Review: August Smart Lock with HomeKit & Siri
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- Buy August 2nd Gen on Amazon: bit.ly/August-H...
Buy August (Original w/out HomeKit): bit.ly/august-o...
August Connect for Remote Access ($99): bit.ly/August-C...
August Smart Lock has finally launched their second generation lock that fits over almost any deadbolt. It allows you to control your door using Siri and HomeKit. That means you can tie it into scenes, zones, or schedules.
If you have an apple TV, you can access your 2nd gen lock remotely without the august connect. The ATV acts as a bridge to enable remote access to all homekit devices.
Hey Shiva - Just to confirm, no intermediary hub is required at all to remotely control via the Apple TV?
+Todd Nagle That's right. I've got my August lock without the connect hub but am able to remotely (outside my network) access the lock so long as my Apple TV (latest gen) is on my wifi
Great info Shiva Mohan . Thanks.
In the process of "smartening up" the home. Trying to get a handle on what devices (e.g. Lutron switches, August lock, Ecobee thermostats, etc.) are going to require a middle-man hub for HomeKit.
p.s. hope all is well in my hometown of T.O.
Apple's HomeKit is actually pretty snazzy. Afaik all HomeKit devices can use the Apple TV as their hub (assuming they don't come with one by default, like with Philips bulbs). I've got the nest thermostat, Philips hue bulbs, and the August lock and all work great remotely / through Siri. Plus in ios10 they're coming out with a HomeKit app that should bring controlling all those devices into a central spot.
I used to use Android and iOS phones interchangeably until I started getting HomeKit accessories, with which my iPhone became increasingly more convenient.
I have a 3'rd gen apple tv and it won't connect to the lock. I'm just going to buy the august connect adapter as i have been fighting this stupid bridge the whole time. Cannot get it to work.
In my apartment I installed an August. It didn't work so I replaced it. The second one didn't work reliably either, and after a bunch of infuriating calls to their customer service I ended up getting a connect module so that it would work with wifi without needing to rely on appleTV. The connect module is unreliable and now, after about six months, has failed completely. In my weekend home, I've had a Schlage Z-Wave lock that has worked reliably for over six years without a single hiccup. Unfortunately, Schlage doesn't work with Apple HomeKit. Plus, in the apartment, I am not permitted to have a non-standard lock visible on the exterior of the door. Which is why the August was so appealing. Sadly, everything I've purchased from August has provided nothing but frustration. August needs to realize that they are providing security products that are intended to secure people's homes, and then design their products with that in mind. They are clearly not serious about this.
Fantastic video, but like others have said the misinformation about wifi and HomeKit is big. The whole point of this second version was the addition of HomeKit and the removal of the requirement to buy the bridge! :)
Sorry, what misinformation? Been a while since I put out this video. For HomeKit, Wifi, etc. You do NOT need to buy the bridge. I actually am using this lock currently, and I don't have the bridge. But I access remotely almost every day. It does not have Wifi but connects over BLE to an Apple TV or iPad to send the command. You do have to have one of those 2 devices around for that to work. Companies like Elgato and ConnectSense are launching essentially BLE extenders that bridge the gap for HomeKit users and may be slightly cheaper than the August one.
I believe in order to have HomeKit comparability away from home for the August Smart Lock, August said that you need to have either their August Doorbell Cam or August Connect. My Doorbell Cam delivered a few days ago and my Smart Lock comes on Monday, so once my IU finals are over and I go home next Friday, I will be able to test this to verify.
+BowserStudio yes. This is true. But that is the same as the last generation. What I personally was hoping for was remote Siri access. So I could ask Siri if I locked my door, and lock it if I didn't.
+Andrew OHara oh that is not a feature? That's odd...
+BowserStudio August says it is something Apple isn't allowing but there is hope it will be added somehow.
Dang. I hope it will be added as well.
If your phone was in the house with the auto lock feature enabled, would the august smart lock lock you out if you stepped out of the house for a few minutes?
***** I just don't carry my keys when I go into the backyard. I'd hate to be locked out.
I also keep a spare emergency key outside hidden anyway. You can use one of those master lock boxes to protect it, then always have it as a fallback If you ever get locked out.
Just shoot the lock off
You dont need a connect. If you have the Apple TV 4th generation the HomeKit will work as the connector. So you can use Siri to unlock your door anywhere. Save you $45-100 from buying extra.
