Latest news with #Tado
Stuff.tv
24-05-2025
- General
- Stuff.tv
I almost threw out my old cables. This week proved I never should
A few weeks back, people on Bluesky started bragging about throwing out cables. I would have penned a column about this at the time, but, frankly, I needed to recover from the shock. Because it turns out there are two types of people in this world: monsters who throw away cables, and sensible folks who – obviously entirely correctly – believe that you absolutely need to have a house full of cables, because you never quite know when you're going to need one of them at some random point in the future. It was Tom Berry who first spiked my anxiety. He describes himself as a record collector. But he's apparently not a cable collector, because he said: 'Have just thrown out a big box of cables 'that might come in useful one day'.' Those scare quotes made my teeth itch. However, this flagrantly reckless missive might have vanished into the ether had author, political journalist and human expletive generator Ian Dunt not waded in: 'Sound. Look at the space your old just-in-case cables use up. Imagine how much you would pay for that extra storage in your flat. Check the price of buying a cable. Then get rid of them.' Every fibre of my being reeled. My brain screamed. My soul howled. Just… no. Because what if you do need one of those cables? You'll be all smug with your 'extra space' and 'drawers no longer stuffed full of cables'. But where will that leave you when you go to plug in a prized gadget and realise instead of a USB-C port, it's got some weird triangular thing staring back at you with a mischievous grin? On Amazon, that's where. Feeling dirty about feeding the Bezos machine and taking that 30-day trial of Prime just to get the thing delivered by tomorrow. Totally wired It's so beautiful. 'Come on', you might say. 'Isn't this a bit… over the top? Surely you don't collect and keep every cable you've ever owned?' Well, no. Even I don't fancy living in rooms packed with black, rubbery spaghetti and semi-random connectors. Even I have my limits. Also, I did on more than one occasional almost throw out all my old cables. But as the USB-C revolution trundled on, I instead decided to 'prune' cables and adapters I owned. So I still retain a selection of every cable type, because, well, you really never do know. And this past week, I went into smug mode. Our heating system decided to shun one of our radiators. It's a Tado v3, which cunningly ignores modern connectivity by having a 'star' network. In other words, a gadget plugs into the router, and from there broadcasts to devices on each radiator, telling them what to do. Which doesn't work when there's a steel in the way. Helpfully, Tado also only supplied a cable approximately half a nanometer long, and so I needed a much longer one to re-site the broadcasting unit. I was then duly surprised because the supplied cable was micro-USB. Had I been a cable-chucker – a Berry or a Dunt – I'd have had to suffer the indignity of buying a new cable, waiting for it to arrive, and remembering I'd casually tossed a bunch of perfectly usable ones for no good reason. Instead: vindication! I reached into the drawer of dreams, grabbed what I needed, and fixed the problem in seconds. Granted, this doesn't happen every day. And, sure, Berry and Dunt might… have a point if you lack storage space or hang on to literally every cable and adapter you've acquired since 1977, even when devices they power have long since died. But I'm absolutely not going to admit it, because what if years from now another device needs a cable I refused to get rid of? I'd feel pretty stupid if I'd just thrown it away.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Tado smart thermostat review: It brought my home into the future and I'm not going back
SMART thermostats have become increasingly popular since they burst onto the scene around 10 years ago - and after trying the Tado wireless thermostat, I'm kicking myself for not jumping on the bandwagon sooner. I decided to get hands-on with my Tado smart thermostat to see if this clever bit of kit could genuinely improve my home and save me some serious cash in the process. BUY FROM TADO Spoiler alert: it absolutely has. Gone are the days of wrestling with impossible-to-program controllers or heating empty rooms. The Tado wireless thermostat has completely transformed how I control my heating, putting the power right at my fingertips through my phone. What started as a simple test has quickly become an essential part of my home that I genuinely can't imagine living without. The upfront cost might make you wince initially, but trust me - both your future self and your energy bill will thank you for making the switch to the Tado smart thermostat system. Pros: Save money by self-installing Easy to use Helps save money on heating OpenTherm compatible Cons: Expensive upfront Rating: 4.5/5 How I tested I lived with the Tado smart thermostat system for several weeks in my home, putting every feature through its paces in real-world conditions. I installed the main thermostat unit myself, along with four wireless radiator thermostats throughout different rooms. I tested everything from the initial setup process (including the surprisingly straightforward app configuration) to daily operation, paying particular attention to its geofencing capabilities, temperature accuracy, and energy monitoring features. I also rigorously evaluated the Auto-Assist functionality to determine if the subscription cost was justified. Throughout testing, I monitored both my usage patterns