Australian-based M-Elec have been around since 2006, and have been supplying products like dimmable downlights, light strips and other lighting products since this time, culminating in a Good Design Award in 2015. Now the company are moving into the Smart Home realm with their 'Stitchy' line of products. This lineup initially centres around their Stitchy Switch; a relay controller, that sits inside the recess behind your wall switches to give regular light switches smart functionality. As with many smart home devices these days, it promises compatibility with the big three providers – Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. In addition to the 'stitchy' relay, the company are working on a dimmer version, in addition to one-channel and five-channel strip controllers. What's interesting about all of these products is that they use ZigBee for their method of communication but unlike companies like Aqara, for example, don’t provide their own hub, instead relying on the Philips Hue Bridge as the central hub. In fact, the company even offer starter packs that include a couple of relays in addition to the Hue Bridge, with a Hue motion sensor, also added in the B and C starter packs. This, in essence, would make them akin to 'Friends of Hue' products, although the company don't describe them as such. The company also point out that there's no accompanying app required for their products, which would probably indicate the Hue app is the preferred initial app for control, which would then expose them to HomeKit thereafter. The company are also working on more interesting products, including a neutral-free version of their module, a fan controller, plate dimmer, in addition to garage and blind controllers. You can check out the video below to learn about more of these forthcoming devices

A few months back Aqara held a presentation showing off a series of new products, including the long-awaited M2 Hub. The company also announced a collaboration with Chinese lighting specialists Opple, that would bring a series of ceiling lights to the Aqara ecosystem, which we reported on just the other day, but they also revealed a series of light switches, also by Opple. These light switches are all HomeKit compatible too! As with the aforementioned Opple ceiling lights, these switches use ZigBee 3.0 for communication, so will, therefore, need the Aqara hub to both to communicate with the things that they control, as well as get them exposed to HomeKit. The Opple switches come in three configurations, with a double switch, a four-button switch, and a six-button switch. What differentiates these switches from the Aqara rocker switches already on the market is that, in comparison to the wireless versions, these switches, which are also wireless, also come with a wall plate that allows the switches to detach from the wall, allowing them to essentially act as remote controls. This is nothing new, of course, as this type of functionality has been deployed for years in the form of the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch. The fact that you have a choice of three different switches does, however, make them more appealing than the Hue version. As these switches are detachable, they do require a battery, which in the case of these switches, is a standard CR2032 coin battery. As they’re ostensibly designed for China, the size is 86 x 86mm, with a 15mm depth, and although there’s no requirement for wiring, the backplate is designed to sit in a recess where this size of switch would normally be placed. What also makes the six-button switch particularly useful is that you can program each button to control not only the power to a smart colour bulb, but you have the extra buttons to control the colour, brightness and colour temperature, all from one device. As these are also compatible with Apple HomeKit, each switch is programmable with multiple types of presses, so you have the standard ‘single press’, ‘double press’ and ‘long press’, taking the six-button switch to ridiculously high levels of functionality – assuming you can remember each function for each button… The company does go on to state that currently these switches are not compatible with the Mi Home app, and will at present only work with the Aqara app, although we’re almost certain they will be Mi Home compatible soon. As expected, these switches have initially been launched in China, although hopefully, they’ll be available to international consumers at a date in the near future.

After initially uncovering the existence of the Aqara US Switch in testing back in April, and reporting only last week the light switch appearing as an addable device in the Aqara app (US Server) after an update, Aqara has made it official, with the light switch listed on their US website. As expected, the new switches, that come in single and double button configurations, require the Aqara hub in order to be added to your smart home and to be exposed to HomeKit. As these are designed for the US market, they are also exposed to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which was a part of the last app update that first revealed these switches. As with any HomeKit compatible light switch, you can control the device via the apps, via voice control, and set timers & automations. What may be of interest to some though is that fact that the new Aqara switches do not require a neutral wire, with many homes in the US still lacking a neutral wire for their lighting, so this could be seen as an alternative to the Lutron smart system which appears to be the only other HomeKit compatible light switch manufacturer that offers this option. There will possibly be a ‘neutral wire’ version to follow. Here are some basic specs; Single Rocker – WS-USC01 | Double Rocker – WS-USC02Material – PCOperating temperature – 0~40ºC | 32~104ºFMax. load – 600w/way (incandescent) | 200w/way (CFL/LED) | 1/4HP motorInput – 120v AC @ 60HzDimensions – 120 x 73 x 36.5mm | 4.72 x 2.91 x 1.44in)Wireless protocol – ZigBee 3.0Colour – WhiteOperating humidity – 0~95% RH, non-condensing Currently the switch is not available to buy but is listed as coming soon to amazon.com, so hopefully, this switch will be available before the end of the year. There are no details on price yet, however.

