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

[MacRumors]

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.

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.

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

 

[jclardy]

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.)

 

[pat500000]

Interesting stuff.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Bring the complaints about how this is too expensive and at $20 it would sell, just as they complain in every HomeKit thread.

 

[surfingarbo]

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.

 

[pat500000]

Bring the complaints about how this is too expensive and at $20 it would sell, just as they complain in every HomeKit thread.

Why would they complain about being too expensive?

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

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.

 

[macduke]

IDK if I've ever seen a large spotlight type smart bulb, so this could be handy for people who have weird large light bulbs up high on their ceiling with only one switch in a weird spot like my parents had in their old house. I just think it's probably too bulky to fit most fixtures.

What I would like to see is a HomeKit enabled security system using a BT LE mesh grid and some type of solar power through the windows to make it more wireless and easy to install/difficult to defeat.

Whatever happened to that home speaker system that used a BT LE mesh grid and was shown at CES a couple years ago? It used light bulb sockets to screw in the speakers which all connected site-to-site to create a mesh grid throughout your house. I often find that I don't need to put 3-4 light bulbs in each fixture—especially with my new LED bulbs that are ridiculously bright—so replacing one with a speaker would be great as long as it didn't rattle the fixture too much.

 

[snebes]

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.

 

[jclardy]

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.)

 

[benjitek]

..."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... ;-)

 

[snebes]

My grandma used to say the same things about ATM machines...

I'd argue that ATM machines are good -- they took away the slow, tedious tasks of the bank clerk (withdrawing money, indivdiual deposits, etc.), and sped the process up. Takes me 30 seconds to withdraw cash, if needed, now. I'm old enough to remember standing in lines to do this, but not "get off my lawn" old.

Using my phone to turn lights on/off is slow (and optional, I know). But changing colors? I don't see the point. And the locks? In my house, we have automatic garage door openers, and the garage accesses the house. We rarely enter through the front door.

Smart thermostats are about the only "smart" tech that I feel everyone would benefit from. But I'm open the hearing other examples.

 

[godslabrat]

Been using WeMo stuff by Belkin for 2 years now... loving it! This new product is basically the same thing.

 

[rhett7660]

Been using WeMo stuff by Belkin for 2 years now... loving it! This new product is basically the same thing.

The only thing I don't like about WeMo is there firmware updates. They have bricked two of my light switches. I was unable to get them to come back and of course they were out of warranty. The customer services was good until I read off the serial number.

I told the person it was working fine until I did their update. Didn't matter. Oh well. I have not purchased anymore from them and I actually looking at the Lutron product offerings.
[doublepost=1457466822][/doublepost]

I'd argue that ATM machines are good -- they took away the slow, tedious tasks of the bank clerk (withdrawing money, indivdiual deposits, etc.), and sped the process up. Takes me 30 seconds to withdraw cash, if needed, now. I'm old enough to remember standing in lines to do this, but not "get off my lawn" old.

Using my phone to turn lights on/off is slow (and optional, I know). But changing colors? I don't see the point. And the locks? In my house, we have automatic garage door openers, and the garage accesses the house. We rarely enter through the front door.

Smart thermostats are about the only "smart" tech that I feel everyone would benefit from. But I'm open the hearing other examples.

I like the lighting since I can program them to come on at different times. Setup a vacation macro if you will and the lights will go on and off at different times throughout the specified time period. I also have a few outdoor lights that are programmed to come on a certain time and go off, for the front porch light it comes on and off with the rise and fall of the sun.

I want to expand this so that I can have every light in the house available to me, if anything for security etc.

 

[pat500000]

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.

If they complain about little things like that.. I don't know what they would say about iPhones .

 

[austinuser]

Anyone have any details on how the energy monitoring works for the outlets?

I'd like something than can monitor usage in close to real time (a la Kill A Watt) and an app that can calculate cost by letting me enter our utility rates. (Along with the remote on/off feature)

 

[benjitek]

...I'm old... ...I don't see the point...

The product isn't of interest to you -- so what, no need to solicit online confirmation for your preferences. Maybe find a 'trash HomeKit products forum' somewhere and have at it...

 

[laurim]

The only thing I don't like about WeMo is there firmware updates. They have bricked two of my light switches. I was unable to get them to come back and of course they were out of warranty. The customer services was good until I read off the serial number.

I told the person it was working fine until I did their update. Didn't matter. Oh well. I have not purchased anymore from them and I actually looking at the Lutron product offerings.
[doublepost=1457466822][/doublepost]

I like the lighting since I can program them to come on at different times. Setup a vacation macro if you will and the lights will go on and off at different times throughout the specified time period. I also have a few outdoor lights that are programmed to come on a certain time and go off, for the front porch light it comes on and off with the rise and fall of the sun.

I want to expand this so that I can have every light in the house available to me, if anything for security etc.

Did you do the trick where you switch the light off and on a few times with a few seconds pause each time to reset it? I've gone through a couple firmware updates just fine.
[doublepost=1457485413][/doublepost]

I'd argue that ATM machines are good -- they took away the slow, tedious tasks of the bank clerk (withdrawing money, indivdiual deposits, etc.), and sped the process up. Takes me 30 seconds to withdraw cash, if needed, now. I'm old enough to remember standing in lines to do this, but not "get off my lawn" old.

Using my phone to turn lights on/off is slow (and optional, I know). But changing colors? I don't see the point. And the locks? In my house, we have automatic garage door openers, and the garage accesses the house. We rarely enter through the front door.

