iDevices was one of the first companies to announce plans for producing HomeKit-compatible products, focusing primarily on switches and outlets but also branching out a bit with a thermostat. Earlier this year, iDevices was acquired by major electrical equipment manufacturer Hubbell, but the iDevices brand and product lineup lives on.
I've been using a number of iDevices products, including the recently launched Wall Switch and Wall Outlet, as well as the Switch and Outdoor Switch that launched some time ago, and I've gotten a pretty good idea of how well these accessories fit into my home and integrate with other HomeKit devices through HomeKit. All of the devices are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but for my purposes I focused on HomeKit.
Wall Switch and Wall Outlet
iDevices' Wall Switch and Wall Outlet are the latest additions to the company's HomeKit family, and they're the most complicated to install since they require in-wall installation. It's a little bit of a hassle and some users such as renters may not be able take advantage of them, but installation is a pretty straightforward project and they provide a much cleaner and more integrated look to your HomeKit system.
As with any other time you're performing electrical work, you should turn off power at the circuit breaker and make sure electricity isn't flowing to the circuits where you're working. iDevices includes step-by-step instructions to walk you through the entire installation process and also includes some helpful videos on its YouTube channel.
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Already Samsung and Vizio have confirmed that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are coming to their Smart TV sets and now LG has become a third major television manufacturer to announce support for these technologies, conveniently ahead of Apple’s apparent Hollywood push.
Per the announcement that the South Korean maker made today at CES 2019, LG’s 2019 Smart TV lineup will feature not only support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit but Amazon Alexa, too.
LG’s new Signature OLED TV model 65R9 will support this out of the box, as will other 2019 models from the South Korean maker. The company did not say when an Apple-focused firmware update might be available for owners of its existing Smart TV sets.
Thanks to AirPlay 2, customers will be able to share photos, videos and music from their iPhone, iPad or Mac on their big LG screen without having to own an Apple TV. “With AirPlay 2, users can easily play videos directly from their Apple devices, iTunes and other video apps, music or photos to their Signature OLED TV,“ noted the South Korean maker.
AirPlay 2 also brings multi-room audio and support for HomeKit, Apple’s framework for the connected home. The two allow for limited Siri voice commands—you can ask Siri on your iOS device or Mac to play a specific movie or TV show on a specific Smart TV in a specific room.
ROUNDUP: Apple’s original TV shows
Also, HomeKit support will bring limited interweaving with HomeKit automations and permit you to control your LG TV right from the Lock screen of your iOS device or Control Center, including adjusting TV volume using the iPhone volume buttons.
Just briefly, LG’s new rollable 65-inch TV features flexible OLED screen technology that allows the screen to rise and roll up at the touch of a button, freeing customers from the limitations of the wall and allowing them to curate their own personal space. The remarkable TV set, pictured top of post, includes a 4.2-channel, 100W front-firing Dolby Atmos audio system along with the brushed aluminum casing and the quality wool speaker cover designed by Kvadrat of Denmark.
Fueled by the popularity of Nest, thermostats remain one of the more popular categories of smart home devices. I recently took at look at Honeywell's Lyric Round thermostat with HomeKit support, and today I'm following up with Emerson's latest HomeKit model, the Sensi Touch.
Announced back in May and launched in June, the Sensi Touch offers a horizontal design with a color touchscreen taking up much of the front of the device. Aside from onscreen controls, the Sensi Touch can also be managed via app or through HomeKit, offering a number of options for controls.
Installation
I've had a bit of previous experience swapping out thermostats, so I was already familiar with what needed to be done, and all told it took me less than 30 minutes to remove my old thermostat and get the Sensi Touch installed. After making sure the circuit breakers for my heating and air conditioning system were turned off, I launched the Sensi app on my iPhone and it walked me through all of the steps to get up and running.
It's a great setup process, with easy to follow instructions that integrate with the iPhone's Camera app to take a photo of your existing thermostat wiring for reference, as well as a terminal picker that lets you tell the app exactly which wires your current system uses so that it can guide you in connecting the Sensi Touch.
As with most other thermostats, the Sensi Touch comes in two pieces, a rear plate that is screwed to the wall and contains the terminals for the wiring coming out of the wall, paired with a main body that snaps onto the rear plate for a clean look.
The Sensi Touch's rear plate is well designed, using small paddles under each terminal to secure the wires in their terminals. The paddles are big enough to press with your finger, yet the terminal array remains compact on the rear plate.
The rear plate also includes a handy light that can be operated by switch to help you see what you're doing while connecting the wires. Once the thermostat is fully operational, this light can also be used as a night light to backlight the entire thermostat, but allowing it to be used during setup even without the main body of the thermostat installed is a really nice touch.
The Sensi Touch rear plate includes a pair of screw holes for mounting, one each with play in the horizontal and vertical directions to allow some flexibility. A built-in bubble level makes it easy to ensure everything is lined up properly. Unfortunately, my troublesome thermostat wiring setup with a full junction box located in the wall caused a few problems for me, albeit in a slightly different way than with the Honeywell Lyric Round.
On the positive side, the holes in the Sensi Touch rear plate line up perfectly with the junction box holes, making it simple to mount the thermostat. But its slim profile means the entire thermostat isn't much larger than the junction box itself, and so a bit of rough drywall cutout around the box as well as a screw hole from my Lyric Round installation are visible even with the Sensi Touch fully installed. The screw hole is easy enough to patch, but cleaning up the ragged drywall along the top will be a bit more work.
Setup and App Controls
After the Sensi Touch is mounted to the wall and the circuit breakers are turned back on, the Sensi app continues to walk you through the setup process, allowing you to configure Wi-Fi and connect to HomeKit.
Once it's connected, you can use either the thermostat interface itself or the Sensi app to set up schedules based on time and day of the week, automatically changing temperature set points throughout the day to account for comfortable sleeping conditions, times when you're up and about, and times when you're away.
Setting up schedules on the thermostat
Oddly, schedules can only be set directly on the Sensi Touch if you turn off Wi-Fi on the thermostat, and as I unfortunately discovered, once you turn off Wi-Fi there's apparently no way to turn it back on and reconnect to the app without completely resetting the thermostat.
Display
While the Sensi Touch includes a color display, it retains a relatively monochromatic appearance to keep the look simple, opting for white text on various shades of either blue when in cooling mode or orange when in heating mode.
Home screen in heating mode
If you choose to manage schedules through the app, the functionality available through the thermostat is rather basic, primarily consisting of adjustments to the temperature setting and changing the fan and heating/cooling modes. Manually adjusting the temperature when a schedule is in effect will temporarily hold the new temperature until the next schedule change or for at least two hours.
Night light
Other options include preferences for the home screen such as whether to show indoor humidity and the time of day, as well as whether to use Fahrenheit or Celsius units. A separate page in the settings lets you turn on the backlight for use as a night light.
Sleep display while in heating mode
When you're not interacting with the thermostat, you have the option of showing a blank screen or a dimmed screen that shows only the current inside temperature, again on a blue background for cooling or an orange background for heating. It's a very bland look considering the large, color display, and I'd definitely prefer something a bit more interesting.
Sensi App
The app is pretty straightforward, offering a main screen that lets you manage multiple thermostats and then a summary screen for each thermostat that prominently displays the current temperature and humidity, as well as the weather for your location and the set point of the thermostat. Adjusting the set point is simple, requiring just a tap on arrows along the right side of the screen to raise or lower the temperature.
At the bottom of the main display are a pair of buttons, one that lets you change the mode among heating, cooling, automatic, or off, and the other that sets the fan to automatic or always-on. I wish those buttons were a little bigger as hit targets, but you're not going to need to use them very often, so it's not a big deal.
Additional tabs for each thermostat are accessible along the bottom of the screen. One is a Settings tab that primarily displays your setup information but also lets you adjust a few options such as whether temperatures are displayed in Fahrenheit or Celsius and whether the humidity and current time are displayed. More advanced settings include the ability to delay cooling on rapid cycles to prevent system damage, lock out control for the thermostat itself, customize an offset if the thermostat reads a different temperature than you expect, and change heating and cooling cycle rates.
The final tab is for Scheduling, which allows you to create or edit schedules based on time and day of the week and adjust temperatures based on activity in the home. A couple of advanced options let you create multiple schedules in case your needs vary from week to week and turn on an "Early Start" toggle that intelligently starts your heating or cooling early so that your home reaches your desired temperature right at the scheduled time.
The Sensi Touch also includes a beta geofencing feature, which will automatically set back the thermostat by three degrees once you're more than three miles from home in order to save energy. It's not as advanced as Honeywell's geofencing which lets you define a custom radius and customize the set point for when you're away, but at least it's something.
The Sensi Touch will send alerts in a variety of situations to let you know of problems with your heating and air conditioning system, such as if inside temperature reaches 99ºF or 45ºF, humidity exceeds 78 percent, or inside temperature goes up or down by 5ºF even though the system is trying to cool or heat. It would be nice if these thresholds were customizable, but at a minimum the 5º alert should cover most circumstances where your system has failed. It would also be nice if the app could send reminders to change your air filters.
