExpress smart home wall panels? 👀 POE , dual relays, LED Ring, fits a standard wall backbox and displays @home-assistant.io dashboards. At £240 it's not cheap but it's surprisingly capable. If you can trust it on your network 👇 youtu.be/G29HGZ5FwHA
Should You Buy This £240 Wall Panel From AliExpress?
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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@home-assistant.io 2026.6 is releasing later this week (Wednesday, June 3rd). Here are the 5 features that I really liked in the release: youtu.be/6cY7zSTrEIM Have you spotted any other features in 2026.6 that you're excited about?
5 New Features in 2026.6 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Reolink finally did it… a mains powered floodlight camera 👀 No batteries. No plugs. Just swap out your existing outside light and you’re good to go. So… super wide or PTZ? 🤔 youtu.be/bnsR-tAIqHM
Reolink TrackFlex vs Elite Floodlight – Which One Should You Buy?
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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The list of new integrations, upgraded integrations, and quality scale jumps in @home-assistant.io 2026.3 is seriously stacked 👏 Loads of community-driven improvements in this one. Here are the 5 features that I really liked👇 youtu.be/rCaPPzBjsZ0
5 New Features in 2026.3 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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The TTlock HACs integration gives you pretty much full control and management over your TTLock devices in @home-assistant.io but did you know you can also cut the cloud and use a Matter Bridge? youtu.be/-dCd3qOYYWY
TTLock Smart Locks in Home Assistant | Cloud & Local Control with Matter
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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If you thought last month’s @home-assistant.io release was a bit on the small side… this one definitely makes up for it 👀🔥 2026.2 is currently in Beta with the full release landing Feb 4th. Here are the 5 New Features that I really liked: youtu.be/dU-Yv12jEIU
5 New Features in 2026.2 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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I tried (still trying ) to build a Smart Home Cinema Room. I'm using the awesome VisionMaster Pro 2 and automating it with @home-assistant.io So far the room has leaked... twice... If you have any DIY tips or cool smart home cinema ideas or automations then let me know! youtu.be/Ft544CfRVQ8
Trying to create a Smart Home Cinema (Part 1)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Aqara released a UK Wall Outlet 🤯. And of course it works great in @home-assistant.io (in multiple ways) youtu.be/vuOzv-70lAM
Finally… a Proper UK Smart Wall Socket (Aqara H2 + Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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How To Setup and Install View Assist on your Unlocked Echo Show! youtu.be/jN0_geF1Ur8 If you have an old echo show lying around this is a great @home-assistant.io project to checkout! #viewassist #homeassistant #voiceassistant
Turn Your Unlocked Echo Show Into a Local Voice Assistant (View Assist Full Setup Guide)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Smart Home Backups and Media with the UGREEN NAS! youtu.be/JPB4lmLqLXM
Your Smart Home Needs A Backup!
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Happy New Year everyone 🥳 And happy first @home-assistant.io release of the year. This month was a smaller release but there's still a bunch of great new features and improvements. Here are the features I really liked : youtu.be/gHaGvTLIS1c
5 New Features in 2026.1 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Smart wall art is officially a thing 👀 This frame uses AI to create artwork (or display your own photos), and it doesn’t look like a screen at all! Full video here 👉 youtu.be/YOm8_2wFFH8
This Frame Uses AI to Create Wall Art
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Soo... Switchbot made a doorbell.. And it has a screen? youtu.be/WvcKH2Mh0ds
This Doorbell… Has a Screen?
