First Alert's All-in-One HomeKit-Enabled Smoke Detector, Speaker, and Alexa Assistant Now Available to Order

[MacRumors]

First Alert has announced that its Onelink Safe & Sound smoke and carbon monoxide detector is now available to order.

Introduced at CES 2018, the Onelink Safe & Sound distinguishes itself from a traditional smoke detector with a built-in speaker and noice-canceling microphones, and support for Amazon Alexa, making it a ceiling-mounted assistant.

Homeowners can ask Alexa to stream music from Amazon Music, Pandora, and soon Spotify, read the news, check the weather, control other smart home devices, and more. Audio playback is also supported via Bluetooth.

Onelink Safe & Sound also supports HomeKit, enabling iPhone and iPad users to control the detector with Siri or Apple's Home app.

While its latest press release does not mention AirPlay 2, First Alert has informed MacRumors that the Safe & Sound's speaker will support the since-delayed Apple protocol as soon as it is available, enabling multi-room audio and Siri control for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users through the Home app.

AirPlay 2 support will allow a homeowner to install multiple detectors around the house and control audio on a room-by-room basis.

In terms of the detector itself, an alarm alerts homeowners on their smartphones in the event of a smoke or carbon monoxide emergency, whether home or away. With exclusive voice and location technology by First Alert, the Safe & Sound alerts users to the type of danger and its location within the home.

Beyond its smart alarm capabilities, the Safe & Sound also features a customizable night light with multiple colors and brightness levels.

The Onelink Safe & Sound is currently available for $249.99 from Amazon and First Alert's online store in the United States, but a regular price of $299.99 is listed. It's unclear when the $50 off introductory offer will end.

Article Link: First Alert's All-in-One HomeKit-Enabled Smoke Detector, Speaker, and Alexa Assistant Now Available to Order

 

[Vasilioskn]

Hope the reviews are good for this. Need new smoke detectors. I’m not an audiophile so these speakers would be good enough for my house instead of buying a HomePod.

 

[munpip214]

Hope these are more reliable than their first homekit model. Those failed miserably. I have had all of mine replaced multiple times do to random problems. At least they have good support...

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Great idea. Absurd price. But also my experience with HomeKit devices is that they can be flakey and occasionally have to be re-paired so would not want to rely on that for my life.

 

[flyinmac]

The first smoke alarm to run up electric bills.

It’s a great sounding idea. Especially when I’ve just installed 30 smoke detectors in the house. Yeah timing.

But, not every smoke detector location had wiring. It’s an old house from homesteading days. Great shape and been remodeled. But most areas still rely on battery powered detectors. Especially in the big rooms that required multiple detectors.

If the speakers sound good, that may be an appealing way to get surround sound or full house sound.

But very few places I’ve lived over the years had actual wired smoke detectors. But it is a great idea.

I’m sure they could do battery powered. But it certainly would require frequent charging compared to once a year battery swaps.

 

[zorinlynx]

I didn't trust this stuff before, and I certainly don't trust it now.

Just be wary of the tech you let into your homes, people.

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/18/0...o-random-contact-amazon-confirms-the-incident

 

[unplugme71]

So first gen models suck. After several replacements, no fix offered yet.

Now they release this device. Yeah, let me pay 2.5x more and jump right on that.

 

[nutmac]

Great idea. Absurd price.

Agreed. The price is more absurd given that the smoke detector is only good for 10 years. The speaker and night light may continue to work beyond that (or not, the website doesn't say), but $250 is a lot for 10 years of use.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Agreed. The price is more absurd given that the smoke detector is only good for 10 years. The speaker and night light may continue to work beyond that (or not, the website doesn't say), but $250 is a lot for 10 years of use.

Especially when I have six smoke detectors in my home. I realize I wouldn't need to replace all of them, but still.

 

[hamiltonrwatch]

Factor in anti-gravity capability and $250.00 doesn't seem pricey.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Agreed. The price is more absurd given that the smoke detector is only good for 10 years. The speaker and night light may continue to work beyond that (or not, the website doesn't say), but $250 is a lot for 10 years of use.

All smoke detectors are limited in lifespan due to the decay of the isotopes that do the actual detection (you might have already known that). In any case the prices on all of these devices are coming down steadily. You can choose whether you are prepared to pay the early adopter tax or can wait awhile for them to become a lot cheaper.
[doublepost=1527192277][/doublepost]

Great idea. Absurd price. But also my experience with HomeKit devices is that they can be flakey and occasionally have to be re-paired so would not want to rely on that for my life.

I hear someone describing connection reliability issues with all of the devices and interconnection systems, so flakiness isn't exclusive to Homekit by any means. I probably has a lot more to do with the robustness of the wi-fi network.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I hear someone describing connection reliability issues with all of the devices and interconnection systems, so flakiness isn't exclusive to Homekit by any means. I probably has a lot more to do with the robustness of the wi-fi network.