HomeKit
As a HomeKit thermostat, the Sensi Touch works with the Home app on iOS to help you see all of your HomeKit-compatible smart home devices in one app. You can easily adjust the thermostat's temperature setting via the Home app or Siri, and you can incorporate it into scenes and triggers to integrate with other HomeKit accessories. For example, you can include the thermostat in a "Good night" scene that locks your front door, turns off lights, and adjusts the thermostat when you're heading for bed.
Beyond simple temperature and mode settings and automation through HomeKit, other settings must be adjusted either on the thermostat itself or through the Sensi app.
Wrap-up
Emerson's Sensi Touch is a nice addition to the HomeKit thermostat market. Its large color display is visually engaging when you're interacting with it, although I wish it took better advantage of the display even when you're simply glancing at it. The Sensi Touch's touchscreen controls are responsive and setup is extremely easy, with a great app that walks you through everything you need to do.
On the downside, I wish the geofencing features were a little more robust, as I appreciated the customizability offered by Honeywell. The Sensi Touch also lacks many of the learning features that are the hallmark of Nest's thermostats and which contribute significantly to energy savings. Finally, the inability to easily adjust schedules directly from the thermostat can be inconvenient.
At a list price of $200, the Sensi Touch is obviously much more expensive than a traditional thermostat, even digital ones that offer scheduling features, but it's competitive with other smart thermostats, particularly if you can find it cheaper such as through Amazon where we've occasionally seen it for as low as $159 through third-party sellers, but availability varies significantly and pricing is more typically in the $180–$200 range.
Note: Emerson provided the Sensi Touch to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
.(tagsToTranslate)HomeKit(t)review(t)Emerson
Following official confirmations from Samsung, LG and Vizio that their Smart TV sets will soon integrate support for AirPlay 2, Apple has now confirmed that other leading television manufacturers will bring support for both AirPlay and HomeKit technologies to their products.
As the refreshed AirPlay 2 page indicates, AirPlay 2, Apple’s proprietary media-streaming technology, is coming soon to “popular smart TVs,” without mentioning specific brands.
AirPlay 2 support
Apple says you will be able to beam the following items to AirPlay 2–enabled smart TVs:
Photos: Your vacation images, photographs you have favorited, albums and more can be sent to a compatible Smart TV from the stock Photos app with just a few taps.
Videos: Movies and shows purchased or rented from iTunes can be streamed from iOS/macOS to a Smart TV in 4K HDR. Your home clips, YouTube videos and streaming videos in third-party apps such as Netflix, can be also AirPlayed to a Smart TV.
Music: Any music on Apple Music or in iTunes can be sent to a Smart TV, too, including gameplay audio and songs from third-party apps such as Spotify and Pandora.
You’ll be able to share these items to your Smart TV with a tap of the AirPlay icon on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac. AirPlay 2 requires iOS 11.4 or later, a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes 12.8 or later, an Apple TV with tvOS 11.4 or later or HomePod with iOS 11.4 or later.
AirPlay 2 is coming to Vizio Smart TV sets later this year
Best of all, these Smart TVs will support AirPlay mirroring so you can send anything displayed on your Apple device to a bigger screen, wirelessly, bypassing your Apple TV completely.
Multi-room video streaming is currently unsupported by AirPlay 2, but you can do thing like send a video to one AirPlay device and then spread the audio across multiple AirPlay speaker.
HomeKit integration
AirPlay 2 requires HomeKit, meaning that all AirPlay-compatible Smart TV sets also gain support for Apple’s platform for the connected home. As a result, Airplay-powered Smart TVs include advanced multi-room audio capabilities afforded by AirPlay 2.
Apple explains:
Leading TV manufacturers are integrating AirPlay 2 directly into their TVs, so now you can effortlessly share or mirror almost anything from your iOS device or Mac directly to your AirPlay 2–enabled smart TV. You can even play music on the TV and sync it with other AirPlay 2–compatible speakers anywhere in your home.
An AirPlay-compatible Smart TV connected to the same wireless network as your Apple device automatically appears in the stock Home app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, basically acting as an AirPlay 2 speaker that supports multi-room audio.
Using the convenient AirPlay controls in apps, on the Lock screen and in Control Center on your iPhone, you will be able to play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and adjust the volume of your TV.
But wait, there’s more! HomeKit integration happens to enable limited support for Siri voice commands which are related to multi-room and media control. This will mostly work for requesting a specific show or movie to be played on your Smart TV through AirPlay.
ROUNDUP: Siri voice commands for multi-room AirPlay 2 audio control
For example, a voice command issued through your iOS device or Mac—such as “Hey Siri, play Game of Thrones on my living room TV”—will wake up an Airplay-compatible Smart TV that’s in your living room and automatically start streaming to it.
Siri can also play music on Smart TVs. In fact, you’ll be able to send audio to any combination of AirPlay 2 devices at once—i.e. a Smart TV in the living room, another one in kids’ room, your wife’s HomePod in the living room and those monster AirPlay 2-compatible speakers that you hid in your man cave—and AirPlay 2 will take care that all of them play audio in perfect sync.
Are you glad that AirPlay 2 is coming to Smart TVs?
Let us know what you think so far by leaving a comment below.
Logitech's Circle 2, introduced in June, is the second-generation version of its Circle home security camera. This new version features a redesigned body, wired and wire-free versions, accessories that let it be positioned anywhere, and, through a recent update, HomeKit support.
Circle 2 is meant to be used as a home security device and it's ideal for keeping an eye on your house while you're away from home. It's also great for keeping an eye on pets and children, and even communicating with the two-way microphone. Circle 2 connects to a home WiFi network and offers cloud functionality that lets you view video anywhere.
I've been using a Logitech Circle camera for two years now sans HomeKit functionality, so I was eager to check out the HomeKit version. This is only the second HomeKit-compatible camera available on the market, and with the new design, the Logi Circle app, and cloud upload ability, the Circle 2 easily beats out the D-Link Omna as the best HomeKit camera you can buy at the moment.
Though Logitech offers both wired and wire-free versions of the Circle 2, HomeKit only works with the wired version because Apple requires an always-on camera connection, and that's not how the wire-free Circle 2 works.
Design and Features
The wired version of the Circle 2 consists of a small palm-sized camera module that attaches to a base with a pivoting neck, allowing the camera to be positioned and rotated into an ideal angle to work with any room setup. The base can be attached to a wall with a wall mount, and the camera module itself is detachable from the base because it can connect to other accessories like a plug or window mount.
Circle 2 has a white shell around it, and the camera base is also white. It's a simple, attractive design that melds into the decor around it. There's no mistaking this is a camera, though. It has a wide camera lens and an LED light that comes on when it's activated, but that can be turned off for a slightly more discreet look. At the back, there's a 10-ft power cord that needs to be plugged into the wall.
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The Eve app for HomeKit has today been updated with a new dark theme option (available to iOS 12 users only), in addition with a few new scheduling features for the HomeKit-compatible Eve Aqua.
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The new dark mode can be enabled in the app’s settings.
The Eve Aqua is one of the only smart water controllers currently available that works with HomeKit; it acts as a Bluetooth-controllable valve for your garden hose or sprinkler system.
As always, you can use the HomeKit automation features, but Eve has added several new advanced automation options inside of its own app, in tandem with the new Eve Aqua firmware update.
You can now set up to seven different watering periods per day, including ways to set a schedule relative to the sunrise and sunset. Rather than simply setting a static time, you can now have your Eve Aqua turn on and off in sync with the changing schedule of the sun.
Get the Eve app for free from the App Store. The app is compatible with any HomeKit accessory — it reads from your HomeKit database — but naturally works best with the company’s own products like the aforementioned Eve Aqua, Eve Energy smart plug, and Eve Room indoor air quality monitor.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony at CES 2019 yesterday announced new 4K and 8K television sets that feature built-in support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 media streaming technology and HomeKit, which is the company’s platform for the connected home.
The upcoming Z9G Series 8K LCDs and A9G Series 8K OLEDs, as well as the X950G Series 4K LCD TVs, will include AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility with limited Siri voice control.
These TV sets are Android-powered.
HomeKit makes a TV set appear as an audio source in the Home app on an iPhone, iPad and Mac. Your TV can also participate in HomeKit scenes, making it effortless to securely control smart home products using the Home app or by asking Siri. For example, the user might create a Movie Night scene in the Home app in order to easily turn on their TV and dim the lights.
Then, they can simply ask Siri to launch the scene.
Adjusting playback and volume on an AirPlay 2-compatible TV via Control Center
With AirPlay 2, customers can send photos, music and videos to their TV—and even duplicate everything shown on their iOS/macOS device onto a bigger screen, no Apple TV required. Feature like limited voice control and multi-room audio will permit Sony TV owners to ask for a specific show to be played on a specific TV in a specific room.
Doing so will wake up the corresponding TV set and start streaming the requested content.
The Z9G Series 8K LCDs will be available in 85 and 98-inch variants. The A9G Series 8K OLEDs will be offered in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes. The X950G Series 4K LCD TVs will come in 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch flavors.
