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Cree Connected LED bulbs: Inexpensive, compatible home automation solution
When people decide to get into home automation, they usually start simple with just an iOS app-controlled switch or a controllable LED bulb. But the problem with the LED bulbs is that they can tie a homeowner into a specific home automation ecosystem or require multiple apps to control different devices. Cree is a manufacturer of LED bulbs and has just released the Cree Connected LED Bulb (US$14.97 each) that provides compatibility with numerous existing lighting hubs. The bulbs are designed to replace standard 60W incandescent bulbs, using just 11W of power to provide 815 lumens of brightness. They also have an incredible lifetime: 25,000 hours. But the compatibility factor is what makes this low-cost connected bulb so compelling. At the present time, the Cree Connected Bulb is compatible with Zigbee Light Link certified hubs such as the one for Philips Hue, the WeMo Link Hub, and GE Link. It's also compatible with the $50 Wink Hub and Wink Relay Touchscreen Controller. All of those hubs have their own iOS apps. What does this all mean? You have a plethora of existing iOS apps that can be used to control these bulbs. For example, I have a WeMo Link Hub already, so I can use the WeMo app to control the Cree Connected bulbs. If you're a fan of the Wink-controlled home automation products (Aros Air Conditioner, Egg Minder, Spotter, and more), you can use your existing app to turn lights - singly or in groups - on and off. I tried the Cree Connected Bulbs out with my WeMo Link Hub just to test the compatibility, and unfortunately things were a bit on the shaky side. The WeMo Link Hub connected immediately to one of the bulbs, and I was able to add it to my list of WeMo devices to control. However, two other bulbs - one that was about 10 feet away from the working one and one located in an outside fixture - would not show up when I searched for them and I wasn't able to control them until they were moved much closer to the hub. To set those bulbs up, I finally added them one at a time from a location near that hub, then moved them to their final locations. If you're considering getting into iOS-powered home automation or just planning on replacing your power-hungry incandescant bulbs or environmentally-disastrous CFLs with energy efficient LEDs, the $15 Cree Connected Bulbs and a Wink hub (available for $39.25 on Amazon) are probably your least expensive option. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
Apple TV is required for the ideal Apple smart home experience
CES doesn't typically yield much info on Apple products, but the impending smart home push led some device manufacturers to bring their not-entirely-working HomeKit devices to the year's biggest consumer electronics show and a few tidbits of reliable info have emerged. As The Verge reports, Apple's tiny TV box-that-could, Apple TV, won't be mandatory for Siri voice control -- as long as you're on your home Wi-Fi network when issuing commands. However, anyone wanting to ready their home before arriving by whispering commands to Siri while on your way home from a rough day at work, you'll most definitely need an Apple TV in order to pull it off. Commanding HomeKit devices via the app will still work without Apple TV, regardless of whether you're actually at home or not. This little bullet point isn't likely going to be enough to get many more people to adopt an Apple TV specifically for away-from-home Siri smart home control, but for anyone who has already committed to Apple's vision of a home streaming box, it's a nice little bonus.
CES 2015: Elgato Eve line joins the parade of HomeKit-enabled connected devices
When Apple's HomeKit framework was announced back in June of 2014, many tech pundits speculated that the first product announcements would happen at CES 2015. Sure enough, we're hearing about a number of HomeKit-enabled devices, the latest being from Elgato. Elgato's Eve is more than just one product; it's designed to be a complete line of products and sensors to let you know what's going on in your home and provide control with a Siri voice command. The company says that two products will be available in the first quarter of 2015 - Eve Energy and Eve Door & Window Sensors. Eve Energy is a HomeKit-enabled switch that can also let you know how much energy an appliance is using, while Eve Door & Window Sensors let you know if doors or windows are shut. Controlled by the free Eve app, more devices will be available later in the quarter. Eve Room provides temperature, air quality, humidity and air pressure inside your home, while Eve Weather captures similar information from the outside. Eve Water connects to plumbing to monitor water consumption and temperature. Eve Smoke is a smoke detector that may be able to take on the buggy Nest Protect in the connected devices market. Not surprisingly, no pricing information has been released for the new Eve line. Expect to see more about Elgato's HomeKit offering on TUAW in the future.
