Everything has pretty much stopped in North America for Labor Day (except for perv hackers), but IFA 2014 is ramping up in Germany and Elgato is using this event to debut a new lineup of smart accessories. The announcement encompasses three major new products: Eve, Avea, and Smart Power.
Elgato Eve is easily the most compelling new product in this lineup. Through the use of several sensors, Avea monitors your home’s “air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy and water consumption.” These Bluetooth connected sensors report back to your iPhone or iPad via the Elgato Eve app. And here’s the best part, it will be fully compatible with Apple HomeKit…
Apple announced HomeKit for iOS 8 back in June during WWDC. The goal behind HomeKit is to centralize and simplify the management of home automation accessories. Once fully launched, HomeKit will allow iOS users to control a variety of devices (from different manufacturers) including locks, lights, cameras, doors, thermostats, plugs, switches, and more from one app. Siri will even learn a few new tricks so you can control your home with voice commands.
Since we’ve heard whispers that Apple may be working on its own sensor-laden home automation products (as well as iPhone 6 getting some of the aforementioned sensors) and we’ve got just over a week to go until the iPhone 6 event, you have to wonder if Elgato is trying to get out in front of any possible competing products that Apple may announce.
Pricing and availability information is not yet available for the Elgato Avea home automation solution.
Elgato is also taking on Philips Hue with the Avea smart LED light bulb. Unlike many of its competitors, iOS users can connect to it directly via Bluetooth, without the need for a bridge. Use the preset lighting configurations to set the mood and the wake-up feature (just like the Philips Wake-Up lights) to start your day without a blaring alarm. Avea bulbs are available now for $50 each.
Smart Power is a 6,000 mAh external power bank that can notify you when it’s time to juice up your iPhone or iPad and “even remind its owner to take it with them on a busy day.” It’s available now for $99.95.
Full press release follows:
Elgato at IFA 2014: Live smarter with app-powered accessories
Munich, September 1st – Elgato will be showcasing a new line of app-powered accessory products at IFA 2014. The new products will enable iPhone and iPad users to control and monitor their home, create the perfect lighting atmosphere and make sure they do not run out of extra power for their gadgets when they need it most. The upcoming product line, Elgato Eve allows users the capability to monitor conditions in the home. The intelligent LED bulb, Avea gives dynamic mood lighting at home, while the intelligent battery, Smart Power offers advanced self-monitoring capabilities to make sure it is always ready to refill iPhones and iPads.
See Eve, Avea, and Smart Power at Hall 15 Booth 222 at IFA Berlin 2014.
Elgato Eve – monitoring system for your home comfort
Elgato will be previewing its upcoming app-powered system for monitoring your home from your iPhone and iPad. The soon to be launched range of Eve sensors gathers data on air quality, temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy and water consumption in your home, this data is then configured and displayed in Elgato’s Eve app. Users can gain insights that can help improve the comfort of their home, making their house a smarter place. Elgato Eve is the solution for a Smart Home. The Bluetooth Smart based Eve sensors will be previewed for the first time during IFA 2014.
Elgato Avea, dynamic mood lighting control system
Elgato today introduces Avea, a smart LED bulb which can be controlled directly using iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth Smart technology. A single tap on one of the many enthralling lighting scenes in the accompanying app creates the perfect atmosphere for focused working, a romantic meal or relaxing after a hard day’s work. Setting up Avea is a breeze: Simply screw in the bulb then download and start the app from iTunes. Avea can be controlled directly using iPhone without a bridge.
