Eve has today released a new version of the smart home connected Eve Light Switch featuring support for Thread, in what seems to be the first Thread-enabled light switch for any smart platform (via HomeKit News).
The Eve Light Switch, which is designed for the European market, can use both Thread and Bluetooth to connect to a smart home network, depending on which is available. It requires a neutral wire and is not compatible with existing switch plates, meaning that the only option is to use the one that comes with the Eve Switch itself.
Until now, Eve's popular smart home devices have mostly been Bluetooth-based, which attempted to avoid the occasional reliability issues of Wi-Fi networks, but came at the cost of slower response times. Thread technology is now proliferating through Eve's smart home products. The new Eve Switch is constantly powered, allowing it to expand the Thread network in a user's home as a Thread Router.
Eve Light Switch supports Bluetooth and Thread, and joins your Thread network automatically. As a router node, Eve Light Switch relays other Thread accessories' data packets and enhances the stability and reach of your smart home. Thread is also a pillar of CHIP – the smart home standard of the future.
Apple has begun looking toward open standards in the smart home space, working with other companies such as Google and Amazon to develop a universal standard for smart home products. Apple's commitment to open standards and Thread within HomeKit was demonstrated by the launch of the HomePod mini last year, which is the first Thread-enabled Apple device.
Although the HomePod mini supports thread, it only serves as a Border Router, unlike the Eve Light Switch, which works as an entire Thread Router. Thread accessories do not need a proprietary bridge to communicate with each other, instead only needing a Border Router like the HomePod mini. The new Eve Light Switch puts the company center-stage with the advancement of Thread in conjunction with HomeKit.
$100 for a light switch! The world is insane. I’d only buy it if, when I turn it on, I get a better idea of what I should have done with my ridiculous amount of disposable income and take it back to the shop.?
Thanks but I think I'll stick to a Philips Hue switch which probably has bags more functionality and costs €16 on Amazon.....
I see this flopping.
ETA: I used to love Elgato Eve products. I have a number of them throughout my home, but lost faith in their longevity. It's almost like they are designed to fail after the warranty expires.
I had the original Eve Weather. That died, 1 year and 11 months after I purchased it. I live in Europe and after a lengthy debate regarding EU law, they eventually conceded and gave me a new unit. The barometer on that one died one year and 10 months after getting it. They are yet again refusing to replace the unit (as they said the new one is not under the same 2 year warranty we get under EU law), so once again I'm battling it out with them.
Ultimately, the product quality is pretty crappy and I'm reluctant to buy more of their products, which is a shame as when they work, they are excellent.
I've never heard of "Thread" before; shouldn't emerging technologies and terminologies be defined within the news article itself?
I guess I'm off to search the web for an answer now ?
Edit: And after a quick search, I find a wonderful comprehensive answer: Thread smart home explained ('https://www.the-ambient.com/guides/what-is-thread-smart-home-2410')
this is a good start but....dang that seems a touch pricey for a switch...guess I am good with my single bluetooth switch and manual switches for now...let the market prices drop (hopefully)
Tuesday January 4, 2022 7:00 pm PST by Juli Clover
Belkin's Wemo brand is gaining a new Wemo Smart Video Doorbell, which is a camera-equipped doorbell option that supports HomeKit Secure Video. The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell offers a 4-megapixel high-resolution camera with a 178-degree field of view, zoom functionality, and night vision.
With HomeKit Secure Video integration, the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is able to offer 10 days of storage...
As with Apple's events throughout 2020 and 2021, today's media event kicking off at 10:00 am Pacific Time will be entirely online and likely a pre-recorded stream from Apple Park. Still, some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event as it's being broadcast are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until the event has ended and is available for on-demand viewing so as to...
Tuesday January 4, 2022 9:28 am PST by Joe Rossignol
TP-Link today at CES 2022 announced that it will be expanding its Tapo line of smart home accessories from Europe to the United States, and some of the accessories will also be gaining support for Apple's smart home platform HomeKit, allowing the accessories to be controlled with Siri or the Home app on Apple devices.
Some of the HomeKit-enabled accessories will include the Tapo P125 Mini...
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which includes Apple, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and others, today announced the launch of the "Matter" smart home standard has been delayed until the fall of 2022 (via The Verge).
Matter seeks to unify and simplify the smart home ecosystem with a new interoperable standard. Announced in 2019 as "Project CHiP," Matter is a unified IP-based...