CES 2015: iDevices Switch brings HomeKit and Siri to the connected home
It's amazing how quickly things change. Just less than a year ago at the last Macworld/iWorld, I gave a talk about "giving Siri arms and legs" - in other words, being able to use Apple's intelligent assistant to control your surroundings by voice. Today at CES 2015, iDevices announced a HomeKit-enabled product called the iDevices Switch, a Bluetooth Smart and Wi-Fi compatible wall plug that's expected to ship in the first half of the year. While iOS-controllable switches are nothing new, the Switch - through HomeKit - provides the first way to use Siri to control home devices with voice commands. Sure, you can use Siri and IFTTT to mash up voice controls, but the Switch takes IFTTT out of the equation. Unlike other devices that require a home hub, iDevices created a custom cloud for Switch so a costly hub is not needed. The Switch is controlled through the iDevices Connected app, which allows creation of commands to control multiple devices. Imagine being able to shut off a number of lights in your home with just one command - "Siri, Goodnight". The app can be personalized with pictures of rooms or products to make navigation of the UI easier. In case you're wondering why iDevices sounds familiar, it's the company that created the iGrill, which was one of the first app-enabled devices released way back in 2011. At this time, no price point has been announced for the iDevices Switch.
CES preview: Expect HomeKit products to be the star
We haven't heard much about Apple's HomeKit framework since WWDC 2014, but things are about to change. HomeKit is Apple's framework for allowing connected devices to work with iPhone and iPads, and all we're really known about it was contained in a couple of slides during the WWDC 2014 keynote. Now things are starting to heat up in preparation for the January Consumer Electronics Show. According to GigaOM's Stacey Higginbotham, at least one existing connected device manufacturer -- iDevices -- will launch new HomeKit products at the huge show in Las Vegas. iDevices is known for its iGrill meat thermometer (first reviewed on TUAW way back in 2010 by our very own Mike Rose), and the company has invested $10 million in preparing for the HomeKit program. That money wasn't spent to just add HomeKit compatibility to the iGrill, but to allow the company to launch partnerships with other companies that can use its HomeKit platform. So the company's investment was spent on building an in-house team of professionals in hardware, embedded software, design, sales and marketing to help assist other companies in the burgeoning HomeKit market. CEO and co-founder of Litehouse.io Nahid Alam told Higginbotham that her startup, founded in January by former Intel and Amazon executives, is selling a module providing Wi-Fi and voice recognition that is also MFi-certified. Both iDevices and Litehouse.io are making it possible for other startups to get into the HomeKit connected devices world without the expense of re-inventing the wheel. The result will be a world of products, all HomeKit-compatible, that should be ready to show off to the public this coming January.
Nest owns Revolv's home automation tech now, too
Google's adding another member to its household family that includes Nest and Dropcam, and this time its home automation outfit Revolv. The firm's website lists it as "a Nest company" now, and goes on to to assure existing customers that they're still taken care of and that their year-long warranties will be honored. The thing is, it isn't accepting any new users for its services that tie everything from Sonos wireless speakers, WeMo light switches and Hue lightbulbs from Philips together, as VentureBeat points out. For the privacy minded, Revolv is keen to note that its user data will stay separate from that of Nest's thermostats and smoke detectors, and Google as a whole. What's it all mean? That Mountain View has a new toy in an old box that its hoping will compete with challengers like Apple's HomeKit and Samsung + SmartThings. Whenever those fully launch, of course.
Apple TV update displays smart device info through HomeKit
Apple TV may soon be the defacto HomeKit smart home hub, judging release notes for the latest beta spotted by AppleInsider. The Software beta 2 release can now be "used for testing AirPlay and HomeKit with your iOS apps," letting you set the devices as a remote HomeKit peer by connecting to iCloud. After that, info from smart devices like bulbs and thermostats will be automatically synced to Apple TV. Apple announced 18 partners at HomeKit's launch, including Philips and Honeywell (but not Google-owned Nest) and has added several more recently. Though functionality seems limited for now, it looks like Cupertino is thinking ahead to the day when Apple TV could serve as a HomeKit mission control center. The set-top device is long overdue for a software overhall, so hopefully it's the start of Tim Cook's "grand vision" for Apple TV. If you'd like to try, you'll need access to the developer portal and a dose of gumption.