Chinese Smart Home brand LifeSmart look to be adding HomeKit to their lineup of smart products, including their hub, which is designed to corral many of their child devices, much in the same way that the Aqara hub does with its own child devices. In addition, it would appear from what we’ve been told by the folks over at smartapfel.de that the company’s Cololight modular lighting system will also get an upgrade to the Cololight Pro which will be HomeKit compatible once it’s released. By way of an introduction to LifeSmart, way back when the idea for this website hadn’t even been dreamt up, LifeSmart was offering a series of products all designed to work with either wifi or their own SmartStation hubs, ranging from temperature/humidity sensors, colour bulbs, IR blasters, light strips, and even smart locks and light switches. While they weren’t officially HomeKit compatible, the accompanying LifeSmart app had a special beta function that would generate a HomeKit code, which would allow the hub to be added to HomeKit – albeit unofficially/uncertified. This would then allow most of the devices that went through the hub to be exposed to HomeKit, which is what I’m doing right now. The beta software was pulled for some reason, but if you were already set up in HomeKit, it didn’t matter – only newcomers who had heard about this beta option but arrived after the beta option was removed, were unable to add their devices to HomeKit. Although details are scant, it would now seem that LifeSmart has bitten the bullet and, as with many other Chinese-based companies, decided to hop on the HomeKit cart, with a banner at this years IFA in Berlin announcing as much. We’ve had the LifeSmart Cololight here since January, and despite not having official HomeKit compatibility (we can as we’re still running the LifeSmart beta option) it does work fairly well with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and it’s a nice ‘feature light’ for want of a better description. The Cololight uses one six-sided main tile, which seems to be the one with the ‘brains’ of the system, with other additional tiles all acting as slave devices once connected to the main tile. The team over at SmartApfel.de tell us they’ve spoken to LifeSmart at their IFA stand, and are told that the new Cololight Pro will be HomeKit compatible, but the current Cololight products will not be updated for HomeKit support. However, they did also state that anyone with current Cololight setups need only replace the ‘main tile’ with the forthcoming HomeKit compatible base unit, as the slave tiles will work with this updated pro version just the same.

Convenient to Connect by APP Connect to your phone or tablet directly via Wi-Fi, use the app to control the brightness/colors. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant with voice control. More Brighter & Colorful Millions of color options at your fingertips，adjust the color and brightness via your APP to create the right atmosphere to work or relax, easy to emit Color, Daytime light, White lighting. The brightness of every color is dimmable. The smart controls will forever change the way you control and experience light. Easy to Install Scan the QR code to download the APP, install the lamp (E27 base) and use the APP to control the Wi-Fi bulb (No Hub Required). Save on Energy and Longer Life Smart led bulb Reduce power usage up to 80%, rated life span 30000 hours. Can be used in the home indoor lighting, hotel, meeting room, restaurants, bar, cafe, cocktail party, birthday party, etc. One year warranty Feel free to contact us if any doubt about setting up your device. 1 year warranty service.

