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Chinese smart home company LifeSmart, have released a new video on YouTube, showing of their latest piece of tech, in the form of what seems to be a modular lighting device, similar in form and function to the Nanoleaf Aurora, although on a smaller scale. As this video has only just been released, there seems to be no other mention of this particular product on their own international website, so for now, the video is the only thing we have to go on as to what it is capable of. For those unaware of LifeSmart, they make a whole raft of smart devices, including  air purifiers, locks, motion sensors and cameras amongst many other products. If you’ve also been following our site from the beginning in April, you will be aware of their hubs and smart IR blaster/night-light, which at the time of reviewing them, were actually HomeKit compatible, albeit unofficially. This was done via some beta software within their app that generated a HomeKit code for one of their hubs that you could then be used to bring many (but not all) of their devices to HomeKit and the Home app. They’ve since removed this piece of software, presumably at the direction of Apple, so currently unless you’ve already got one of their hubs set up with HomeKit, new users can’t connect to HomeKit, which brings us to this device, which probably won’t be HomeKit compatible – unless like me, you’re one of those people who still has their hub connected to HomeKit! LifeSmart have already launched the companion app for iOS, with dedicated iPad and iPhone versions, simply called Quantum. All this being said, assuming LifeSmart go down the Software authentication route, or simply update their app to be compatible with the new Siri Shortcuts, I would predict, that at the right price, there will definitely be room for this product in many homes – certainly mine at least.

Madrid, September 17, 2018 - Spanish consumer electronics brand SPC presents a revolutionary line of IoT (Internet of Things) solutions for the Digital Home that stands out for its ease of use and compatibility. This new range of products consists of 17 intelligent devices interconnected to each other and managed from anywhere easily thanks to the SPC IoT application available on Android and iOS. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be more than 50,000 million devices in the world ready to connect to the Internet, equivalent to an average of 6 devices per person. These objects collect information, process it and relate to each other to anticipate our needs. In this context, SPC is committed to offering a truly differential solution that can mean a new vision of the intelligent home from the hand of a strategic partner: Tuya, a powerful Asian startup that has developed technology capable of turning any element of our day to day into intelligent. In this connected world, SPC is committed to being at the forefront of technology in the Internet of Things in order to help us live more productively and efficiently, healthier, safer and fun. SPC's new Smart Home product line solves the main impediments that have hitherto slowed down the implementation of the intelligent home (perception of "luxury", lack of security, incompatibility between devices, the existence of many different apps for management, etc.) giving priority to safety, ease of use and comfort. In addition, it not only allows remote control and programming of our devices, but also makes it possible for them to interact with each other. Within this framework, SPC presents 17 intelligent solutions that are distributed in four different areas: security, energy, lighting and comfort. Lighting: light in the home is a vital element that completely transforms the environment and mood of people. Now, with smart bulbs developed by SPC you can activate, modulate or transform the lighting to easily create light scenes to your liking. SPC has designed 7 models of bulbs and LED strips with different colour temperatures that can be adjusted to any type of location to create warm, relaxing, inspiring or fun spaces. Power: imagine the possibility of controlling your electrical appliances from anywhere. The smart home is now a reality. With SPC's Power products, you can conveniently turn on or off devices connected to the power supply remotely, so you won't have to worry about forgetting something plugged in again. Save time and energy with the Clever Plug and Clever Power Strip. Security: The Internet of Things takes a big step toward keeping people connected. SPC's range of intelligent security products is made up of video cameras that give you the peace of mind of seeing that your loved ones are doing well, especially for the most vulnerable, such as children and the elderly. The Lares and Teia cameras keep your home under control, while the Angel baby monitor keeps an eye on the little ones while they sleep. Comfort: The comfort product collection takes care of household chores to make your life more comfortable and simple. SPC has created new home automation devices such as aroma diffusers, infrared controls and vacuum robots. Baamba and Baamba Gyro 4.0 sweep, vacuum and pass the mop. They have several intelligent cleaning modes and have a cliff sensor to avoid stairs and other falls. You can program the cleaning of the house with a single touch of the screen from the application SPC IoT to find an ideal environment when you return. The possibilities of interaction with technology are increasing and the Internet of Things has come to transform people's lifestyles. The benefits that SPC brings with its new Smart Home line based on IoT are infinite. The advantages derived from this innovation will be visible in our work, in our leisure time, in the management and enjoyment of the home and even in the environment. For more technical information on the different devices that make up SPC's new IoT range, please consult the complete catalogue here. About SPC SPC is a technological brand specialized in the development of mart products for people and companies. Their objective is to respond to the needs of a society that wants to be connected, that looks for mobility, that has a smart vision on technology, using it with intelligence and way of knowing, with the objective of making their lives better. SCP has more than 25 years of career in the IT sector and nowadays they are launching a wide range of smart products as tablets, smartwatches or Bluetooth speakers. Their objective is to place technology in the rage of everyone, designing products that combine quality, functionality, price and design for current trends. About Tuya Smart Tuya Smart makes technology solutions for OEMs, turning traditional devices such as lighting sockets into IoT-connected devices for the smart home. Tuya Smart has developed thousands of software and hardware products for companies including TCL and Archos, and currently serves over 10,000 clients across the globe, reaching millions of consumers with over 20 billion daily device requests and more than 6 million daily AI interactions. Tuya’s cloud service, which has accumulated data upwards of 1PB (petabyte), complies with high-level encryption technology to guarantee its client’s data security with GDPR certification. Founded in 2014, Tuya Smart has offices in Silicon Valley and has data centres in Portland (Oregon, US) and Frankfurt (Germany). Tuya Smart is the first global platform that fully works with Amazon Echo, Google Home and IFTTT. (Original link: https://en.tuya.com/news-details/0000000032)

