August Launches 'Connect' Wi-Fi Bridge to Add Internet Connectivity to Popular Smart Lock

[MacRumors]

August, the company behind the popular August Smart Lock sold in Apple retail stores, today announced the upcoming launch of August Connect a new $50 bridge that will allow August Smart Lock to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

August Connect plugs into a power outlet inside the home of an August Smart Lock user and connects to their home wireless network and the Internet. This connection enables several new features such as the ability for a user to check the status of their lock remotely and operate it from the August mobile app for iOS or Android on their smartphone or tablet. This allows users to 'buzz-in' guests, and such service providers as contractors, dog-walkers, and others remotely while also receiving notifications around all lock activity.

Until now, August Smart Lock has supported only Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to operate the lock from their iOS and Android devices only while in relatively close proximity to the lock. With the addition of August Connect, however, users will now be able to interact with the lock from anywhere they have a connection to the Internet.

In addition to August Connect, the company is also releasing a private API that will allow select third-party partners such as Nest, SmartThings, and Logitech Harmony to integrate with August to seamlessly automate integrated home entry and exit procedures.

August Connect is priced at $49.99 and is available for pre-order today with shipping beginning in mid-February. August Smart Lock is priced at $249.95.

Article Link: August Launches 'Connect' Wi-Fi Bridge to Add Internet Connectivity to Popular Smart Lock

 

[KdParker]

This can be good if you forgot to lock your doors or need to let someone in remotely.

Still price is kinda of steep.

 

[Chad-VI]

I can't imagine how funny this would be if it gets hacked. Doors locking people outside or even children using this to lock their parents outside.

 

[bacaramac]

Although I wish August included Wifi, I assume battery life was the limiting factor. I'm glad they came up with a solution and can't wait to have this integrated into my Harmony Remote as well.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

$50 for functionality that should have been built-in to the lock. And adding injury to the insulting price is the kludgy afterthought design requiring an electric slot -- no doubt needing to be relatively close to the lock to convert the bluetooth signal to WiFi and vice versa.

I'm going to take a pass right now and see if they try to improve the actual lock first -- and knowing August, if they say ships in Feb. they mean Feb 2016 anyway.

 

[slicecom]

shipping beginning in mid-February

Riiiight. Judging by their track record, we'll be lucky to see it before the end of the year.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Although I wish August included Wifi, I assume battery life was the limiting factor. I'm glad they came up with a solution and can't wait to have this integrated into my Harmony Remote as well.

All the other remote locks have WiFi, so not sure it was battery life. I think they were trying to sell a more secure system but at the sake of functionality and convenience. Eventually they had to come back to WiFi.

 

[nuckinfutz]

I like the idea of a remote door luck but i've got two issues.

1. My door needs to be massaged so that the deadbolt is smooth and not like rubbing two rusty plates together.

2. I enter my home 50% of the time through the garage so I may just go with a Chamberlain iOS controlled opener.

 

[outie2k]

All the other remote locks have WiFi, so not sure it was battery life. I think they were trying to sell a more secure system but at the sake of functionality and convenience. Eventually they had to come back to WiFi.

This has to be a battery life issue. I have not seen battery operated smart locks that have wifi built in. It drains a lot of battery to maintain that wifi connection.

This seems to be a better solution than Kwikset Kevo/Plus has to offer. I am not fond of the subscription-based model from Kwikset.

 

[2457282]

After all that and no HomeKit integration? Only a private API? I think I must pass.

 

[SchneiderMan]

This should have been a built-in feature from the start. But I guess there's a battery life limitation too.

 

[cerote]

..... or even children using this to lock their parents in a room.

Not sure I would spend a total of about $300 for a door lock for inside the house.

 

[Ed217]

My MorningLinc lock has been working correctly for some time now. It auto locks every time I leave (via GPS app) and unlocks when I return. PC software also locks the door at scheduled times every day. The same GPS app has manual control and can lock and unlock from any where on earth.

Since the lock uses Insteon hub products, those were announced as HomeKit compatible this week.

I got these about 14 months ago. The door lock part was about $120 and the Insteon part about $50.


http://www.smarthome.com/milocks-qk...ed-keyless-entry-doorbknob-antique-brass.html


http://home-automation.smarthome.com/search?p=Q&asug=&w=morninglinc

 

[RMo]

I can't imagine how funny this would be if it gets hacked. Doors locking people inside a room or even children using this to lock their parents in a room.

Yes, all those children who are smart enough to detatch it from the existing deadbolt, remove the thumbturn on their parents' door, and re-attach it to the new deadbolt. (And who has a deadbolt in an interior room, anyway?)

After all that and no HomeKit integration? Only a private API? I think I must pass.

I seem to remember that Apple has pretty strict requirements for HomeKit. I can't find them at the moment but wouldn't be surprised it was difficult to get existing hardware approved (you can't just implement homeKit support on your own--you need to get an MFi license and then work through the requirements).

