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Google reportedly building an OS for the Internet of Things
The Information reports that Google is working on a new Android-based operating system to run specifically on the emerging class of low-power devices, aka the Internet of Things. This new OS, dubbed "Brillo", is supposedly quite petite and may require as little as 32 or 64 megabytes of RAM to run. This marks a significant departure for Google considering its latest Android build demanded at least 512MB of RAM. However there's a lot to be gained by being the OS that drives out smart bulbs, thermostats and locks. Not only does it free OEMs from having to design their own IoT communications schemes, it should also strongly position the Mountain View-based company as the invisible backbone of tomorrow's smart home. If this rumor is indeed true, Google will likely announce it at next week's I/O developers conference. Stay tuned.
Apple could be delaying HomeKit by a couple months (Update: Nope)
Citing sources close to the project, Fortune reports that Apple plans to delay the release of its much anticipated HomeKit platform. While the company has never actually provided a firm release date, it's been widely speculated that HomeKit would hit sometime mid-summer, around June or July. Now it would appear that users will have to wait until August or September to begin smartening up their homes. Fortune's sources blame rapidly bloating code for the delay. Apparently, the current programming iteration demands far too much memory from smaller IoT devices and Apple figures it will need an extra month or so to trim the code down to more functional specs.
Do you need a $249 'smart' water filter?
There seem to be three mindsets when it comes to the water we drink. You can care a lot about it and buy bottled; care a lot about it and have a water filter; or you just drink from the tap. Maybe it's because I fit into the third category that water filters don't really seem like a growth market to me. A casual survey of my colleagues tells me there are lots of people that do care, though. Cove is built for them. The pitch is simple: Our natural water is full of crap. Harmful chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens. You name it; it's in there. Most filters do a good job at removing chlorine and other elements, but according to some studies, many introduce bacteria into your water. Cove's new filtration system apparently solves that issue, and, this being 2015, it's wrapped up in a "smart" housing that talks to your phone.
Wink smart home hubs knocked out by security certificate (update)
Now for the downside of a house loaded up with "smart" devices to allow remote control and monitoring: turning your home into a computer means computer-like problems. Today's example comes from the Wink Hub, a $50 device sold at Home Depot that's supposed to simplify things by working across standards and link common home appliances (lights, thermostat, garage door, etc.) to your phone. That was the plan until yesterday when Wink sent out a software update that went wrong somehow, and now a number of users have a box "so secure that it is unable to connect to the Wink servers" (Wink's words, not ours). The problem knocked all Wink hubs offline from 12:40PM to 11PM ET yesterday, and while the company says a "majority" of hubs were able to recover and reconnect, those that weren't will need to be sent back. Update: We've confirmed what several Wink users have reported -- it appears that an expired certificate is at the root of the problem. The update pushed out was an attempt to fix the issue, and judging by responses on the Facebook group it did work for some owners. Stay tuned though, we're expecting more information on the issue shortly. [Thanks, Paul!] Update 2: There's a way to fix the problem! Quirky founder Ben Kaufman tells us that Wink is currently testing it with a small group of users but plans to email directions out soon. Click here for more details, and keep an eye out for that email. [Thanks Larry, Steve & John]
GE wants to link your existing fridge to your smart home
There's no shortage of smart appliances now, but that won't help you much if you bought your gear a few years ago. What if you want to get your existing refrigerator talking to the rest of your automated home? GE may soon have a solution... if you're one of its previous customers, anyway. The company tells GigaOM that it's developing a WiFi-based Connect box that will link some fridges from 2009 and newer (all of them equipped with Ethernet jacks) to the Wink smart home system. While it's not clear just what this will do for your not-quite-cutting-edge food box, it wouldn't be surprising if the add-on at least gives you a heads-up when something goes awry.
