lockitron

UniKey Bluetooth door lock emerges as Kevo

Joining Apigy's Lockitron, the Kevo represents another attempt to link door-entry management to your smartphone.

The core technology behind Kevo comes from a company called UniKey, which was featured last year on ABC's startup competition show "Shark Tank." The idea is that a UniKey-powered door lock allows you to open the lock simply by touching it when you're carrying a UniKey-enabled smartphone or an included key fob. The technology also lets you assign access to others who have a UniKey-compatible smartphone.

The Kevo lock bearing the UniKey technology will come to market through a partnership … Read more

DoorBot wireless doorbell cam lets you see visitors

When my doorbell goes ding dong and the dogs go crazy, the last thing I want to do (aside from shushing my beasts) is actually talk to the person at the door who I probably didn't even want to talk to in the first place. Unless it's the pizza guy.

Fortunately, a Wi-Fi-enabled doorbell called DoorBot could make the mystery of a random household visitor a thing of the past. The $169 high-tech door device features a built-in camera (with infrared for nighttime support) that captures live video of the person who presses the button. From there, a notification pops up on the owner's device that gives the option to display the video feed on the app (works with iOS and Android tablets and smartphones).… Read more

Lockitron inventors sidestep Kickstarter's funding limits

PARIS -- The Internet's global reach means it's a golden age for inventors trying to bring a new product to market -- at least until Kickstarter gives you the boot.

Kickstarter is a "crowdfunding" site that lets ordinary people back inventors, creators, and others with a new idea. On September 19, two of those inventors were Apigy co-founders Cameron Robertson and Paul Gerhardt, creators of the Lockitron Net-connected door lock.

That was the day the pair finished two years of work and began the process of promoting Lockitron on Kickstarter, Robertson recounted today at the LeWeb … Read more

Lockitron: Let a smartphone open the door for you

Apps and devices have been designed to turn smartphones into light switches, medical tools and even satellites. For people who wish to extend a little less effort in their daily lives, they could even replace the traditional house key you use to get into your home.

Consider Lockitron, a keyless entry device that attaches to a door's deadbolt. The small battery-powered box is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, has NFC capabilities and communicates with a user through Wi-Fi.

To open a door, you swipe your phone past the Lockitron box.The device is compatible with every kind of smartphone, according to Lockitron maker Apigy. If you have an old model, text messaging can be used as an alternative to Wi-Fi in order to control access to your home. With the "Sense" feature, smartphones that include Bluetooth 4.0 -- such as the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 -- can grant you access when you simply walk up to the door. … Read more