Roger Fingas
A trio of companies — Grid Connect, iHome, and iDevices — announced new HomeKit accessories on Tuesday, including power outlets, switches, and climate and water sensors.
Grid Connect's offerings include the ConnectSense Temperature and Humidity Sensor, and the ConnectSense Smart Water Sensor. The former is meant to gauge a single room's temperature and humidity, for instance monitoring spaces like greenhouses or pantries.
The Smart Water Sensor can provide an early warning about leaks, and is designed to sit near things like aquariums and laundry machines. Both sensors rely on Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi, and are powered by AAA batteries. They can however be linked to other HomeKit devices by way of Scenes and Triggers.
Prices are unavailable, but the products should ship in the first half of the year.
iDevices
iDevices' gear consists of the Socket, Wall Outlet, Wall Switch, and Dimmer Switch. The Socket and the two Switches add some "smart" functions to conventional lightbulbs, such as dimming and built-in nightlights.
The Wall Outlet simply lets users turn electronics on or off, but actually features two outlets which can be controlled separately.
The Socket should should ship sometime this quarter, but the Switches are only due in the second quarter, and the Wall Outlet is scheduled for the quarter following. As with Grid's accessories, prices haven't been made public.
iHome
iHome has updated the SmartPlug with a new version, the iSP8. Like its predecessor, the device connects through Wi-Fi, and can turn a single device on or off. This year's model comes with a remote, and can also monitor power consumption.
The iSP8 is expected to cost $49.99 and ship later in 2016.
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Andrew O'Hara
3 Comments
We need more wall power outlets and switches with built-in HomeKit to replace the old ones. I bought the iHome SmartPlug and it is great. The Siri integration is awesome.
Really looking forward to those light switches from iDevices! Any word on pricing?
I was an early adopter of iHome's Airplay speakers and they were horrible. They never really worked right and their service (in dealing with my problems) kind of sucked also. Eventually I had to chuck the speakers in the trash and buy all new ones from someone else. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars down the drain.
The whole company strikes me as a bit "challenged." Would not recommend. :(