Smart thermostat

Six 'Smart thermostat' stories June 2014 - September 2015

Tado, Europe’s Nest competitor, adds multi-room temperature control and IFTTT support

Ben Lovejoy Sep 3 2015 - 6:38 am PT

Tado, Europe’s main Nest competitor in the smart thermostat field, has announced two new enhancements to its system. First, multi-room temperature control, allowing different temperatures to be set in different rooms. Second, support for IFTTT recipes to automatically trigger other actions based on Tado detecting people arriving or leaving the home.

For homes that already have different heating devices in different rooms, such as underfloor heating, adding a second thermostat is all you need for the multi-room control. Most of us, though, will need a new smart radiator valve that won’t be available until next fall.

IFTTT support – first promised back in March – has been added from today. This can do things like automatically switch on your alarm when the last person leaves your home, and turn on lights when someone returns. The company has also confirmed that it plans to add HomeKit support further down the line, enabling Siri control and more.

Tado_Family

If you’re considering Tado, you may want to check out my review.

Apple stops selling Nest’s smart thermostat following launch of HomeKit-compatible Ecobee 3

Chance Miller Jul 23 2015 - 4:18 pm PT

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Apple has removed Google’s Nest smart thermostat from both its online store and physical retail locations following the launch of some of the first HomeKit devices. As reported by Mashable, Google’s smart thermostat is not available from Apple and searching for the product on Apple’s online store now reveals HomeKit-compatible smart devices instead.

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HomeKit-compatible version of Ecobee 3 smart thermostat goes on sale in Apple Stores today

Ben Lovejoy Jul 7 2015 - 4:23 am PT

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The HomeKit-compatible version of the Ecobee 3 smart thermostat, officially announced last month, goes on sale in U.S. Apple Stores today, reports The Verge. Apple has sold the original version since November of last year. The HomeKit-enabled model allows the thermostat to be controlled by Siri.

While Apple’s online store listing has not yet been updated to mention HomeKit-compatibility, it’s likely that the new version will ship from there too.

HomeKit was officially documented by Apple last month, the company confirming our report that the Apple TV would act as the gateway device. The support page has since been updated with a full list of Siri commands.

You can read the full press release below.

Via The Verge
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Tado smart thermostat app gets smarter with multiple temperatures in the day

Ben Lovejoy Apr 9 2015 - 5:36 am PT

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tado

The app for the Tado smart thermostat, which I reviewed back in 2013, just got a little smarter.

You like to have it cozy and warm when you enjoy your evening on the sofa but a cooler temperature is preferable during the day? No problem, with the new multi-temperature feature tado° now lets you create different temperatures for different times of the day. Just select the times and the temperatures and label them accordingly.

Perfect for me, as my home office is upstairs and 2C warmer than the living-room downstairs, so now I can set it for 19C during working hours (which means 21C in the office), and 21C in the evenings. It still automatically turns down the temperature when everyone is out, of course.

Apple’s HomeKit partner Honeywell launches Lyric smart thermostat Nest competitor

Zac Hall Jun 10 2014 - 7:57 am PT

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With Apple stepping into the home automation arena by way of offering closer device integration through its new HomeKit API announced alongside iOS 8, just about every appliance in the home is potential for being refreshed and gaining deeper connectivity with our iPhones and iPads. Honeywell, a launch partner for Apple’s new home automation development tools, is today announcing its new Lyric smart thermostat to compete against similar offerings from competitors like the now Google-owned Nest.
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Tado confirms smart air-conditioning controller funded, aiming now for Apple HomeKit support

Ben Lovejoy Jun 5 2014 - 4:27 am PT

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tado

Tado, the location-aware alternative to the Nest smart thermostat, has confirmed that it has achieved its Kickstarter goal to launch a device to control existing air-conditioners, turning them into smart cooling systems.

We talked about the GE-backed Quirky Aros in March which can now be purchased at Amazon.

Tado is now aiming to raise an additional $50k to allow Tado Cooling to integrate with Apple’s HomeKit, enabling Siri control.

If HomeKit is integrated, our customers will be able to use the tado° app together with some key iOS features such as Siri or TouchID.

Imagine setting your tado° to sleep mode or adjusting the desired temperature with a simple voice command.

Imagine giving your AC a little boost just by placing your finger on the home button.

Imagine combined scenarios with other connected devices …

Tado says that its system will be compatible with 82 percent of existing air-conditioning units, with a control unit working in the same way as its smart thermostat: using an app to track the location of those in the household, automatically turning off air-conditioners when the last person leaves the home and pre-cooling the home when it detects that someone is on their way back.

Low-energy Bluetooth is also used to track the position of people within the home, automatically adjusting air-conditioners within different rooms.

Tado Cooling will retail for $149, but Kickstarter backers can pre-order for $99, with units expected to ship in August. The existing product is fully funded, but currently needs an additional $47,000 in the next six days to add HomeKit support.

Other iOS controlled home cooling systems on the market and in the news include Big Ass Fans.