There’s a lot of pie-in-the-sky talk about the “Internet of things” coming to the masses, but there are really only a few companies putting these digitally connected devices in our hands right now.
August, the makers of a smartphone-controlled smart lock, is one of those companies and they've just announced a new update to the device that could broaden its appeal beyond the early adopter set.
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First announced earlier this year, the smart lock allows you to use your iOS or Android smartphone to remotely control the locking functions on just about any door. Once connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, the device’s auto-unlock feature senses when you approach the door and opens the lock. The device also gives you the ability to distribute (and instantly revoke) digital keys to friends and family members who may need access to your home.
The update to the device offers both an aesthetic and technical improvement . August will now also offer the device in multiple colors including silver, dark gray and champagne gold as well as a limited edition red version.
On the security side, August has introduced a feature called EverLock, which detects when you’ve closed a particular door behind you and automatically locks that door as you exit. And while the feature may appear to ramp up the security of one’s home, it does raise the issue of what to do if EverLock happens to lock you out when you don’t have your smartphone with you.
“With EverLock, there is an optional setting to temporarily disable EverLock if you leave the house without your smartphone,” says August CEO Jason Johnson in response to our query on this particular point. “This is particularly convenient if you're just running out to your car or taking out the trash.”
Of course, this doesn’t really solve the problem of that particularly absent-minded person who both forgets to take their smartphone with them and forgets to disable EverLock. But if you’re that forgetful, it might be a good idea to have at least one friend permanently listed as one of your smart lock friends to open your door in case of emergencies.
Previously, August only accepted reservations for the device, but starting today you can place a pre-order for the $199 device scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2014.
Kickstarter-funded Ninja Blocks are wirelessly connected mini-computers embedded with a range of sensors that can detect humidity, temperature, motion, light and distance, among other things. Using Ninja Blocks' accompanying software system, you can communicate with a range of systems through SMS, Twitter, Foursquare, Evernote and more. You could, for instance, program your Ninja to text you when someone rings your (wireless) doorbell; turn on the light by talking to Siri; tweet at you when your pet's water bowl runs dry; or, when motion is detected in your garage, take a photo from your webcam and upload it to Dropbox.
Introductory kits cost $199 and will resume shipping in March.
More affordable alternatives include Knut and Twine, both of which cost $99 but have fewer sensors and capabilities than Ninja Blocks. You can purchase a range of add-ons sensors and connected devices for the Knut, however, including sensors for moisture and water pressure, as well as a magnetic door switch, for $25 apiece.
Imagine being able to open and close your front door with a tap on your phone. Come May, you'll be able to do that with Lockitron, a $179, Internet-connected device designed to fit over your deadbolt.
You can lock and unlock your doors from anywhere using a two-button iPhone app or a text message. You can authorize family members (and visiting guests) so they can open your doors, as well. Sensors alert you when someone has unlocked or knocked on your door. It's easy to install and unlike many other home automation systems, doesn't require any internal wiring, and thus, works in renters' homes, too.
Nest is an intelligent, elegantly designed thermostat system from the creators of Apple's iPod. You can adjust the temperature using the dial on the thermostat or on its companion apps for iOS or Android devices. Over time, the app will learn your preferences -- shutting off the heat when you head for work, for example, and ticking up 10 degrees when your kids come home from school.
"Teach it well and Nest can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20%," its creators pledge.
A basic unit costs $249 on Nest's website; thermostats are also available at Amazon.com as well as at Apple and Lowe's stores. The company also offers professional installation, starting at $119 for one thermostat and $25 for each additional unit.
Bitponics, a Kickstarter-backed "personal gardening assistant," aims to give hydroponic plant growers better control over their soil-free indoor gardens, via an Internet-connected sensor device. You can use Bitponics' software (still in development) to devise plans for growing different kinds of plants, determining the amount of light hours your plants need each day, when to replace your nutrient solution, when to run your water pumps, etc. Sensors for temperature, humidity, brightness and pH will log data about your plants and alert you when something's wrong.
Bitponics pledges to release its first batch of systems (priced around $395) in September.
At $6,400, Kohler's Numi Toilet (brilliantly reviewed by Sam Grobart in The New York Times) is a bit out of the average homeowner's budget. Nevertheless, it's an impressive device: It has a motion-activated lid for hands-free opening and closing and an integrated air dryer and deodorizer. Plus, it heats both the seat and foot area. Ambience lighting and built-in speakers, which can be pre-programmed or connected to an MP3 player via remote docking station, round out the experience.
Image: August