Works with Apple Homekit Apple homekit technology provides an easy, secure way to control homekit-enabled accessories Siri Compatibility for Voice Control Conveniently switch your lights on and off using Siri or with a quick tap on your iPhone. Assign a name to each Smart Switch and communicate each Switch by name when making a voice command. Monitor Power Consumption Check whether your Koogeek Smart Light Switch is connected properly with a standard light. Monitor its current power and state via the free Koogeek Home app. Remote Control You can set up your Apple TV (4th generation or later with tvOS 10 or later) or iPad (running iOS 10 or later) as a home hub and control Koogeek Smart Light Switch even when you’re away from home. Create Scenes to Control Multiple Accessories Create individualized scenes and control multiple lights simultaneously with a single Siri voice command or a quick tap on your iPhone. Wide Compatibility Compatible with all single pole light switches. Not intended for use in 3-way light switches, which are controlled by more than one switch. Note 1. Koogeek Smart Switch replaces single pole switches only. Not compatible with 3-way switches, which could be controlled from multiple locations. 2. Neutral wire is required. 3. Metal faceplates are not recommended. Otherwise, it may cause harmful interference to Wi-Fi performance. System Requirements HomeKit requires an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch with iOS 8.1 or later

The Lightwave Smart Socket sockets have an elegant white or stainless steel finish,and are just as stylish as any other standard standard wall outlet. In addition, they are equipped with built-in technology, so you can monitor and control them with your iPhone or iPad wherever you are. Lightwave Smart Socket sockets are also HomeKit compatible so you can use voice commands with Siri. * Easy to install They are easy to install and no extra wiring is required. When the wall socket is in place, you can pair it with the Lightwave Link Plus and control and monitor the energy consumption with the Lightwave app. Always consult an expert if you have questions about the installation. Control wherever you are Want to be able to put the kettle on the couch? Thanks to the stylish intelligent wall socket, you can control your home appliances wherever you are. Simulate that someone is at home With Lightwave’s home automation, you can protect your home by setting schedules that will light your floor lamps. In a way, it looks like you are at home even if you are not. The two-way communication allows you to directly see the status of each intelligent wall outlet, wherever you are. Automate Automation gives you access to several smart features, including timers, group actions, triggers and wireless two-way switching. Superior wireless range Lightwave’s own RF protocol is better than standard wifi and has a superior range with fewer interference to ensure reliable wireless communication between devices. A smarter home You can start with a single unit and expand the system to turn the whole house into a really smart home. Important properties *Control your electrical appliances with an app on your iPhone or iPad wherever you are *Compatible with HomeKit so you can control your system through the Apple home app and Siri voice commands *Built-in energy monitoring via the Lightwave app to help you keep track of energy consumption in real time *Set timer and automation to automatically control electrical equipment *Fits 35 mm mounting frame *10 mm distance unit included (optional) *Requires Lightwave Link Plus (sold separately) for app or voice control What is included *Lightwave Smart Socket (single with ground pin) *Distance unit (1 cm) *Two fixing screws *Instructions Technical info *Other Features: Compatible with HomeKit, Wireless *Internet access: Some features require Internet access *Connections: Wireless *Power supply: AC power *Height: 6.9 cm | Width: 6.9 cm | Depth: 4.6 cm| Weight: 120 g System Requirements Operating system: iOS 10 or later * Requires Lightwave Link Plus (sold separa

Important Note: For reasons unknown at this time, the LifeSmart app (client version 1.1.8p3 and above) for iOS no longer has the HomeKit code generating feature, so you will be unable to add the Smart Station or Smart Alarm to HomeKit. The LifeSmart’s Cube Motion Sensor uses PIR induction technology to detect movement. Upon detection, notifications will be sent to your mobile devices via the LifeSmart App. Alternatively, a light can be triggered upon entering a room that is too dim. If connected with LifeSmart Smart Home Wi-Fi Camera, you can trigger a snap shot that can be directly be sent to your mobile device. Features *Small and Exquisite *More Durable Battery Power *Real-time Feedback Notification *Trigger Smart Scenarios *Fast and Sensitive Specs *Working Humidity：5~90% *Working Temperature：-20~40℃ *Battery Type：CR2450 *Material：ABS+PC *Wireless Range：200M(Open Field)

