Life just got a little easier for iPhone owners. Imagine that you're trying to get into your house while carrying a few bags of groceries. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to simply tap the deadbolt lock with a finger to get it to unlock instead of digging through a pocket to get your keys out? For owners of Kwikset's Kevo Bluetooth Electronic Deadbolt Powered by UniKey (US$219), that's not just a dream -- it's reality.
I recently had a chance to test one of the intelligent Bluetooth-enabled locks, and it's probably the best home automation device I've installed. Sure, I can turn lights on and off with a tap on an app or get a notification that my washing machine is overflowing, but Kevo is something everyone in my home can use every single day.
Kevo can be installed either on a new door or as a retrofit for a door that already has a deadbolt installed. I am probably the worst candidate for installing something like this, because I have all of the home improvement skills of a worm. Yet following the excellent instructions, I was able to install the Kevo deadbolt, calibrate it, and start using it in less than 30 minutes.
The box includes all of the Kevo hardware. On the outside of the door is what looks like a standard deadbolt lock -- it actually has a ring of status LEDs built into it, and the outside of the lock is touch-sensitive. On the inside of the house is a small box that contains the electronics, a motor that opens and closes the lock, and an easy to turn manual locking lever. The Kevo comes in all of the standard lock finishes: satin nickel, polished brass, or Venetian bronze.
I'll spare you the details of the installation, but I found it simple to remove the existing deadbolt and install the Kevo. Once I was done, I installed the free Kevo app and was guided through creating an owner account on MyKevo.com. The app and lock require you to have an iPhone 4s or newer, a fifth-generation iPod touch, a third-generation iPad or newer, or any iPad mini. Android support will be available when the