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Abode will add HomeKit to its new smart home hub
Brilliant isn't the only smart home hub creator hopping on the HomeKit bandwagon. Abode has revealed its Gen 2 gateway, and it's "100% committed" to bringing HomeKit support to the platform. More details will come "soon," the company said. However, this already makes it one of the more flexible hubs to date. It can already communicate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT, and it supports a raft of smart home devices using Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee and Abode's own abodeRF.
Toshiba's Symbio is both a security camera and Alexa speaker
Toshiba has integrated a dizzying number of devices into one with its new Symbio. It's an Alexa-powered smart speaker, security camera, intercom, smart home hub that's compatible with Z-Wave or Zigbee, and sound detector. Using the iOS or Android-powered Toshiba Smart Home app, you can "control everything from lights and music to door locks and temperature settings, from any location -- at home, at the office or out of town," the company claims.
The best Z-Wave in-wall dimmer
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending more than 25 hours swapping out receptacles, flipping switches, programming timers, and talking to home-automation experts, we've determined that the HomeSeer HS-WD100+ is the best Z-Wave in-wall dimmer for smart-home systems. Like the other six units we tested, it features straightforward remote operation, as well as easy dimming and scheduling. It's the only model we tested that supports multi-tap features, so you can sync a single switch with multiple lights and appliances around your house, and it works with all Z-Wave–certified smart-home hubs.
Kwikset goes keyless with its 'Obsidian' smart lock
Most app-enabled smart locks like the August or any of the Schlages will still include a traditional cylinder mechanism, you know, just in case. The new Obsidian lock from Kwikset, however, has no need for your puny keys. Like, at all.
The best smart leak detector
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After spending over 10 hours pouring water, mopping it up, and changing wet socks to test the performance of seven DIY leak detectors, we've decided that the D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor is the best smart water sensor currently available. It's one of the few options that doesn't need a smart-home hub, making it a more affordable solution than the competition because it can work with your existing Wi-Fi network. It can—like the rest of the units we tested—deliver alerts whenever water is present, but it also throws in a few perks that aren't available on any other smart water sensor at this price.
LG home automation hub gives you pro-level security
It's no longer difficult to find both home automation and security in a single package, but LG thinks it can one-up its rivals with something special... if a bit odd-looking. Its previously previewed Smart Security device may look like an upscale colander, but it serves as both a smart home hub (for Bluetooth, WiFi, Z-Wave and Zigbee) and a wide-angle security camera backed by ADT. It's already equipped to notify you when there's unusual movement or changes in temperature, but a $20 ADT Canopy subscription will get you all-day monitoring with a dedicated response team. In theory, you won't have to bend over backwards to get help if there's a break-in.
Kwikset's latest smart lock lowers the price by ditching the frills
Kwikset is no stranger to connected locks, but the $219 price for its Kevo lock might put you off if you're used to securing your door with cheaper conventional locks. That might not be a stumbling block for much longer, though: the company has trotted out a Traditional Signature Series Deadbolt lock with an easier-to-swallow $150 price tag. It'll still talk to any Z-Wave home automation network that supports locks (such as a Wink hub), giving you a way to remotely unlock the door or get alerts. The cost-cutting mostly comes through the absence of extras you might not need, like a gateway device or a keypad. This won't be the cheapest lock if you're starting fresh, in other words. However, it'll definitely make more sense if you're already living in a smart home and just want the entryway to match.
D-Link wants to invade your home with security cameras and leak sensors
Night-vision baby monitors, pan-and-tilt security cameras and water leak sensors? D-Link's smart home product division loves CES, and an earlier connected home hub leak showed that it would be especially active this year. The company has formally revealed its first hub (the $80 DCH-G020) to support both WiFi and Z-Wave devices, along with some peripherals to go with it. As expected, it plugs into a regular router and lets you control a raft of either Z-Wave or WiFi accessories using the mydlink app for iOS or Android devices. Giving the hub some utility are the $40 Z-Wave DCH-Z110 open/close and $50 Z-Wave Motion sensors, along with the DCH-S160 WiFi water sensor and DCH-S220 WiFi siren ($60 and $50, respectively). All of those devices will be available sometime next quarter.
D-Link's latest smart home hub lets you add devices with a scan
How cheap is too cheap? D-Link has found the sweet spot between low-priced, but low-quality smart home systems (from the likes of Archos) and pricey security systems. It's now planning on opening up its system to many more accessories, judging by the DCH-G020 connected home hub that just passed through the FCC. The system will likely bow next month at CES 2015, but the US wireless regulator has revealed quite a bit, including manuals and photos. The hub will control Z-Wave (low-power RF) as well as WiFi devices, meaning it'll work with third-party alarms, detectors and cameras on top of existing D-Link WiFi cameras and accessories.
