Incipio today announced the debut of its first HomeKit-enabled products, the CommandKit Wireless Smart Outlet and the Wireless Smart Light Bulb Adapter, both of which connect to other HomeKit-enabled products over Wi-Fi and work with Siri through the accompanying CommandKit app.
The CommandKit Wireless Smart Outlet, like other similar smart outlets on the market, turns any electronic device into a smart device, allowing it to be turned on or off with voice commands or through the app. The Smart Outlet also includes energy monitoring capabilities, so it can let you know how much energy a device is using.
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Similarly, the CommandKit Light Bulb Adapter turns any light bulb it's used with into a smart light bulb that can be turned on and off. If used with a bulb that can be dimmed, the dimming feature can be used with Siri and in the iOS app. Both products can be incorporated into HomeKit scenes, rooms, and more through the app, which is also compatible with other HomeKit products.
"The smart home promises to be the new standard for living and Apple HomeKit is leading the way with guiding principles such as simple set up and configuration, a secure foundation, and the convenience of voice control with Siri," said Andy Fathollahi, Chief Executive. "Today, Incipio is proud to offer two user-friendly, cost effective home automation products that give customers the ability to control devices in their home simply and securely using their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch and Siri."
Both the CommandKit Wireless Light Bulb Adapter and the Wireless Smart Outlet are available from the Incipio website for $39.99.
Top Rated Comments
Why would they complain about being too expensive?
Seems most don't find much value in these gadgets but believe they would if they were under $20. Most of them seem to be priced around $40 but every time there are countless people going on about how they aren't worth that much to turn the lights on and off but they would be at $20.One must remember that they have to make up R&D, marketing, production, and also Apple licensing costs. Those things aren't cheap.
If $40 is too much to be able to remotely manage your house, that's fine. But crying about the price on MR is a silly waste of time.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/ask-toh/video/0,,20984549,00.html
Spoiler: I am part of the "everyone else" group. Totally unnecessary.
Also, I don't really see the point of buying an adapter for $40 when you can get a dimming, zigbee bulb for $15-$20 (Hue, GE, and Cree have white dimming bulbs in that range.)
The adapter is an interesting idea...but it isn't going to work in most light fixtures because it is adding too much height to the bulb. So pretty much all fans with a dome are out, and many shaded lamps won't be able to fit the thing.
Philips Hue only make an 800 lumen (60 W) equivalent bulb. I guess if you wanted to put a non-smart brighter 1500 lumen (100 W) equivalent bulb in your lampshade, you could use this attachment to make it smart.Also, I don't really see the point of buying an adapter for $40 when you can get a dimming, zigbee bulb for $15-$20 (Hue, GE, and Cree have white dimming bulbs in that range.)
[doublepost=1457448279][/doublepost]USD$7 shipping to Canada. Not bad.
Seems most don't find much value in these gadgets but believe they would if they were under $20. Most of them seem to be priced around $40 but every time there are countless people going on about how they aren't worth that much to turn the lights on and off but they would be at $20.
It is because it is too expensive. For $20 more you can have a bulb that not only dims, but also lets you choose any white color temp, or nearly any color. And for $25 less you can buy a GE link bulb or a Cree smart LED and get the same features. With this you have to buy the adapter plus a dimmable LED.One must remember that they have to make up R&D, marketing, production, and also Apple licensing costs. Those things aren't cheap.
If $40 is too much to be able to remotely manage your house, that's fine. But crying about the price on MR is a silly waste of time.
And right now the only benefit homekit brings is Siri integration. That is hardly worth the cost and vendor lock-in when you have better voice control through something like the Amazon Echo (Which can work with SmartThings, Wink, Hue, LiFX, etc.)
Apple has the resources to wipe out the home automation market as it exists right now, but at the moment they are just testing the waters with overpriced hardware with no actual benefits compared to the competition.
Philips Hue only make an 800 lumen (60 W) equivalent bulb. I guess if you wanted to put a non-smart brighter 1500 lumen (100 W) equivalent bulb in your lampshade, you could use this attachment to make it smart.
That is possible too. It kind of looks like the purpose of this is to use with incandescent bulbs (And I guess CFL, but I have no idea why you would want CFL over LED. Incandescent I can understand for the nostalgic types.)[doublepost=1457448279][/doublepost]USD$7 shipping to Canada. Not bad.