Smart accessory maker iDevices announces integration with IFTTT
iDevices launches HomeKit-enabled Dimmer Switch to upgrade your existing lights
iDevices is expanding its HomeKit lineup with the launch of its new $99 Wi-Fi Enabled Dimmer Switch which works without a hub. iDevices first showed off the new smart lighting solution back in January at CES. Dimmer Switch replaces traditional wall light switches to add smart home features to traditional lights.
iDevices unveils new wall-mounted Instant Switch for controlling smart home accessories over Bluetooth
iDevices makes HomeKit-compatible smart plugs and other accessories, and this year at CES 2017 the company is introducing a new connected home product. Instant Switch is a Bluetooth-connected remote that you can mount on your wall like a traditional light switch for controlling other iDevices products.
Review: iDevices ‘Socket’ adds HomeKit support & iPhone app control to any lightbulb
The iDevices Socket is an adapter that goes between your lighting fixture and a standard bulb to add Wi-Fi and iPhone app control to any lightbulb. It also adds support for control via Siri voice commands and the iOS 10 Home app through Apple’s HomeKit platform.
iDevices sells its iPhone-controlled iGrill and Kitchen Thermometer brands to Weber
iDevices, a company that makes many popular iPhone connected household products, today announced that it’s selling its iGrill and Kitchen Thermometer brands to Weber, a longtime leader manufacturing grills and grilling accessories. The two product lines include Bluetooth, smartphone-controlled thermometer, grilling, and cooking accessories and companion apps.
iDevices adds new Siri-controlled wall outlets, switches and light sockets to its HomeKit lineup
We’ve already seen some interesting new HomeKit accessories out of CES 2016 including the first Siri-controlled ceiling fans, and now iDevices is expanding its current lineup of HomeKit-compatible products with four new gadgets that make home automation even easier. The Apple accessory maker is showing off its new Socket, Wall Switch, Dimmer Switch, and Wall Outlet which will let you control and automate standard light bulbs and other appliances using iOS and Siri. iDevices already offers a HomeKit Switch and Outdoor Switch (plus Thermostat), and today’s newly announced gear includes hard-wired solutions and ways to turn any lightbulb into a smart lightbulb.
The latest gadgets from CES 2015 to bring HomeKit automation and Siri integration to your setup
At WWDC 2014, Apple first announced HomeKit which it describes as a “framework in iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories” around your home, and we’re starting to see the first HomeKit-enabled accessories announced. HomeKit is especially interesting as smart devices that use it can be controlled by Siri commands like “turn off the lights” or “lock the front door” and actions can even be grouped together. Below you’ll find our running list of the latest gadgets from CES 2015 to bring HomeKit automation and Siri integration to your home:
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iDevices unveils first HomeKit-enabled plug dubbed ‘Switch’, iHome announces ‘SmartPlug’
iPhone and iPad users have eagerly awaited news in the HomeKit-connected product space since Apple announced the feature at WWDC 2014, and CES 2015 means we’re seeing a flood of new consumer electronics coming to market including the very first devices compatible with Apple’s smart home feature. The new iDevices Switch is described as “the world’s first HomeKit-enabled plug,” which allows you to control connected appliances using Siri.
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9to5Toys Last Call: LG 65-inch 1080p LED HDTV $699, Pitendo NES emulator, iGrill Mini giveaway, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the brand new 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
LG 65″ 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV $699 w/ free in-store pick up (Reg. $900)
Relive your favorite classic video games with the pocket sized Pitendo NES emulator
Giveaway: iDevices iGrill Mini Bluetooth Grilling Thermometer for iOS/Android ($40 value)
Kitchen Tech: Magical ice ball makers transform everyday drinks into classics
Amazon flips the switch on free 4K streaming for Prime members, here are the 4K UHDTVs you want to watch it on
More new deals:
- New! Games/Apps: Xbox One Assassin’s Creed bundle w/ free game $349, Threes! $2, more
- New! Headphones: Klipsch X11 earbuds $130, LG Tone+ Bluetooth headset $40, more
- New! Daily Deals: JLab Poppin BT speaker: $40, Logitech speaker system: $35, more
- New! Dell UltraSharp 23.8-inch LED Monitor w/ HDMI & USB 3.0 hub $209 (orig. $350)
- New! MXL 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone $60 shipped (orig. $170)
- New! Home: Hamilton Beach coffee maker $49 (orig. $80), more
- New! Magazine subs from $4 per yr: Popular Science, Men’s Fitness, Wired, more
- New! Sony PlayStation 4 gets free game, $35 DriveClub deals at Amazon