I love my August lock. Now I need to figure out how to sell it so I can get the home kit enabled version.
+Cactus Tweeter right?! If you have the box they are still going for quite a bit used in Amazon!
It seems working with Homepod as Homekit Hub too.
With the second generation, Do I have to get the August Access in order to see who has unlocked my door? What about to use Siri and Alexa? From what I have read before, I would need the access to do everything accept unlock the door myself via the app at the door.
Great lock and just purchased it, so awesome~
After 3 months of patiently trying all the suggested workarounds that August Support team could muster, I still could not get this to work properly. I knew the risks of trying out somewhat new technology as opposed to regular but very reliable digital locks from Samsung, Schlage etc.. but I craved for the future of remote control locks. The smartlock works well by bluetooth (a very limited use if you asked me) but the supposedly wifi-enabled Connect bridger is shite. After 3 months, we narrowed down the problem to the Connect's bluetooth receiver (since the signal consistently shows up as weak) and I have tried everything and August even wrote a new article on their FAQ based on my issues (your welcome!) and when it came down to it, they declined my offer to send it back to them for further investigation because I am out of their warranty coverage area. Such a lame response. I think 3 months worth of email trail is enough to distinguished me from a mere warranty seeker. I really wanted this to work. August doesn't want it badly enough and I am sure this company will go the way of the dodo.
You could also get the HomeKit api on a raspberry pi and make the lock yourself really cheap
How does it react when the deadbolt is not perfectly lined up with the jam? Would it easily bind up?
Hi, Do I need to buy any other device to make Siri work with this device (kind of a HUB), or is it going to work seamlessly with my iPhone? and, can I install the app on my wife's iPhone so she can use it too?
Your videos are great man, keep it up! Subbed
can you set it up without using the august app and just using iOS home kit
I have a glass screen door, so im guessing this won't work
Also will I need the 50$ add on or will it work over blu tooth
Do you need the August Connect if you are using Alexa?
Do u know if it's work for Spanish speaking countries? I'm from chile and some products doesn't work here...
How does the door unlock from inside the house? Do you have to have the August app on a smartphone? What if you have granted a guest access to the house and they want to leave? How do they unlock the door? I am going to install a keypad on the outside but do I need a keypad on the inside as well? Sounds like I need to.
Hi Steve! To unlock the door, you simply turn the august, just like any other lock. To enter, you must use a key, the august keypad, or the app. So if you gave a guest access, they can use the app or keypad to get in, and when they leave, they can twist to unlock, then lock it from the outside with the app or keypad again.
Andrew OHara Thank you! Though it may seem simple, I was concerned that because the August Lock is electronic, it might not could be turned manually. I am happy it can be. I hope the company will include that small extra info in their FAQ or in their video(s) so that all basic info will be known.
But what it really needs is Alexa control.
The 2nd generation actually does work with Alexa. I just ordered mine so it is not installed yet but I think you have to have the august connect in order for Alexa to work with the lock.
Can the lock be paired to the Philips Hue hub instead of the August Connect, as it can for the Apple TV?
I assume Homekit Compatible = Homekit Compatible, so yes? But curious.
Thanks, loved the video.
+duel007 not quite sure what you mean? If you mean use the Hue Bridge instead of the connect, no. You have to use the actually bridge. For HomeKit access, it can use the Apple TV. No bridge necessary.
Say you have 2 locked doors to enter through to get to your apartment. So you put in 2 august locks. If you want to let guests in remotely, can you set it up in the August app, or HomeKit, or IFTTT so that when one lock unlocks, the other one does too?
+Ashwini Gupte I think you could, yes. Now that it supports HomeKit you could say when lock 1 unlocks, unlock lock 2
or you could just group them together in the HomeKit app which is more comfortable
In the event of a power outage, what functionality is lost? I see the lock itself is battery powered so if my phone is charged I can use the Bluetooth functions, or manually lock/unlock it (which I imagine I can do even if the batteries in the lock go dead). But what about remote capabilities?
If there is no power, yes. Remote capabilities are lost. But you can always use a key, and as long as the batteries are fine, you can still unlock locally with your phone or watch over bluetooth.
