The number of accessories compatible with Apple’s HomeKit home automation framework has been slowly growing, with lighting accessories leading the way. Today we’re looking at a bright and colorful addition to the world of HomeKit: the US$79.95 Eve Light Strip (Amazon affiliate link). My compadre Dennis did a review of this accessory about two months ago, but we’re all about getting our readers the widest possible range of reviews for products.
Design
Light strips are a fun way to add lighting to locations you might not have considered in the past. LEDs are embedded into a flexible plastic strip that features a sticky-back material for attaching the strip onto walls or other surfaces. They’re useful for under-cabinet lighting, accent lighting behind a TV or behind a couch, or even in unique places like the bottom of stair banisters.
The Eve Light Strip comes in one length — 6.6 feet (2m), but can be shortened by cutting in designated places or lengthened up to 33 feet (10m) by adding extension kits (they’re $44.99 each, Amazon affiliate link). There’s a small AC adapter used to power the Light Strip included with the device.
Eve (formerly part of Elgato) is making sure that people are aware of the security issues of competing home automation products by pointing out that there is no cloud storage of personal information and that HomeKit is designed from the ground up to be secure.
To get a good mix of color, the strip uses three LEDs in each section. It does a pretty decent job of matching colors to the app.
Function
HomeKit accessories are incredibly easy to set up, and the Eve Light Strip was no exception. If you already own other Eve accessories like the Eve Energy Smart Plug ($47.99, Amazon affiliate link), you can use the Eve app or Apple’s Home app for setup.
The peel-and-stick backing on the Light Strip is strong and you’ll have no problems with the strip falling off the surface you stick it to. I decided to try the Light Strip as a desk light as the small light I have has always been insufficient. I ran the strip under the top of a hutch where it is hidden, and now I have plenty of light from the LEDs. I can even change colors on a whim, like green for St. Patrick’s Day (too late!) or a bright yellow-white for those dreary winter days.
° They’ll enter a highly competitive industry. Credit card issuers are chasing a relatively small group of customers who switch credit cards. In 2018, 11% of credit card customers reported that they switched to a different primary credit card in the past 12 months. The number one reason for switching cards is for a better rewards program, cited by 47% of customers.
° Apple has a strong brand and will be a good partner. Adoption of Apple Pay is low (7% of cardholders report that they use Apple Pay), so may not be enough incentive to get customers to switch. Banks have offered tools to help manage their money for years. Customers say they are interested in these tools, but few use them. However, customers who do use these tools are more satisfied. Marcus/Apple will need features that make using their new card with Apple Pay a better experience. Extra points for using Apple Pay could help. Cell phone protection, which is offered on other credit cards such as Barclays Uber Card, may be a good fit, but could conflict with the AppleCare Protection Plan.
° The new card will need to appeal to Millennials to succeed. Sixteen percent of Millennials have switched cards in the past year, so more are in the market for a new card. Seventy percent of Millennials already use mobile for the credit cards, and 16% are using Apple Pay, so innovative features tied to Apple Pay may appeal to some. Millennials are less likely than older customers to switch for a better rewards program (although it is still 35%) and are more likely to switch for better benefits, to avoid an annual fee and for lower interest rates.
