The IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany will once again attract some of the biggest names in tech, but as we await the big announcements from Samsung, Motorola et al, Elgato has taken the wraps off several HomeKit-ready home automation devices.
The Eve range encompasses products like the Eve Smoke (smoke alarm), Eve Water, Eve Energy and Eve Door and Window, while the Avea line-up focuses on air quality, temperature, air pressure and humidity. Finally, Smart Power is a high-end battery / notification system that integrates directly with an app on your iPhone, meaning you’ll no longer be wall-hugging throughout a busy day.
Propelled by Apple’s HomeKit, home automation will become even more of a mainstream commodity during the next couple of years, and while Apple is rumored to be working on some hardware products of its own, HomeKit will be heavily reliant on the efforts and releases of third parties. With iOS 8 just about to release, Elgato is looking to make a strong early impression, and from what we can gather from the demo videos, the array of new products looks very, very promising indeed.
All of the various sensors are connected via Bluetooth, and as well as integrating seamlessly with iOS, will also operate harmoniously with HomeKit.
While clearly gunning for the likes of the Google-owned Nest with the temperature controls, Elgato is also angling for a bit of Philips’ limelight with the Avea smart LED light bulb. It’s the kind of product that could really challenge the Philips Hue smart bulb, which has enjoyed a considerable amount of popularity in its relatively short lifespan, and in offering iOS users ability to connect directly to the Avea bulb via Bluetooth, has a trump card of its own.
The bulbs will set you back $50 apiece, and as well as several lighting options and presets, there’s also a wake-up feature. The great thing about Avea, Philips Hue et al is that the bulbs are incredibly energy efficient, meaning they’ll last for much longer than your typical everyday offerings, and as such, the considerably higher cost may seem worthwhile given the numerous other perks.
Our favorite Elgato announcement is that of the Smart Power, which is a 6,000mAh power bank that pushes notifications to remind users when to charge up. For $99.95, it’ll even prompt you to take it with you, and if that’s not smart, I don’t know what is.
Anyway, check out the demonstration video of Elgato’s new range below, and as ever, do leave your thoughts in the comments.
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