Items marked by the "August" tag:

We’re proud of our robust list of integration partners, helping you connect your locks to voice assistants, lights, alarm systems and even vacuums. Today, we’re pleased to announce DoorBird has joined our ranks! You can now connect any Wi-Fi connected August and Yale smart lock to a DoorBird IP Video Door Station for a seamless “approach to entry” experience.  The new integration works with the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, any August Smart Lock with a Wi-Fi Connect, and the Yale Assure Locks and Levers with Wi-Fi. Through the DoorBird app, you’ll have access to the following features:    Know who stopped by, even when you’re out: Easily integrated into your own home automation system through the DoorBird App, your DoorBird IP Video Door Station will allow you to monitor your front door, gate and/or garage door. With motion sensors and live in-app notifications when the doorbell is pressed, you’ll receive an alert whenever someone moves into the entrance area of your home. Grant access to visitors remotely: Whether it’s a neighbor, friend or family member, you’ll be able to have a two-way conversation with any visitor through the integrated DoorBird camera and DoorBird app. You’ll also be able to unlock your door from the same app from anywhere -- no more copied keys or inconvenient dashes home to let someone in. Never miss a delivery: Tired of missing packages or trying to outsmart porch pirates? Simply use the DoorBird app to greet and grant delivery personnel temporary access to your garage, front gate or hallway, ensuring packages are always safely delivered to your home while you’re away. Even if you’re at home most of the day, you can grant access from your desk or the couch for ultimate convenience.   We’re committed to bringing you the smoothest, safest home access experience, together with our partners.

With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, here at August we’re staying indoors and practicing “social distancing” to avoid getting sick or infecting others. While movement in and out of the home is limited right now, there are ways we can proactively protect those we live with — all starting with our front door. Here are a few ways you can do so: Go “contact-less” with deliveries Continue to support your local businesses and delivery workers by ordering out, but make sure you keep a safe distance. Many services like DoorDash, Caviar and UberEats have featured or added a “contact-less” option, allowing you to leave a picture of your door, note instructions for drop-off, or when they call, let them know they can leave your goods outside. While August normally allows easy, remote access for in-person deliveries, this social distancing version reduces contact between delivery staff and recipients and keeps both parties safe. For peace of mind, you can set up an August View doorbell camera to see your deliveries safely to the door and speak with delivery personnel right from your phone.  Keep door access clean and “hands-free” If/when you do need to go in and out, consider installing a smart lock for “hands-free” access. August’s and Yale’s Connected by August smart locks offer Auto-Unlock and Auto-Lock, keeping your hands off your phone and/or keys when you approach or leave your front door. We also recommend keeping wipes handy to sanitize both your outside and inside door handles. Minimize grocery store visits Be wise about how many people in your household shop, and how often. There’s no need to hoard, but also no need for everyone to run errands with you. Also consider getting groceries delivered – this limits your household’s own time outside, as well as supports the people of Instacart, Postmates, and the like. Let older/more at-risk people in your community know about this service in case they don’t already, too! Or better yet, offer to grab groceries for them. Sharing is caring. Support workers – whether or not they can work right now If possible, leave larger than usual tips for your delivery people. They are continuing to work in a challenging and uncertain time, and many of their jobs are affected. Or, consider leaving encouraging notes at your doors, we find that any sign of human kindness is appreciated. Don’t forget that many people who normally work in or around your house are now unable to do their jobs. Set up a payment plan or system for your dog walker, house cleaner, gardener, or tutor to help support them during this uncertain time.  What other steps are you taking to support your family and community while staying indoors? Sound off on our social media pages to let us know. Wishing you all good health and safety during this challenging time.

It’s time! The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is now available for purchase. Our new flagship lock comes equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi connection and a brand new compact design the size of a standard doorknob (thanks to August co-founder and renowned designer Yves Béhar). While smaller in size, it still sports the same robust feature set that includes remote access, automatic locking/unlocking, 24/7 monitoring, integration with leading voice assistants and security & hosting systems, easy retrofit installation (no deadbolt replacement required!), and adherence to strict security & privacy policies. So if your roommate constantly locks themselves out, or your family prefers contactless home access through auto-unlock or a voice assistant, this new smart lock is for you. Sized 45% smaller in volume and 20% slimmer than the August Smart Lock Pro -- and with no need for an extra Wi-Fi Connect Bridge -- the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock boasts a beautifully discreet and simple design. It also has a few subtle but valuable new design features. The lock’s face offers softer surface transitions and rounded edges, while the refined, textured ridges surrounding the lock invite tactility when the lock is manually rotated (the turning mechanism is smoother too). There is also a new August badge that visually helps users identify the device’s lock status. Upgrade your home and enable hands-free door access now.