Logitech extends Harmony line to control more of your home
Logitech's got a new Harmony remote and it's an even bigger push into home automation over the current Harmony Smart Control home theater remote lineup. Shipping this month, the new Harmony Home Control devices start at $99 for the Home Hub (which turns your smartphone or tablet into a home automation controller). Then there's the Home Control for $149, which adds a simple, button-only remote. At the top of the line is the $349 Harmony Ultimate Home, which swaps out the simple remote for a 2.4 inch touch screen model (seen above). Available in either black or white, Harmony Home can control both your home theater and other devices from partners via IR, Bluetooth or WiFi. There's a lengthy list of support, too: August, Honeywell, Kwikset, Lutron, Nest, PEQ, Philips, Schlage, SmartThings, Sylvania, Yale and Zuli.
The Piper smart hub monitors and manages your home for £119
"Connected home" gadgets are all about giving you greater awareness and control over what's happening in your crib. Most "internet of things" products for the home at targeted to specific uses, such as remote surveillance or heating control. Piper is slightly different, in that it attempts to tie all types home automation and security together into the one control centre. The device initially launched on Indiegogo where it achieved its funding goal three times over. Now, almost a year later, it's ready for a European retail release.
How to get started with home automation through Z-Wave
For many of us, smart homes seem like a far off concept from a science fiction novel set hundreds of years in the future. Imagine things like appliances that learn our schedules, lights that turn off after we leave a room, locks that can be remotely triggered to let yourself (or others) into your house and more. You know what though? The future is here. Engadget reader Dignan17 shows us what it takes to get started with home automation using Z-Wave compatible devices.
Revolv Smart Home Hub and app eases home automation setup
As noted in my Macworld/iWorld 2014 talk on using Siri to control the "Internet of Things", there's one big problem in the home automation world right now -- too many standards! Now I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms, but there are a number of competing standards available: Z-Wave, Zigbee, Insteon, Sonos, Belkin WeMo and more. Several manufacturers are attempting to corral this stampeding herd of standards with smart hubs. We've already reviewed one here at TUAW (the US$99 SmartThings Hub) and now it's time to take a look at the $299 Revolv Smart Home Hub and the companion app that controls it. Over the past few years I've been building up my home automation world by purchasing bits and pieces as I've had a chance. As a result, I have a number of Belkin WeMo switches, wall switches, and motion sensors, some SmartThings sensors (moisture, motion), and some other Z-Wave devices that I've picked up along the way. In this review, I'll tell you about how the Revolv hub is set up, how it recognizes and controls the various devices, and how the free Revolv iPhone app works to tie all of your home automation devices together. Setup The Revolv Smart Home Hub is incredibly simple to install. You just plug in the included AC adapter and plug the other end into the red teardrop-shaped hub. There's no need to run an Ethernet cable to the Revolv hub, which is quite different from competing hubs. Instead, you launch the Revolv app and tap a button to begin the new hub setup. That basically requires you to identify the network that your iPhone and the Revolv hub will be on, and then enter the password for that network. Once that's done, you're asked to put the camera flash from your iPhone right over the top center of the hub, and the fireworks begin. What kind of fireworks? Well, all sorts of rapid-fire flashing takes place as your iPhone communicates to the hub via light. Wait a short while and then the hub is up and running. At that point, you can have it begin to search for connected devices on your network. This is where things got a little interesting. At this time, I have a number of devices on my home automation network, including some door/window switches, moisture sensors, and a number of Belkin WeMo devices. Well, the Revolv hub found a few (but not all) of the WeMo switches and a WeMo motion sensor, but couldn't find the other devices that communicate on the Z-Wave protocol. Revolv has a list of compatible devices online, and even has links to those products on Amazon. But if you have devices that just aren't compatible, your only choice is to let the company know through a "suggestion box" and then hope that others vote for that device to be added. In comparison with the SmartThings hub, the Revolv hub doesn't appear to me to have as much range or as much compatibility with a wide variety of sensors and switches. I initially started out with the Revolv hub in nearly the same spot as the SmartThings hub was during its testing, and it couldn't detect many of the devices that the SmartThings hub picked up immediately. Even moving the Revolv hub to other locations didn't seem to help. Actions Rather than use IFTTT to allow mashups in an almost-infinite variety, Revolv's app has the ability to create actions. One of my first tests was to do something that took me no time to accomplish with WeMo's own rules and that's to have a specific light in the house turned on when someone trips the sensor, then turn off the light after a certain amount of time has elapsed. When I tried using Revolv's actions to do this, I could get the light to turn on, but then it turned off immediately. As far as I could tell, there was no way to get that to turn off after a set period of time. What I finally ended up doing was something that's supposed to be resolved with a hub: using an app specific to the problem at hand, in this case the WeMo app. That's