Monday, December 2, 2024
Archived Post

Ecobee announces Apple HomeKit-compatible Haven home monitoring platform

ecobee Inc. has announced Haven, an intelligent home monitoring platform that purportedly eliminates the need for keypads, programming and single-use devices. With the touch of a button, ecobee users can upgrade their SmartThermostat and SmartSensors into a frictionless solution, according to Stuart Lombard, founder and CEO of ecobee.

To further extend the capabilities of ecobee Haven throughout the home, the company also announced two exciting additions to the company’s hardware portfolio; the new ecobee SmartCamera with voice control, and the new ecobee SmartSensors for doors and windows.

ecobee’s new Autopilot feature is at the heart of Haven. Autopilot leverages the intelligence of all ecobee devices in the home to better understand user patterns and automatically adjust to fit their needs, according to Lombard. Whether it’s the camera automatically powering down via Autopilot when you arrive home, arming or disarming the alarm system or changing the temperature, Haven connects the dots “to bring harmony back to the home,” he adds.

By leveraging the power of geolocation and Wi-Fi connectivity ecobee Haven eliminates the need for a keypad and other challenging entry and exit devices so that you can go hands-free.. ecobee Haven also offers three monitoring settings: Armed, Armed-Stay and Disarmed. Customers can adjust which sensors participate in each setting to meet their specific needs.

Lombard says that, unlike other smart cameras that constantly send video to the cloud for processing, the ecobee SmartCamera with voice control is equipped with an 8-core processor and packed with enough processing power to eliminate cloud-based analysis, instead employing on-device analysis. Video clips are only shared to the cloud when the camera is armed and motion is detected. ecobee has also introduced mandatory two-factor authentication to guard SmartCamera users from unwanted third-party access.

With ecobee Haven, and the company’s new expanded hardware line, ecobee continues to sustain its open ecosystem approach. ecobee SmartCamera will enjoy immediate compatibility with Apple HomeKit Amazon Alexa with SmartThings and Google Assistant compatibility soon to follow. 

The ecobee SmartCamera with voice control lets you view your home from anywhere. With 1080p video, an expansive 180-degree field of view and Smart Focus, SmartCamera automatically pans and zooms. Plus, it keeps privacy paramount with automatic shut off when it detects family members arrive home.

The new ecobee SmartSensor for doors and windows extends ecobee Haven throughout your home. If a door or window opens and your home is in an armed state, you’ll receive a notification to keep you in control from anywhere. You can pair ecobee SmartSensors with SmartCamera or with an existing ecobee smart thermostat.

Beginning today, ecobee users can sign-up for a thirty-day free trial of Haven home monitoring by visiting ecobee.com/Haven or directly through the ecobee app. For those who wish to extend the power of Haven throughout their home, ecobee SmartCamera with voice control and ecobee SmartSensor for doors and windows will be available in bundles ranging from $99 to $699.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.