Eve Systems, formerly Elgato, today announced several new additions to its popular HomeKit product lineup, including a power strip, a light strip, and a new light switch for use in Europe.
The Eve Light Strip follows the Eve Flare, a HomeKit-connected mood lamp that was released in May. The Eve Flare was limited to countries in Europe and is not available in the U.S., but the Light Strip will see a wider release.
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The LED light strip works with a selection of pre-installed lighting scenes and allows users to set their own colors. According to Eve, the Light Strip provides up to 1800 lumens across its two meter length thanks to triple-diode architecture. Eve Light Strip can be extended to a total length of 10m with additional light strip purchases.
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Unlike most Eve products, which connect to HomeKit over Bluetooth, the Light Strip connects using a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. It does not, however, require a bridge and works on a standalone basis.
The Eve Power Strip is a triple-socket power strip that adds separate HomeKit-based controls to three devices that are plugged into it. It features a black housing that's framed in aluminum, with built-in surge protection safeguards.
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With the Eve app, the Eve Power Strip is able to measure power consumption and provide energy cost projections, allowing users to keep track of power usage for the devices that are plugged in. Like the Eve Light Strip, Eve Power Strip connects to a HomeKit setup using a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection.
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The third product Eve is announcing today is a new Eve Light Switch, which is designed to replace common European switches. Eve already has a Light Switch compatible with U.S. setups, and this new version expands the light switch to Europe.
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With HomeKit integration, all Eve accessories can be controlled via Siri voice commands, through the Home app, or through the dedicated Eve app. Eve accessories can also be integrated into HomeKit scenes and automations alongside other HomeKit products.
Eve Light Strip, the new Eve Light Switch, and the Eve Power Strip will be available at a later date from the Eve website and from retailers like Amazon. The Light Switch will be priced at 99.95 euros, while the Light Strip will be priced at $79.95. Pricing for the Power Strip has yet to be announced.
Top Rated Comments
This company has been around since 1992. They've made a name for themselves creating video capture equipment which is widely used in the industry and in recent years they have pivoted to become a smart home company. They are currently in the middle of that pivot and I think their clean design language is a welcome addition to this space. For now there are plenty of real, shipping products that you can buy and even more coming soon.
I'm not (at least right now) in the market for any of these three things, but I can say that, for example, when I wanted a smart socket two months ago, I tried (and returned) three cheaper brands which sucked in various ways (didn't support functionality they claimed, their iOS app kept crashing, they refused to configure properly when I tried to set them up), till I eventually said screw it, paid the 35% or so premium for the Eve version, and, big surprise, it worked perfectly, set up was a delight, did everything it promised...
I've bought a bunch of their stuff, from their room environment sensor to their motion detector to their HTPC system (back when they were Elgato and were selling EyeTV) and every time it's the same story --- you pay more, but it's worth it. (Assuming of course you NEED what they are selling. I don't need, eg, a smart light switch, so I'm in no position to comment on what makes a good one, or how much it's worth paying for.)