Andrew, when you switched over from the non-home kit version of the August lock to the HomeKit version, did you remove your old mounting hardware and use the new mounting hardware? I have a non-home kit version of the August lock and I want to get the HomeKit version. So I'm just curious what I'm up against when switching from the old version to the new one.
Nope, I literally just left all that and swapped the locks. I then sold the last gen version.
So I received mine today, totally loving it. Only thing I noticed is that it doesn't auto unlock when I arrive at my house. I have to pull my phone out and unlock it . Think you can help me out ? Do I need to buy the bridge for this feature to work ?
+William Melendez You do not need the bridge, but you do need to enable this feature. Select the lock, click the fear icon, and turn on Auto Unlock. Then adjust the distance so that it works best for you. That should get it going.
I thought you can use the 4th gen apple tv with the new August smart lock to control it remotely and you don't need to buy the 79.99 adapter
+TechWorld29 I replied to another comment, but for some reason this does not work. I'm unsure if this is because it is a lock? Which already has special criteria. For instance you can't unlock or lock without unlocking your phone.
August claims Apple is not allowing this and you can see their FAQ which claims it won't work. support.august.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2164773-august-smart-lock-homekit-enabled-faq?b_id=10917&
Is there any reason to upgrade to gen 3?
If you have siri enabled for your lockscreen you basically give random people your house keys
Locks are more secure. You can't actually unlock your door with Siri unless you unlock your phone. If you use the Home button to activate Siri, that will automatically authenticate you so you normally won't see that prompt. But if someone else took your phone, they wouldn't be able to.
Never allow home automation to have control over the door.
bk thats stupid, no one can open the door but you
Can I use the touch Id on my iphone to lock/unlock my door?
No, it is not a feature yet.
what is the difference between first and second generation?
different knurling around the outside, a new indicator to tell the orientation of the lock, and the biggest addition is homeKit support.
Can this be installed on a multilock?
how well does it work with google home
It would be appreciated to start with the things that people wants to know first. 1. Show the functionality. 2. Show how secure it is. 3. Blabla about all the other stuff like the packaging and colors etc.
Can I use my apple TV instead of the august connect for remote control?
With HomeKit, yes
this might be a stupid question but what happens when your phone ran out of battery? Or there's a power outage on the whole neighborhood? is there a manual override or something?
Never a stupid question! Well I take that back.. but no this is good!
So you always have options! First, you can still use a key. I still have a key on my keychain, but August usually just opens for me so I don't need it. Second option, you can still use August! It doesn't require WiFi, or an outlet. It is battery powered, so you are completely safe in case of a power outage, the lock will work just like it always has. It will warn you quite early when your batteries are dying too so you can replace them.
cool. tnx for the info mate. appreciate it.
not a doors person ... I like pink floyd more.
does auto-unlock work if you connect to wifi?, also does geo-fence use alot of batteries on phone
Yes? But it doesn't use wifi.. it just waits until you are in that geofenced area, then when you connect to the lock, it unlocks.
geofence does not take up much battery life at all. Apple fixed that issue in iOS 9 I believe and made a special location service that these apps can tie into. So instead of 10 apps all monitoring your location, there is one service that does it and shares the location with all the apps requesting it. Saves a lot of battery life.
Do you need the ac r1 adapter
as far as the geo fencing goes, what's the smallest distance settings?
+maganaric 100 meters
August recommends 200 Meters minimum. 400 meters min if you live in a remote location (trees and Hills) or congested location where tall buildings may interfere.
So how does it work if you don't have the 49 dollar add on for wifi?
You still use Bluetooth, and you can use HomeKit with Siri if you have an Apple TV. It has been updated since the video was made that now shows it can be used remotely with HomeKit.
Andrew OHara awesome!
***** The way it works, is the August only contains bluetooth. If you have the August Connect (the WiFi adapter), the August communicates to the Connect over Bluetooth, and the Connect goes through WiFi. WiFi uses a lot more power than Bluetooth. So if you are using your Apple TV, or iPad (running iOS 10) as a hub, it will connect to those devices via Bluetooth. If it is really far away, that may be an issue. If you have an iPad that is regularly docked near the door, that is always an option. It has a range of probably 30 feet or so.
does this second generation supports android or only siri, and if it does, will it control everything that siri does?
Android is fully supported, voice (I.e. siri) is not
No Thank you! I will stick with my Apple Siri
ANDROID version? If not why not? I want to buy now!