Features
- Dynamic mood lighting – controlled directly by iPhone or iPad
- Seven dynamic scenes and colors for any situation
- Wake-Up Light function for a soothing, natural start to the day
- Works straight out of the box – easy installation with no bridge or gateway required
- Bulbs available individually so no need to buy a starter pack
- Energy efficient Bluetooth Smart technology
- Screw base: E27/E26
- LED bulb power rating: 7W
- Brightness : 430 lumens
- Bulb life: 25,000 hrs
- Weight: 148 g
Smart Power – The intelligent portable power device that monitors itself
Elgato today introduces Smart Power, the first portable power solution that can take care of itself. Using advanced self-monitoring capabilities and energy efficient Bluetooth Smart technology, Elgato Smart Power sends a notification to the iPhone when it’s time to refill. It will even remind its owner to take it with them on a busy day. The Elgato Smart Power app shows exactly how the battery reserve is holding up. With Elgato Smart Power, users can finally rest assured that they won’t run out of power when they need it most.
Features
- High-end battery with a capacity of 6000 mAh and adaptive charging (up to 2,4A / 12W)
- Automatic PowerMinder notifications when it’s time to refill
- Optional calendar integration: get reminders to take Smart Power along on a busy day
- Charges an empty iPhone three times
- Automatic high power output for charging your iPad
- Input connection: embedded USB cable
- Output connection: USB
- Standards: Bluetooth 4.0 Smart
- What’s in the Box: Elgato Smart Power comes with an embedded USB cable
- Dimensions & Weight: 83 x 83 × 23 mm, 160 g
Apple HomeKit
Apple announced the new HomeKit technology will soon be available as part of iOS 8 for iPhone and iPad. HomeKit introduces a new way to control supported devices in your home using Siri. This means you could use your voice to turn on lights or adjust the thermostat. Elgato are set to announce and make available solutions based on Apple’s HomeKit technology once iOS 8 is available.
Pricing & Availability
Elgato Eve
Pricing and availability for the Eve product line will be announced soon. The Elgato app Eve is free and will be available in the App Store.
Elgato Avea
Avea costs USD $99.95/CDN $59.95/€39.95/GBP 39.95/AUD 59 and is available now from the Elgato online shop and select resellers. The Avea app is free and available in the App Store. Devices must meet the following requirements: iPhone 4S or later, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad mini or iPad 3 (3rd generation or later) all running iOS 7.1 (or later).
Elgato Smart Power
Elgato Smart Power is available for USD $99.95/CDN $109.95/EUR 89.95€/GBP £79.95/AUD $139. The Elgato Smart Power app is free and is available in the App Store. Devices must meet the following requirements: iPhone 4S or later, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad mini or iPad 3 (3rd generation or later) all running iOS 7.1 (or later).
About Elgato
Elgato creates app-powered lifestyle accessories that entertain and enlighten. We combine elegant software with innovative hardware, designed and developed by Elgato engineering and product teams in Germany and California. Our market-leading EyeTV line has won numerous awards since its launch in 2002. Elgato Gaming revolutionizes content creation for the connected generation on YouTube and Twitch. Elgato products are available at major retailers in more than eighty countries. Elgato is privately held with headquarters in Munich, Germany.
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Not seeing the bulbs in their online store……. or I’d buy a few..
Ya, looks like it hasn’t hit just yet. But keep a lookout because the press release stated that they would be available starting today.
I’ve always loved the thought of having a fully technologically connected home, I guess the future is sooner than we thought! And more importantly accessible to the general public!
I use TCP Lighting.
iPhone/iPad controlled.
Bulbs are far cheaper than competitors like Hue or Avea.
Does not change color at all….because when in the hell did changing the color of your house lights become important.
Exactly.
And $50/bulb makes it a novelty. Put it in the LED/$20-$25 per bulb range and it’ll take off.
430 lumens for the light bulb seems a tad gutless to me. I might use them in a smaller room, but our larger living areas tend to be around the 600 mark, possibly a bit higher in some places.
I’d also prefer wifi over Bluetooth for the range.
Buddy of mine’s been working on a zwave bridge. It’s been interesting to watch him go through the development process. Cool to pull up outside his house and have him ask Siri to turn on the porch lights.
Check it out : http://dev.iachieved.it/iachievedit/?p=478