August's New HomeKit-Enabled Wi-Fi Smart Lock Now Available to Order

[alexandr]

They are safer then normal locks, well some are, August and few others can tell if someone is tampering with them and can sound an alarm.

that's cool, maybe i just need to research this more)

 

[The Barron]

What happens when the power is out? The onboard battery is dead due to not changing it when it beeped to you? The Wi-Fi is on the blink? You don't have a key? Forget it!

 

[riverfreak]

Is it just me, or does that hand model in the photo have freakishly weird/fake fingernails?

 

[urnotl33t]

I'd totally be interested in one of these if it attached from the INSIDE of my house via an isolated VLAN / ethernet network, but not on my internet connected wifi.

2nd SSID, wireless MAB with open auth, and a WLAN-VLAN map. But consumer gear can't do this. You need more enterprise (or enterprise-ish) gear. Meraki's "little" APs might be your closest option, or something similar. Then you need a layer2 switch with a VLAN trunk [tagged port] to the AP. Since you even know what those words are, I wager you know how to do this already.

 

[DeepIn2U]

i must be old-fashioned or paranoid, but i don't trust these "smart" locks. smart lights i'm ok with, maybe a smart ac, but the idea of a smart lock seems just too vulnerable to me.

Let's say this Pandemic was long over etc.

You're single yet dating someone ideally for the long run. You may not be fully there with trusting of a key yet there maybe a situation(s) where you would allow her/him entry to your place:
returning from Groceries,
returning home form work shift to meet at your place yet you're delayed heavily (say an hour).
You're on vacation yet need your pet looked after !!
^ this can be dating someone or just need your pet looked after. perfect for dog walkers (walk, feed, wash, play & comfort pet).

 

[NMBob]

i must be old-fashioned or paranoid, but i don't trust these "smart" locks. smart lights i'm ok with, maybe a smart ac, but the idea of a smart lock seems just too vulnerable to me.

Those who would give up essential safety to purchase a little temporary convenience deserve neither safety nor convenience.

I think that’s what Ben said. I don’t like them either.

 

[fairuz]

i must be old-fashioned or paranoid, but i don't trust these "smart" locks. smart lights i'm ok with, maybe a smart ac, but the idea of a smart lock seems just too vulnerable to me.

Probably more secure if anything. I don't even know what locks are for anyway other than keeping drunk people from accidentally entering. Not going to stop anyone even mildly determined.

The real problem is it somehow locking you out due to malfunction, a bad update system, network outage, "user error," etc. There's always something. This at least seems useful because sometimes I'm not home and need to let someone in, but that's still not worth it. As for other smart home tech, pass, it's either no improvement or not worth.
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This is exactly the reason I would have no use for it. We already have issues with camera footage being exploited by employees of security companies so how long before someone working for a lock company starts selling access to your home on the darkwebz? Or hackers finding a way to open them with a phone or device?

As stated above, lights, fans, coffee maker, if the a Russian wants to mess with that I will deal with it but locks and physical access? Nope.

Have "the Russians" ever messed with your lights?
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Let's say this Pandemic was long over etc.

You're single yet dating someone ideally for the long run. You may not be fully there with trusting of a key yet there maybe a situation(s) where you would allow her/him entry to your place:
returning from Groceries,
returning home form work shift to meet at your place yet you're delayed heavily (say an hour).
You're on vacation yet need your pet looked after !!
^ this can be dating someone or just need your pet looked after. perfect for dog walkers (walk, feed, wash, play & comfort pet).

Then you give them the knob key but not the deadbolt key, much simpler.

 

[TVreporter]

Curious how/if the battery can endure a Canadian winter when it’s consistently -30C or -22F? What happens if the battery dies? Are you then locked out?

 

[4jasontv]

Not a single photo of what it looks like from outside. Is there anything about the external apperance of the lock that might give away that it is wifi controlled?

 

[choctawfootball]

What happens when the power is out? The onboard battery is dead due to not changing it when it beeped to you? The Wi-Fi is on the blink? You don't have a key? Forget it!

If the power is out:

1. If you are trying to get into the house you can use your regular house key. This doesn’t replace the lock on the outside of the house.

2. If you are trying to remote lock or unlock. You are s o l because your WiFi is probably down as well - because it is not receiving power.

3. However the unit still runs on Bluetooth. So if you have your phone with you it can override the power being out.

 

[davidjacobs21]

Not a single photo of what it looks like from outside. Is there anything about the external apperance of the lock that might give away that it is wifi controlled?

