HomeKit Blog

New Apple Silicon Macs are not the only thing to hit Apple's online store this week, as a surprise HomeKit accessory that is the first of its kind has been quietly added. The edn SmallGarden is a tabletop indoor garden system that can grow up to ten different plants, vegetables, or herbs at a time with app and HomeKit connectivity.

The edn Wi-Fi powered SmallGarden delivers the optimal light and food to give your plants everything they need to thrive. Combined with the ēdn app, you can seamlessly manage the lighting schedule, see garden alerts, and get detailed guidance on the growth of your plants to help you go from planting to harvest and beyond. The SmallGarden is built for the smart home of the future and is fully integrated with Apple's HomeKit.

Source: edn

The SmallGarden is similar to standard indoor gardens, with a compact footprint that incorporates a water reservoir, grow light, and ten dedicated spaces for seed pods. According to edn, the company's SeedPods are inspired by NASA technology, which combines soil, seeds, and time-release plant food into a small mess-free container. The SeedPod system allows users to start growing in four simple steps: plugging it in, pairing with the app, inserting the pods, and adding water.

Included in the box are a set of starter Basil SeedPods, with additional options available for various plants, including several different lettuce and herb varieties, along with a seedless pod that accommodates any plant seed.

While actual HomeKit functionality is not currently known, the Apple store listing and screenshots from the edn SmallGarden app give a small glimpse into connected features. The SmallGarden app appears to support water level monitoring, light adjustments, scheduling, alerts, and plant growth guidance. Since gardens are not a current HomeKit accessory category, we suspect that Home app and Siri controls will be limited to power controls and brightness adjustments.

The edn SmallGarden is available for purchase now on Apple's online store for $199.95 with delivery listed for next week. Additional SeedPods are available through edntech.com, with prices starting at $25 for packs of ten.

Eve Systems has announced that it plans to update several popular HomeKit accessories with wireless Thread connectivity later this month. Wired connectivity offers faster response times and longer battery life than Bluetooth, which most of the company's accessories use, and will work directly with Apple's upcoming HomePod mini.

"Offering powerful Home Hub functionality built into an affordable Siri speaker, the HomePod mini gives HomeKit a major boost," said Jerome Gackel, CEO of Eve Systems. "HomeKit over Thread support brings the entire Eve platform to the forefront of smart home innovation, and we're excited to be among the first to bring this cutting-edge smart home technology to the homes of HomePod mini users."

Available as a free firmware update via the Eve for HomeKit app soon, the Eve Door and Window contact sensor and the EU version of the Eve Energy smart connector will be the first to receive Thread support. After the initial launch, Eve plans to bring Thread to the full range of products, with the smart water controller Eve Aqua and Eve Thermo to be in line.

Once updated, Eve accessories will automatically communicate with each other in the house and in the HomePod mini. Switching to Thread will not require adjustments or configurations from the user, and for those without a HomePod mini, the accessories will continue to work via Bluetooth.

According to Eva, Thread network technology allows accessories to "self-heal" by selecting alternative routes for data if problems arise. The Mesh network will also increase the autonomy and response time of Eve accessories, which should resolve some of the most common complaints seen with Bluetooth devices.

The Eve Door and Window sensor is currently available from various retailers, such as Amazon and Apple, for $ 39.95. Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller is available for $ 99.95.

Nanoleaf has announced the launch of two new smart lighting products, the Essentials A19 and Essentials Lightstrip bulbs. The latest Nanoleaf accessories offer affordable, colorful lighting options with a simple setup process that works with the Apple HomeKit.

"As we continue to push the boundaries of what smart lighting can do, Essentials has been the next natural step in making sure we meet all consumers' smart lighting needs, especially for everyday lighting, now that we spend more "At Essentials, we make smart lighting more accessible to everyone, with options that can be tailored to each user's individual activities during the day."

The Nanoleaf A19 bulb includes intelligent lighting standards, such as support for over 16 million colors, dimming and adjustable color temperature, but has a unique Rhombicosidodecahedron design. Other important hardware elements include a maximum brightness of 1,100 lumens, a life expectancy of 25,000 hours and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip, which comes in an 80-inch starter kit, supports the same 16 million colors, dimming capabilities and Bluetooth as the A19 bulb, but can reach a maximum brightness of 2,200 lumens. The Lightstrip can be cut every 13 inches for shorter installations and can be extended up to 32 feet by expansion kits while maintaining maximum brightness levels.

Through the Nanoleaf application, both Essentials products support remote controls, programming options and additional elements such as Circadian Lighting. The Circadian Lighting option allows the Essentials line to automatically adjust color temperatures throughout the day, similar to Apple's recently launched HomeKit adaptive lighting feature, which Nanoleaf intends to accept in future firmware updates.

In addition to connecting to the Nanoleaf app, HomeKit and the Google Assistant via Bluetooth, the Essentials line is the first consumer product to support the wireless Thread network. Thread is a low-power network protocol, which Nanoleaf says offers improved reliability, network-to-network and a wider range of control. While compatible hardware is rare at the moment, the future Apple HomePod mini includes Thread onboard, which will allow it to connect directly to the Essentials line.

Nanoleaf Smart Lighting Essentials are now available exclusively at Apple stores worldwide and online, starting at $ 19.99 for the A19 bulb. Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip retails for $ 49.99, with additional 40-inch expansion kits available for $ 24.99 each.