Other television manufacturers have begun adopting AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, too.
Vizio Smart TVs are also getting AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility
Yesterday, American consumer electronics company Vizio said that owners of its select television sets in the US and Canada will get beta support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit sometime in the first quarter before it officially rolls out to new and existing SmartCast televisions and displays in the second quarter of 2019 via a firmware update.
LG is planning to add AirPlay 2 and homeKit integration to its 2019 Smart TV lineup, but it’s unclear at the moment whether existing models might get these features with a software update.
Samsung two days ago became the first manufacturer to have announced official support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. The company may have been given a preferential treatment by Apple because their Smart TVs will also get a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app for watching your purchased or rented movies and television shows.
No other device has this app, not even Apple TV. However, Samsung TVs won’t offer HomeKit.
Apple has confirmed via an updated AirPlay 2 webpage that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are indeed coming to “popular smart TVs” soon. Aside from iTunes for Windows, this marks the first time the Cupertino giant has permitted access to iTunes entertainment via non-Apple hardware.
For those wondering, the Apple website provides a list of all the AirPlay 2-compatible TV sets that have been announced so far at its website.
This definitely unexpected move has prompted some Apple watchers to speculate that it could be laying the groundwork for the company’s long-rumored original video programming.
Following my review of the Yale Assure Lock SL deadbolt with HomeKit support last month, a number of readers highlighted the Schlage Sense as another satisfactory HomeKit option worth considering. As it turns out, I've been using the Schlage Sense on my front door for quite some time, so it's worth taking a look at how Schlage's offering has held up over time.
The Schlage Sense deadbolt was one of the first HomeKit-enabled smart locks, launching over two years ago, yet it remains one of the most popular smart locks on the market among Apple users. In fact, Apple continues to feature the Schlage Sense in its online and retail stores, although it is currently listed as unavailable for both online orders and in-store pickup even though it remains on the shelves at some Apple retail stores.
Unlike the Assure Lock SL that comes in only a single design (albeit with a few color options), the Schlage Sense comes in two different styles that fit in with many of Schlage's other hardware products: a classic Camelot style and a more modern Century style, with Matte Black, Satin Nickel, and Aged Bronze finishes available depending on style.
I've been using a Camelot-style Schlage Sense on my front door, paired with a matching non-locking Camelot doorknob to ensure I can't be accidentally locked out of my house due to a locked doorknob. The pairing looks good together, with the Camelot style offering a hint of elegance even with a prominent keypad.
Installation
Installation of the Schlage Sense is straightforward, and Schlage includes step-by-step directions to walk you through the process. As long as you're replacing an existing deadbolt and everything is lined up properly, installation takes just a few minutes and only requires a screwdriver. Just slide the deadbolt assembly into the edge of the door and sandwich it with the interior and exterior portions while connecting the two sides with a cable. A few screws pull everything together, and once you insert the batteries you should be ready to configure the lock.
As is common with smart deadbolts, the interior portion of the Schlage Sense is quite large, which is a rather unfortunate visual look. But with space required for the lock cylinder, electronics, and four AA batteries, there's only so much that can be done to reduce the size.
Setup and App
Programming and setup are handled through the Schlage Sense app (App Store), which walks you through the process of pairing the lock with your phone over Bluetooth and configuring your lock options such whether the lock beeps as you press the keypad, automatic relocking, and one-touch locking where you don't have to enter a code. The lock also has an optional alarm mode which can beep when the door is opened or closed or sound an alarm when forced entry is detected.
You can register for a Schlage account and add the Sense or just go straight to HomeKit, allowing the deadbolt to integrate with other HomeKit accessories. The HomeKit setup process is dead simple, requiring just a few steps. With an Apple TV, iPad, or HomePod around the house, you can use HomeKit to view the lock status and lock or unlock from anywhere, but if you don't want to use HomeKit, Schlage offers a $70 Wi-Fi adapter to provide remote access.
The app also lets you set up multiple user codes to limit access to your home. When adding a code, you'll have the option of specifying certain days and times when the code will work, which is handy for pet-sitters and others who need only temporary access to your home.
The main screen of the app gives you quick access to lock status, and a simple tap anywhere on the large lock graphic locks or unlocks the deadbolt. Of course, with HomeKit integration, you can use the Home app or Siri to perform the same functions.
The app also lets you see a history of lock events, showing what days and times the deadbolt was locked and unlocked, with details such as whether it was locked or unlocked via the exterior touchscreen or interior thumb turn, as well as which user code was used for an exterior unlock.
The app won't win any design awards and there's a little layout issue on iPhone X, but it doesn't interfere with any of the app's functions.
General Operation
The Schlage Sense operates smoothly, with a satisfying heft to the thumb turn on the interior and simple keypad operation on the outside. Entering a user code on the keypad requires pressing the "Schlage" button at the top of the pad, which lights up the keypad, and then entering the four-digit code that unlocks the door. The same process locks the door from the outside unless you've turned on one-touch locking, which immediately locks the door when you press the Schlage button without the need to enter a user code.
While unlocking and locking, the Schlage Sense can utilize two different power levels to assist with moving the motorized deadbolt. The lock will first attempt to extend or retract the deadbolt at a lower power level, but if it is unsuccessful due to alignment being off or pressure being placed on the door that provides more resistance, the lock will increase power and try again. The motor is fairly noisy at both power levels.
The higher power undoubtedly burns through batteries more quickly (how much I'm not sure), but if your installation has everything lined up properly the higher power should rarely be needed. About the only time I've had the high-power mode activate is when trying to lock and I didn't quite get the door closed all the way. I've also triggered it a few times when I failed to wait for unlocking to complete before trying to push the door open and the pressure of pushing the deadbolt against the door jamb prevented the bolt from retracting under the low-power mode.
HomeKit
Adding the Schlage Sense to your HomeKit home is a simple process of scanning the HomeKit code during the setup process. Once it's part of your home, you can view and control the lock via the Home app on iOS or through Siri. You can also add it to automation routines with rooms, scenes, and triggers such as a "Good Night" scene to secure your house at bedtime.
Schlage Sense also works with Amazon Alexa and should be receiving an update soon to offer support for Google Assistant.
Bugs
I did have an issue related to the release of iOS 10.2 where I became unable to apply firmware updates to my Schlage Sense. At the time, Schlage customer service told me it was a known issue with some users and that I would be notified when an app update was released to address the issue. Over time, I also began getting less and less life out of each set of batteries, and I was never able to get firmware updates working again on the lock. After a couple months of waiting for a fix that never came and my battery life running down to just a week per set rather than the 6–12 months I should have been seeing, I contacted support again and they quickly sent out a free replacement.
Since that time, the only issue I've run into is an occasional bug where the deadbolt has been unlocked but still thinks it's locked. It's a very rare issue that I only notice when I try to one-touch lock the door from the keypad and nothing happens because it's waiting for me to enter an unlock code.
Other than these two issues, the Schlage Sense has been reliable throughout the time I've owned it, and I've never found myself unable to gain access to my house. I do have smart locks and keypads on all of the entrances of my house to help provide peace of mind should any of them fail, and as a result I haven't carried house keys on me when leaving the house in years.
Wrap-up
Over two years after its launch, the Schlage Sense remains one of the most popular HomeKit-enabled smart locks, and it's easy to see why. It comes from a trusted brand that has helped it gain visibility in Home Depot, Lowe's and other retailers where homeowners shop for their door hardware, and the exterior keypad has a nice look that's not too bulky while still able to accept a traditional key. The two different styles give you options to fit in with different looks, and when I had an issue with the lock Schlage was quick to send out a replacement.
The Schlage Sense is available in Camelot and Century styles, with the Camelot available in Satin Nickel or Aged Bronze and the Century available in Satin Nickel or Matte Black. The list price is $229, but some retailers such as Amazon typically have prices closer to $200, with third-party retailers through Amazon sometimes going even lower.
Note: Schlage/Allegion provided the Schlage Sense to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
.(tagsToTranslate)HomeKit(t)Schlage(t)Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt
Although not official as of yet, Apple’s HomeKit software framework for managing smart devices for the connected home apparently includes support for controlling power, volume, input source, brightness and so forth on compatible Smart TV sets.
That’s according to iOS developer Tian Z. who yesterday reported his findings on Twitter.
He pinpointed HomeKit’s TV features by combing through the file “plain-metadata-full.config” from the production release—support is there, it’s just not enabled yet.
HomeKit seems to support the following controls on compatible Smart TV sets:
Power
Volume
Input source
Brightness
Media state (play, pause etc.)
Picture mode
Remote functionalities (simulation of the hardware remote keys)
These controls are not yet enabled in the shipping version of the Home app.
“Actual implementation to support that apparently was behind some #if macro, and not actually in current build,” wrote the developer. “But that plain text file contains service and characteristic definition”.
Yeah ? It would be nice if the software support will ship in 12.1.3 GM or 12.2 beta… Right now if you define a TV service, Siri already works for power apparently.
Tian explains that this will let developers access the aforementioned TV services and features programmatically. “The profile actually fits quite well with existing LG TV API so bridging support for old TV may not actually need too much work,” he added.