August 29, 2018. Tuya Smart, the world’s leading AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, today announced at IFA 2018 in Berlin its Global Brand Empowering Project. With the aim of bringing internet connectivity to mainstream B2C brands that would otherwise not have the technological know-how to transform their products into smarthome compatible devices, Tuya Smart is continuing its mission to help more than 10,000 enterprises make their services and products smarter across the globe. From September, Tuya will begin strategic collaboration with German, Spanish, Italian and American manufacturers, OEMs and brands, to create a “Powered by Tuya” label that will turn traditional consumer electronic brands into leading references in the AI+IOT industry. Tuya Smart is already collaborating with brands such as TCL and recently announced a new partnership with French multinational electronics company Archos. Smart Interconnected Platform Innovation Award Also at IFA, Tuya Smart announced that it has been awarded a prize by IFA and IDG for its innovative solutions in the smart platform sector. The IFA Product Technical Innovation Award 2018 for Smart Interconnected Platform Innovation will be presented to Tuya Smart founder and COO Alex Yang on September 1 at 10.45am, between Hall 5.2 & 6.2. Speaking of the award, Alex Yang said: “Tuya Smart is honoured to have been awarded this prestigious prize at Europe’s biggest tech tradeshow. We firmly believe in our ambition to revolutionize the smart home market through our AI+IoT solutions, so it is very encouraging to be recognized by IFA and the International Data Group, who we thank enormously.” Going to IFA? Join Tuya Smart in Hall 26 – Stand 226 If you will be at IFA, don’t forget that you can discover for yourself the amazing Smart Home Experience Zone with Tuya’s Alexa-controlled lights, curtains and security cameras, at Tuya Smart’s stand: Hall 26 - Stand 226. On the stand, product managers and technicians will be at hand to explain the devices’ respective functions which can be set and controlled via app or voice. Tuya Smart Co-Founder and COO Alex Yang will also be available for interview on the stand to discuss the future of Tuya Smart as well as the role of AIoT in our daily lives. A special cocktail for the press will be held on August 31 and on September 1 from 3pm to 5pm. About Tuya Smart Tuya Smart makes technology solutions for OEMs, turning traditional devices such as lighting sockets into IoT-connected devices for the smart home. Tuya Smart has developed thousands of software and hardware products for companies including TCL and Archos, and currently serves over 10,000 clients across the globe, reaching millions of consumers with over 20 billion daily device requests and more than 6 million daily AI interactions. Tuya’s cloud service, which has accumulated data upwards of 1PB (petabyte), complies with high-level encryption technology to guarantee its client’s data security with GDPR certification. Founded in 2014, Tuya Smart has offices in Silicon Valley and has data centres in Portland (Oregon, US) and Frankfurt (Germany). Tuya Smart is the first global platform that fully works with Amazon Echo, Google Home and IFTTT. (Original link: https://en.tuya.com/news-details/0000000034)

