August, the company behind the popular Smart Lock solution, today has announced its very own Apple Watch app. In a blog post, August announced that the latest update to its iOS app adds support for Apple Watch and makes it possible to control your Smart Lock directly from your wrist.
First off, August Smart Lock on Apple Watch allows you to lock and unlock your device with just a “swipe and a tap.” You can also view your lock’s most recent activity from your wrist, including a log of who has entered and exited your home and when. Finally, the update also introduces the ability to receive instant notifications to Apple Watch whenever someone unlocks the door to your home.
We reviewed the August Smart Lock earlier this year and noted that it’s an easy way to secure your home and to replace your traditional house key. You can read that full review and watch the accompanying video here.
The latest version of the August app with Apple Watch support is available on the App Store now.
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I recently purchased this for my house – works great in an apartment or condo building since you often aren’t permitted to replace the lock set, so this simply allows you to replace the mechanism on the inside only. Installation was a breeze, and pairing with the app was easy.
I really wanted to love this product, however what I found in day-to-day experience is that the auto-unlock feature that opens automatically when you arrive home, was hit or miss. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. When it did, it was magic. When it didn’t, frustrating.
The Apple Watch update was welcome, however when you launch the app on the watch, it could take up to 30 seconds for the app to open and the lock to appear. Even on the iPhone, sometimes you’d open the app and it wouldn’t show the lock within range, even if my phone was literally inches away.
The other disappointing part is the lack of internet access – you need to buy another $50 dongle for that.
Overall I’d say this holds huge potential, but they really need to resolve the responsiveness issues as well as somehow bundle in internet access.