We know the basics of how HomeKit and AirPlay 2 will work on Smart TVs, but details are scant. Presumably, these controls tie with Siri so you can wake up the TV, crank up the volume, change the input source and more, all with your voice.
Software support for the above TV controls would also be needed for the Now Playing card in Control Center, so you could start/stop media playback on a TV, use the volume slider etc.
Right now, we only know that HomeKit support on Smart TVs lets you use Siri to request that a specific video be streamed to a specific TV set in a specific room, which automatically wakes the corresponding TV set if it was sleeping and starts AirPlaying to it.
Apple said ahead of CES 2019 that major TV vendors would add HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support (and not just TV makers—VLC media player, is getting AirPlay support, too).
Sony, Samsung, Vizio and LG have announced support for both technologies in their upcoming 2019 models, with some manufacturers promising to eventually bring AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to select 2018 models via firmware updates.
Samsung is a notable exception here, for two reasons.
Firstly, Samsung-made Smart TVs will exclusively get a brand-new iTunes Movies & TV Shows app from Apple (it’s two separate apps on Apple TV) for streaming your iTunes purchases and rentals directly via the TV itself. And secondly, however, Samsung has noted that its Smart TVs won’t support HomeKit and as such won’t appear in the Home app.
“Looks like AirPlay 2 for TV is different from HomeKit support for TV,” Tian commented.
Aside from control a TV through Apple’s Home app or by asking Siri, even remotely, HomeKit makes a compatible TV set automatically appear in the Home app where it can be subsequently included in scenes or automations, just like any other HomeKit accessory.
Of course, Samsung could add HomeKit support later and Apple could bring the iTunes Movies and TV Shows app to other Smart TVs once Samsung’s exclusivity period runs out.
Apple maintains a list of AirPlay 2-enabled televisions on its website.
Nanoleaf's new 12-sided light-up remote joins its existing Nanoleaf Light Panels and Nanoleaf Rhythm, adding a whole slew of smartphone-free physical control options for your HomeKit setup in one easy-to-use accessory.
The Nanoleaf Remote is bigger than button and remote devices from other companies, but it offers access to many more scenes and as you'll see in my review, it's a great value if you already own a Nanoleaf setup and want a simple iPhone-free control method that anyone in the household can use.
For people unfamiliar with Nanoleaf, the company makes the Nanoleaf Light Panels, a HomeKit-enabled set of flat, triangle-shaped lights that connect together in a range of different user-designed configurations, providing both light and art. The Light Panels have LEDs inside and can be set to display dozens of different colors and patterns, which make up different light recipes.
I've had a Nanoleaf setup for more than a year, and it continues to be one of my favorite HomeKit products. The Remote is specifically designed for users who already have Nanoleaf Light Panels.
Design
Nanoleaf's Remote has a design that's not quite like any other HomeKit-enabled remote-style device on the market, with dodecahedron shape where each side activates a different scene.
The remote, which is a little bigger than palm sized, is made from a white plastic that admittedly feels a bit cheap, but it doesn't look bad sitting on a desk.
When the remote arrives, it comes in two halves, with one empty side and a one side that houses the batteries, an LED light, and the mechanism that provides a slight vibration whenever a new scene is activated. Two AA batteries (included in the package) fit into the battery compartment to provide power.
Once the batteries have been inserted, the two halves of the remote snap together. I wasn't quite able to get a perfect, seamless fit between the two halves, but that could be operator error.
I'm not sure how long the batteries are meant to last, but after about two weeks of use, the battery level is down to 85 percent. I suspect the batteries will need to be swapped out every few months, which is similar to other battery-powered HomeKit devices I own.
Setup
Setting up the Remote took less than 30 seconds using the Nanoleaf app, and it was as simple as the setup for any other HomeKit product. Under the Remote section of the app, there's an "Add Accessory" option, which requires the HomeKit code on the inside of the Nanoleaf Remote to be scanned. Once that's complete, the Remote is added to a HomeKit setup and scenes can be set either in the Nanoleaf app or the Home app.
On iOS devices, the Nanoleaf Light Panels and the Nanoleaf Remote work over HomeKit, and a HomeKit setup is required. You can also pair the Remote to the Nanoleaf Rhythm, however, which is required to enable full functionality, such as brightness controls. Sans a Nanoleaf Rhythm, which connects to the Light Panels to allow them to respond to sound, adjusting brightness does not work.
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Smart outlets that work with Apple HomeKit are super common these days, so how does a new entry stand out in the market? Satechi may have the answer with its brand new Dual Smart Outlet, a two-in-one design HomeKit smart outlet that doesn’t block other outlets.
Satechi Dual Smart Outlet works like other HomeKit plugs, offering app and voice control for turning standard appliances like lamps and fans on and off using Apple’s Home app and Siri. Satechi even has its own Home app on iOS for streamlining the set up process, and Dual Smart Outlet supports energy monitoring so you can see just how much power each connected appliance is using over time.
HomeKit plugs are great for turning standard lamps, fans, TVs, and other accessories on and off without requiring smart bulbs, Wi-Fi fans, and smart TVs, and HomeKit support means Dual Smart Outlet can be managed in Apple’s Home app alongside HomeKit accessories from other companies — including automation support using time, location, and other triggers. You can also include Dual Smart Outlet in scenes that control multiple accessories using a single voice command with Siri.
Satechi’s pitch with Dual Smart Outlet is the ability to turn a single dumb outlet into two smart outlets. The side-by-side outlet design intentionally prevents Dual Smart Outlet for blocking another outlet above or below it too.
Here are more highlights from Satechi:
MONITOR ENERGY USAGE – encourages efficient energy usage with real-time power monitoring from your connected iOS device, to help reduce excess power consumption and schedule appliances to turn off when needed
DUAL POWER OUTLETS – its compact 2-in-1 design expands your power outlet to connect up to two appliances at once, without blocking its neighboring outlet. Input Voltage 120V, AC Max Output: 15A 1800W
HOW IT WORKS – simply use the native Apple or download the Satechi Home app, connect your existing 2.4GHz wireless network and setup your appliances for secure, worry-free access to your home appliances
See it in action below:
Satechi Dual Smart Outlet launches today for $59.99 on Amazon.com and Satechi.net — use promo code “DUALOUTLET” to save 30% from either store from now until June 23rd, 2019.
Apple’s list of AirPlay 2-enabled TVs has Vizio’s SmartCast models from 2017, 2018 and 2019 gaining support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, but now the American TV manufacturer has confirmed that 2016 4K models will be gaining these handy features as well.
“We have confirmed that all 2016 4K UHD SmartCast Displays will support the Apple integration,” reads Vizio’s confirmation tweet. This is great news for all owners of older Vizio TVs from 2016 and onward because those customers will be able to AirPlay media to their TV and use certain HomeKit features without needing to have an Apple TV.
Apple’s list mentions the following LG models:
Vizio P-Series Quantum (2019 and 2018)
Vizio P-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
Vizio M-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
Vizio E-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
Vizio D-series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
MacRumors writes that 2017 SmartCast models feature the same hardware as earlier 2016 models. To reiterate, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit integration will work with Vizio’s SmartCast TVs from 2016 and onward.
Other manufacturers don’t seem to be interested in adding AirPlay 2 and HomeKit functionality to older hardware. While the ability to AirPlay video does require a decent chipset, only Vizio of all TV makers supports Apple’s media-streaming tech on models dating as far back as 2016.
Samsung will integrate AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on 2018 Smart TVs via a software update, but both Sony and LG will limit the functionality to their 2019 Smart TV models.
LG’s support includes only four 2019 Smart TVs: the LG OLED models, the NanoCell SM9X and SM8X series and the UHD UM7X series. Now, a TV is at least a 5 year investment and nobody wants to see their recent purchase obsoleted so quickly.
Deciding to take matters in his own hands, LG customer Doney den Ouden has started an online petition calling on the South Korean maker to issue software updates bringing AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to their older premium OLED models.
We, owners of 2016, 2017 and 2018 LG webOS Premium OLED TVs, kindly request LG Electronics Inc. to bring the AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support announced for 2019 OLED TVs to 2016, 2017 and 2018 models as well.
It is entirely possible to add these feature through a firmware update, proven by Samsung which is bringing AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to at least their 2018 TV models via a firmware update.
LG, show customers of your Premium TVs, and indeed the world, that LG televisions are supported with software updates for multiple years, and thus are a wise investment compared to other brands.
You can sign the petition at Change.org.
Eve Systems has been offering HomeKit-connected devices since 2015, and the Eve Room, able to measure temperature, humidity, and air quality, is the newest Eve product available for purchase.
The new Eve Room is actually an upgraded version of an original Eve Room that was one of Eve's first product releases back in 2015, but the new version has been overhauled with a redesigned enclosure that's both sleeker and more informative.
While the original Eve Room was just a little white plastic block, the Eve Room adopts the new aluminum and e-ink design that was first introduced with the Eve Degree, Eve's more affordable temperature and humidity monitor that does not offer air quality monitoring.