not to say that Revolv's actions and app aren't useful -- they just weren't in this particular case. Some of the other actions include having lights go on as you get near your home, as the hub determines its location during setup and the app uses iOS 7's Location Services to figure out where you are at any particular time. Along with location-driven actions, the Revolv app also provides actions based on the status of a device (on or off) and on time. Design Although the Revolv hub costs about three times the amount of the SmartThings hub, it looks cheaper. The red, plasticky exterior of the Revolv hub might be attractive to some home automation fans, but to me the sleek white exterior of the SmartThings hub is preferable and blends into a lot more homes. On the other hand, not having to plug in an Ethernet cable makes it possible to place the Revolv hub in a lot more locations. Conclusion The Revolv Smart Home Hub wins kudos from me for its simple setup process. However, the lack of breadth of sensors that can be controlled (moisture sensors, for example), the inability to create mashups with IFTTT, and the relatively high price are three sticking points for me. IFTTT integration vastly expands the abilities of the competing SmartThings hub, making it possible to do such bizarre things as receive a phone call from your house when a plumbing leak is detected or activate an alarm when severe weather is approaching. I won't count Revolv out of the picture yet -- the company says they still have three more radio standards to implement in the device, and it appears to be moving forward on adding support for new devices all the time. Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Your connected home could one day save your life
Consider this scenario: Randall is an elderly man living alone. He's doing pretty well -- until one day he has a mild stroke. In the weeks that follow, he's not as active as usual, getting up later and not leaving the house. Motion detectors, a mattress sensor and a smart door lock in his home detect the change in his activity patterns. Randall's daughter gets a message prompted by her father's activity data in the cloud, checks in on him and takes him to the doctor. Once he's received treatment, Randall returns home, with marching orders to equip his home with additional sensors and cameras that can track his health and upload information to the cloud for his doctor to monitor.
SmartThings Hub: Connecting your home, phone and you
At Macworld/iWorld 2014, I delivered a talk about Siri and connected devices titled "Siri's Arms and Legs: Giving Apple's Intelligent Assistant the Power to Control Your World." My original idea for the presentation was based on some work I'd done last year for YouTube's Geek Week, in which I used a combination of Siri, IFTTT, and Belkin WeMo switches to make some videos that I called "Stupid WeMo Tricks". But as I got into my research for the presentation it occurred to me that the world of app-centered home automation has gone well beyond just the WeMo products and into the realm of making most items in your home either controllable or able to be monitored. One company that kept coming up on my radar during my research was SmartThings, a Washington, DC-based company that is building a solid foundation for an app-controlled smart home with the US$99 SmartThings Hub. The Hub works with a free iPhone app and a growing number of connected switches and sensors that operate with either the Z-Wave or ZigBee home automation protocols. Many people that I talked to before and after my Macworld presentation said almost the same thing, variations on a theme of "I'd love to control my home but it's too hard to do, too expensive, and I don't want to have to search through a pile of apps to do one thing or another." Well, that's the reason SmartThings and some other companies are coming up with intelligent hubs. The idea is that a single hub can control a number of devices through one app. Setting up the SmartThings Hub and a variety of the switches and sensors is a piece of cake. The hub simply needs to be plugged into a power source and then have an Ethernet cable run over to your Internet router. Once you've done a first-time setup with the SmartThings app, adding devices to your home automation network is easy. Some of the devices, such as a motion sensor, door and windows switches, and a moisture sensor, are battery powered. These devices usually just required that a plastic tab be pulled out to allow the device to start up -- in some cases, however, I had to open the device up and press a reset button to get the app to recognize it. Still, setup took no time at all. Other devices such as light and appliance modules plug into a wall socket and start up immediately. It should be noted that many of the plugged-in Z-Wave modules, like the Jasco Fluorescent Light and Appliance Module (at left, below, seen with a motion detector), work to extend your home automation network by creating a mesh network. SmartThings does a good job of adding new devices to their online shop, and also provides a good blog that gets into details on how to do certain things. As an example, I really thought it would be great to automate my garage door opener so that I could tell via the SmartThings app if it was open or closed, then control it remotely. But my garage door opener is at least 20 years old, so I figured I was out of luck. Sure enough, the SmartThings blog had an article on using a Z-Wave Relay Switch in parallel with an existing "dumb" garage door opener to add it to the Internet of Things. My credit card was out of my wallet to buy the Z-Wave Relay Switch... and now I have a fun weekend project to do. One of my other favorite "pieces" of SmartThings gear is the SmartSense Presence key fob (below). When registered with your app, this little proximity sensor knows when you've left the house -- and if everyone in the house has one, it knows when the