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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@home-assistant.io Update 2025.12 is dropping on Wednesday, 3rd December - the final release of the year! 😲❄️☃️ Seriously… where has the time gone? Here are the 5 features I really liked: youtu.be/MXe9Zjtvdio
5 New Features in 2025.12 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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The other week we looked at how to remove Alexa and the Fire OS in exchange for LineageOS. Here are 3 things you can do with your newly unlocked echo show: youtu.be/OMx4Ud7fBYI #homeassistant #voiceassistant #viewassist #localvoice
3 Things You Can Do With Your Unlocked Echo Show
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Goodbye Alexa 👋🏻 Hello Android! and @home-assistant.io The full video walkthrough is now live 👇🏻👀a youtu.be/5CCRIzcgKuM
Goodbye Alexa 👋 Hello Android — Install LineageOS on the Echo Show 5
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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@home-assistant.io update 2025.11 Drops tomorrow! Where has the time gone! Here are the 5 Features that I really liked : youtu.be/w2JIHU7OZ3s
5 New Features in 2025.11 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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4 Robot Vacuum Automations for @home-assistant.io using the Switchbot S20 youtu.be/G1cDuWaTvF4
4 Home Assistant Robot Vacuum Automations (SwitchBot S20)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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The Best @home-assistant.io bedside clock is a Hacked Echo Show 5? 🎥👀 youtu.be/bRlWNrB2dDI In this video I overview keeping or removing FireOS!
I Hacked an Echo Show 5 Into the Best Home Assistant Clock!
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Here's another 5 Custom Cards to spice up your @home-assistant.io Dashboard : youtu.be/vqhvOhle1Tw
5 Frontend HACS for Home Assistant (Custom Cards)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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5 Frontend HACS to spice up your @home-assistant.io dashboard! youtu.be/wvNfXmEyGg4
5 Frontend HACS for Home Assistant (Custom Cards)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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@home-assistant.io update 2025.10 is packed full of quality of life tweaks and new features. Personally I love that we finally have undo and redo available in the automation editor UI. Here are the 5 Features that I really like: youtu.be/Dw4Boj_etX8
5 New Features in 2025.10 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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The @home-assistant.io 2025.9 drops tomorrow — and it’s packed with some awesome new features! Here are the 5 features I’m most excited about in 👉 youtu.be/wjQr1dVjBfo
5 New Features in 2025.9 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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If you're looking to get started with ESPHome then checkout the @homeassistant.bsky.social Button Box. It's a cool little project I found over at MakerWorld. Here's a quick overview and some of the modifications I made to my Button Box. youtu.be/0jHDhyW68ow
The Home Assistant Button Box (ESP32 + ESPHome)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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It's that time again! Later this week @home-assistant.io Update 2025.8 will be releasing. This time round it has a heavy focus on AI and some nice quality of life features. Here are 5 of the features I really like : youtu.be/Jtdc5t-51ZI
5 New Features in 2025.8 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Size Isn't Everything? youtu.be/sYaV8K-wgns In this one we take a look at SwitchBots K10+ Pro Combo and some of the things I like and don't like.
Size Isn’t Everything (SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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Which Reolink Doorbell should you get for @home-assistant.io In this one I compare some of the key points and take a look at the integration for Reolink. youtu.be/LYn2uQJ9GCo
Which Reolink Doorbell Should You Buy? Features & Home Assistant Tested!
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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You may have seen recently that Switchbot have joined the Works With @home-assistant.io Program 🎉 In this video I run through what that means and also how to setup and use the integrations for Bluetooth, The Cloud and Matter. youtu.be/If1lvrVJMSU
SwitchBot Works with Home Assistant – Full Integration Guide
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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5 Things I Love and Hate about the Switchbot Air Purifier Table youtu.be/NxDRhKAeiN0 Switchbot have also now joined the Works with @home-assistant.io program! 🥳🎉 (Spoiler - This air purifier works great in HA)
5 Things I Love and Hate – SwitchBot Air Purifier Table
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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@home-assistant.io 2025.7 will be releasing in a few days! Considering it's had a shorter development cycle it's still packed with features! The new Ask Questions Action is awesome! Here's the 5 Features I really like : youtu.be/NvWcdfKI-qE
5 New Features in 2025.7 (Home Assistant)
YouTube video by Mark Watt Tech
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