Thursday September 2, 2021 3:15 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Eve today released an update to its latest version of the Eve Thermo that adds Thread support to the HomeKit-enabled smart radiator valve (via HomeKitNews).
The update fulfills a pledge the German company made late last year to bring Thread support to several products, and follows its inclusion in devices like the Eve Energy Smart plug (fourth generation), Eve Aqua (second generation), Eve...
Apple today announced that the HomePod mini will be available to order in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland starting at the end of March, as spotted by iCulture and 9to5Mac. A specific release date has not been provided.
As in other countries, the HomePod mini will be available in five colors, including white, space gray, yellow, orange, and blue. The small Siri-enabled speaker has a ...
Thursday July 8, 2021 12:20 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Since this article was published, Nanoleaf reached out to MacRumors to explain that the information was incorrectly shared early in Europe, and that Thread Border Router support will be in fact be rolled out next month. Nanoleaf, the company that makes wall-mounted modular light panels in various shapes, today rolled out Thread border router support for its Shapes and Elements light...
Some fifth-generation iPad Air users are complaining about a purported downgrade in build quality, according to posts on social media.
The complaints claim that the iPad Air has a noticeably thinner aluminum enclosure, resulting in creaking, a hollow sensation in the hand, and light pressure on the back of the device warping the display. A thread on Reddit (via iMore) contains a large number ...
Last year's iPhone 13 Pro models were the first of Apple's smartphones to come with 120Hz ProMotion displays, and while the two iPhone 14 Pro models will continue to feature the technology, their screens could well boast expanded refresh rate variability this time round.
To bring ProMotion displays to the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple adopted LTPO panel technology with variable refresh...
Leaker Jon Prosser today shared ostensibly accurate renders of the iPhone 14 Pro, providing the most accurate look yet at what the device could look like when it launches later this year.
In the latest video on YouTube channel Front Page Tech, Prosser revealed renders of the iPhone 14 Pro made by Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo, highlighting a range of specific design changes...
With around four months to go before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 14 lineup, the overwhelming majority of rumors related to the new devices so far have focused on the iPhone 14 Pro, rather than the standard iPhone 14 – leading to questions about how different the iPhone 14 will actually be from its predecessor, the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected...
The iPhone 14 will feature a more expensive "high-end" front-facing camera with autofocus, partly made in South Korea for the first time, ET News reports.
Apple reportedly ousted a Chinese candidate to choose LG Innotek, a South Korean company, to supply the iPhone 14's front-facing camera alongside Japan's Sharp. The company is said to have originally planned to switch to LG for the iPhone...
Apple today confirmed that the keynote event for the Worldwide Developers Conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 6, the first day of WWDC. The keynote will be an online-only event, though a select number of developers have been invited to the Apple Park campus for a viewing event.
In addition to confirming the keynote date and time, Apple has shared the full WWDC 2022...
Apple today announced new Pride bands for the Apple Watch, with new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop options available.
The new Pride Edition bands are available to order today for $49 on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app, and will be available at Apple Store locations starting May 26. The Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop is also coming soon to Nike.com.
This...
Apple on May 16 released iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, bringing improvements for Podcasts and Apple Cash, the ability to see Wi-Fi signal of HomePods, dozens of security fixes, and more.
Top Rated Comments
I see this flopping.
ETA: I used to love Elgato Eve products. I have a number of them throughout my home, but lost faith in their longevity. It's almost like they are designed to fail after the warranty expires.
I had the original Eve Weather. That died, 1 year and 11 months after I purchased it. I live in Europe and after a lengthy debate regarding EU law, they eventually conceded and gave me a new unit. The barometer on that one died one year and 10 months after getting it. They are yet again refusing to replace the unit (as they said the new one is not under the same 2 year warranty we get under EU law), so once again I'm battling it out with them.
Ultimately, the product quality is pretty crappy and I'm reluctant to buy more of their products, which is a shame as when they work, they are excellent.
I guess I'm off to search the web for an answer now ?
Edit: And after a quick search, I find a wonderful comprehensive answer: Thread smart home explained ('https://www.the-ambient.com/guides/what-is-thread-smart-home-2410')
this is a good start but....dang that seems a touch pricey for a switch...guess I am good with my single bluetooth switch and manual switches for now...let the market prices drop (hopefully)