house is empty. That means that you can set one of the SmartThings SmartApps to react appropriately to that "state". The SmartApps might best be described as presets that do something for you without needing an intermediary like IFTTT. As an example, let's say that I want to be alerted if my washing machine starts flooding the laundry room. I have a moisture sensor set on the floor right next to the washer (image below) that will tell me when things are getting a bit wet. I can be informed of an impending flood one of two ways -- either I can connect my SmartThings hub and the moisture sensor to IFTTT using the SmartThings channel, and then create a quick recipe to have IFTTT call my phone and say "I have detected water underneath the washing machine", or use the pre-defined Flood Alert! SmartApp to send me a text. Since I'm a geeky guy and like getting robotic phone calls warning me of impending catastrophes, I chose to use IFTTT -- but for many people the SmartApp would make the job even easier. SmartThings has created tons of SmartApps that can be discovered by device (outlet, moisture sensor, door sensor), by convenience (turn off all of the lights in the house when everybody is gone), by family (monitor motion sensors in an elderly person's home and then contact someone if they don't return from the bathroom after a specified amount of time), by "fun" (send a text when motion is detected), by "green living" (send a text notification to a carpooling buddy when they are not with you and you arrive to pick them up), by safety and security (lock a door automatically when I leave), and more. The great thing about the SmartThings world is that they've created an easy-to-use ecosystem that is growing everyday, and they've built plenty of flexibility into both the hub and the app. The company's online store sells both devices and full-fledged solutions, the latter being helpful for people who want a particular solution but have no clue as to how to implement it. At this point in time, the world of connected devices and home automation is still a bit on the pricy side, which is why I have to commend SmartThings for at least making the Hub affordable. As more and more connected devices become available, prices should eventually drop. Right now, you can expect to spend prices similar to these -- $49 for a door/window multi-sensor, $54 for a moisture sensor, $55 for a motion sensor, $31 for one of those key fob proximity sensors, $49 for a ZigBee-based lamp switch, $58 for that relay switch I'm going to use for my garage door opener, $60 for a multi-sensor that can monitor motion, temperature, brightness and humidity, and so on. Things like connected deadbolt locks cost in the range of $200 each. So what do you get out of connecting all of these devices to your house and your body (the key fob or your phone)? The ability to do some pretty magical things. I love how the SmartThings app lets me see all of my connected devices on one screen, although you'll want to take a picture of each device's location to be able to tell them apart. Having one app to control many things in my house must be how Frodo Baggins felt having the "one ring to rule them all"! I've already posted a few articles on TUAW about the Internet of Things and these connected devices, and I'll be writing about some of the solutions I've implemented as I build my home automation network. I have to say that in all of my testing, I have been impressed with the stability of the SmartThings Hub -- it hasn't failed me despite having been challenged by power and Internet outages. It's comforting to know that the home automation network quickly comes back online by itself in those cases. In the near future I'll also be providing a review of a similar hub from Revolv, as well as a Z-Wave compatible sensor and security camera from BlackSumac called Piper. Conclusion SmartThings has brought an affordable intelligent home automation hub to market with a smart iOS app to control it, then provided even more flexibility by providing an IFTTT channel for creating custom solutions. If you're thinking about dabbling with home automation, SmartThings has a complete ecosystem built around solutions or individual devices. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Enblink turns any Google TV device into a home automation control center
Meet Enblink: a dongle that plugs into any Google TV device and turns it into a home automation control hub. Enblink works with any Z-Wave enabled gadget, from door locks and lamps to security sensors and video cameras. The dongle itself will serve as a Z-Wave radio (once it's passed through the Z-Wave certification process) when plugged into your GTV device of choice. From there, its software runs atop GTV's Android underpinnings and leverages the device's CPU to control the locks and lights in your abode. A companion app for Android turns your phone into a remote control and monitor for appliances hooked into the Enblink system, plus there's an iOS app currently in development. Input from mobile devices goes through Amazon Web Services, which relays commands to the dongle to execute your bidding from afar. It's up for pre-order right now for $85, with the price rising to $99 when it officially goes on sale sometime in the next month or two. Of course, if you're streaming video to your mobile device, there's an ongoing fee (of undetermined cost) for the privilege once you've used up your free allotment of 30 seconds of streaming per day. Regardless, by leveraging existing GTV hardware and AWS to do the lifting on the backend, Enblink is a fraction of the cost of many purpose-built home automation base stations. So if you're a home automation geek that counts yourself among those very few with a Google TV and a slew of Z-Wave toasters, locks and light bulbs, your ship has, at long last, come in. Update: We snagged some rendered screenshots of the TV and mobile UI, check 'em out after the break.
