Schlage to put your front door locks on the Web

Lock company Schlage is launching Schlage Link, a suite of products to allow over-the-Web control of a home's locks, lights, and thermostats. It also integrates with Webcams.

Use your mobile phone as a key.

(Credit: Schlage)

The new lock is the centerpiece of the system (as we would expect from a lock company). It can be opened by key, with a four-digit code, or through the online and mobile sites. The lock can also alert its owners via a mobile message when it's opened or tampered with (when incorrect codes are entered multiple times in a row).

An online control center lets you program the system to turn on lights when someone enters the house or at certain times, to send your phone photos of your doorway when a door opens, and so on. You can enable and disable specific codes as you wish--useful to give service people access only at certain times, for instance.

There have been several similar home-control and DIY security systems to hit the market in recent years, and none, to my knowledge, has gotten much consumer traction. Schlage General Manager Dwight Gibson thinks that the well-known Schlage brand will help this product succeed where others have failed.

I'm somewhat skeptical, not just because history teaches that having expertise in one technology, i.e. locks, doesn't always translate into another, i.e. Web services (Fortunately, Schlage has a partner, Crayon Interface, in this venture). But I also believe the Schlage product is overpriced. The starter kit with one lock set, one light module, and the home network connector box, costs $299, and the network access costs $12.99 a month. The hardware cost is within the realm of reason, but the monthly fee is usurious, in my opinion.

Sill, if you don't mind shelling out for the hardware and then continuing to pay for Web access, this could be a very useful product for anyone who would like better management of their home's security.

Comments

Keyboard Keychain

Keyboard Keychain These days many of us need devices that will enable us to operate our smartphones and tablets wherever we want with equal dexterity and comfort, virtual keyboards maybe topping the list of useful gadgets . These days many of us need devices that will enable us to operate our smartphones and tablets wherever we want with equal dexterity and comfort, virtual keyboards maybe topping the list of useful gadgets .

Starfish Shaped Cell Phone

True, we don’t seem to have had this one before: the new idea for the shape of a cell phone is a star fish. The Oriental have made a habit of choosing queer ones, and you may catch a surprised glance or two getting it out. By the way, it’s clearly defined as a “Lady’s Cell Phone”, so get ready to begin living in an aquarium. Fun aside, what you may want to get for $126 is the Star Shape Lady’s Cell Phone - an unlocked GSM phone with a 1.8″ touchscreen. You will find all the modern features present – Bluetooth, a built-in camera. You are offered a choice of a blue, green, gold or pink starfish with an included 2GB memory card. Since it’s generally dark at the bottom of the sea, the Starfish Cell Phone is decked with artificial diamonds that can exude light.

Electronic Cigarette

Ever thought how good would it be if there was a way to reduce the harm of cigarettes without giving up the habit of smoking? Here is the answer, Myvic Electronic Cigarette is a revolutionary new product which is drastically healthier than traditional smoking. It will improve your health while giving the same sensations as ordinary cigarettes. There are more than 4000 chemicals found in the ordinary cigarettes, of which at least 400 are harmful for the human body. They contain, tar, carbon monoxide, benzene, acetone, formaldehyde, arsenic and many others. This chemicals contribute to lung cancer and many other diseases associated with cigarette smoking. While using Myvic Electronic Cigarette you have to change nicotine refills, which range from high concentrate nicotine to zero nicotine content. The refill contains nicotine and propylene glycol (harmless to human body). Nicotine is not believed to cause cancer, and compared to all the chemicals inhaled while smoking ordinary cigarett...

AH - New ELECTRONIC and GADGETS

Search This Blog