and energy consumption to gauge the system's actual impact on heating efficiency and potential cost savings – not just what the marketing promised. Tado smart thermostat review: Quickfire Q&A How much is the Tado smart thermostat? The Tado smart thermostat starter kit begins at £129.99, though prices climb to around £500 for a comprehensive setup with multiple wireless radiator thermostats. An investment upfront, certainly – but one that'll potentially pay dividends through smarter heating control and reduced energy bills over time. Who is it best for? The Tado smart thermostat is perfect for tech-savvy homeowners tired of wrestling with impossible-to-program heating controls. It's ideal for energy-conscious people looking to slash bills through smarter temperature management, especially those with larger homes where room-by-room control would make a significant difference. What we loved: The Tado smart thermostat's brilliantly intuitive app transformed my heating experience overnight. The geofencing feature is genuinely game-changing, automatically adjusting when you leave or return home. Most impressive was the room-by-room temperature control through wireless radiator valves – finally solving the age-old problem of uneven heating throughout my home. What we didn't: The subscription model feels like a money grab when basic features like open window detection should be standard. The hefty upfront cost (especially for multiple radiator thermostats) creates a significant barrier to entry. And while the app is intuitive, occasional connectivity issues left me frustratingly unable to control my heating at crucial moments – particularly irritating during cold snaps when you're desperate to boost the temperature remotely. Tado Review: full review tado Starter Kit (from £129.99) As I started writing my Tado review, I was offered the chance to review a smart kettle which would have saved me 60 seconds a morning by having my hot water waiting for me when I woke up. It was voice-activated too, so I could hook it up to the smart speakers I don't own. The price for this convenience? £90. That's rather a lot, isn't it!? Sadly, I don't value my time at £5,400 an hour, so I'll continue flicking the switch on the kettle by hand and scrolling on my phone while I wait for my morning coffee. All this got me thinking that maybe we've gone a bit far with making things 'smart'; do I really need Siri to check the weather for me when my phone is never out of arm's reach? But then I remembered my smart thermostats from Tado and decided no, let's keep this smart revolution going a while longer. In my housing experience (primarily flats that have ranged from 'really quite nice' to 'I sleep in a living room cut in half') thermostats are rubbish. They're impossible to operate unless you read the 50-page instruction manual. And even then, you have to enter the secret combination of buttons, switches and smoke signals to set a program (and God help you if you want to turn it off while you go on holiday). tado Starter Kit (from £129.99) So I was delighted to learn that the smart revolution has changed thermostats immeasurably for the better. Having the option to change the temperature in your home from your phone has made me irrationally happy, and I barely use my heating for 10 months of the year. But making your wall thermostat smart doesn't necessarily fix your energy efficiency issues; it won't solve the issue of the radiator in your bedroom blasting when it's 25 degrees upstairs because it's draughty in the hallway where the thermostat lives. Enter smart radiator thermostats, which sense the temperature in your chosen rooms and adjust your radiators accordingly. Now my flat (really quite nice) is kitted out with a Tado smart thermostat and four smart radiator valves and I solemnly swear I'm never going back to the old way of doing things. And that's not just because these thespian hands are too delicate to turn a valve manually; having a smart thermostat setup like this can save you a lot of money in the long term by ensuring you're not heating rooms you don't need to. Tado's app includes open window detection to let you know if you've forgotten to close a window and you're currently heating the street outside, as well as Geofencing, which will automatically turn off the heating if no one is home. Basically, Tado is a great way of reducing your heating bill over time as you focus the heat in your home to where it needs to be at the right time. The downside? My new set-up would set you back the better part of £500, so it can be a hefty upfront cost and any monetary savings would be a long-term proposition. Although, if your home has a large heating bill, you definitely would claw it back eventually, as Tado gives you advice about how to save money by altering your timings and temperatures (some of those features are part of Auto-Assist, which is an optional extra). Tado's Auto-assist currently costs £3.99 a month, or £29.99 a year and you can find out about all the included features here. If you don't go all bells and whistles, Tado's prices start from £129.99 for a smart radiator thermostat with a starter kit and you can buy additional thermostats for £74.99, allowing you to build up your smart armoury slowly if you wish. If you just want to replace your naff wall thermostat to something that doesn't take two weeks and an engineering degree to program, the smart thermostat starter kit costs £179.99. Honestly, I think it's worth it. I don't know how many hours I've lost in my life kneeling in front of a two-button thermostat trying to make it sync up with my