This should have been a built-in feature from the start. But I guess there's a battery life limitation too.

Yes, there is--Lockitron discovered this. Their device has built-in WiFi but only wakes every half hour by default to check in. Bluetooth is a lot better. I do wish Lockitron made something like this so that Wi-Fi would be a bit faster to respond, but at least if you're there (or a guest is) you (or they) can knock on the door to wake it up via its sensor.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

This has to be a battery life issue. I have not seen battery operated smart locks that have wifi built in. It drains a lot of battery to maintain that wifi connection.

This seems to be a better solution than Kwikset Kevo/Plus has to offer. I am not fond of the subscription-based model from Kwikset.

You are not looking too hard then. Lockitron, Goji, and Genie all have WiFi built-in & no subscription needed.

 

[Chad-VI]

Yes, all those children who are smart enough to detatch it from the existing deadbolt, remove the thumbturn on their parents' door, and re-attach it to the new deadbolt. (And who has a deadbolt in an interior room, anyway?)

Not sure I would spend a total of about $300 for a door lock for inside the house.

Okay I fixed my post for you

 

[bearda]

My MorningLinc lock has been working correctly for some time now. It auto locks every time I leave (via GPS app) and unlocks when I return. PC software also locks the door at scheduled times every day. The same GPS app has manual control and can lock and unlock from any where on earth.

Since the lock uses Insteon hub products, those were announced as HomeKit compatible this week.

I got these about 14 months ago. The door lock part was about $120 and the Insteon part about $50.


http://www.smarthome.com/milocks-qk...ed-keyless-entry-doorbknob-antique-brass.html


http://home-automation.smarthome.com/search?p=Q&asug=&w=morninglinc

Keep in mind that Insteon announced their new Hub Pro was HomeKit compatible, not any of the currently shipping Insteon Hub models. That tacks on another $150 and isn't available till late February

 

[yg17]

So, looking at screenshots of the app, each lock you own is labeled with an address? No thank you. This would be a hacker's wet dream. Imagine if they're able to not only hack the system to unlock locks without authorization, but they have addresses of houses with these locks too.

Some things weren't made to be connected to the internet, the lock on my house is one of them. These smartlocks are just solutions in search of a problem.

 

[jclardy]

All the other remote locks have WiFi, so not sure it was battery life. I think they were trying to sell a more secure system but at the sake of functionality and convenience. Eventually they had to come back to WiFi.

I might be wrong, but I thought only Lockitron had a wifi lock. And they have battery problems (Currently they claim up to 2 months with their 4 included lithium AA batteries, rechargeable ones are even less.) They have to make the lock check in on wifi less, so things like noise wake it up to connect to wifi (Like knocking on the door)

The August gets much better battery life (supposedly a year,) moving Wifi out is a smart decision IMO. BT has other advantages as well - namely you can unlock it with your phone even when the power is out and your wifi is down.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I might be wrong, but I thought only Lockitron had a wifi lock. And they have battery problems (Currently they claim up to 2 months with their 4 included lithium AA batteries, rechargeable ones are even less.) They have to make the lock check in on wifi less, so things like noise wake it up to connect to wifi (Like knocking on the door)

The August gets much better battery life (supposedly a year,) moving Wifi out is a smart decision IMO. BT has other advantages as well - namely you can unlock it with your phone even when the power is out and your wifi is down.

Yes, you skipped my earlier post naming Goji and Genie as having WiFi. And it's not about having one or the other, but both.

What is annoying about my August is that once you are out of BT range the app is useless. And even when you are in BT range it takes a minute or more for the lock to wake up and the app to recognize it. So when I leave the house it's literally easier to manually lock than to use my phone. The auto-unlock works, so I kept it as that was my #1 need. But I'd sure love to be able to remote lock it given what it costs.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

So, looking at screenshots of the app, each lock you own is labeled with an address? No thank you. This would be a hacker's wet dream. Imagine if they're able to not only hack the system to unlock locks without authorization, but they have addresses of houses with these locks too.

Some things weren't made to be connected to the internet, the lock on my house is one of them. These smartlocks are just solutions in search of a problem.

User chooses what to name each lock.

 

[Ed217]

Keep in mind that Insteon announced their new Hub Pro was HomeKit compatible, not any of the currently shipping Insteon Hub models. That tacks on another $150 and isn't available till late February

Correct, it was announced like all the other products at CES, virtually none of which are available yet.

The hub is part of a larger Insteon configuration. If all one wants to do is lock a door, there are probably lower cost options.

The existing hub works fine for lock control and is available now for $40.

 

[ipedro]

I was going to order one but shipping to Canada is $50... for a $49 item.

 

[ZipZap]

Given all the negative comments posted on the August locks, I am contemplating send mine back unopened.