Koogeek have been churning out quite a few products over the last couple of years, and if you follow their progress, you’ll see there’s plenty more to come, with a smart padlock, camera, a new white bulb and an air quality monitor, so do start saving! As for the current batch of products they have already available, this is one product I find really useful – in fact I’ve got two of them – and they’re really handy when you’ve got a set of regular lamps that need that automated touch. In my case they’re used for a corner tall lamp, and two floor lights on either side of our sofa. Starting off with first impressions of the box itself; now ordinarily you wouldn’t need to concern yourself with the box that the device comes in, but considering a lot of people buy online these days, which in turn means these are shipped – in many cases, long distances – it makes sense to know that the box that your device comes in has at least a modicum of protection. This box doesn’t really provide a lot of said protection to be honest, and although both of mine arrived without any damage, you could see the bashing that a delivered item can sustain, even when surrounded in bubble wrap, so not great in terms of protective packaging. The design itself is very ‘Apple’ though, so that’s something if you’re into the aesthetic side of things. Importantly You have the ‘Works with HomeKit’ branding on the front, with a few bullet points on the back, listing some of the features of the Power Strip, like Independent Control, USB Charging, Energy Monitoring and more, which we’ll touch on later. One you’ve opened the box, it’s clear there really isn’t a lot of protection provided, being that the Strip itself comes in a simple latex bag with elastic bands to keep everything in place. Despite this, once unwrapped, the Strip feels really ‘tough’; I’ve owned a lot of power strips over the years, and this definitely feels a lot more substantial than any of those. The power cord feels very thick and durable too, so this soon leaves you feeling a lot more confident. Setting up the device is super easy, if you’re used to installing devices via HomeKit; All you need is to plug the device into the mains, and have your HomeKit code at the ready. This is provided inside the accompanying booklet (not pictured) and on the device itself, but seeing as you might be placing this in a more difficult to reach place, the code inside the booklet suddenly becomes very handy. As is standard with a HomeKit device installation, it’s a breeze, with the now familiar ‘Add accessory, Scan Code’ scenario. Once you’ve gone through this simple process, you’ll have to name each of these outlets, starting with the 1st outlet, being the one nearest to the ‘Koogeek logo (or the one furthest from the USB ports). As all three outlets are on one device, you can only choose one room for all three outlets to be in, obviously. Once the outlets are named, they are ready to use. The Power strip allows for three individually controlled outlets, along with three physical buttons with corresponding LEDs to control the power and indicate the power state. All fairly straightforward. Along with these outlets you get three USB ports, two of which are labelled ‘iPhone/iPod’ along with a third, more powerful port labelled ‘iPad’. The ports themselves provide 1 amp of power for the first two ports, and 2.1 amps for the iPad port. These US ports cannot be individually or collectively controlled, so they’re as dumb as it gets in terms of ‘Smarts’,  however they do free up sockets that otherwise might be used solely for a USB charger, so in that respect they’re very welcome. The iPad port is powerful enough for me to power my basic 3m LED light strip, so this also saves me finding a USB plug and the use of an outlet to plug it into. On the back of the device at the bottom, you have the details of what the device is capable of and what kind of power it’s designed to handle. At the other end, the HomeKit code along with serial number and MAC code are also provided. At the side of the device there’s a circuit breaker, useful in the event that the device is overloaded, it would cut the power, allowing you to use this button to reset the device to receive power again, which you tend to find on most power strips these days. On the subject of power, the Power Strip does protect against power surges. The rated current is 15 amps, with a total rated power of 1800 watts. Finally, it should be stressed that this is designed for indoor use only. Overall, this is a really great piece of kit, which not only provides three outlets for just a little more than the price of one smart plug, in some cases, but as the power plug itself is standard, it doesn’t take up two wall outlets. This being the US version, its input is rated for 120v AC and 60Hz, but Koogeek have since released a version suitable for the EU, with a UK version in the works, allegedly.

Chris Young from homekitgeek.com takes a look at the Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug, the very first Smart Home device to take advantage of Apple’s recently introduced Software Authentication protocol.

It has been an extraordinary year for Tuya to witness both Series B and C rounds within a short time of nine months since last October. The lately closed Series C funding consists of Australia’s sovereign wealth fund Future Fund, NEA, CICC Silicon Valley Fund, China Broadband Capital, Quadrille Capital, C.M. Capital and other financial institutions, with the generous capital injection of which Tuya would further its journey in piloting the smart manufacturing in China. There was a time when the Internet industry was in full swing but intelligent hardware still not popular. Since the year of 2014, Tuya has been developing its own IoT OS developer’s platform. We set up an AI team, which focuses on integrating AI technology with IoT devices, and helping clients make their products and services smarter. We also came up with the first Plug and Play solution in IoT, which can be seen as the operating system in IoT. In addition to AI technology and IoT OS product, Tuya’s Global IoT Omni Channel developed a four-layer mechanism in order to solve the last-mile problem concerning the distribution of smart products. With the determination to promote the overall industrial ecosystem, Tuya Smart has been making great endeavors, including establishing the Intelligent Academy and initiating the Intelligent Business Investment Alliance. With the new funding, Tuya will continue to promote technological innovations in AI+IoT, materialize Smart Home, Smart Business, Smart City, create new IoT’s consumer scenarios, and help more than 100,000 enterprises make their services and products smarter across the globe. In the future, Tuya Smart will recruit more talents and make full use of its unique advantages in AI+IoT to reconstruct the interaction between manufacturing brands and consumers, adding value-added services to traditional purchase, such as product upgrade, after-sales and customized service. We would exert ourselves in enabling consumers to experience “Smart Life, Smart living”, a smart platform connecting everything around the globe. (Original link: https://en.tuya.com/news-details/000000002m )