schedule, but I won't be losing any more thanks to Tado. Tado smart thermostat review: Verdict I've quickly come to rely on my Tado smart thermostat and my only regret is not testing it out earlier in the winter! The Tado wireless thermostat has transformed my heating control completely, putting proper temperature management right at my fingertips. The main Tado smart thermostat unit was surprisingly easy to install, and the radiator thermostats were an absolute breeze to set up. Now my home's temperature is controlled intelligently, remotely and with minimal effort. While the Tado wireless thermostat system is fairly expensive upfront, I'd be extremely reluctant to ever return to traditional heating controls. This smart upgrade is much better than conventional thermostats and will definitely save me money long-term. Tado smart thermostat FAQs Are tado thermostats worth it? After living with the Tado smart thermostat system for several weeks, I can confidently say they're absolutely worth the investment – particularly if your current heating controls make you want to tear your hair out. The upfront cost initially made me wince (starting at £129.99 for basic kits and climbing to £500+ for comprehensive setups), but the intelligent heating management quickly won me over. The game-changing features like geofencing, room-by-room temperature control, and open window detection genuinely transform how you heat your home. I've found myself using less energy while maintaining perfect comfort levels. For larger homes or properties with temperature inconsistencies between rooms, wireless radiator thermostats are particularly valuable. While I'm not thrilled about the subscription model for what should be standard features, the potential long-term energy savings make Tado smart thermostats a worthwhile investment that will eventually pay for themselves. Just be prepared for that initial hit to your wallet. 5 tado Starter Kit (from £129.99) BUY FROM TADO Can a smart thermostat save you money? The answer to this question is: probably. Having the ability to set smart heating patterns at the touch of a button, along with geofencing (turning the heating off when you're not around) means that your heating use while using a smart thermostat will almost certainly get more efficient. The addition of smart radiator thermostats means you'll spend a lot less time heating up rooms that have already reached your preferred temperature. The only drawback to smart thermostats is that they're expensive upfront, with Tado's gear starting at £129.99 for the cheapest option. Because of that, a smart thermostat will eventually save you money, but how quickly that happens depends on your heating use, the size of your home, and the number of smart thermostats you get. The more heating you have to do, the more quickly a smart thermostat should save you money. Will I be able to use Tado in my home? It seems that no two heating systems are the same these days, but Tado has a helpful compatibility checker to see if its appliances will work in your home, which you can find here. Is Tado easy to install? This depends on what you've got installed currently, but for me, it was pretty easy (and I'm no DIY expert). Tado has a comprehensive and easy-to-follow set of instructions for installation in its app which helped me along the way. In my case, installing the Tado thermostat was simply a case of taking my existing thermostat off the wall by unscrewing it and disconnecting the wires. Once that was done, I re-connected the wires to the Tado thermostat and stuck it to the wall with the adhesive strips that came included. You can screw it in place, but I opted for the easy (lazy) option. You'll also need to install an internet bridge so your Tado devices can connect to one another, so you'll need a spare ethernet port in your home that's close to a plug socket to power it. Once the thermostat was wired up and the internet bridge connected, getting it to sync up to my iPhone was easy, and I was able to start controlling my heating from my phone right away. It took me around an hour to get everything installed and synced up. The radiator thermostats were an absolute breeze to install and I had each one done in five minutes or less, but your experience may vary if you have non-standard valves. I have no idea how easy it would be to install Tado if you needed to mess around with your boiler, but Tado's app was very good at walking me through instructions for everything else, so I'd guess it would be easy enough. Remember to be safe when installing any electronics and turn your fuses off before beginning. Following Tado's installation guide is a good way to go as that should ensure you do things properly throughout. 5 tado Starter Kit (from £129.99) BUY FROM TADO How much does it cost to install a thermostat in the UK? If you're looking to get a professional to install your Tado smart thermostat, you'll need to add around £80-120 to your budget, depending on your location and the complexity of your heating system. However, one of the major selling points of the Tado wireless thermostat is just how straightforward the self-installation process actually is. Can I install a Tado thermostat myself? I managed to install my entire Tado smart thermostat system myself without any specialised knowledge. The main unit took me roughly an hour to set up, which involved simply removing the old thermostat, reconnecting the wires to the new Tado unit, and following the brilliantly intuitive app instructions. The radiator thermostats were even easier – each one took less than five minutes to install. If you're