Incipio Debuts 'CommandKit' HomeKit-Enabled Smart Outlet and Light Bulb Adapter

Tuesday March 8, 2016 6:00 AM PST by Juli Clover
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.

incipiohomekit
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.

Tags: HomeKit Guide, Incipio
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OldSchoolMacGuy
51 months ago

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.
Rating: 3 Votes
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snebes
51 months ago
This episode of Ask This Old House basically sums up how "everyone else" views these products.... as pointless.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/ask-toh/video/0,,20984549,00.html

Spoiler: I am part of the "everyone else" group. Totally unnecessary.
Rating: 3 Votes
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jclardy
51 months ago
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.

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.)
Rating: 2 Votes
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godslabrat
51 months ago
Been using WeMo stuff by Belkin for 2 years now... loving it! This new product is basically the same thing.
Rating: 1 Votes
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surfingarbo
51 months ago

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.

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.)


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.
[doublepost=1457448279][/doublepost]USD$7 shipping to Canada. Not bad.
Rating: 1 Votes
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jclardy
51 months ago

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.

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.

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.
[doublepost=1457448279][/doublepost]USD$7 shipping to Canada. Not bad.


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.)
Rating: 1 Votes
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benjitek
51 months ago

..."everyone else" views these products.... as pointless ... I am part of the "everyone else" group. Totally unnecessary.

My grandma used to say the same things about ATM machines...
[doublepost=1457459237][/doublepost]I ordered a couple -- have been wanting to try out HomeKit. Likely will be returning them though as after the fact I'm thinking it'll extend the lightbulb in the lamps I want them for above the lampshade's top. Hard to tell for sure, but looks like the bulb adapter adds a lot of height to the socket -- hopefully I'll be proved wrong... ;-)
Rating: 1 Votes
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