Powerslayer Blu: An Apple HomeKit-enabled device smart charger
Since Apple's HomeKit home automation framework was announced with fanfare at WWDC 2014 in June, we haven't heard a whole heck of a lot about products that are designed to work in its ecosystem. Today, smart energy technology design firm Velvetwire announced that it will have an Apple HomeKit-enabled USB charger called Powerslayer Blu (US$89) available this winter. How will Powerslayer Blu differ from all of the bazillions of other USB chargers on the market? It uses device-aware software connected via Bluetooth Low Energy to turn the charger completely off when charging is complete, preventing overcharging of USB-charged devices and eliminating vampire power drain (energy consumed by electronics while in standby mode). The charger interacts with Apple devices through a Velvetwire-developed iOS app, and it can interact with other HomeKit applications. The app is designed to give users a visual way to see the level of charge their device is receiving so they can then tailor charging power levels to suit their situation. The new device is an evolution of the original Powerslayer, which had a successful funding round on Kickstarter last fall.
Tim Cook says Apple Watch can control the Apple TV and hints at other uses in full-length Bloomberg interview
BloombergBusinessweek over the weekend published their full-length interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook. The full interview contains a number of interesting tidbits that, for whatever reason, didn't make it into the print version of the story. Of particular interest are Cook's comments regarding the Apple Watch and what it may be used for in the future, namely controlling connected devices within a household. Cook: I love operating my Apple TV from the watch. I don't have to worry anymore about the remote falling through the cushions of the sofa. BW: I don't recall seeing an Apple TV app for the watch. Cook: There's-I don't think we showed this. I've got a little advance copy. And so it will operate your Apple TV, and you can imagine that it can control other things as well. ... And because you're not searching for yet another object in your home to get to, this is an object that's attached to you. There's loads of things that you can do with it. The list that we've come up with is really long. But frankly speaking, as we open it up for developers, it's going to get a lot longer, because they're going to come up with things that we haven't even begun to think about. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is Apple's HomeKit, a framework originally introduced during this year's WWDC event. Apple hasn't yet made a huge leap into the world of connected devices, but with the introduction of HomeKit and the eventual rollout of the Apple Watch, one can only imagine that their interest in particular space will become more apparent in the coming months. Cook also spoke of a more mature Apple, noting that the recent Apple-IBM deal wouldn't have happened in years past on account of Apple's inherent desire to go it alone. No, we wouldn't have done it at all, because we would have said, we need to do it on our own or we don't need to do it. What I think we've now done is we've introduced another alternative, a partner alternative. And I think we've learned from-particularly in the last several years, working with so many carriers-we've learned that we can partner. Tim Cook doesn't often sit down for full-length and in-depth interviews so this one is well worth reading in its entirety. Cook talks at length about a number of varied topics, from how he'll know if the Apple Watch is a hit to how the Apple of today is run differently than it was even just a few years ago.
Elgato announces $50 Avea smart lightbulb and Eve smart home sensors
Apparently, the world needs another smart lightbulb, and Elgato's going to sell it to you. Called Avea, the $50 bulb connects to your iDevice directly using Bluetooth (no external hub needed), and lets you set the mood in any room with an appropriate shade of light. Just one iPhone (4S and up), 5th gen iPod Touch or iPad (3rd gen or newer) can control a whole house full of lights and give users multiple lighting scenes to choose from. Plus, there's an alarm feature that wakes you with the gentle gleam of a 7W LED bulb pumping out 430 lumens (which is just a bit brighter than its competitor from Lumen, and is roughly equivalent to a 40W incandescent bulb).