Of course there is an Android version, it just doesnt support the Siri HomeKit features
does this work with android
I just checked pricing on Amazon -- these are pretty pricey. I also think the lack of a keypad outside is a drawback.
Correction: There is a keypad, also very pricey! august.com/products/august-keypad/
Does homekit work with the 1st gen August?
No. 2nd Gen August has the HomeKit support
someone should make a smart lock that would CLOSE the door as well. The best lock on the market would not be effective if the door is ajar.
+Hi-Fi Insider that would be interesting but much more complicated. I would think additional hardware would be necessary so it would only work on those who own their home.
There are five people in our family. Four have iphones and my wife has an android. Will all five of us be able to use this or just one of us? If so, how?
All of you will, but your wife will be left out of the HomeKit party. Only the iPhones can control with Siri and automate with HomeKit.
Same voice as the guy in the UA-cam channel IDB.
Andrew, you review all the things in life I care about. Smart Locks, Dexcom G5. Now just do one on #OpenAPS ;)
Haha would love to do more with it but I don't have an old Medtronic pump lying around to play with. :-/ Glad you like my content though!
Who's gonna uses Redass lock for your front door
Cnet said it works with the AppleTV without the hub...?
+Ryan D I hate to say it, but they may be mistaken. I have my Apple TV and I can access all other Bluetooth HomeKit devices remotely, but not my August. I attempted this.
I also do lots of research before posting. See this article from August where they say that Siri does NOT work remotely. support.august.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2164773-august-smart-lock-homekit-enabled-faq?b_id=10917&
Andrew OHara I believe you... Thanks for the update. I can't believe you have to buy that extra $80 bridge just to get WiFi... I may cancel my order. Dumb. Thx!
+Ryan D maybe in the future. I love like this lock!
Andrew OHara Do you have the bridge for it? I had the old one and returned it. I have this one order still...
+Ryan D I do have he bridge. I've occasionally used it but the stuff I mostly used is the auto unlock, and now I have it tied to my goodnight scene. So when ready for bed I say "goodnight Siri" and she takes care of my lights, thermostat, and now my door locks. It's really handy.
Don't forget to keep the batteries fresh or I'll be destroying this to get you into your home like I did for a client an hour ago.
Well that shouldn't matter.. if the batteries die, you can still operate it with a key like always. You get frequent battery alerts but as a backup, keys work. Ive tested many times when I just kept ignoring that warning!
Not when you get used to not using your keys and leave it home like this one guy did.
So why would you have to break the lock? Wouldn't you just use a lock pick? Since it is on the inside, you should be able to do whatever you would do for a regular non-smartlock?
Also, rookie move. He should have kept a spare key somewhere! Neighbor, car, something! Just in case!
Andrew OHara not only was it medeco deadbolt but I wasn't about to sit there for an hour and half destroying a medeco precisely to try and save his august. Especially at his budget. And come to think of it, if it was a smartket Baldwin or kwikset, I'd still have to drill.
Feels like it's easily breakable.
+Aditya Mhatre It feels like, or it looks like? In my using it, it doesn't feel breakable at all. It is mostly metal and is very heavy. When mounted, it doesn't move a hair. It is extremely secure. Idk what you would ever be doing with your door that you would ever break this.
I agree Andrew, I have been impressed with the quality of the lock.
robbers can unlock steal your shit?or take it apart?tthere no web cam on it?
+kntwing how would they unlock it? It's been recognized as one of the most secure lock available. It would be easier to simply pick your lock. This goes INSIDE your door. So they can't get to it. And the webcam, August makes a doorbell cam that you can get and brings additional features.
Review was too detailed. Maybe start with an elevator pitch and then go back and give more details for those who want it.
how many guest i can add to a locker?
Im not sure. I haven't really seen a limit.
Liar... Those loke will never work on auto unlock function...
I use it EVERY day.
Me too. Use it EVERY day
too much money and still can't use wifi? No thanks it's cool but they need to fix that asap
+Jose Angarita it can use WiFi using the August Connect, or your Apple TV/iOS 10 iPad as a hub. Wifi uses far too much power. One company tried to integrate wifi (Lockitron) and it used so much power that it just.. sucked. They went back and had a new product that mirrors this. Using a separate piece of hardware to connect to wifi.