Logitech wants to link the living room with the rest of your smart home
You might've written off the idea of a connected home up to this point, and if so, Logitech wants you to give it a second chance. Together with Harmony (its living room wing), the outfit's working on an API that allows developers to link all of the connected devices in your home so they work in concert. The example the firm gives is, say, once you started watching a movie on your Samsung flatscreen via Apple TV, the Philips Hue lights in your living room would dim accordingly. Harmony claims this programming tool is the first of its kind and gives developers access to over 270,000 home entertainment and automation devices, creating a platform of sorts for smart home experiences that haven't been seen up to this point.
Automatic's car tracker works with Nest to give you a cozy arrival
Your car and house may soon be having conversations about your whereabouts, thanks to a new feature from Automatic's car tracker. The $100 dongle (US only) -- which attaches to your car's ODB-II port to track your driving and save fuel -- now works with Nest's thermostat to optimize home heating and power usage. The system allows you to create basic "rules" that can switch Nest into home or away mode, depending on your whereabouts. It also supports deeper functionality, that could, say, crank the heat when you pass a certain landmark on a specific day. The systems will supposedly work together to learn your habits with the goal of eventually giving you "just-in-time" heating control to minimize energy usage. Or, you know, plot your overthrow.
Honeywell's smart Lyric security system lets you tell it what to do
After Nest's thermostat seemingly caught it off guard, Honeywell came back solidly with its own snappy-looking Lyric thermostat. Now the home control veteran is trying to build some more momentum with the launch of its second Lyric product: a "professional grade" home security system. It includes cameras, plus intruder, motion and smoke detectors, all managed by a touchscreen controller. The system accepts voice commands, which can trigger events like turning off the alarm, while simultaneously switching on the lights and turning up the heat. Honeywell says the system will also use your smartphone location and products like smart lights and locks to give you a wide range of automated scenarios.
Keep your pets from wandering off with Tagg and Alarm.com
You let the dog out into the garden while you pop back inside to get something. Next thing you know, she's gone. You knew you should have fixed up that gap in the fence. Too bad, huh? With Tagg, no longer would you have the anxiety of losing a pet. This "wearable" for pets claims to be able to locate your pooch (or cat) in almost all of America. How so? Well, there's GPS and connectivity through Verizon. That's how. So, as long as your mutt doesn't stray out of coverage, you'll be able to pinpoint his or her location. But Tagg's not just a one-trick pony/dog/cat. It's partnered with Alarm.com (makers of a full suite of smart home equipment) to add a bunch more functionality, or what the two companies are calling "smart pet tracking."
BeeWi takes on Belkin's WeMo with its new home automation platform
Not surprisingly, the Internet of Things is making a big splash here at CES 2015. As part of that push, BeeWi, a company better known for making various wireless products, is showing off its home automation platform. The BeeWi platform has been available in Europe, Canada and parts of South America for some time now, but the company announced that it's ready to bring it over to the US. In similar fashion to Belkin's WeMo line, BeeWi's home automation offerings include a mobile application and an array of modular sensors and trackers.
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.
Misfit eyes the connected home in addition to new wearables
Misfit debuted a new (and more budget-friendly) activity tracker back in the fall, but the company has plans to tackle more than just wearables. The outfit will keeping working on its existing line of gadgets, but in the months to come, the connected home will garner attention as well -- in addition to some "advanced wearables" that move beyond those worn on the wrist. CEO Sonny Vu wasn't ready to offer up specifics, but he did note that a number of products in the household space were on tap for the immediate future. "If you actually have to wear something 24/7 to get data, it's kind of a disadvantage," Vu said during a chat with Re/code. "But if you can just buy something that you plug into the wall, and it works, it can really add value."
Create your own smart home with littleBits' house-friendly kit
Ever since littleBits' snap-together circuits got the ability to speak to the internet, they were crying out to be used for home-automation. Today, littleBits itself is making that a dead cert, by launching a "Smart Home Kit." The pack contains 14 magnetic "bits" to get your inventions started, including five new tools (MP3 player, Threshold, Number, Temperature Sensor, and IR transmitter). Theoretically, that internet-connected iguana enclosure you were after, or that DIY smart-toaster are now just a $250 spend away --the price of the new kit, available starting tomorrow. If you're stuck for inspiration (or, y'know, don't own an iguana), the bundle comes with a poster containing 14 ideas to try out, and a new AC switch means you can connect directly to the mains. Still stuck for ideas? There are some videos after the break, snap to it.