Apple is reportedly unveiling its wearable device on September 9th
If you ask many pundits when Apple will unveil its often-rumored wearable device, many of them will say October. However, we may have to revise those expectations a bit. Recode's sources now claim that Apple will unveil the gadget on September 9th -- you know, the same day that many expect to see at least one new iPhone. There's little to back the claim at this point beyond the site's reputation for accurate leaks, but the timing makes sense given that the iPhone and the mystery wristwear are expected to work virtually hand-in-hand. As for actual technical details? Besides the expected fitness and home automation support, there isn't much more to say -- most likely, you'll have to wait a couple more weeks to get the full scoop. [Image credit: Ruben Schade, Flickr]
Poll: What home devices would you like to have controlled by HomeKit?
At WWDC 2014, Apple announced a new developer framework called HomeKit. The idea behind HomeKit is to provide a common way for home automation devices -- the so-called "Internet of Things" -- to be controlled from iOS devices. We've seen everything from home hubs to app-controlled slow cookers so far. What would you like to be able to control with a tap from your iPhone or iPad? What home devices would you like to have controlled by Apple's HomeKit?
Apple seeking FCC certification for iBeacon hardware
Apple's iBeacon -- whether it's a future product that will work with HomeKit or just a device for use at the company's own retail outlets -- has an official product number: A1573. The sharp-eyed folks at Securifi, who have just started shipping their Almond+ Gigabit Wi-Fi Router and Smart Home Hub, noticed the FCC Application for Certification for Apple's iBeacon. The testing was performed by Audix Technology (Wujiang) Co. on behalf of Apple. Extrapolating the measurements on the drawing above, the iBeacon appears to be about 5.46" in diameter and powered through a USB connection. There's no word on whether the iBeacon will be available to the general public. Many thanks to Ram Malasani at Almond for the tip!
An early look at Siri and HomeKit
At Macworld/iWorld 2014, I made a presentation on the part that Siri could play in the home automation revolution. Some of the key points I made were that iOS 7 and Siri really couldn't do too much at the current time without assistance from third-party tools such as IFTTT, and that Apple would need to open up the Siri API to developers before much would improve. Well, the announcement of HomeKit in iOS 8 at WWDC 2014 went a long way toward making it possible for us to get to a Jetson's-type world where turning lights on and off, locking doors, and making your home more comfortable is just a voice command away. The team at AppleInsider took a look at responses from Siri in iOS 8 beta 2, finding that Siri now responds to various home automation-related queries with responses that give a hint at how Apple's intelligent assistant will work with third-party devices. The article notes that "built-in HomeKit services include garage door openers, lights, door locks, thermostats, IP camera controls, switches, and more", providing control over the characteristics of those devices. What developers will need to do is create their own tools to control their accessories, but they'll be able to do so with links into Siri. HomeKit provides not only control over characteristics of different accessories, but "knows" the location of those accessories as well. For example, asking Siri to check whether or not the front door is locked indicates that each accessory can be given a unique location identifier. As with the existing SmartThings ecosystem, HomeKit can also provide control over multiple homes, say a main house and a cabin in the mountains. Asking Siri "Are the doors at the cabin locked?" could result in a quick scan of all of the door locks at that location and a response that "Yes, they are". At this point, since no smart home accessory manufacturers have publicly demonstrated their devices working with HomeKit, queries to Siri result in a plaintive reply: That's why they call this a beta...
