That might have been true at the beginning, nowadays I see more $5-10 slim cases w designs than otterboxes I have yet to see someone using the official leather apple cases
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Hunter Fan Company Releases First HomeKit-Enabled Ceiling Fan
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My ceiling is 18' high, and the ceiling fan prewire switch is on/off only (so no control for fan speed). The Signal will let me use Siri to turn on/off and adjust fan speed easily.
Regarding the many complaints about cost - before I ordered the Signal, I was looking at 2 Fanimation models priced at $850 and $1250, so the Hunter is a bargain (although admittedly not as badass as the Fanimation Enigma!)
Probably not much harder than it is to change a channel on the actual TV (vs. using a remote control), or open a car using a key (vs. using a keyfob), etc.
rdlink, I don't know what you are trying to show there. Schlage locks IS one of the things I was "myth"ing about. I just went through some renovations and wanted to replace the many outside entry locks with homekit-capable locks. I needed 5 of them. While your Schlage link is showing them now at $178, they were $209 when I was shopping locks. 5 doors at $209 = > $1000.
Your counterpoint examples seem to be the most expensive lookalike locks that don't have homekit but are still "smart locks." But Schlage also makes "dumb" lookalikes that are just keypad locks for about half the homekit-version price. For example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N12FO0A/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_3 at $91.80. 5 of those for $459 vs. 5 Homekit variations for $890, or $431 more for 5 door locks that unlock with a single company's phone. I'm sure if I put in a little effort more examples just like that for the other stuff would illustrate the same steep premium.
The point I was trying to make was that Homekit comes at quite the premium... myth or not... so much so I (personally) would not be inclined to pay $329-$379 for a ceiling fan when there are plenty of similar ones available (minus Homekit) for substantially less than that. Does Homekit have value? Sure. But the "cool" gimmick should wear off quickly and then you simply have a $329 (to $379) ceiling fan vs. maybe $250 still in your wallet + a ceiling fan. Yes, the guy with the money in his pocket might have to lug himself over to a switch to turn his fan on and off but that should be counterbalanced by the $250 extra cash PER FAN in a home. No doubting this is a great-looking ceiling fan but I bet a "dumb" version that looks the same would be priced at about half that price. Look at their MSRP $169 Dempsey low profile or their MSRP $149 Annesbury to see some close cousins sans HomeKit. Or look at MSRP $199 Contempo which comes with a universal remote for those that really don't want to leave the couch (perhaps in spite of Healthkit encouragement)
What I would like to see is Homekit wow without the steep premium. Of course, Apple should make something but- from my perspective anyway- this looks like a very high margin something.
Okay, so here's where you go wrong. You're comparing a "dumb" device to a HomeKit device. That's like comparing a fully automatic Maytag washing machine to galvanized tub and a scrub board, and saying "See, I told you that Maytag washing machines cost 10 times as much as something that will work, also."
Your original statement that HomeKit devices cost twice as much as their non-Homekit counterparts implies a realistic comparison. Not comparing a smart device to a non-smart device.
An iPhone costs ten times as much as an LG Cosmos 3. But one of them is a phone, and the other is a smartphone. Two different categories of devices. Yes, both of them will make phone calls. That doesn't mean the iPhone is overpriced vs. the Cosmos 3. It just means that one of them is designed to do so much more. If a Cosmos 3 will work for your phone call needs then by all means spend the $89 and go on your way.
Now that you've explained the premise of your original statement, that you don't think that IOT smart devices have value I understand your argument.
And to that I say to each his own. My house is full of HomeKit enabled devices, from a front door lock, to a thermostat, to light switches throughout the house. And as soon as I can buy one it will include this ceiling fan. And it isn't about a cool gimmick. The HomeKit functionality brings much value to my life. I can adjust the thermostat from bed instead of walking downstairs. I can invoke any one of multiple scenes by voice when going to bed to turn off all of the relevant lights in the house without having to walk to the entry way, kitchen, den, etc., and have my path to bed light before I arrive. I can do the inverse in the morning before I head downstairs for coffee. I can tell my watch to unlock my front door when my hands are full so I don't have to fish out my keys. Or let the mail carrier in to leave a package when I'm not home. When my ceiling fan comes in I will be able to adjust or turn it off from bed without ever lifting my head from the pillow. When I leave to go to work my proximity scenes know to turn off all of the lights I don't want burning throughout the day, and unburden me of having to worry about whether I turned off that upstairs light. When I come home at night my entry hall light is on when I walk in the front door.
If you have no need for this type of automation in your life so be it. But your proclamation that these devices don't have any value just because you don't have the imagination to integrate their usefulness into your life is just ignorant, plain and simple.
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HobeSoundDarryl
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Where did I say HomeKit doesn't have ANY value? In fact I said it was worth something.
And my comparison of smart vs. dumb does apply. HomeKit is mostly about a crack at the "internet of things" which is mostly about applying tech "smarts" to formerly tech-lacking stuff like ceiling fans and door locks. In my case the door locks that look just like the HomeKit door locks lock and unlock my doors just as good. Yes, I can't use a phone as a key but I can use the same keypad OR a key... And use the fairly significant savings to buy other stuff... Like Apple hardware.
I'm glad you like your HomeKit stuff. Good for you. I'm simply seeking more value for my money, even if that means I have to use a keypad or flip a switch.
And my comparison of smart vs. dumb does apply. HomeKit is mostly about a crack at the "internet of things" which is mostly about applying tech "smarts" to formerly tech-lacking stuff like ceiling fans and door locks. In my case the door locks that look just like the HomeKit door locks lock and unlock my doors just as good. Yes, I can't use a phone as a key but I can use the same keypad OR a key... And use the fairly significant savings to buy other stuff... Like Apple hardware.
I'm glad you like your HomeKit stuff. Good for you. I'm simply seeking more value for my money, even if that means I have to use a keypad or flip a switch.
Agreed. On my old house, I'd literally just buy the $100 Hunter ceiling fans I'd find at Costco/Home Depot. Worked as advertised and I didn't think much of it. Then I moved to my new home which had an Emerson Midway Eco in the master bedroom. Never realized you can get so much wind from a fan and have it stay so quite and not shake at all.
I agree. I have a Big Ass Fans 'haiku' and the difference in quality between it and the cheap big box stores is huge. Dead quiet. Perfectly balanced. Tons and tons of air. But it cost a LOT. Over $800. But when living in a very hot environment you need a good fan. This hunter may be worth looking at.
I hope your experience will be better than ours. We had two Hunter fans, both about six years old, and the bearings? on both units were apparently worn out. Inferior steel perhaps?
Using the remote is a little different unless you get up a lot to turn the fan off/on quite often. I would think a lot of people turn it on and leave it on for awhile. I see your point on the keyfob example though.