Insert Coin: Piper melds home automation and security in a simple hub (hands-on)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Home automation and security cameras seldom combine elegantly, especially for apartment dwellers who can't rewire their living spaces. Blacksumac, however, believes it can seamlessly meld those technologies through its upcoming Piper hub. The device links both a fisheye camera and environmental sensors to a Z-Wave-based home automation system. Out of the box, it can watch for intruders, listen for (or produce) loud noises and monitor local conditions like temperature. Once Z-Wave peripherals are involved, you can program sophisticated triggers and responses: Piper can send a warning when a door opens, for example, or turn on air conditioning when it's hot. We've had a chance to see Piper in action, so read on for both our early impressions and details of what you'll get if you make a pledge.
Almond+ Router/Smart Home Hub Kickstarter blasts by goal
Those who watched TUAW TV Live a few weeks ago may remember me describing some of the issues that I've run into with streaming video up to Ustream at the same time that my wife is connected to her office VPN. Hawaii's finest tech guru and new TUAW dude Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd mentioned that he'd resolved similar problems by moving from an Apple AirPort Extreme to something called the Almond. After a few minutes of listening to Doc, looking at the device specs on Amazon and checking out some of the buyer ratings, I bought one for US$80 and I'm happy I did. Securifi, the same company that created the Almond, is now running a Kickstarter for the Almond+, which should be of even more interest to Apple fans. There are only 73 hours left in the Kickstarter project for Almond+ at the time I'm writing this, and it's almost at 300 percent of its goal. Why are people so excited about this project? It may be because it's a much faster router than the AirPort Express, supporting the 802.11ac and 802.11n WiFi standards instead of just 802.11n. Perhaps it's because it is also has a touchscreen for easy setup and configuration. Maybe it's the fact that it can also be used as a Zigbee and Z-Wave home controller hub. But I think the fact that it will have a $99 price tag and do all of these things is probably the most attractive feature, especially in light of the $179 price tag of the AirPort Extreme. For Apple users, who pride themselves both on enjoying good design and easy device setup, Securifi's router product delivers at a higher level than Apple's competing products. With the Almond+, the company is raising the stakes on producing accessories with much more utility and a significantly lower price point.
Fibaro home automation system comes to the US, company releases smart power strip (video)
If you've heard of Fibaro already, you'll just have to forgive us this post: although the home automation system is already available in 43 countries, it's just arriving in the US, with the main box about to go on sale for $699. In a nutshell, the system works not over WiFi, but using the Z-wave protocol. The base station itself can connect to as many as 240 lights and switches, with support for all sorts of devices: heat and cooling systems, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, doorbells, dehumidifiers and motion sensors. For each of these, you can program any number of macros -- e.g., "close the shades when the temperature reaches 68 degrees". Like Nest (a North America-only product) it eventually learns your usage habits, and offers up tips on how to conserve energy. In particular, though, the system uses geolocation to track members of the household, so you an also do things like set the heat to come on when you're a mile away from home. Separately, the company is also releasing a smart power strip, which logs your energy use for various gadgets, and then sends that data to an iOS app. (An Android version is in development.) No word on how much it'll cost in the US, though in Europe it'll cost 64 euro, tax included.
Almond+ WiFi router coming to Kickstarter: touchscreen, 802.11ac, home automation
Securifi isn't your average Kickstarter outfit. It already has one Almond wireless touchscreen router under its belt, currently sold at Amazon, and now it's about to bid for crowdfunding to build a sequel: the Almond+. The new device will incorporate a 2.8-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen for PC-free setup, dual band 802.11ac for speeds of up to 1,167Mbps, plus an integrated Smart Home hub that works with the slightly esoteric Zigbee and Z-Wave protocols. In conjunction with the iOS and Android app, this would let you access regular home automation tasks from anywhere, including security alerts and heating and lighting control. We'll see more of it when the project launches at Kickstarter, at which point it'll have a $250,000 funding goal.
