Ikea could introduce blinds with Apple HomeKit support to smart home range
Furniture giant Ikea may add more products to its range of smart home devices, after an FCC filing from the company revealed it was producing a compact remote control, one that is thought could be used to open and close smart blinds.
The FCC listing spotted by Dave Zatz offers three views of the device, identified as "E1766 Tradfri" on an illustration of regulatory information that will be included on the back of the. Tradfri is Ikea's name for its range of home automation devices, which includes a selection of color-changing lightbulbs.
Described on the label as "Open/Close Remote," it is believed by Teknikveckan to be a switch for operating motorized blinds, which suggests Ikea may be launching Tradfri-branded versions in the future. Customers have apparently wanted Ikea to produce blinds with automation elements for some time, in part due to the expense of existing automated blind systems and the expectation of more reasonable pricing from the retailer.
Few other details are provided in the filing that confirms it is meant for blinds, as it is a switch that connects to another device for control purposes. The relatively limited scope of smart home products that can be automated to open and close does however suggest it would be used to control blinds or a curtain system, though the former is more likely due to the simpler construction.
Ikea is believed to be looking to expand its smart home product line, with a report in August indicating it plans to launch smart plugs in October. A screenshot displays a smart plug with a separate remote, which could be wall mounted and is seemingly similar in design to the item in the FCC filing, but as the recently-discovered switch is to "open and close" rather than being labeled for "on and off," it is likely to be a separate product entirely.
There is no immediate indication that the remote or the blind mechanism would be HomeKit-compatible, but considering Ikea previously added support for Apple's home automation platform to its smart bulb line after some teething issues, similar support in the firm's new devices is quite likely.
The FCC listing spotted by Dave Zatz offers three views of the device, identified as "E1766 Tradfri" on an illustration of regulatory information that will be included on the back of the. Tradfri is Ikea's name for its range of home automation devices, which includes a selection of color-changing lightbulbs.
Described on the label as "Open/Close Remote," it is believed by Teknikveckan to be a switch for operating motorized blinds, which suggests Ikea may be launching Tradfri-branded versions in the future. Customers have apparently wanted Ikea to produce blinds with automation elements for some time, in part due to the expense of existing automated blind systems and the expectation of more reasonable pricing from the retailer.
Few other details are provided in the filing that confirms it is meant for blinds, as it is a switch that connects to another device for control purposes. The relatively limited scope of smart home products that can be automated to open and close does however suggest it would be used to control blinds or a curtain system, though the former is more likely due to the simpler construction.
Ikea is believed to be looking to expand its smart home product line, with a report in August indicating it plans to launch smart plugs in October. A screenshot displays a smart plug with a separate remote, which could be wall mounted and is seemingly similar in design to the item in the FCC filing, but as the recently-discovered switch is to "open and close" rather than being labeled for "on and off," it is likely to be a separate product entirely.
There is no immediate indication that the remote or the blind mechanism would be HomeKit-compatible, but considering Ikea previously added support for Apple's home automation platform to its smart bulb line after some teething issues, similar support in the firm's new devices is quite likely.
Comments
The FCC filing revealed Ikea was producing a compact remote, or is producing a wireless remote? The context suggests the latter. If it is the former, I don't understand what the article is saying.
I'm not trying to be a smartass, I'm genuinely trying to understand.
All we know, is that something was made… We don't know if it's still is being made, we don't know if they will make more, we don't know if they will be released; all we know, is that something was made.
IKEAs lights can be controlled, if one chooses, only with separate remotes, but you also have the option of buying a hub to use instead of or in combination with remotes. And there is an IKEA app you can use, but I use the Home app to controll all my IKEA lights at home.
As said in previous articles and by own experience, the IKEA lightbulbs don’t really have a real low dim mode, the lowest lux/light you can dim to is much brighter than one would like. I guess cheap comes with a price.