Watch to learn how Bluetooth has taken location services in a new direction

Wall Plug A smart switch with power metering for electrical devices Fits perfectly FIBARO Wall Plug is the smallest and most attractive device of this type available in the world. Its modern design perfectly fits in with any interior design. Perfection in every detail The FIBARO Wall Plug has been meticulously / precisely designed, down to every little detail. Let it enchant you with its precision and the top tier quality of its hardware coupled with a sophisticated design. Breathtaking beauty and uncompromising reliability come together in the form of this device. Many features in a single device Plugs are available in F and E type. Power switch Energy monitor Power measurement Overvoltage protection Colour-coded power usage The crystal LED ring changes its colour according to the amount of power used by the plugged device. A practical feature in a pretty package. Power metering The FIBARO Wall Plug comes equipped with a power measurement feature. It helps you effortlessly identify the most energy-hungry pieces of hardware or monitor energy usage in particular rooms or during particular periods.

A new market study on Global Zigbee Home Automation Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chart & Graphs is released that will provide complete assessment of the Market and covers evolving trends, current scenario analysis and growth factors, and industry validated market data. The research study provides market breakdown by revenue and volume (if applicable) and price history estimates for Global Zigbee Home Automation. Some are the key players from the coverage that are also part of the study are AAC Technologies, Legrand, SENA Technologies, Autani, Microchip Technology, Melange Systems, Itron, STMicroelectronics, Silicon Laboratories, MMB Networks, TimeLox, Trilliant, GreenPeak Technologies, Energate, Tendril Networks, HPL Electric and Power, Computime, NXP Semiconductors, Atmel, OKI Semiconductor, Telegesis, Texas Instruments, Digi International, Aclara Technologies, Profile Systems & Freescale Semiconductor. Get ready to identify the pros and cons of regulatory framework of the Industry. Know how Market Leaders are always keeping themselves one step ahead with our latest survey analysis Click to get Global Zigbee Home Automation Market Research Sample PDF Copy Here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1511704-global-zigbee-home-automation-industry-market-1 Key highlights from the report: 1) How Companies are profiled in the report? A detailed assessment is done on list of companies taken into consideration by following certain industry standards like NAICS, ICB etc to reach the most relevant profile or manufacturers. More emphasis is given on SMEs that are emerging and evolving in the market with their product presence and technological upgraded modes, players that are also part of study taken from vast list of coverage are “AAC Technologies, Legrand, SENA Technologies, Autani, Microchip Technology, Melange Systems, Itron, STMicroelectronics, Silicon Laboratories, MMB Networks, TimeLox, Trilliant, GreenPeak Technologies, Energate, Tendril Networks, HPL Electric and Power, Computime, NXP Semiconductors, Atmel, OKI Semiconductor, Telegesis, Texas Instruments, Digi International, Aclara Technologies, Profile Systems & Freescale Semiconductor” etc and many more. ** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc. 2) Can we add or profiled new company or customize list of companies in final study? Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the final report. Final confirmation will be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey. ** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Upto 3 players can be added at no added cost. 3) Any Value Addition Chapters to Provide out of box Assessment? Market Entropy: It will provide the randomness of the market which will help you understand the market aggressiveness; players constantly do expansions, technological advancement, M&A, joint ventures. Patent Analysis: To overcome competition, players constantly make R&D expenses and to better evaluate uncertain growth scenario of market players and overall industry a patent analysis chapter is introduce which will provide insights like no. of patents issued by players each year. Peer Analysis: A evaluation of peer to peer analysis by key financial metrics such as EBITDA Margin, Net Profit Margin, Gross Margin, Total Revenue, Segmented Market Share, Assets etc. Browse for Full Report at @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1511704-global-zigbee-home-automation-industry-market-1 4) What details will competitive landscape will provide? A value proposition chapter to help you understand what level of business strategies key players are involved along investment and deal size to gauge market. 2-Page profiles for all listed manufacturers along with 3 years financial data to evaluate their overall performance in the market along with business overview, product specification, headquarter details etc. 5) What all regional segmentation covered? Can specific country of interest be added? Currently, research report gives special attention and focus on following regions: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America & Others ** Countries of specific interest can be included. 6) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible? Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client. ** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time may vary. To comprehend Global Zigbee Home Automation market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Zigbee Home Automation market is analyzed across major global regions. HTF MI also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas. • North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. • South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. • Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. • Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Russia. • Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1511704-global-zigbee-home-automation-industry-market-1 Core Segmentation Details Global Zigbee Home Automation Product Types In-Depth: , Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 & Type 5 Global Zigbee Home Automation Major Applications/End users: Application 1, Application 2, Application 3, Application 4 & Application 5 Geographical Analysis: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East & Africa, India, South America & Others In order to get a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Revenue (Million USD) by Players (2013-2018), Revenue Market Share (%) by Players (2013-2018) and further a qualitative analysis is made towards market concentration rate, product/service differences, new entrants and the technological trends in future. Buy Full Copy Global Zigbee Home Automation Report 2018 @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1511704 Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report. Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