remotely handy (and I'm certainly no DIY expert), you can save yourself a significant chunk of cash by following Tado's comprehensive installation guide. Just remember to turn your fuses off before messing with any wiring – those hands need protecting! How do I install a tado smart thermostat? Installing the Tado smart thermostat was genuinely one of the most straightforward DIY jobs I've tackled in my home – and trust me, I'm not particularly skilled with tools. The main Tado smart thermostat unit took me roughly an hour from start to finish. I simply turned off my heating system at the fuse box (safety first!), disconnected my old thermostat from the wall, and reconnected those same wires to the new Tado unit following the brilliantly intuitive app instructions. You can either screw the unit to the wall or use the included adhesive strips – I opted for the lazy route with the strips, and they've held perfectly. You'll also need to set up the internet bridge, which requires both power and an ethernet connection to your router. This creates the network so your Tado devices can talk to each other. The radiator thermostats were an absolute breeze – each one took less than five minutes to install. You simply unscrew your existing radiator valve, screw on the Tado adapter (they include several to fit different systems), and then click the smart thermostat into place. The Tado app walks you through every step with clear instructions and helpful illustrations. Even if you consider yourself completely DIY-challenged, you'd be surprised how manageable the installation process is – potentially saving yourself £80-120 in professional installation costs. Does Tado work without the internet? The Tado smart thermostat will still control your basic heating even if your internet drops out, which was a massive relief when my broadband decided to go on holiday for 48 hours last month. The Tado wireless thermostat and radiator valves can maintain your pre-set temperature schedules, and you can still make manual adjustments directly on the devices. However, you'll lose access to all the really clever features that make Tado worth having in the first place – no remote control via the app, no geofencing to automatically adjust when you leave or return home, and no energy usage monitoring. The internet bridge is essential to the setup process, too, so you can't even install the system without an initial connection. While the core heating functionality remains, it's a bit like buying a smartphone and only using it for calls – you're missing out on everything that makes it smart. For full functionality and to get your money's worth from the Tado smart thermostat system, a reliable internet connection is definitely recommended. What alternatives are there to Tado? There are a couple of rival brands to Tado, notably Hive and Google Nest. You can find all of Google Nest's features here and all of Hive's features here. Tado and Google Nest are compatible with OpenTherm, which is a more efficient type of technology in more modern boilers, which gives them the edge over Hive at the time of writing. It's worth checking what comes with the smart thermostat you're buying when comparing prices, as some come with an internet bridge/home hub, so prices aren't always as straightforward as they seem. Can you use Nest and tado together? I've been asked this question more times than I can count since reviewing both smart heating systems, and the short answer is: technically, yes, but it's probably not worth the headache. While you could run a Nest thermostat and Tado radiator thermostats on completely separate systems, they won't actually talk to each other or work together in any meaningful way. The beauty of a fully integrated smart heating system like Tado's is that all components communicate seamlessly. If you try mixing brands, you'll end up with two separate apps, two different control systems, and potentially conflicting heating instructions being sent to your poor, confused boiler. The Tado wireless thermostat range works perfectly with its own radiator thermostats, creating a cohesive system that gives you room-by-room temperature control. If you're already committed to one ecosystem, I'd strongly recommend sticking with it rather than creating a Frankenstein's monster of heating technology. Your energy bill (and sanity) will thank you later. What are the main differences between Hive and tado The most notable distinction is how they handle room-by-room heating control - Tado's wireless radiator thermostats are genuinely brilliant, allowing precise temperature management in individual spaces. While Hive now offers radiator valves, too, Tado's system feels more refined and reliable. Connectivity is another key difference - Tado uses Zigbee technology, which I found incredibly stable compared to Hive's sometimes patchy connection. When it comes to boiler compatibility, Tado edges ahead with its OpenTherm support (something Hive currently lacks), allowing for more efficient modulation of your heating. The apps themselves offer similar core functionality, though I found Tado's interface more intuitive and its energy monitoring features more comprehensive. Hive does integrate more seamlessly with other smart home products if you're already invested in their ecosystem. Price-wise, they're comparable for the basic setup, but Tado's subscription model for premium features feels a bit cheeky when Hive includes similar functionality without the ongoing cost. That said, Tado's geofencing worked consistently in my testing, which could lead to greater energy savings over time.