Eve Room (left) next to Eve Degree
Like the Eve Degree, the Eve Room is palm sized and tiny enough that it's unobtrusive on a shelf, on a table, on a kitchen counter, or on a bedside table. It measures in at 2.1 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches, which is quite a bit smaller than the 3.1 x 3.1 x 1.3 inch measurements of the original Eve Room. Eve Room is an indoor product and should not be used outdoors.
The 200x200 e-ink display of the Eve Room displays the current temperature, humidity, and air quality in the room, with air quality pictured as a series of stars from one to five. If you press on the arrows next to the display, you can cycle through several display options that focus on temperature, humidity, or both.
I like the addition of the e-ink screen in the Eve Room because I can check the room conditions at a glance without needing to open up an app or ask Siri, something that was necessary with the previous version of the Eve Room. You do need a little bit of force to change the display output, but it's nice having the option to focus on the parameter most important to you.
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Connected outlets is one of the most crowded categories in Apple HomeKit, and turning dumb wall outlets into smart plugs is one of the easiest smart home upgrades. Today we’re taking a look at the new HomeKit-enabled Satechi Dual Smart Outlet that joined this category earlier this month.
Satechi certainly isn’t the first company to release a two-in-one smart plug. There are lots of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatible dual plugs on the market. But Satechi just may be the first vendor to ship an Apple HomeKit compatible dual smart plug designed for use indoors, and the form factor is well designed.
As we highlighted in our announcement coverage a few weeks ago, Satechi intentionally designed its Dual Smart Outlet to not block the outlet above or below it by using a side-by-side design with standard height.
Here’s how Satechi’s two-in-one plug compares to other single outlet smart plugs that work with HomeKit.
The side-by-side design is a bit narrower than two smart plugs with a very slim height.
Each outlet has its own power toggle in the form of a clicky button on the top of either side. There’s also a blue status light indicator that’s lit when the outlet is toggled on.
While Dual Smart Outlet is convenient for turning one standard outlet into two HomeKit connected outlets, Satechi warns customers that the outlet is not rated for outdoor use.
Unlike iDevice’s Outdoor Switch which similarly has two outlets, Satechi treats each outlet as a separate device in HomeKit just like VOCOlinc’s multi-plug power strip. HomeKit also lets you control powering toggle for each accessory through Siri, automate turning power on and off, and grouping either outlet with other HomeKit accessories from other vendors through scenes.
Satechi Dual Smart Outlet also supports energy consumption monitoring over time as well as setting timers for either outlet, although those features require Satechi’s new Home app on iOS. (You can set up Dual Smart Plug with HomeKit without Satechi’s app for standard HomeKit features.)
As a new entry from a reliable vendor on the market, Dual Smart Outlet is a needed product that has a great design for compact spaces with multiple appliances that need upgraded for the modern smart home. Satechi Dual Smart Outlet is available now for $59.99 on Amazon.com and Satechi.net
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Developer Khaos Tian has managed to add his Smart TV to the Home app on the iOS 12.2 beta by hacking Apple’s HomeKit protocol. As a result, he’s discovered, screenshotted and capture on video some of the upcoming HomeKit features for Smart TV integration and control.
Having hacked HomeKit, Khaos created a new tile in the Home app for controlling a Smart TV. With a little trickery, he was able to control his LG G7p TV running webOS 3.5 from the Home app on his iPhone running the iOS 12.2 beta, as evidenced by a video he shared on Twitter.
Tapping the tile turns the connected TV set on or off.
Tapping the Details button gives you access to additional controls, like changing input on the TV (you can even rename the inputs to your liking). A future beta may even bring the ability to change input through Siri.
An automation scene can now turn on your Smart TV and switch it to specific input. For those wondering, this will also work via CEC HDMI to turn on a TV set connected to an Apple TV.
HomeKit scenes support TVs
As iDownloadBlog originally discovered earlier in January, Apple’s HomeKit framework for the connected home has been updated and expanded to Smart TVs.
TUTORIAL: How to turn Apple TV on and off with Siri Shortcuts
Aside from turning your TV on or off with using Siri, you’ll be able to control volume, change input, adjust brightness and more. The following controls are available to developers and users, programmatically in apps, via Siri voice commands, through Siri Shortcuts, in the Home app and via a new Control Center tile.
Power
Volume
Input source
Brightness
Media state (play, pause etc.)
Picture mode
Remote functionalities (simulation of the hardware remote keys)
These controls are not yet enabled in the shipping version of the Home app.
MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci has explained how this development might enable a solution that could bring HomeKit integration to older LG televisions:
Here’s where this gets really interesting for me: despite the launch of an online petition, LG has only confirmed that their latest 2019 TV sets will receive official HomeKit support. Thanks to homebridge, however, it should be possible to add native HomeKit integration to older LG televisions (such as my 2017 model) with plugins that bridge the webOS API to HomeKit’s new endpoints.
This is precisely what Tian is doing for his demo.
One more thing: in iOS 12.2, accessing your settings in the Home app displays a renamed section that now reads Allow Speaker & TV Access instead of the old Allow Speaker Access label, another indication that HomeKit is bringing Smart TV control.
This is where you’ll adjust who can access and send content to your speakers and TVs.
Additionally, there’s also a new widget in the Control Center interface on iOS 12.2 for controlling your HomeKit TVs, as depicted on the screenshot embedded below.
On a related note, the Apple TV Remote widget in iOS 12.2’s Control Center has been reworked to work in fullscreen mode and it no longer displays the large Home button.
What are your thoughts about these HomeKit changes in iOS 12.2?
Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Earlier this year, Signify (formerly Philips) debuted a new range of outdoor Hue lighting products that are designed to bring the iPhone-controlled multi-colored lights that you're used to using inside to the outside.
There are outdoor spotlights, wall lanterns, pathway lights, outdoor bulbs, and for accent lighting, the Hue White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Lightstrip.
Measuring in at 80 inches, the $89 Outdoor Lightstrip is perfect for balconies, patios, backyards, and anywhere else you'd like to add gorgeous and functional accent lighting that's also weatherproof.
Design
I've been using Hue products for years and I have a standard indoor Hue Lightstrip, and when I got the outdoor version, I assumed it'd be similar. It is, in the sense that it's a long string of LEDs, but the similarities end there.
While the indoor Hue Lightstrip features LEDs that are uncovered, for weatherproofing reasons, the outdoor Hue Lightstrip's LEDs are protected by an opaque silicone cover that diffuses the light and looks fantastic.
I'm a fan of my indoor Hue Lightstrips, but the way the outdoor version diffuses the light is superior, and I wish the indoor models looked like this. Because of the silicone-covered design, the Outdoor Lightstrip doesn't need to be used as background accent lighting, it can be front and center on a pathway, along a railing, on a fence, or in other similar spots.
The Outdoor Lightstrips are available in 80 or 197 inch configurations. Unlike the indoor version, there is no adhesive involved here. Instead, the Outdoor Lightstrip is made from a flexible material that can be manipulated and shaped into the design that you need. It's not going to fully bend, but it can be routed along a soft curve.
Hue's Outdoor Lightstrip is fully weatherproof, so it's going to hold up in rain, snow, and other harsh weather conditions. There are some limitations to be aware of if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, though, because it has an operational range of -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is a heavy duty setup with a large weatherproof power supply and an extra long two-piece cord, all of which is resistant to rain, dust, and other outdoor elements. I was tempted to use the Outdoor Lightstrip indoors because I loved the look of the diffuse light, but there is a lot of cord to deal with and no option to make it shorter.
The Outdoor Lightstrip measures in at .78 inches tall and .43 inches wide, so it's slim enough to go just about anywhere. There is no adhesive involved because it likely wouldn't stick outdoors. Instead, Signify supplies mounting brackets and screws that can be used to attach the Lightstrip to a fence, an overhang, or anywhere else.
I live in an apartment so my ability to permanently attach the Lightstrip to an outdoor area is limited, but I did install it on a set of shelves that I have to hold my plants, where it worked brilliantly. With the individual LEDs covered, the Outdoor Lightstrip looks like one continual light strand.
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Can smart home devices get viruses? There’s been a lot of talk about the idea of IoT (Internet of Things) devices being infected by viruses, not least because Samsung this month recommended scanning its QLED televisions for viruses every few weeks.
Security experts from Avast and Symantec have set out to separate fact from fiction. They say that while a virus isn’t impossible, it is extremely unlikely – but there are four other ways the security of your smart home can be compromised, and we outline some simple steps you can take to reduce the risks …
NordVPN
Gizmodo sought clarity from Vladislav Iliushin, IoT threat researcher at Avast, and Candid Wueest, principal threat researcher at Symantec, both specializing in smart home security.
Can smart home devices get viruses?
The short answer here is ‘Yes, but.’ Some smart home devices can, in principle, be vulnerable to viruses and other forms of malicious payload.
Even Android malware designed to infect smartphones can compromise smart TVs if they run the Android operating system
And it’s not just Android devices that are at risk.