Could be but I know in my cases it's just been one device or another at a time even with other devices the same room working fine. And in my cases it wasn't just a momentary network drop-out. The device got completely detached from HomeKit and I had to re-pair with HomeKit ID.

Right now I have a Leviton light switch that went AOL. PITA to re-pair that thing so it's just a "dumb" switch until I get frustrated or bored enough to fix it. That switch is on my LL which has the best Wi-Fi in the house. Meanwhile the same switch in my loft on the 4th level, most unreliable Wi-Fi in the house works fine as does the nearby LIFX bulb (plugged into a lamp, not on the Leviton switch).

 

[nutmac]

All smoke detectors are limited in lifespan due to the decay of the isotopes that do the actual detection (you might have already known that).

Right. I wasn't trying to imply that 10-year lifespan is unique to First Alert. Nest and others all have the same limitations. But they all cost less than half the price.

I do think smoke detector can be an ideal place to install smart speakers. But I think smoke detection module should've been user upgradable. That is, assuming First Alert will continue to service the unit 10 years from now (which probably isn't realistic.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Could be but I know in my cases it's just been one device or another at a time even with other devices the same room working fine. And in my cases it wasn't just a momentary network drop-out. The device got completely detached from HomeKit and I had to re-pair with HomeKit ID.

Right now I have a Leviton light switch that went AOL. PITA to re-pair that thing so it's just a "dumb" switch until I get frustrated or bored enough to fix it. That switch is on my LL which has the best Wi-Fi in the house. Meanwhile the same switch in my loft on the 4th level, most unreliable Wi-Fi in the house works fine as does the nearby LIFX bulb (plugged into a lamp, not on the Leviton switch).

I am just starting my modern home automation adventure (ripping up the last functional bits of my ancient X-10 system), so I am not an expert by any means. But what I've found so far is devices can become detached from the network for no apparent reason. So many variables. When your devices decide to disconnect, have they just been unpaired from HomeKit and can they still be accessed by the manufacturer's app?
[doublepost=1527194648][/doublepost]

Right. I wasn't trying to imply that 10-year lifespan is unique to First Alert. Nest and others all have the same limitations. But they all cost less than half the price.

I do think smoke detector can be an ideal place to install smart speakers. But I think smoke detection module should've been user upgradable. That is, assuming First Alert will continue to service the unit 10 years from now (which probably isn't realistic.

I haven't priced out smart smoke detectors yet. I don't doubt what you say about the cost of this one. It's more than what I paid for the ecobee 4 thermostat, a much more functional device.

That said I am wondering about the usefulness of an Alexa speaker on the ceiling. The ecobee is forever hearing the TV and springing to life. One time it actually tried to have a conversation with the TV, which wasn't nearly as amusing as it sounds.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

When your devices decide to disconnect, have they just been unpaired from HomeKit and can they still be accessed by the manufacturer's app?

Once it's disconnected from HomeKit it's light out so to speak. It's not going to function as a smart device until it's re-paired. When they disconnect either complete or just a weak WifI signal you get a "unreachable" or "unavailable" message in both HomeKit and the manufacturer app. But when it's just a WiFi issue it's momentary. HomeKit is terminal.

Complete disconnect is rare but annoying when it happen because w/ HomeKit, unlike the others, you have to scan the HomeKit ID, which mean you have to find it. Not difficult but I toss all my manuals an stuff in a drawer, not organized in any particular way, so a PITA.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Once it's disconnected from HomeKit it's light out so to speak. It's not going to function as a smart device until it's re-paired. When they disconnect either complete or just a weak WifI signal you get a "unreachable" or "unavailable" message in both HomeKit and the manufacturer app. But when it's just a WiFi issue it's momentary. HomeKit is terminal.

Complete disconnect is rare but annoying when it happen because w/ HomeKit, unlike the others, you have to scan the HomeKit ID, which mean you have to find it. Not difficult but I toss all my manuals an stuff in a drawer, not organized in any particular way, so a PITA.

If you aren't able to access the device with the manufacturer's app I am thinking it isn't a HomeKit issue. If I read what you saying right. The pairing codes are a security layer so with the good comes the other thing.

In any case our new survival guide is keeping a list of our pairing codes somewhere accessible. Maybe not a matter so much of if rather than when it will be needed.

 

[vipergts2207]

Hopefully it's not junk like the first HK detectors they launched. I don't need a crappy speaker in my smoke detectors anyway so I'll wait for Netatmo or Eve to launch their detectors.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

If you aren't able to access the device with the manufacturer's app I am thinking it isn't a HomeKit issue. If I read what you saying right. The pairing codes are a security layer so with the good comes the other thing.

In any case our new survival guide is keeping a list of our pairing codes somewhere accessible. Maybe not a matter so much of if rather than when it will be needed.

Homekit devices will not activate for remote services until you scan the Homekit code. If the device "forgets" the code then no app will be able to control it. It could be that a Wi-Fi dropout is the trigger but then it becomes a Homekit issue.

 

[Braderunner]

Ridiculous price for something you need throughout your home...and that should be replaced at least every 10 years.
One day, we’ll look back and laugh at those who paid that much for this.