Smart thermostats are about the only "smart" tech that I feel everyone would benefit from. But I'm open the hearing other examples.

I love that I can say "Hey Siri, set Movietime" and my living room lights turn off, my projector turns on and the screen comes down....all at once. Without automation that would take several remotes and going around the house turning off lights. And when I'm ready for bed I say "Hey Siri, set Bedtime" and everything turns off except the lamp by my bed turns on so I can see my way to my bedroom. And then I get in bed and say "Hey Siri, turn off bedroom lamp" instead of leaning way over and fishing around under the shade to find the knob. If I thought there was an intruder, I can turn on all the automated lights in the house at once. The lamp by the couch where I always sit turns itself on just before dusk. It's all way more convenient and I enjoy the nerdiness of it. I have several other ideas for things to automate. And speaking of colors, I bought Lightify LED strips for over my kitchen cabinets for accent lighting and just enough light for me to grab something out of the fridge while I'm watching tv. I'll enjoy setting triggers that make the color of my cabinets change depending on an event or holiday. Also, I can simply change the color temperature of the smart bulbs I have so I can choose whether a task is better with cool light or would prefer a warm light to relax in.

BTW- I'm 51 so I don't buy the "I'm old so I'm not tech" thing

 

[8281]

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.

Well "those people" may have a point. I don't think any company has really made a convincing argument for buying these things yet.
[doublepost=1457487322][/doublepost]

Did you do the trick where you switch the light off and on a few times with a few seconds pause each time to reset it? I've gone through a couple firmware updates just fine.
[doublepost=1457485413][/doublepost]

I love that I can say "Hey Siri, set Movietime" and my living room lights turn off, my projector turns on and the screen comes down....all at once. Without automation that would take several remotes and going around the house turning off lights. And when I'm ready for bed I say "Hey Siri, set Bedtime" and everything turns off except the lamp by my bed turns on so I can see my way to my bedroom. And then I get in bed and say "Hey Siri, turn off bedroom lamp" instead of leaning way over and fishing around under the shade to find the knob. If I thought there was an intruder, I can turn on all the automated lights in the house at once. The lamp by the couch where I always sit turns itself on just before dusk. It's all way more convenient and I enjoy the nerdiness of it. I have several other ideas for things to automate. And speaking of colors, I bought Lightify LED strips for over my kitchen cabinets for accent lighting and just enough light for me to grab something out of the fridge while I'm watching tv. I'll enjoy setting triggers that make the color of my cabinets change depending on an event or holiday. Also, I can simply change the color temperature of the smart bulbs I have so I can choose whether a task is better with cool light or would prefer a warm light to relax in.

BTW- I'm 51 so I don't buy the "I'm old so I'm not tech" thing

I think it's more the question of are you willing to spend money on that? Value is different for each person.

 

[snebes]

...
BTW- I'm 51 so I don't buy the "I'm old so I'm not tech" thing

The product isn't of interest to you -- so what, no need to solicit online confirmation for your preferences. Maybe find a 'trash HomeKit products forum' somewhere and have at it...

Thanks guys. I'm 32, not 92. laurim provided a great example I didn't think about. I've not used homekit personally, so I didn't know all of the use cases. The cost/benefit ratio is too high for me, and I'm sure this is the case with others.

 

[CarlJ]

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.

I've got some Hue lights in my living room, for most uses. I also have a 6500 lumen (45 W) LED panel hooked up through an iDevices Switch (HomeKit controlled), replacing the 300 W halogen torchère I used to use for when I really want the room bright.

 

[ayale99]

These were announced at CES 2015 for $24.95 a piece and supposed to launch in Q2 of last year.

http://blog.incipio.com/home/incipi...-apple-homekit-at-2015-international-ces.html

 

[rhett7660]

Did you do the trick where you switch the light off and on a few times with a few seconds pause each time to reset it? I've gone through a couple firmware updates just fine.
[doublepost=1457485413][/doublepost]

Don't get me wrong, I too have gone through many updates. I have had them for several years. Yup, in fact I have sent them emails and searched the wemo community forums.

Really bummed me out, had four of them, now I am down to two.

 

[dearfriendx]

I bought a lightbulb adapter the day you guys posted this article. It came within two days because I live in CA and it came from Anaheim. It's pretty cool! Took about three min to set up and get going. There are some small bugs within their CommandKit app which I'm sure will get fixed. Overall, very neat. It does push my bulb a bit above my lamp's upward shade but that's okay. Very much like that it can be turned on/off depending on set times, geofencing and stuff. Would like to see the option to repeat an "alarm" type of event where it turns on when I wake up three times a week. Right now you have to make it repeat weekly through one day. So I have to set up separate events for each day I wake up early since I don't want it happening daily

Also, Incipio if you read these comments somehow: fix the bug where you're adding an event and it requires you to select a scene. It's just not possible, I can't move forward past that.

Edit: Also pretty neat it lets you activate the light via Siri and whatever you choose to call that specific lamp you can do by voice. Ex: “Hey Siri, turn on my bedroom lamp.”

 

[groovyd]

own 3 of the outlet adapters and one came DOA the other two work alright but the problem is more with homekit and not the outlets as i have them set on timed triggers and sometimes it just doesn't trigger them . seems to happen during the next few schedule changes after i manually switch them it won't execute the schedule. also i have to have my ios device on and at home and running the home app for them to work. easier and way more reliable is a simple digital timer outlet but this is the only option if you want siri compatibility. i have a wemo outlet that seems much more reliable but no siri. you never just get everything in one do you?