*Control your Philips Hue lights from the comfort of your couch or bed. The battery-powered Wireless Dimmer Switch with Remote smoothly adjusts the intensity and color of your Philips Hue Lights, and switches them on and off. *When using your Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch with Philips Hue Smart Bulbs, you can use the on-button to switch between 4 light recipes without the Philips Hue app, or use the Philips Hue app to configure your 4 favorite scenes. *Control up to 50 lights using the Philips Hue bridge, or use the Dimmer switch without the Philips Hue Bridge to control up to 10 lights. The Philips Hue Dimmer switch doesn’t require an Internet connection to work. *Installed in a minute. Simply follow the instructions in the Philips Hue app. Our default settings give you immediate control over your smart lights. Customize the scene settings in the app to fit your needs. *When you use the Philips Hue Dimmer switch with a Philips Hue bridge, the dimmer switch can be used to control any HomeKit compatible appliance via the Apple Smart Home app.

Packed with all the features you need and nothing you don’t, the CommandKit Wall Switch revolutionizes in-home lighting. The CommandKit Wall Switch engages built-in light fixtures with an integrated motion sensor, manual, timed or location-based options; it’s your choice. Easy to install and even easier to sync with the CommandKit App, it’s capable of communicating with all of the CommandKit accessories in your home so you can stop living in the dark and open your eyes to the light of CommandKit.

I wanted to start with why I purchased this switch for use with HomeKit instead of any other brand of switch. We live in an old house and there weren’t many (any maybe?) in-wall dimmer switches that work without a neutral wire. I would have had to have some electrical work done to go with most other brands that require a neutral, and that’s not an option, so the Lutron Caseta is perfect for us that respect. The packaging came in a blister-pack with instructions, and the particular version I got came with a dimmer remote included.  If you already have an empty gang, you can also buy this model without either the remote or the faceplate. In this case I just went ahead and got them all together even though I ended up putting it in with another standard switch. Once you have it installed in your wall, you pair it with the app by pressing and holding down the off button (bottom one) until the LEDs on the switch flash blue. You then tell the app to look for the device itself. The app will find the device and ask you to give it a room name or location, and then a ‘switch name’. I put this particular one in the kitchen, so it looks like this in the app: It works very much like you would think it would. I did accidentally put a non dimming bulb in it at first, and if you do that you may think it’s not working because it won’t power up the LEDs on the switch at all. Be careful, or you will be left with the mistaken impression that you have a faulty switch. I had one dimmer bulb in one of the rooms malfunction, making me think the same thing. Always test with multiple kinds and types of bulbs before you resort to uninstalling the switch out from the wall. Note that Philips hue bulbs do not work with this dimmer (as with all non Hue Dimmer switches). I tested that just to be thorough. We specifically bought this dimmer for use with non Hue bulbs for cost efficiency and/or due to the style of the rooms/spaces they occupy.  I knew, for example, that I didn’t want color changing bulbs for this style of lamp in the kitchen. One cool  feature that this dimmer does have is that when you tell it turn off the lights, it turns them off as if it was an interrupter. Unlike it’s table lamp dimmer equivalent, which while looking almost exactly the same in the app (like a dimmer/interrupter), it never fully cuts the power. Case in point these lamp bulbs will never be fully off. On a day-to-day level they never go down or give the dreaded ‘no response’ message. Here is how they appear in Apple’s Home app. They behave well  with voice commands and even though I haven’t used them with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, everyone in the relevant communities I’ve talked to have said they are ‘rock solid’ with just about every other home automation platform.

Important Note: For reasons unknown at this time, the LifeSmart app (client version 1.1.8p3 and above) for iOS no longer has the HomeKit code generating feature, so you will be unable to add the Smart Station or Smart Alarm to HomeKit. *Capable of over 16 million colors with adjustable brightness and preset lighting effects, a perfect way to add various ambience to any room *Easily set the mood for romantic dinner or seamlessly transition to a party. *The Lifesmart Wifi bulb can interact with the entire lifesmart home system. Let your lights change to your desired ambience based on the time of the day or even by opening the door. *Set the mode of the bulb, let the bulb work automatically for you, just like waking you up on the morning or closing all lights at night. *Light colors can be changed automatically via Siri/Homekit (LifeSmart Smart Hub required).