 

[ignatius345]

A smoke detector with built-in spyware. Great idea.

Ahem: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...o-device-secretly-shared-users-private-audio/

 

[Vasilioskn]

Ridiculous price for something you need throughout your home...and that should be replaced at least every 10 years.
One day, we’ll look back and laugh at those who paid that much for this.

Kind of like the HomePod lmao

 

[flyinmac]

Ridiculous price for something you need throughout your home...and that should be replaced at least every 10 years.
One day, we’ll look back and laugh at those who paid that much for this.

I agree the price is high. But perhaps less high than having a HomePod in every room. And you get the benefit of perhaps having the same music running through the whole house at the same volume level. Which would be nice when I’m all over the house all day. Instead I crank it loud in the upstairs and let it carry downstairs.

I’m not a buyer at that price. I can make cheaper solutions on my own. When I decide it’s prioity enough. Other projects come first. But I’m closer to the idea of buying one of these for every room than I am to buying one HomePod.

As for 10 year replacement cycles... yes, you would replace them every 10 years for the smoke alarm feature. Or... you could elect to keep them as speakers and put in separate smoke detectors as well. But, the reality is that neither none of Apple’s current smart assistants, HomePods, or automation systems are going to be useful in 10 years anyway (unless you don’t upgrade your Mac, your OS, your iPhone, iOS, or your AppleTV).

Upgrade any of those to stay current, and see where any of the current automation, smart assistants, or HomePods are useful in 10 years. You won’t even be able to give them away. They’ll have no functionality.

Personally, I’m not buying into any of the current solutions at this point. I’m staying old school and piping my music into it from the modern computers. Which will work as long as I can adapt the music to analog. Which I expect to be able to do longer than I can use the current HomePod.

There will always be some way to pipe music down a wire.
[doublepost=1527225688][/doublepost]

A smoke detector with built-in spyware. Great idea.

Ahem: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...o-device-secretly-shared-users-private-audio/

Well... on the plus side, it’ll help people stop talking about other people behind their backs.

Always afraid if they say a name during their gossip sessions, that their smart device will send the gossip session to the person they’re talking about.

Not necessarily a bad thing. Considering how much this world likes to make up stuff about people that they claim to be friends with.

There’s way too much gossip in this world. I know a lot of people who are always on about something. How this person and that person do this and how much drama they are. I just look at them like... hmmm.... they’re dramatic??? What are you??

 

[lilrush]

It's creepy how they want to put microphones in everything now. No thanks

 

[vipergts2207]

Just saw that this thing has a single, small, 10W speaker. It’s probably safe to figure on this thing sounding like tinny, hot garbage, for $250 no less.

Well... on the plus side, it’ll help people stop talking about other people behind their backs.

Always afraid if they say a name during their gossip sessions, that their smart device will send the gossip session to the person they’re talking about.

Not necessarily a bad thing. Considering how much this world likes to make up stuff about people that they claim to be friends with.

There’s way too much gossip in this world. I know a lot of people who are always on about something. How this person and that person do this and how much drama they are. I just look at them like... hmmm.... they’re dramatic??? What are you??

Sounds like you just need to do a better job of choosing your friends. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[dlecompte21]

First Alert has announced that its Onelink Safe & Sound smoke and carbon monoxide detector is now available to order.

Introduced at CES 2018, the Onelink Safe & Sound distinguishes itself from a traditional smoke detector with a built-in speaker and noice-canceling microphones, and support for Amazon Alexa, making it a ceiling-mounted assistant.

Homeowners can ask Alexa to stream music from Amazon Music, Pandora, and soon Spotify, read the news, check the weather, control other smart home devices, and more. Audio playback is also supported via Bluetooth.

Onelink Safe & Sound also supports HomeKit, enabling iPhone and iPad users to control the detector with Siri or Apple's Home app.

While its latest press release does not mention AirPlay 2, First Alert has informed MacRumors that the Safe & Sound's speaker will support the since-delayed Apple protocol as soon as it is available, enabling multi-room audio and Siri control for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users through the Home app.

AirPlay 2 support will allow a homeowner to install multiple detectors around the house and control audio on a room-by-room basis.

In terms of the detector itself, an alarm alerts homeowners on their smartphones in the event of a smoke or carbon monoxide emergency, whether home or away. With exclusive voice and location technology by First Alert, the Safe & Sound alerts users to the type of danger and its location within the home.

Beyond its smart alarm capabilities, the Safe & Sound also features a customizable night light with multiple colors and brightness levels.

The Onelink Safe & Sound is currently available for $249.99 from Amazon and First Alert's online store in the United States, but a regular price of $299.99 is listed. It's unclear when the $50 off introductory offer will end.

Article Link: First Alert's All-in-One HomeKit-Enabled Smoke Detector, Speaker, and Alexa Assistant Now Available to Order

Is HomeKit still supported? I know they talked about it at CES 2018, but HomeKit has been pulled from all ads.