Bluetooth might not be the first wireless technology that springs to mind when it comes to taking charge of your smart bulbs, but that might be about to change. While the Zigbee wireless standard has traditionally ruled the roost when it comes to wireless smart bulb protocols, Bluetooth appears to be gaining momentum. An analyst report recently highlighted by the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) projects that shipments of Bluetooth-equipped residential lighting products are primed to quadruple in the next five years. Then there was last month’s announcement that Signify’s Philips Hue smart bulbs are changing over to a new chip that features both Bluetooth and Zigbee radios, a development with potentially game-changing consequences in the smart lighting market because it eliminates the need for a central hub. The pairing of Zigbee and Bluetooth in new Philips Hue smart bulbs could be a sign of a complementary rather than competitive future for these wireless protocols, and that’s great news for shoppers. Zigbee vs. Bluetooth? Not necessarily Until now, consumers faced a tricky choice when picking a smart bulb: powerful features with a pricier outlay, or an easier, cheaper setup with stripped-down options. Take Zigbee, a smart-home protocol that offers a wide degree of control over your smart lights, allowing you to put them on a schedule, switch them on and off when you’re out of the house, and even connect them to other smart devices. The downside: the Zigbee protocol requires a bridge device to connect your bulbs to your Wi-FI network, and a Zigbee bridge will set you back $50 or more. Bluetooth, meanwhile, makes for an enticing choice when it comes to smart bulbs, mainly because Bluetooth-enabled smart bulbs don’t need a bridge, and they don’t demand much in the way of setup. Just fire up a smartphone app and you’re ready to flick the switches on your new smart bulbs. On the other hand, you need to be in the same room (generally speaking) to control a smart bulb via Bluetooth, and you’ll forgo the ability to connect them to sensors or other similar smart devices. (Smart bulbs that connect directly to your Wi-Fi network are also a thing, although LIFX and TP-Link are the only big-name companies making them, and neither can match the breadth and depth of the Philips Hue ecosystem.) So, which protocol to choose? Until recently, smart bulb shoppers had to skip some big-name brands that didn’t support their protocol of choice. Those who wanted a quick and cheap smart bulb setup couldn’t go with Zigbee-compliant Philips Hue bulbs, for example, while shoppers who wanted to connect their bulbs to other smart devices couldn’t go the C by GE way—at least not without buying C by GE Smart Bridge. The best of both worlds But the announcement of new Philips Hue bulbs with chips that boast both Zigbee and Bluetooth radios could mark the beginning of a welcome sea change. Because they support both Zigbee and Bluetooth, the latest generation of Philips Hue bulbs essentially give you the best of both worlds: a cheap and easy Bluetooth setup for those who’d rather not cough up extra cash, as well as more involved and connected configurations for smart home users with Zigbee-compliant wireless bridges at their disposal. My guess is that more and more smart bulb manufacturers will follow in the footsteps of Signify and its Philips Hue smart bulbs by making products that support both Bluetooth and Zigbee technology, particularly if dual-radio Zigbee/Bluetooth chips become the norm.