“The vast majority of IoT devices are simply underpowered computers running Linux, so yes, smart devices can absolutely run malicious payloads built for IoT,” Iliushin told Gizmodo
However, the experts stress that the risks are low because there are only four ways to get malware onto your device. Each of these is relatively easy to guard against.
The four risks, and how to guard against them
The main protection here is to buy devices from reputable brands. These will have a professional approach to security, and keen to protect their reputation by acting quickly to deal with any vulnerabilities discovered. We saw a good example of this recently with Nest cameras, where Google was extremely fast to block a security hole.
HomeKit certification is an excellent form of protection. Apple requires that all HomeKit-certified devices use end-to-end encryption, and are ‘mutually authenticated.’ For example, when a Philips Hue hub switches on a Hue bulb, the hub checks the security credentials of the bulb before issuing the instruction, and the bulb checks the security credentials of the hub before obeying it.
Access to your home Wi-Fi network
Once someone has access to your home Wi-Fi network, many smart home apps allow immediate control of your devices. This is obviously particularly worrying with locks and cameras.
This too is easy to secure by having a strong password on your router, and ensuring that you have changed the default login details. For example, many routers default to admin/admin or admin/password as their administrator login.
Make sure, too, that your router is configured to automatically download and apply security updates. Most are by default, but not all.
If you want even greater security here, most routers allow you to hide the SSID. Look for an option to disable SSID broadcast. This means that your Wi-Fi name won’t even appear when people are scanning for available networks, but does mean that all your own devices will need to connect manually. On a Mac, you do this by clicking the Wi-Fi network icon in the menu bar and selecting Join Other Network. On iOS devices, you go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Other.
Physical access to your IoT devices
Not a practical risk for most consumers – this is more something companies need to think about.
Tricking you into installing malware
A malicious app running on a computer or smartphone is the biggest risk of all. Macs and iOS devices are significantly safer than Windows PCs and Android smartphones, but they are still not completely immune.
Best practice is to download apps only from sources you completely trust, such as Apple’s own App Store and reputable developers.
Photo: Shutterstock
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LG announced at CES in January that its latest lineup of Smart TV sets for 2019 would feature support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit technologies. The South Korean company yesterday confirmed that support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit control will be arriving to its new models via a software update scheduled to release around the middle of the year.
The advanced OLED and NanoCell TVs feature a wider range of screen sizes varying from 49 to 86 inches and sport deep learning technology which powers upgraded HDR Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos sound via LG’s second-generation Alpha 9 Gen 2 intelligent processor.
The press release states:
New LG TVs will receive an upgrade mid-year to support Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit for easy streaming of video and audio content and connectivity to Apple’s smart home products
Support for Amazon’s Alexa assistant is coming to 2019 LG TV sets via another firmware update (Google Assistant is included out of the box).
These new TVs are releasing later this month in South Korea and the United States, with Asia, Europe and South America to follow soon thereafter.
2019 TVs from LG feature enhanced artificial intelligence:
The Alpha 9 Gen 2 chip also fine-tunes audio according to content type, making movie and TV dialogue easier to understand and delivering crisp, clear vocals in songs. While the AI can adjust audio settings to ideal levels based on the environment, users can also make manual adjustments if they wish.
The NanoCell range for 2019 comprises fourteen AI-powered models. Other models in LG’s 2019 lineup include an 8K OLED television and a rollable Signature OLED TV.
Apple's new $349 HomePod sounds incredible and is the ultimate speaker for Apple Music subscribers, but it's also an excellent way to manage your HomeKit-compatible devices through Siri voice commands.
Controlling HomeKit accessories with Siri on HomePod isn't radically different from controlling them via an iOS device, but there are some extra HomePod benefits to be aware of.
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HomePod and HomeKit Setup
If you've never used HomeKit before and you purchase a HomePod, when you set it up it's added to HomeKit and to the Home app.
Setup includes a step asking you to choose a Home you're using HomePod in, and if you don't have Home settings already established, it'll let you choose the default "My Home" option, which is established for every iCloud account. If you use HomeKit already like I do, you can choose your existing home, if it has a different name.
From there, you'll choose the room where your HomePod is located, which is also a HomeKit setup step. You'll be familiar with this if you've ever used HomeKit before.
With these two setup steps, you establish a HomeKit setup if you didn't have one before. HomePod itself is a HomeKit accessory, and it's controlled and managed in the dedicated "Home" app along with all other HomeKit accessories.
HomePod in the Home App
The HomePod is listed in the Home app as an available accessory, and if you're a HomeKit user, you know how this works. If you're not, the Home app isn't tough to navigate.
Your HomePod will be listed as "HomePod" on the main screen, and if you tap it, it will either play or pause your music. A 3D Touch or a long press on the HomePod icon in the Home app opens up a full menu where you can get to the HomePod settings by tapping on "Details."
This is where you can change HomeKit settings like turning off Siri, deactivating the Siri lights, disabling listening history, and more. Your HomePod is controlled entirely through the Home app.
Home Hub
HomePod, like the Apple TV and iPad, serves as a home hub, which means it communicates with all of your HomeKit devices all the time, allowing you to control them even when you're away from home.
A home hub is essential for controlling HomeKit devices remotely and setting up automations based on time of day, location, or conditions detected by HomeKit-compatible sensors. If you have an Apple TV or an iPad, you've already got a home hub and don't need to worry about this functionality, but if you don't, this is added bonus functionality.
HomePod as a home hub covers all of the HomeKit devices in your home, even if they're not located close by the HomePod itself.
Siri on HomePod
One of the best benefits of the HomePod is how well it can hear and react to "Hey Siri" commands. It will hear you from across the room with loud music playing, and it's so sensitive that it's even going to detect the "Hey Siri" command if you whisper it nearby.
It's not an exaggeration to say that the HomePod's listening capabilities work incredibly well, so for HomeKit-based voice commands, it's much better than attempting to use an iPhone. You can essentially say "Hey Siri" and repeat a HomeKit command from anywhere in a room with a HomePod, and you're going to get a speedy response.
The listening range far exceeds the iPhone or iPad, and it makes the HomePod the perfect hands-free device for controlling everything from the lights to the door locks. Longtime HomeKit users who often use voice commands will find this much simpler, and HomeKit users who don't often use Siri should give the personal assistant a second chance on HomePod.
By the way, if you have both a HomePod and an iOS device that responds to "Hey Siri," when you speak, it will almost always default to the HomePod. This is because all of your devices communicate with one another and are smart enough to know that the HomePod is the device that you're aiming to use.
TIP: Don't pause between "Hey Siri" and whatever HomeKit command you're speaking. If you want to turn on the lights, for example, say "Hey Siri turn on the lights" all at once rather than saying "Hey Siri" and waiting for a response. Siri on the HomePod works well enough that a pause isn't required, and it can even confuse your HomeKit commands if you insert a pause.
Manually Activating Siri
If you want to issue a Siri command without "Hey Siri," you can do so by placing a finger on the HomePod and leaving it there for a few seconds until the Siri waveform lights come on. From there, Siri works as usual.
HomePod Siri Commands
While Siri on HomePod is excellent at detecting "Hey Siri" commands, Apple hasn't implemented any upgrades to the way Siri is controlled via voice on the HomePod. If you already use Siri to manage HomeKit devices on iOS, Siri on HomePod works in the exact same way.
If you're new to Siri and HomeKit, though, there are tons of commands you can use, many of which are specific to certain devices. With lights, for example, you can use some of the following commands:
Hey Siri, turn on the lights
Hey Siri, turn off the lights
Hey Siri, dim the lights
Hey Siri, make all of the lights in the office maximum brightness
Hey Siri, are the lights in the office on?
Hey Siri, turn all of the lights in the office blue
Hey Siri, turn the Hue lightstrip purple
HomeKit commands vary, so you'll need to learn the different options available for each device. With locks, for example, you can ask Siri to lock or unlock the door, and if you have a temperature sensor or thermostat, you can ask Siri what the temperature is.
Scenes and automation are a major part of HomeKit, but there's no voice-based way to set these up. If you want to link your HomeKit devices together to have them do certain things at set times of day, such as turning on all of the lights at night, you're going to need to set that up in the Home app or a third-party HomeKit app.
That said, Scenes are incredibly useful, and you can set up handy automations for waking up, going to bed, leaving home, arriving home, and more, and all of these can be controlled via HomePod by asking Siri to set the scene name. If you have a night time scene called "Good Night," for example, you can trigger it just by saying "Hey Siri, Good Night."
Conclusion
If you already have a HomeKit setup, the HomePod has some handy features that make it a worthwhile purchase, and if you have a HomePod but no HomeKit devices, it may be worth looking into HomeKit accessories because they work so well with HomePod.
For those of you who have never used Siri with HomeKit or have abandoned Siri because of spotty results, it's worth giving Siri on HomePod another try. In my experience as a longtime HomeKit user, HomePod is a solid evolutionary step towards a better hands-free home automation setup.
"Hey Siri" on HomePod seems to be more responsive on HomePod, and it's easier to use because you don't need to make sure your iPhone is close at hand to accomplish tasks around the house.
