Forget your keys? There’s an app for that — Small Empires Ep. 6
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The connected home is rapidly becoming a reality, and the August Smart Lock is at the forefront of a new era.
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We’ve reached a stage where most consumers are familiar with the concept of a “smart home,” full of “connected devices,” that works, at least in the commercials, something like the futuristic home of The Jetsons. The problem is that unless you’re building a home from scratch, most people are going to be adding these smart features in a piecemeal fashion. Each device has to justify its price tag over cheaper, more conventional appliances.
The August Smart Lock brings a couple of enticements to the table, starting with its design. Crafted by the legendary Yves Behar, the August lock is a gleaming, modernist beauty. More importantly, it’s social. Because the “keys” to the lock are just some code executed by a phone, you can use the app to send “keys” to anyone you like. Having friends over but you’re stuck in traffic and won’t be there to let them in? You can use the August to send a temporary key that will get them into the house and self-destruct at your command.
Our host Alexis Ohanian sat down with August to discuss the challenge of taking a hardware startup from an idea, to a prototype, to a finished product at a store near you. The rise of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo has helped to provide hardware startups with seed capital from curious consumers who don’t mind dealing with products still in beta mode.
August decided to skip that step, raising venture capital the traditional way and relying on its well-known designer and a press tour to generate interest, awareness, and demand. After all, this wasn’t a pain point that really needed explaining. “The past two years I’ve been working on this, if there is a phrase I’ve heard more than anything, it’s ‘I hate keys.’ ” That’s how August co-founder and CEO Jason Johnson described the company’s market research.
Speaking from personal experience, the struggle is real. As Johnson notes, in New York City alone, two million people per year get locked out of their own homes. Since my smartphone is basically welded to my hand at this point, perhaps it’s time to try using it in place of an analog device I can’t seem to help misplacing on a weekly basis.
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This a really good video! NICE JOB, the verge!
Interesting but no demo and no mention of security or even tech. This episode isn’t really geared for the audience.
*Update: August smart lock uses bluetooth with 128-bit AES encryption.
Really cool !
What if your phone is dead?
2million lose keys more ppl lose smartphones.…..
what if my phone has no battery? what then?
Fail on the product. I went to the August website and no stock. Not a big lost for me though because I found that my installed lock is not compatible. I love the concept especially if you plan on being an AirBNB host. No need to give your guests a key. Just make sure they have a compatible smartphone and give them a code to unlock the door and then disable it after their stay is over.
Love that last F cut.
This series is SO good!
So what happens if your phone runs out of battery?
The ending was f***ing awesome
Forget to charge your phone? You’re screwed
Did anyone else notice ubisoft?
Love this little gem!
Yeah this is cool, but couldn’t we just hack the doors open. Shouldn’t be that hard, get a access ID from a users phone using Bluetooth then your in.
This would work great with skybell, doorbot, etc because, say someone rings the doorbell. They would see the person on your phone, and if it is a person you want to be there, you can unlock the doors through your phone. Then they can just go into your house with your permission and you will know that they were there.
18:55 Verge really, why did you let him swear and still show it, that was really unprofessional.
$250 WTF
How much is this?
This idea is great but I wouldn’t buy it .…. yet. There is still people out there that can easily hack these devices so Im going wait a few years until this hacking crisis calms down
William Luky you need to install this in your house and show me how cool this is! hahaha
As a Up coming locksmith… I don’t much like the idea of my business shrinking. However– You should know if it doesn’t work properly… well we’re gonna have a tool or device to open that sucker up.
So, just because you can open it from distance with No actual key- Scares me a bit as a normal person, not in a Job perspective. I can BUILD a Lock (Key one up) pretty nasty… knowing No one (including myself) will Pick it.
So, it’s just a bit scary and interesting thinking about it.
Hasn’t this kind of tech existed in Korea since the inception of Eat Your Kimchi
Thank!
Hacker now can get in my house
And find me in any part of the world
This sucks dude
Sometime old is better
The key under the fake rock
Better
to all those who are saying what happens if your phone battery dies or your phone breaks or gets stolen, that argument makes no sense since that can also happen with your keys which you can lose or break too. Smart locks aren’t an exact replacement for traditional keys. This is an add-on only.
Everything is improving before security comes, I can imagine these keys could be spoofed or stolen.
What if I lost my phone?
amazing video..kudos to The Verge and a great locking tool too.
This looks cool. I am not sure if I could ever go without having keys as a backup. Electronics fail, but keys don’t. They can get lost, but they never fail to work. Given the capabilities of hackers that is another concern. Hackers can’t hack a key.
This Lock only works in the usa in europe we have other door lock configuration do you think making your device compatible with these locks?
Can I unlock my door with the touch ID on my iPhone?
Did they do it for smart watches?
@The Verge what’s the name of the song at 0:23 ? Where can I get it?