Five easy-to-use gadgets to create your dream smart home – from an intelligent front door to light with a choice of 16 million colours
A smart lock, universal remote control, smart surveillance camera, programmable lamp and voice assistant for a combined cost of less than US$800 – who said the intelligent home of the future need cost a fortune?
Turning your humble abode into a smart home needs not involve any major renovation. Here are five easy-to-deploy gadgets that can do the job without costing you a bomb.
August Smart Lock Pro + Connect
Switch your dumb front door to an intelligent one with the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect, a tried and tested, internet-connected lock you can install with a screwdriver.
The battery-powered device lets you unlock your door wirelessly from your smartphone, or send a digital key to your best friend when they come calling. For the forgetful, the August app will even tell you whether the door is closed and locked, sparing you a long day of anxiety or an undignified about-turn to check.
The August Smart Lock leverages your existing deadbolt lock by attaching to the mechanism from the inside. This means that your door looks the same from the outside, and family members who simply must have a physical key can continue to use it that way. Doors without the requisite deadbolt mechanism will require the installation of a second lock, though that should be a relatively quick task for a qualified locksmith.