.(tagsToTranslate)HomePod(t)HomeKit
Popular smart home accessory maker Ecobee is on the verge of launching a new Eco+ service. As detailed by Dave Zatz, Eco+ will offer suggestions on how to lower your HVAC energy consumption, and therefore lower your total utility bill.
Sylvania HomeKit Light Strip
Eco+ doesn’t appear to be live just yet, but Ecobee has published quite a bit of information on its website about the feature. Ecobee explains that Eco+ uses information about your daily routine, humidity, and electricity rates to automatically adjust your thermostat in a cost-conscious way:
Your energy use varies based on your schedule, humidity, and electricity rates. eco+ uses that information to automatically adjust your thermostat at the right time, so you stay comfortable. See that eco+ badge on your thermostat or ecobee app? That means eco+ is at work.
Ecobee explains that the goal of Eco+ is for you to see differences in your energy bill, but for you not to realize those differences in temperature. For instance, Eco+ will pre-heat or pre-cool your home as efficiently as possible. You’ll be able to enter your utility rate plan and other details as well, helping you save during peak times.
Eco+ also incorporates a new “Feels Like” control:
The new Feels Like Temperature Control will take humidity into account when controlling your heating and cooling. When it’s dry, Feels Like will adjust your temperature set point slightly to keep you comfortable while saving energy.
With all of this information now live on Ecobee’s website, we’d expect Eco+ to launch sooner rather than later. The feature will be accessible via the Ecobee app on iOS.
Ecobee also just released the new SmartThermostat with Voice Control, which is available for $250. Stay tuned for a full review of that right here on 9to5Mac. eco+ is supported on the ecobee3, ecobee3 lite, ecobee4, and ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control
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Vizio today launched the new P-Series models, available in two huge sizes, as welll as new mid-range M-series TV sets and the most affordable V-series smart TVs, with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to be added soon via software updates.
These TV sets feature VIZIO’s next-generation quantum dot technology, dubbed Quantom Color, and powerful Active Full Array backlighting, resulting in deep blacks, expansive colors and luminescent whites. They all run the SmartCast 3.0 software that will soon gain support for Apple’s HomeKit platform and AirPlay 2 technology.
Vizio’s CEO Bill Baxter said that Vizio’s SmartCast 3.0 platform “adds even more value with the upcoming support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, making it compatible with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa for ultimate user flexibility no matter their preferred ecosystem.” The fine print in the press release says that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support will be rolling out this summer to Vizio’s SmartCast TVs and displays.
And here are the new model highlights:
P-Series: The Quantum X 4K HDR line has up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, with a flagship $3,500 model offering a massive 75-inch panel. The 65 and 75-inch models are split into two collections, the P-Series Quantum X and P-Series Quantum. These are Vizio’s brightest TVs yet which produce up to 165% more color than a standard 4K TV for up to a billion shades of color. The P-Series Quantum models feature up to 240 local dimming zones and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness.
M-Series: The Quantum 4K HDR line ranges from 43 to 65 inches and doubles the number of zones of local dimming to 90 versus the 2018 M-Series collection. They support Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, delivering 600 nits of peak brightness. Vizio has said Quantum Color technology will trickle down to the 2019 M-Series collection.
V-series: The new V-Seriesä 4K HDR Smart TV lineup includes Vizio’s affordable TV sets, like a 40-inch model priced competitively at just $260. The models support Dolby Vision and go all the way up to 75 inches. The TVs deliver up to 12 zones of local dimming, with select models supporting up to 400 nits of peak brightness.
This on the design of the flagship model:
From a design perspective, the 2019 smart TVs offer stylings that will complement any living room. With a minimalist four-sided bezel-less design, the flagship P-Series Quantum X boasts precision-crafted aluminum with elegant diamond cut accents that further draws viewers in to its striking picture.
The P-Series Quantum models also offer a modern aesthetic, framed by a three-sided, bezel-less design that is tooled from precision-crafted aluminum. M-Series models feature a modern design complete with elegant aluminum finishing, making the collection an ideal entertainment centerpiece.
Check out the feature matrix below for more information.
And here’s what you’ll like about SmartCast 3.0 (emphasis mine):
Ideal for everyone from TV regulars to cord-cutters and smart home enthusiasts alike, SmartCast 3.0 provides access to popular favorites like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Vudu, iHeartRadio, Xumo, CBS All Access, NBC and more.
Featuring support for Apple AirPlay 2 in the coming weeks and Chromecast built-in, SmartCast 3.0 will enable users to stream, control and share content directly from their iPhone, iPad or Mac or Android device to SmartCast TVs, all without extra hardware or products. SmartCast 3.0 works with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa, allowing for seamless smart-home integration.
These 2019 models are now available at retailers nationwide.
In addition to the recent televisions, Vizio has surprised fans by announcing that it will be bringing AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support all the way back to its 2016 SmartCast TVs.
These are some fine TVs, wouldn’t you agree? What’s your favorite TV brand?
Tell us in comments!
One of the main benefits of using Apple's HomeKit framework is the ability to control your HomeKit-compatible devices when you're away from home.
For instance, if you are about to leave the office, you can use the Home app or ask Siri on your iPhone to increase the temperature of a connected thermostat at home so that it's nice and cozy when you arrive.
Before you can trigger actions when you're away from home, you need to designate a device as a home hub, which remains powered on and connected at your home when you're away. Click on one of the links below to learn how to set up an Apple device as a home hub.
Controlling HomeKit Accessories Remotely
Once you've set up your home hub, you'll need to enable two-factor authentication on your iCloud account, otherwise you won't be able to remotely access your HomeKit accessories.
Once you've done that, you're ready to start controlling your HomeKit accessories when you're away from home. You can do this wherever you've got a data connection on your iPhone. Siri can be used to remotely access your accessories, as can the Home app. You can also set particular HomeKit scenes and accessories as "Favorites" so that you can access them quickly and easily from the app's Home tab and in Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
Once you've set up your favorites, you can access them from the Control Center like so.
To open Control Center on an iPad with a Home button, double-tap the Home button; on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen; and on a 2018 iPad Pro or iPhone X/XR/XS/XS Max, swipe down from the upper right of the screen.
Press and hold the Home icon.
You can switch between Favorite Accessories and Favorite Scenes using the relevant button at the top of this panel.
When you have a lot of HomeKit products, the built-in Favorites option is a great way to put the devices that you need to access most right on the main page of the Home app, such as lights and smart plugs.
The Home app is what allows you to easily control your HomeKit-compatible devices using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can use the app to do everything from turning on smart lights or adjusting a smart thermostat to opening and closing automated window shades.
Before you start with the app, make sure the smart accessory that you want to use with it is HomeKit-enabled. If your smart product has the label "Works with Apple HomeKit" on the product packaging, you can add it as an accessory in the Home app. If you're still not sure, see Apple's regularly updated list of compatible devices on its website.
Adding an accessory to your smart home setup is fairly straightforward, but there are a few areas where it's not entirely intuitive, so check out our article about adding accessories for more.
Once you've added your devices to the Home app, you can edit the information for them on your iOS device or Mac. On your iPhone or iPad, press and hold an accessory, then tap Settings. On your Mac, double-click the accessory, then click Settings.
From this screen, you can change the accessory's name and the room in which it's located, and you can group the device with other accessories. You can also add the device to your Favorites to access and control it in Control Center, the Home tab, and on your Apple Watch.
To turn a HomeKit accessory on or off using the Home app, simply tap the device (or click it on Mac). To adjust additional device settings, like light bulb brightness for instance, press and hold (or double-click on Mac) instead. You can also create scenes to activate multiple accessories in one go, and even share access to your HomeKit devices with others.
In addition, you can use Siri to turn on and control your devices. The Siri commands you use will obviously depend on the type of accessory, but a couple of examples might be "Turn on the living room light" or "Open the garage door," or you could ask Siri to check the temperature of a thermostat, for example. You can find more information about using Siri to control HomeKit accessories by clicking here.
During today’s WWDC keynote at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, Apple announced a plethora of new features and enhancements coming to iOS 13, the next major update to the world’s best mobile operating system.
But first, take a look at the new Dark Mode option in iOS 13.
