HomeKit

Users on the hunt for a HomeKit-compatible smart doorbell have another new option from which to choose. At CES 2021 this week, Arlo has quietly updated its popular wired Video Doorbell with support for HomeKit integration.

Ecobee is expanding its lineup of smart home accessories with the introduction of a new SmartCamera with voice control, new SmartSensors for doors and windows, and a new Haven home security platform to monitor it all. I’ve spent the past two weeks testing Ecobee’s latest announcements, including details on HomeKit support, future updates, and much more.

I recently went hands-on with the Level Touch smart lock, which is Level Home Inc.’s most recent foray into the connected home space. Level, whose newest smart lock is for sale in the Apple Store, and whose design team includes former Apple employees, prides itself on providing smart technology in an elegant and inconspicuous package. In fact, unless someone specifically told you, you might not even know that the Level Touch is a smart lock. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.

Ecobee has announced that it is dropping the price of its premium Smart Camera with voice control from $179 to $129. This comes after the company rolled out HomeKit Secure Video last month, making the Smart Camera a more tempting option for HomeKit users.

Lutron is kicking off CES 2021 with a new addition to its lineup of HomeKit-compatible smart accessories. The company is expanding its Caseta Smart Lighting Control System with a new Outdoor Smart Plug, which will be available in “late March” for $79.95.

Now that it’s 2021, many of us have goals and resolutions to accomplish this year. For some, it’s weight loss. For some, it’s to finally clean out the garage. When I think about HomeKit, I want one thing this year: an automated way to deal with the No Response error in HomeKit.

Nanoleaf has expanded its lineup this year to include some great new smart home lighting options. The Essentials line launched with a standard-size smart bulb and a 6-foot lightstrip. Like the company’s smart light panels, there’s no hub needed for these new HomeKit lights and after spending some good time with both of them, we were able to discover the aspects that make them stand out.

In my house, I always want everything to smell fresh. I am constantly lighting candles, spraying Febreze, and other types of air fresheners. With three small children running around our house, there is usually an odd smell from somewhere that I am trying to cover up. When I came across the VOCOlinc Flowerbud, I knew I had to try it as a way to automate the process. I know some people believe essential oils are as good as medicine, and while I am not going to debate that, I am more focused on providing a pleasing smell in the main area of my house.

Popular smart home accessory maker Netatmo has announced that its Smart Video Doorbell with HomeKit is now available to pre-order in the United States and Canada. The accessory was previously limited to availability in Europe, but the company says the first pre-orders will arrive in the US and Canada on January 6, 2021.

A pair of new Philips Hue products have leaked today, providing a glimpse at what the smart home company has in store for early 2021. As reported by Hueblog, Philips Hue will release a new Wave Linear outdoor lighting accessory in spring of 2021, as well as redesigned Smart Dimmer.

Nanoleaf debuted its latest smart light panel system this year with Shapes. The first option was Shapes – Hexagons and Triangles and Mini Triangles have arrived as well. As you’d hope, all three of the Nanoleaf Shapes light panels work together to make a flexible system that lets you get really creative. And just like Nanoleaf’s other products, Shapes are HomeKit compatible with no hub needed.

Adaptive lighting in HomeKit was one of the new features from Apple in iOS 14. While it took a while for manufacturers to begin rolling it out, I’ve finally been able to spend a few weeks with it. It’s another way that HomeKit is providing experiences to automate your life for the better.

Some HomeKit projects are about convenience, some are about security, and others are just for fun. The Philips Hue Play lights certainly fit in the last category of HomeKit products.

When I saw that Flic HomeKit-compatible smart buttons were available, I had to take them for a spin.

Second-generation Flic smart home buttons now have HomeKit compatibility, along with multi-color LEDs to indicate the status of the device they control.

The original Flic buttons from Shortcut Labs could control a reasonably wide range of devices — including Ikea, Nanoleaf, Lifx, Lightify, Philips Hue, Sonos, Spotify, and WeMo — but HomeKit support now makes them suitable for a much wider range of smart home products…

HomeKit has expanded in many ways over the last few years, but one area that’s been seriously lagging has been HomeKit-enabled smart doorbells. Now Logitech has launched its Circle View Wired Doorbell and it features HomeKit Secure Video, 160-degree field of view, HD video, HDR, color night vision, and more.

One of the significant changes I’ve made to my HomeKit setup this fall is adding a “second home.” No, I didn’t buy a second home, but I added a new home in HomeKit at work. When the HomePod mini was announced, I took my full-size HomePod to work in favor of two of the HomePod minis at home. Once I added that HomePod, I started slowly taking a few HomeKit devices to work, and I have a full-blown HomeKit at work.

Ecobee today has announced HomeKit Secure Video support for its SmartCamera with voice control, which we first reviewed back in April. HomeKit Secure Video support allows users to access and record motion events directly in the Home app via iCloud.

Second-generation Flic smart home buttons now have HomeKit compatibility, along with multi-color LEDs to indicate the status of the device they control.

The original Flic buttons from Shortcut Labs could control a reasonably wide range of devices – including Ikea, Nanoleaf, Lifx, Lightify, Philips Hue, Sonos, Spotify, and WeMo – but HomeKit support now makes them suitable for a much wider range of smart home products …