What are the advantages of a smart lock?

While some smart things seem to have a very relative usefulness, others are immediately popular for their practicality. This is the case with smart locks, which allow us to open our doors without using a physical key. They communicate via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to an application, so it is our smartphone that will serve as the key.  There are many advantages, which is why many manufacturers now offer this type of system.

A practical accessory

The main advantage is obviously practical. No need to have a key with you, and no need to use your hands to unlock a door. If you very often lose your keys at the bottom of your bag, or forget them at work, but never leave your smartphone lying around, then a smart lock will necessarily be beneficial to you. We always save a little time, and it is obviously comfortable, especially in winter, not to have to look for the keyhole with our frozen fingers.

More security

While initially, the smart locks were not unanimously accepted due to some security problems, we can only note today the evolution and increasingly effective levels of protection offered by manufacturers. The key is now digital, so it only exists in your smartphone and those who will have the application with your codes.

Even if you have the smartphone stolen, and the thief knows your address, he will have to unlock your smartphone, or even unlock the application, depending on our settings. If he can find your codes, then you can always go to the Internet, and change the opening codes to make your smartphone application obsolete.

There is still the question of connections. Are they perfectly secure? Is there a risk of piracy? I would tell you that there is obviously no such thing as zero risk, but the burglar would have to be particularly well equipped. Indeed, manufacturers obviously take the subject of security very seriously, and we find on this type of lock the same encrypted data as for some safes. In other words, it will take a genius to open your door, traditional lock pickers are far more numerous than hackers with such capabilities.

It should also be noted that some models are equipped with a keypad or fingerprint scanner to further enhance the security of your lock.

A more user-friendly system

Indeed, anyone can download the application, and simply give the security code so that someone close to you can enter your home. No need to move to leave the key to a friend or craftsman for example, just give him the name of the application to download, and the entry code. You do not need to duplicate physical keys, and change locks if you lose one.

Indeed, you will be able to change the code as soon as you want, and thus lock access to those who had the digital key until then. It is even possible to restrict access to certain digital keys to a time slot. This will allow the cleaning woman to open during working hours, for example, while preventing her from returning home at night. In short, you will have absolute control over the keys, which makes it very convenient to use.

Activity control

The smart lock will send to your application the activity it undergoes during a day. You can be informed when she comes home. It's pretty good to make sure your kids get home after school... Even if they can obviously go out the window afterwards....

Some locks will also send you a notification if someone tries to force it. You can then notify the police forces for an intervention, or quickly get to the scene. If a theft is committed using a digital key, then you will know which key it is. In short, it is also very reassuring, and there are many uses.

Aqara HomeKit-Hub: Detailed information available, EU version to be released in October

The Xiaomi subsidiary Aqara is putting a lot of effort into HomeKit products. We have already been able to provide you with a first look at the extensive product portfolio of the Chinese manufacturer; now, for the first time, detailed English-language information on the Aqara Hub, the central HomeKit component of the system, is available.

We were already able to inform you about the sales launch of the device at the China shippers. But it's still a bit late until the EU version starts, if everything works out, Aqara wants to start selling the device in October.

Once connected to the HomeKit setup, the hub can manage up to 32 Zigbee-connected Smart home components from the manufacturer. The devices will then be available in Apple's Home App and any other HomeKit compatible app. Aqara attaches importance to the fact that the system is fully integrated into HomeKit and thus also bound to Apple's Honey security standards.

On the new website, the manufacturer also gives an insight into the technical details. The hub is equipped with a loudspeaker and an LED night light module. The connection to HomeKit is realized via 2.4 GHz WLAN. In addition, the CE certification has already been granted and therefore nothing should stand in the way of a sales launch in this country, at least in terms of approval.

The Aqara system is particularly interesting because of its versatile components, which are already available at extremely low prices not only in China, but also in Germany. Of course, it remains to be seen to what extent this will change with the official market launch of the devices in Europe.