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Here are your key takeaways:
Speed and optimizations
Unlocking with Face ID is 30 percent faster
The size of app downloads will be cut in half
App updates are 60 percent smaller
Apps launch up to twice as fast
Dark Mode
Enabled in Control Center
System-wide Dark Mode uses a darkened interface
Stock apps support Dark Mode out of the box
Third-party apps need to be updated to change appearance when Dark Mode is on
Music
The Music app has time-synced lyrics
Tidbits
A new keyboard offers typing by swiping
When previewing a Messages notification, you can now scroll through the whole conversation
Safari
A new feature to easily change the font size on websites
The ability to adjust settings like zoom level on a per-website basis
Mail
Notes
A whole new gallery view
Support for shared folders
Reminders
All new design
QuickType bar support
Smart lists
Messages
Memoji Stickers: Apple will create a set of stickers from your Memoji
These will appear
alongside other emoji in the Emoji keyboard
All A9 or later devices get to use the Memoji Editor
Camera
A new High Key Mono effect in Portrait Lighting mode
You can adjust intensity of the lighting effect
A brand new image-editing experience
All-new iOS 13-specific filters
All the effects and editing features, like Rotate, now work on video
A new way to browse photos removes duplicate and clutter like screenshots
Maps
Rebuilt from the ground up
A Look Around feature is basically Google Street View for Apple Maps
The Favorites section
Support for junction view in China
The ability to share ETA with friends and family
Easier location sharing within Maps
Security
Developers can use a new Sign In With Apple button that doesn’t track you across the web
Control who sees your name and picture in Messages
HomeKit
HomeKit Secure Video analyzes and process the video on the device rather than upload it in the cloud for analysis
Home security videos will be uploaded to iCloud where no one can see them, not even Apple
Up to 10 days worth of recordings will be stored in iCloud
These video files won’t count against your iCloud storage
Netatmo, Logitech and Eufy will be among first to bring compatible cameras
HomeKit will bring support fort these security features to popular routers, automatically firewalling-off each of your accessories
AirPods
Siri can read incoming messages to you as soon as they arrive
Both Messages content and any third-party message app using SiriKit are supported
Audio sharing lets you share a movie or song with a friend
HomePod
Handoff is coming to HomePod
You can hand off your music, podcast and even a phone call by bringing your iPhone near your HomePod
Live radio lets you tune in to iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Radio.com and about 100,000 radio stations
Determine who is talking and personalize responses
CarPlay
Biggest update to CarPlay since the beginning
The dashboard has been redesigned to show more content at the same time
A brand new Calendar app
The Music app has been redesigned
Siri on CarPlay now works with Pandora, Waze and other third-party apps
Siri
Rather than use recorded samples of human voice, the Siri voices are now entirely generated by software with neural text-to-speech bringing more natural-sounding interactions
More changes in iOS 13 will be revealed in the coming days and you can count on us to keep you in the loop.
What’s your favorite new feature in iOS 13, and why?
Let us know in the comments!
Legrand has announced a new range of HomeKit-compatible smart light switches, dimmers, and plug-in switches. The product range is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
The company says that none of the products require a hub, and all are easily installed …
NordVPN
Legrand is the same company that last year created a sleek in-wall wireless iPhone charger.
Legrand today introduced the Legrand Home Smart Lighting for Apple HomeKit. The new smart switches, dimmers, and plug-ins connect to a home’s WiFi network without the need for a hub, allowing iOS users to easily and securely control their lighting when at home or away using an iPhone or iPad — as well as via Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant voice-enabled products.
From Legrand’s radiant collection, the lighting control solutions add a sleek design to any room. The devices are simple to install and can be quickly set up to support Apple HomeKit control functions using either the Apple Home or Legrand Home iOS app. Remote control and automation capabilities are enabled via an Apple TV (tvOS 11 or later), iPad (iOS 11 or later), or HomePod.
“Legrand Home Smart Lighting for Apple HomeKit offers advanced smart lighting control capabilities, including remote access and voice control with Siri,” said Fritz Werder, vice president and general manager for Legrand | AV. “Apple enthusiasts can use the Apple Home app for simple setup and native control with other HomeKit accessories for full home control.
Legrand’s HomeKit-compatible smart light switches and dimmers are available now, at prices ranging from $35 to $60, with the outlet switches coming soon.
The need for hubs has been one of the barriers to a lot of HomeKit devices, adding to the cost and requiring spare Ethernet sockets on your router. Indeed, I have enough of them that I needed to add a dumb switch to mine to create an additional seven ports. But lately, companies seem to be getting the message, Philips recently announcing its first bridge-free Hue bulbs.
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Adding an accessory to your smart home setup is fairly straightforward, though there are a few areas where it's not entirely intuitive. Before you get started, it's helpful to locate the HomeKit Setup Code for the accessory you're adding.
This is usually in 2 places: printed on an included user guide or the package, and on a sticker somewhere on the device itself. It will have a HomeKit icon next to a series of numbers framed in a box or a QR code. Also, you'll need to plug in the device and power it on. Then you can move on to adding it. Here are the steps on an iPhone:
Open the Home app and tap on the '+' in the top right corner.
Choose "Add Accessory" in the resulting pop-up menu
Scan the HomeKit Setup Code with the camera as prompted on the next screen.
Tap on the square with the accessory's name to confirm that you want to add it to HomeKit.
For accessories where the code won't scan with the camera due to poor lighting or another reason, the HomeKit code can also be entered manually. When using the iPhone 7 or later to add a device, some HomeKit accessories will allow you to add them without needing to scan the code using the camera. In this situation, you can just hold your iPhone near the accessory and then follow the steps Apple provides.
Once an accessory has been added to HomeKit, you'll see the details about it in the Home app and will have the option to choose what room it's in. Assigning a HomeKit accessory a room allows you to more easily control it along with other devices in the same room.
The device we set up for this guide shown in the screenshots is in the Living Room and we changed it accordingly. This allows us to ask Siri to turn off all the lights in the living room, for example, and this device will be switched off along with all the other lights in the room.
Devices are set up with a default name determined by the manufacturer, and you'll probably want to change it to make it more memorable so it's easier for you to ask Siri to control it. In this example, we added a Sylvania light strip and its default name is Flex Color. Tapping on the name in this screen allows for the name to be changed, and we renamed it Mood Light.
Some devices may come with instructions prompting you to set them up in the manufacturer's own app. Though this isn't necessary to complete the above steps and control the device through the Home app and Siri, the manufacturer's app may offer you other features and status details that aren't available through the Home app.
Apple is showing off a handful of new additions to the Home app and HomeKit in general, offering up more iCloud-backed secure options for the smart house.
At this year’s WWDC, Apple showed off more than a few different new additions coming to the smart home alongside iOS 13 later this year. HomeKit is learning some new tricks, while Siri shortcuts is getting expanded, and Apple will be offering better controls for smart home accessories.
Here’s a quick overview.
HomeKit
First up, HomeKit-enabled video cameras. Apple confirmed that these cameras will be able to detect, and record, specific types of activity. Vehicles, animals, and people were all specifically mentioned during the keynote. And new privacy settings will make it possible for users to choose when their cameras record and stream.
When content is recorded, Apple confirmed that the content is securely stored on the iCloud servers.
HomeKit-enabled routers are on the way, too. With these equipped in the house, it adds an additional layer of security to the network they are equipped to. And owners will be able to use the Home app to determine which services the enabled routers can communicate with, both in the home and on the internet.
Better Home app controls & Siri shortcuts
Apple also announced that it is making a change to the Home app. Specifically, the company says that it will be adding even more “robust accessory controls” with the launch of iOS 13 later this year. This should give even more options for accessory owners within their home equipped with a range of smart accessories.
In addition to that, Siri shortcuts is also getting expanded. With the launch of iOS 13 this fall, the feature will now support being added to automations.
AirPlay 2 speakers
Apple is expanding support for AirPlay 2 speakers as well. Now, with iOS 13, users will be a able to access songs, radio stations, and playlists with Apple Music in the equipped speakers.
Smarter, secured homes
Apple isn’t just ready to offer iCloud-based storage for security cameras, or even just plain old routers. But the features that Apple announced at this year’s WWDC also offer the added benefit of security, and that is certainly something a lot of homeowners will be looking for, especially as they gain additional smart devices in their home.
Ikea has today revamped its smart home TRADFRI line, adding new smart bulbs, light panels, and more. The update to the TRADFRI line comes ahead of the rumored launch of Ikea’s HomeKit blinds later this year.
Sylvania HomeKit Light Strip
As detailed by HomeKit Hero, Ikea has added several new products to its TRADFRI range of accessories. There’s a new filament style light bulb that comes in the A19/E26 size, which retails for $15.99. This bulb offers three different color temperatures, ranging from warm to cold light. It’s rated for brightness of up to 806 lumens.
There’s also a new candelabra E12 base color and white light bulb, with 650 lumens of brightness. It retails for $19.99, allows you to choose between nine different colors, and is designed for smaller spots such as fans and light fixtures. Ikea has also updated its TRADFRI starter kits to include these new bulbs. Prices for the kits start at $69.99.
Rounding out the new products is the release of Ikea’s Floalt light panels in the United States. These panels are similar to competing products from companies like Nanoleaf and LIFX, and are available in three different sizes. For $69.99, you can get a square light panel measuring 12-by-12 inches that offers 650 lumens of brightness. A larger square option at 24-by-24 inches is available for $129 and puts out 2,800 lumens. Lastly, the Floalt rectangle light panel comes in at 12-by-35 inches for $129. The Floalt light panels offer three different color temperatures, including warm glow, warm white, and cool white.
Lastly, evidence in the Ikea app suggests that the company is also working on an outdoor motion sensor. Details on this accessory, however, are unclear at this point.
Ikea’s new TRADFRI HomeKit accessories are not yet available in all areas, but the company’s website suggests that they will roll out to stores starting later this month into August. Ikea’s highly anticipated smart blinds are also expected to launch in August, with the price starting at just over $100.
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