It doesn't change the outside lock at all. It only changes in the inside part

 

[zhenya]

Curious how/if the battery can endure a Canadian winter when it’s consistently -30C or -22F? What happens if the battery dies? Are you then locked out?

The lock and battery are mounted on the inside of the door - presumably in your warm house. It warns you when the battery gets low. If you let it die, you open the door with a key.

Not a single photo of what it looks like from outside. Is there anything about the external apperance of the lock that might give away that it is wifi controlled?

This simply attaches to the inside of your deadbolt. From the outside there is no change whatsoever.

 

[4jasontv]

It doesn't change the outside lock at all. It only changes in the inside part

This simply attaches to the inside of your deadbolt. From the outside there is no change whatsoever.

Interesting. I assumed it had the same material on the outside as the dial. I probably still couldn't get away with it considering how the inside part looks, but at least the outside would appear normal.

 

[alexandr]

Probably more secure if anything. I don't even know what locks are for anyway other than keeping drunk people from accidentally entering. Not going to stop anyone even mildly determined.

The real problem is it somehow locking you out due to malfunction, a bad update system, network outage, "user error," etc. There's always something. This at least seems useful because sometimes I'm not home and need to let someone in, but that's still not worth it. As for other smart home tech, pass, it's all useless.

but what if you lock yourself out with your device inside? how do you get in?

 

[locoboi187]

i must be old-fashioned or paranoid, but i don't trust these "smart" locks. smart lights i'm ok with, maybe a smart ac, but the idea of a smart lock seems just too vulnerable to me.

ya lets go with paranoid

 

[zhenya]

but what if you lock yourself out with your device inside? how do you get in?

With a key. Or you call a locksmith. Same as if you lock yourself out with a regular lock. This simply makes that far less likely.

 

[Niacchus]

I have the older generation and been super impressed with it, never had any issues and its not been buggy at all. Dont feel compelled to upgrade though.

 

[alexandr]

Let's say this Pandemic was long over etc.

You're single yet dating someone ideally for the long run. You may not be fully there with trusting of a key yet there maybe a situation(s) where you would allow her/him entry to your place:
returning from Groceries,
returning home form work shift to meet at your place yet you're delayed heavily (say an hour).
You're on vacation yet need your pet looked after !!
^ this can be dating someone or just need your pet looked after. perfect for dog walkers (walk, feed, wash, play & comfort pet).

i can see it now - "access denied" bzzz. that's how you find out that you're single...
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ya lets go with paranoid

who sent you?!

 

[DeepIn2U]

i can see it now - "access denied" bzzz. that's how you find out that you're single...

ROFLMAO!! brew ... why you gotta call me out like that lol, /s kidding. But You definitely got my underlying message about dating there. August Smart Lock ... the BEST tool in a players arsenal lol.

 

[alexandr]

With a key. Or you call a locksmith. Same as if you lock yourself out with a regular lock. This simply makes that far less likely.

well that's a bit disappointing, i was hoping for a "smart" solution here

 

[Tofupunch]

so, what happens when the power goes out and there is no WiFi signal? Is there some sort of physical key that comes with these locks?

edit. Oops. Should have read more carefully. D'oh.

 

[Smigit]

Here's what they don't really tell you though: As a safety feature, your phone will ASK you if you want it unlocked as you walk up. It doesn't do it 100%. So you still have to click on your phone to do it (or tell Siri if your phone is unlocked). I'd prefer to have it be 100% automatic

August is 100% automatic if you configure the proximity unlock in the August app.

From memory HomeKit will prompt if you use the Home app to do the geofence. As such I automate in the August app and use Home for manual controls.

 

[alexandr]

ROFLMAO!! brew ... why you gotta call me out like that lol, /s kidding. But You definitely got my underlying message about dating there. August Smart Lock ... the BEST tool in a players arsenal lol.

keep 'on knockin' but you can't come in rip little richard

 

[Smigit]

How does it unlock the door if I have two locks on my door? I have a deadbolt and a lock on my door knob. If my door knob is locked I will still need a key to get in right? Seems not really useful in that scenario.

You wouldn’t lock the second lock, just the deadlock.

Cant imagine many people wanting to lock multiple locks in a day to day basis every time they go out the door.

 

[Tech198]

I'd totally be interested in one of these if it attached from the INSIDE of my house via an isolated VLAN / ethernet network, but not on my internet connected wifi.

If your Wi-fii has connectivity issues suddenly, you'll be back to the old-fashioned keys.
"Well, it was cool tech while it lasted.Help, i can't get in"