- New! Amazon Gold Box: up to 50% off select Razor Kick Electric Scooters and Vtech Toys
More deals still alive:
- MacBook/iPad stickers (multiple options) Buy One, Get One Free: $4 shipped (Reg. $40)
- $50 gift card w/ purchase of iPhone 6 from Target – plus other stackable discounts
- Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700 MK2 over-ear headphones $130 (orig. $230)
- LG 27-inch 1080P IPS LED Monitor w/ HDMI: $180 shipped (Reg. $300)
- Pioneer 4K AirPlay A/V Receiver $347 shipped (Reg. $500)
- Blue Microphones Spark USB/Lightning Mic for Mac/iOS $129 shipped (Reg. $200)
- WD 2TB HDD w/ Adobe Lightroom 5 or Photoshop Premier Elements from $100
- MFi Certified 3ft. Lightning to USB Cable $7.49 (Reg. $10), 10ft. for $11 Prime shipped
- Bluetooth speakers: UE MINI BOOM $70, BOOM $170, JBL Charge 2 $130
- Bluetooth speakers: Marshall Stanmore $340, Gramovox Gramophone $350
- Headphones: Harman Kardon Over-Ears $140, Monster iSport In-Ears $100, more
- iPhone 6 Tempered Glass Screen Protector with curved edge finish: $5 shipped (Reg. $15)
- Media: Thor The Dark World $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $40), Blu-rays/DVDs from $3
- HDTVs: LG 55″ 4K 3D $1,170 (orig. $2,300), more
- Roku 3 $78 new or $65 refurb (orig. $100)
- Buy $10+ Starbucks Card eGift with a Visa card and get a $10 bonus for free
- Stickman iOS apps go free: Soccer, Tennis, Downhill, Motocross, more (Reg. $1 ea.)
- GoPro HERO4 Black w/ 32GB microSD, headstrap, $50 gift card: $500 ($597 value)
- SanDisk iXpand 32GB Lightning flash drive $60, more
- Kingdom Rush Frontiers is IGN’s free iOS game of the month ($2.99 value)
- iPad Air 2s and Mini 3s $50-$100 off at Best Buy and 20% off select iPads at Staples
- iTunes Free App of the Week: God of Light ($1.99 value)
- PNY Turbo 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive: $70 shipped (50% off)
- Acer 13.3-inch Chromebook 2.1GHz/2GB/16GB: $200 shipped (orig. $300)
- TP-LINK AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $30 Prime shipped (orig. $70)
Holiday Gift Guides:
- Justin’s holiday gift guide: accessories to amplify your Mac set-up
- Trevor’s holiday gift guide: products that make life easier and look good doing it
New products/ongoing promos:
- Pocket Gamer to offer one free iOS app every day for two weeks
- Seagate’s new Archive drives pack 8TB of storage for less than $300
- Samsung releases an updated version of its best selling consumer SSDs
- Get three months of Spotify Premium for $0.99 ($30 value)
- Google doles out free $20 Play credits to Chromecast owners
- Tommy Hilfiger’s new solar jacket can charge two iPhones at once
- TRENDnet THA-101 combines a network extender and smart plug
- Google Play gives Chromecast users the original X-Men movie for free ($13 value)
- WeMo and Holmes team up to take the worry out of small room heaters
- Top 10 kids’ toys of 2014 per early Google Search data
- Twelve South makes the best iPhone 6/iPad dock even better
- Internet Archive brings 900 classic arcade titles to your web browser for free
- The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far
iDevices talks working w/ Apple to fast track HomeKit product development w/ its own SDK
Apple introduced HomeKit during its WWDC Keynote presentation last June. Since then we’ve heard HomeKit-enabled chips are on the move, but you still can’t buy a HomeKit-certified device. They are on the way, however, as Apple just started accepting product plans from manufacturers following a yearly summit for companies in its Made-for-iPhone program.
iDevices, maker of the iGrill, is hoping it’ll help push HomeKit into the mainstream. Since early last year, the Connecticut-based company has invested over 10 million dollars into HomeKit development and has been closely working with Apple to create its own HomeKit SDK. We recently spoke with the CEO of iDevices to learn more about how the company is working with Apple to build its own HomeKit SDK meant to help fast track hardware product development for the platform.
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Opinion: Why the upgrade cycle means the ‘Apple tax’ is lower than it seems
Photo: mashable.com
I’m sure most of us have at some point had Windows- and Android-using friends ask us why we pay the ‘Apple tax’ – the price difference between an Apple product and what they perceive to be an equivalent competitor product.
A large part of the answer, of course, is that the competitor product isn’t equivalent at all. You can’t compare a MacBook with its premium materials, build-quality, high-spec components, screen quality and aesthetics with a low-end Windows laptop with plastic casing, low-spec innards and cheap and cheerful display. No more than you can compare an iPhone with a budget ‘droid. When you do genuine like-for-like comparisons with truly equivalent products, the Apple premium shrinks considerably.
But to get an accurate idea of the effective purchase cost, you also need to take into account both the replacement cycle and resale value …
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