With the introduction of HomeKit and the Honeywell Lyric, a Nest acquisition by Apple would have been foolish
Google's $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest was interesting on a number of fronts. Not only did it result in a slew of ex-Apple employees finding themselves under the employ of Google, but it also prompted many to wonder, "Why didn't Apple buy Nest?" After all, on paper it appeared that an Apple/Nest acquisition was a match made in heaven. Not only was the company led by former Apple executive Tony Fadell, but the design of the Nest Thermostat itself was lauded for bringing a more intuitive and compelling user experience to an otherwise boring thermostat market. While it remains to be seen what Fadell and his team come up with now that they have the full weight of Google behind them, two recent events bear out that Apple acquiring Nest would have made a great headline, but wouldn't have necessarily been a smart strategic move. First, we have the Honeywell Lyric. Yep, Nest isn't the only game in town anymore as the company long associated with thermostats has decided to jump into the 21st century with its own take on a modern thermostat. The device looks awfully similar to Nest's design and was designed to be a mobile-based product. The Verge recently ran an extensive review of the Lyric and it looks like a serious competitor to Nest on all fronts. You can check out some of the Lyric's features over here. Now imagine, for a second, what the landscape would look like if Apple had acquired Nest. The team would be toiling away at new iterations of the Nest Thermostat, and just like that, Apple is expending resources to compete against Honeywell and other competitors. Which brings me to point number two; the recent introduction of HomeKit. Introduced at WWDC 2014, HomeKit provides a new framework for connected devices within the iOS ecosystem. HomeKit is expected to work with home items as varied as locks, lights, doors, thermostats and more. What's more, Apple at WWDC announced that it had partnered up with a number of big name companies, including Honeywell, Philips, iHome, Haier, and Osram Sylvania. Nest may be the front runner with respect to thermostats and the like, but HomeKit has a broader objective, namely to make iOS the central hub for all connected devices. More so than manufacturing and selling peripheral devices like thermostats on its own, Apple is aiming to make the HomeKit framework so prevalent and appealing to developers that all third party hardware peripherals will want to tie into it. From Apple's vantage point, competing in all of the areas where HomeKit is looking to make an impact would be an exercise in futility. A far simpler approach, and indeed the one Apple pursued, was to let third party manufacturers continue to do what they do best and develop an attractive framework they can tie their products into. Further, with Apple aiming to get HomeKit off the ground, what better way to scare away partners than to tell them that, "Oh yeah, we'll also be competing against you guys." Instead of selling a swing set, Apple is creating a playground for others to join. All together, the impending release of Honewell's Lyric thermostat and Apple's HomeKit suggest that Apple's ideal role in the burgeoning smarthome market is as a facilitator, not an active participant. To that end, Apple buying Nest would have made for a short term sexy headline, but a long term impediment on the company's longer term plan to make the entirety of the iOS experience more attractive than anything else out there on the market.
Weekends with Engadget: Apple's developer conference, LG G3 review and more!
This week, we watched Apple announce iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, reviewed the LG G3, gave Cortana a psych eval and investigated the reality of life with autonomous cars. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Engadget Daily: new features in iOS 8, Apple invades the connected home, and more!
Today, we explore Apple's push into the connected home, uncover a few lesser-known iOS 8 features, take a look a net neutrality and go hands-on with ASUS' Llama Mountain reference tablet. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Apple attempts to conquer the connected home
It was only one announcement among many at WWDC 2014's opening keynote, and Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of software engineering, made mention of Apple's new foray into home automation practically in passing. HomeKit is a common network protocol that seeks to make Siri your preferred method of controlling all of the smart things in your home. We're talking garage door openers, lighting, thermostats, door locks, the works. Federighi spent just one and a half minutes of a two-hour keynote talking about HomeKit -- scant attention paid to such a massive undertaking.
Engadget Daily: Apple announces OS X Yosemite, iOS 8 and more!
Today, we watched Apple unveil OS X Yosemite, iOS8 and its own smart home platform, went hands-on with ASUS' new Zenbook NX500, learned about Samsung's Tizen-based smartphone and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
WWDC 2014: HomeKit brings smart home services under one app
You can already use your iOS device to control compatible devices in your home such as the garage door, thermostat and lighting. Currently each of these services are controlled by their own app, each with its own way of doing things from networking to security. Apple thought it could make things a little easier and is bringing more of these services under one umbrella they call HomeKit. Working with leaders in home automation like Philips, Skybell, and Honeywell among others, Apple is introducing a common network protocol that will cover these services. With HomeKit users will be able to control their smart locks, lights, cameras, doors, thermostats, plugs, and switches from one app with secure pairing to ensure only your iOS device works. Services can be controlled individually or grouped together as "scenes." Thanks to Siri integration users will be able to speak a command like "get ready for bed" and have their garage door automatically close, their doors lock, and the thermostat lowered to a nice cool sleeping temperature. As smart home devices become more common HomeKit is a wonderful step towards a future where your home is controlled from the palm of your hand.