Mr. Coffee just released an iPhone-controllable 'Smart Coffee Maker'
The list of "Things That We Probably Don't Need Smart Versions Of But We Got Them Anyway" gets a little bit longer today with the announcement and release of the Mr. Coffee Smart Coffee Maker, an iPhone-controllable appliance that lets you initiate the brewing of a fresh pot of bean juice from anywhere you can get a data signal. The completely unnecessary -- but pretty cool, nonetheless -- coffee maker uses Belkin's WeMo technology and is controllable via the WeMo app. The app lets you program brewing schedules or start up the device and produce 10 cups of java any time you want, though you'll obviously have to have the maker pre-loaded with fresh grounds or there isn't much point. Speaking of which, the first company that comes up with a coffee maker that lets me load roasted beans in bulk, and then grinds, reloads the filter, and brews it all on its own will score at least one order from me. If you're even slightly curious about Mr. Coffee's new smart coffee contraption, our own review guru Steve "Mr. Jitters" Sande has one in-hand and is currently caffeinating and re-caffeinating himself repeatedly in order to bring you an accurate picture of the machine's capabilities, so keep an eye out for that. [via iMore]
Smart light bulb fools burglars by pretending you're at home
There's no shortage of smart light bulbs that will save energy or set a special mood, but they don't usually do much for when you're away from home. What if you want to trick thieves into thinking you're still around? BeON Home might have tackled that problem with its new Burglar Deterrent. The lighting doesn't just come on for set intervals -- it learns your habits to make it look like you're at home, and it'll even listen for your doorbell to turn on the lights and spook would-be intruders. Each bulb has its own backup power, too, and they'll react to your smoke detector's sounds to light the way out during a fire.
Nest's smart thermostat now shows much more info at a glance
For all of the things Nest's smart thermostat has learned to do, its interface hasn't made a lot of progress; you frequently have to dig to see more than just the basics. You'll have a much easier time of it after today, though. Nest is now rolling out a version 4.3 update that includes Quick View, a reworked interface that gives you more info at a glance. Push in the ring and you can quickly check both the outdoor temperature and humidity before you leave home -- handy if you're unsure about bringing your jacket. Spinning the ring, meanwhile, shows you a summary of everything associated with a given category. You can see the next scheduled temperature change, fan settings and other nice-to-know facts without wading into the menus.
Keen Home wants smart devices that help prevent basement flooding
The promise of a smart home, ultimately, is to introduce savings of some sorts be it with time, effort or money. Keen Home is targeting the latter with its Smart Vent which monitors things like outside air temperature as well as the climate in your abode to regulate heat and AC. That happens via smart device, of course and apparently the whole thing can cut your HVAC system's runtime by 32 percent according to the company. What's coming down the pike, though, is what could be the most interesting: bringing "proactive intelligence" to otherwise dumb products in the house. Specifically, sump pumps that you can monitor from a mobile gizmo and will alert you should something go awry before your basement turns into a wading pool.
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.
Stick this battery-powered Bluetooth light switch anywhere you want
There are myriad devices like the Philips Hue that can be controlled with a smartphone, but how about just... a switch? A company called Avi-on was thinking the same thing, so it created a movable Bluetooth dimmer switch that simply sticks to your wall without any holes or wiring. It can be used to control a number of GE-branded Bluetooth devices, like its Smart Bulbs and indoor and outdoor plugs. The system doesn't require a hub, and Avi-on claims the switch's battery will last "multi-years." If you do want to use a smartphone instead, the company also has iOS and Android apps, with features like timers, scheduling and smart device grouping.
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.
