amarkap

teejay2012 said:

bocaboy said:

Skip the Koogeek and stick with either TP-Link or WeMo, in that order. I've been using these switches for a couple years now. I have the plug-in and wall switch from both vendors. My recommendation tips towards TP-Link. Their wireless reception performs better where a WiFi signal isn't very strong. In areas where WiFi reception is good, both are equally good. Every device I have connected to either a TP-Link or WeMo is controlled by Amazon Echo and allows for a completely automated home.

When all is said and done, TP-Link is my preferred product. It's ability to be more tenacious in holding on to a weak wireless signal and not being fussy during upgrades are the two reasons I use them. The sunrise/sunset problem will hopefully be fixed in a future update of their Kasa app. Either way, both can be controlled by an Echo, which is way more functional than Homekit. 

Uh.. This article is about Homekit. TP-Link and WeMo make good hardware but they do not work with Homekit directly, and require users to set up Homebridge - not for the technically timid.

We have Koogeek and iHome devices, and they all have equivalent glitches in terms of firmware updating, and becoming 'unavailable' or 'updating' at random times, which could be related to our complicated Apple hardware based network (many Expresses to 'extend'). We still have a few lights controlled with ancient X10 devices and ironically they are more stable than our Homekit stuff - but we wanted to have ability to control some of the lights away from home.

Uh...just because an article is about HomeKit doesn't mean every comment has to be about HomeKit and HomeKit specific products.  Bocaboy comment was acceptable and informative.  As well, I appreciate your informative comment.

Regarding this technology, I think it all has a way to go.  All this stuff is just a bit too complicated to setup and configure.  Eventually Home Builders/Contractors will be hired to setup your home with the necessary outlets/switches so every outlet is compatible and WiFi signal is strong at all parts of your home.  Then it is just a matter of plugging devices in and attaching them to your phone (if you wanted too).  We are not there yet and thus this technology is just for the select few that get into this stuff.  

I have two lamps in my home that have timers attached to them to come on in the evenings and shut off around 10:00PM.  Yes, a few times a year I have to readjust the setting but it is fine.  It works and costs less than $10.00.

Let me just put in my (possibly worthless) two cents, I think where Apple nailed it is with the bands.  I know with all the other technologies these things offer, putting emphasis on the band is pretty silly right?  Well, not in my opinion.  The thing that makes Apple Watches so appealing outside of their technology is they just look darn awesome with their bands.  There are so many to choose from and Apple does a great thing by showing you a Watch face and colors and complement that band perfectly.  These Android Wear 2.0 watch while cool...I think don't have very appealing bands.  I suppose it is all subjective, but like I said just my two cents.  I'm glad Apple put as much thought into their bands as the watch itself.

By the way, I was an early adopter and got my Apple Watch only a few weeks after it was initially released.  Back then, hardly anyone had one on.  This year, I see them on so many people.  Each one with a different type of band...so happy to Apple for gaining market share.

One thing that does concern me is that Apple has made such a great product that people won't want to upgrade often.  I mean I have no reason to buy another.  My 1st generation works just fine for me.  I am only concerned because again people will say YoY decline in Apple Watch sales because no one will want to upgrade like me.  This is what happened with their iPad.  It is not that the iPad is bad product it is just it is such a good product that hardly anyone needs to buy the latest and greatest.