Stuff.tv
03-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Google axing Nest smart thermostat support gives me the chills
Thermostats aren't phones. This is, I'm sure you'll agree, the kind of hard-hitting, incisive tech commentary you've come to expect from my Stuff scribblings. Thermostats. Phones. Completely different things. 'Yeah, cheers, Craig', you might reply. And wonder if there's a number you can call to have someone check I'm OK, in case the recent bout of hot weather in the UK has fried my brain. But I'm serious here, and it throws up an important question. If thermostats aren't phones – and I think, so far, we've very much established that they are not – then why is Google treating them a bit like they are? 'Hang on', you might at this point interject. 'Have I missed something?' Is there now a pocket Google thermoPhone with a camera, apps, and a mic to grumble at when yet another scam call comes in, promising a tax refund, a non-existent job, or a payout for a car accident you definitely didn't have? (Or maybe all three?) No. That would be silly. What I'm talking about here is support. Specifically, Google dropping support for Nest thermostats that are in perfectly good working order and then urging upgrades. Which makes them feel rather more like phones than the household appliances that they are. Nest in peace? This nest may well last longer than the next smart gadget you buy. (Image: anaterate.) It's not all Nest thermostats, note. Not yet anyway. Just the oldest ones. In a community post and support doc, Google declared that first- and second-gen Nest smart thermostats will, on 25 October, become decidedly less smart. You'll have to walk up to your unit and interact with it using your actual hands, like it's the 1980s. Or, more accurately, like you're using the old non-smart thermostats the Nest devices likely replaced. But it gets worse: the same document adds that 'you may experience an unpredictable decline in performance if you attempt to use [the Nest device] continuously'. This is just what you want to hear about an appliance you depend on: it suddenly not working in the manner to which you've become accustomed. Or, indeed, at all. Fortunately, Google has a cunning solution: buy a new one! Just like how you upgrade your phone! Except, again, it actually gets worse. Google has decided that European heating systems are complicated, and it'd rather have nothing to do with them in the future, thanks. So to stave off a riot from veteran Nest users on both sides of the pond (who must now do something to keep themselves warm), Google's offering discounts. Folks in the US get money off of newer Nest kit. In Europe, there is no viable newer option, and so folks there get 50% off a gadget from no-longer-rivals-apparently Tado. So, er, happy days for everyone? Un-Nest-essary upgrades Fire. How people used to keep warm. And what you should probably throw promises about smart home longevity on. (Image: wal_172619.) Again: no, because – as I keep pointing out – thermostats aren't phones. They are appliances. The assumption – the unspoken contract – is they will function for the lifetime of the hardware, not until a tech overlord abruptly pulls the plug, forcing you to cough up for the same functionality, even though your existing gear was humming along quite nicely before receiving a digital lobotomy. So what's the solution? We could rethink our headlong rush towards all things 'smart' and be smarter about the choices we make. Be strict about who gets our cash, prioritising companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to properly long-term support. Resist any further shortening of purchase cycles for essential home appliances. Urge companies to think sustainably, rather than decide hardware that's happily ticking along is little more than scrap. Or we could just resign ourselves to the reality of the tech world in which we live. Recognise tech moves quickly. Accept you choose between smart gear or longevity, but that you don't get both. Make peace with swapping out smart kit after a decade and change – or less. All while mentally writing up a new entry for Killed by Google that would simply read: 'Any lingering hope smart tech might turn out to be different from everything else'.
