Connected Home

Logitech enters home security market with ‘Logi Circle’ portable monitoring camera

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2015

Accessory maker Logitech is entering the home security and automation market with a new portable camera designed for home monitoring. They're calling it the Logi Circle and it's both portable and rechargeable.

But don't let its friendly appearance and small footprint fool you, the Circle is no toy. This device packs in advanced features such as 2-way audio and real-time streaming of high-definition video via a companion smartphone app, Smart Filtering technology that automatically marks events you might want to take a closer look at, a 30-second video review of the past 24 hours and more.

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Philips launches dimming kit for Hue wireless bulbs

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 6, 2017

Philips's 'Hue' programmable LED lights can now be controlled in a more traditional fashion with the new Hue Wireless Dimming Kit and white bulbs.

Announced this morning, the Dimming Kit allows you to adjust the brightness of up to ten white bulbs at the same time and can be installed directly on the wall or used as a remote control of sort for Hue lights.

The Hue Wireless Dimming Kit can be hooked up to Philips' existing Hue hardware via the company's Hue bridge accessory to control the standard Hue and Hue Lux lighting.

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Here’s a list of all HomeKit compatible appliances for the connected home

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 5, 2017

Apple's HomeKit platform was announced more than a year ago but HomeKit-certified products continue to be in scant supply. In fact, there are currently just five HomeKit-compatible accessories available on the market: the Ecobee3, Elgato Eve, iHome iSP5 SmartPlug, Insteon Hub and Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit.

More were announced but HomeKit won't take off until fall at the earliest for it hit unforseen issues.

First HomeKit code base “blew up” and now prototype devices seem to be performing poorly as the current crop of Bluetooth chips struggle to handle strong encryption imposed by Apple.

With that in mind, here's a list of HomeKit-compatible appliances thus far.

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Apple’s focus on privacy slowing HomeKit rollout as cutting-edge encryption produces unacceptable lag

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 22, 2015

HomeKit, Apple's platform for the connected home, sounds terrific on paper. In reality, HomeKit is like CarPlay, another Apple platform plagued with slower than expected rollout.

There are currently only five HomeKit-compatible accessories on the market: the Ecobee3, Elgato Eve, iHome iSP5 SmartPlug, Insteon Hub and Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit.

A new report alleges that wider HomeKit adoption is being held back by Apple's stringent encryption requirements. Apparently, Bluetooth chips currently available on the market and certified for HomeKit just can't handle Apple's super strong encryption without degrading the experience.

As Forbes reported Wednesday, Apple imposes a high level of encryption on HomeKit accessory makers in order to prevent eavesdropping and protect the privacy of its users. Apple's focus on privacy, however, has created unacceptable levels of lag in prototype Bluetooth products whose chips have sub-par processing capability.

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Nest roundup: home security camera, improved smoke alarm, revamped mobile app and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2015

Google-owned Nest launched some new home automation gear while refreshing its entire lineup at a media event held in San Francisco this morning. Designed for personal home security, the new Nest Cam is born out of Nest's acquisition of Wi-Fi video streaming camera maker Dropcam.

The $199 camera has a magnetic stand and can capture and stream a 130-degree video in Full HD 1080p resolution so you can keep an eye on your home while at work.

Moreover, it has advanced night vision, Nest Aware-powered activity alerts and boasts some other cool features worth mentioning.

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HomeKit in iOS 9 supports new sensors and devices, can remotely control your home via iCloud

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 8, 2015

HomeKit, Apple's platform for the connected home that was unveiled last summer, is beginning to pick up support from some well-established names in smart home appliances.

Last week, several vendors brought out some compelling HomeKit-certified home automation devices ahead of the Worldwide Developers Conference. And now, HomeKit is going to get a lot smarter with support for new types of home automation systems and improved remote management of your home.

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Hands-on with HomeKit: the Caséta Wireless Smart Lighting Dimmer Kit from Lutron

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

A couple of hours ago, I got my first real hands-on experience with HomeKit—the connected smart home framework that Apple announced at WWDC 2014. A year later, and some of the very first HomeKit enabled products are now landing on store shelves.

The folks over at Lutron were nice enough to send us the Caséta Wireless Smart Lighting Dimmer Kit ($229.95 on Amazon). This kit comes with a Smart Bridge, two remote controls and two plug-in lamp dimmers. Although the kit in and of itself is interesting, our main interest at iDownloadBlog is with its HomeKit support. With that in mind, this post consists of an unboxing and overview of Lutron's kit and a walkthrough of the HomeKit configuration, including Siri control.

Want to see how HomeKit works in the real world? Then watch our full video walkthrough for more details.

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iHome launches smart plug receptacle with HomeKit, pre-orders beginning June 15

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

Among the first wave of HomeKit-certified devices from SmartLinc and Ecobee, which dropped today ahead of Worldwide Developers Conference next week, iHome on Tuesday launched its HomeKit-enabled smart plug receptacle.

The first in iHome Control series of smart home products, the iHome iSP5 SmartPlug not only controls smart home appliances but “dumb” ones like lamps, using Apple's HomeKit. The accessory will be available for pre-order on iHome.com beginning June 15.

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HomeKit-enabled $150 Insteon Hub now shipping, hitting retail stores in July

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Available for pre-order since CES 2015, Insteon said today its hub with support for Apple's HomeKit will begin shipping to retail stores early next month. Dubbed the Insteon Hub, the device can now be ordered at $149.99 through Amazon.com and via SmartHome.com.

Controlling HomeKit-enabled accessories away from home requires a hub in the form of a third-generation Apple TV with Apple TV software 7.0 or later, or a dedicated product like the Insteon Hub.

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Elgato unveils HomeKit-compatible smart devices for the connected home

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 2, 2015

Ahead of Worldwide Developers Conference which kicks off next Monday with a keynote, accessory maker Elgato has launched several smart devices for the connected home built on Apple's HomeKit platform that it previewed at CES 2015. These accessories use Bluetooth Low Energy and a special iOS app so they're battery-friendly and fully controllable through your iPhone.

As first noted by German blog iFun.de, the company's smart home sensor dubbed the Eve, along with other accessories such as the Eve Room, Eve Weather, Door & Window Eve and Eve Energy, can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com.

These devices make a vision of the HomeKit-enabled connected home a reality by gathering data on air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy consumption and more.

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iOS 9 reportedly includes new ‘Home’ app for controlling HomeKit smart devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 20, 2015

Enhancements to Apple's HomeKit are expected to be among a flurry of software and platform advances in tow for the Worldwide Developers Conference next month. According to sources, the Cupertino company is thought to be announcing a new app in iOS 9 called Home for managing and controlling HomeKit-certified accessories for the connected home, 9to5Mac learned Wednesday.

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