Who stays in hotels anymore? AirBnB and HomeAway have made it easier than ever to feel right at home anywhere in the world. Whether you are making your home available to earn some extra money for your next vacation or maintain a property as a short-term rental, hosting can be a lot of work. This is especially true if you're renting out a property other than your primary residence. Here are three ways August Home products can help make hosting a hassle-free experience for you and your guests: Make check-in and check-out a breeze One of the most challenging things about short-term rentals is working around your guests' schedules. If they arrive at 4:00 a.m., that means a groggy greeting (probably still in fuzzy slippers) or leaving a key hidden under the doormat, which is not ideal or safe. Remove any inconvenience from the equation by giving your guests the freedom to check themselves in at their convenience - connect an August Smart Lock and August Smart Keypad to your property. By linking your August account to AirBnB or HomeAway, your guests will automatically receive temporary access to your home through the August app on their phone or through a unique entry code, good only for the duration of their stay. When they arrive they'll be able to walk right in and you'll get a notification on your phone indicating that they have arrived safe and sound. Key-free is the way to be Smart home technology gives guests' peace of mind just as much as it helps yours. In a recent study of AirBnB hosts and guests, Smarter Hosting with Smart Home Technology Study, guests said that losing the keys to a rental is one of their biggest worries. By turning your guest's smartphone into a smart key you'll not only keep your home safe, but also make their vacation more relaxing. Someone order a cleaning service? Need to get your property ready for your next reservation? Once your guests have checked out, you can provide the cleaning crew with temporary access to prepare the property for the next stay. With an August Smart Keypad linked to your August Smart Lock, you can create a one-time access code that's valid for just a few hours. Set up the code in advance or send it via text instantly. No need to get your hands dirty meeting the cleaning crew at the door to exchange keys, they'll be able to tidy up and be on their way in no time. More smart home tech, more money Going key-free for your guests not only makes it easier to manage check-in and check-out, it can also make your property more appealing to renters. In the same study of AirBnB hosts and guests, six out of 10 guests indicated that they would pay more for a vacation rental with smart home features and 82% of guests said they're more likely to complete their reservations when they see that smart home technology is available. Install your smart lock and update your listing and watch the bookings roll in.

Today we're announcing that Amazon Alexa now talks to the August Doorbell Cam. August Doorbell Cam users can ask, "Alexa, show me the front door" to watch live video of visitors or motion outside the door on any Amazon Echo Show. "It's great to delight customers by adding value to the products they already own and rely on as part of their daily lives. We added the ability to control the August Smart Lock with Alexa earlier this year, which has been extremely popular," said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home, Inc. "With the expansion of our Amazon Alexa skill, we are making it easier for our customers to control their Doorbell Cam. Now they can display video of visitors outside their door using their voice." Hanging out with family watching TV at night when the Doorbell Cam rings, ask Alexa to, "Show me the front door camera," to view live video at the door, conveniently from the comfort of the sofa. No need to reach for a smartphone to pull up the video. August Doorbell Cam customers can use Alexa to display video on an Amazon Echo Show by enabling the August skill within the Alexa app and linking their account. The ability to display August Doorbell Cam video on Echo Show is an expansion of the August Smart Home skill. August Smart Lock customers using the 1st generation or 2nd generation lock already use voice commands with Alexa-enabled devices to control their lock and check the lock status.  Availability & System Requirements The ability to control the August Doorbell Cam with Alexa is available immediately through the August Smart Home skill by pairing the August Doorbell Cam within the Alexa app.  

Today August Home announced August Video Recording, a companion to the August Doorbell Cam. The August Doorbell Cam lets customers see and speak with visitors at their door, from anywhere, using a smartphone. Users know who’s at the door, even when they’re not home. Motion detection triggers alerts whenever something is happening at the front door. August Video Recording lets users replay, download and share recordings of each interaction at the front door – visitors who ring the doorbell and any motion or missed visitor such as a package delivery, all from the August app. In conjunction with this announcement, current customers, as well as new customers who activate their Doorbell Cam by December 31, 2016, automatically receive six months of the new service free-of-charge. The service includes 30 days of video history. After the promotion, August Video Recording will be available for $4.99 a month or $49.99 for a one-year plan. “The launch of our Digital Video Recording service signals the end of our public Beta,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home Inc. “During the Beta, customers spent a significant amount of time reviewing motion-triggered, suspicious activities and viewing live, on-demand video to simply check what is going on outside their door. They shared videos of kids trick-or-treating for Halloween, and also package thieves stealing deliveries from their doorstep. This validated the power of our Doorbell Cam not only as a way to communicate with visitors remotely, but also as an important security tool.” Johnson continued, “Offering users six months of Digital Video Recording service for free is a way for us to thank our customers for their loyalty and encourage new customers to experience how smart security products like our Doorbell Cam will provide peace of mind and bring new convenience.” August Doorbell Cam The August Doorbell Cam is a Wi-Fi connected HD camera equipped with two-way audio and one-way video, giving a clear view of visitors from a smartphone, while ensuring privacy. Customer get alerts when motion is detected and can also view on-demand activity outside their door in real-time through the August app. The August Doorbell Cam seamlessly integrates with the August Smart Lock, by operating as a Bluetooth to Wi-Fi bridge so that users can unlock/lock their door to let visitors in from anywhere. The Doorbell Cam is easy to install and replaces an existing doorbell and wiring. August Smart Home Access Solution The August Smart Lock, August Smart Keypad and August Doorbell Cam, create the complete Smart Home Access solution allowing people to manage their front door from anywhere. The August Smart Lock turns a smartphone into a smart key where consumers can lock and unlock their door, create virtual keys for guests, and keep track of who comes and goes with a 24/7 activity log. The August Smart Keypad also lets users create unique entry codes for family, friends and service providers to unlock an August Smart Lock without a traditional key or smartphone. The August Doorbell Cam lets consumers see and speak with visitors at the door, from anywhere, using a smartphone. August Works With August products work in harmony with leading smart home brands to make life more simple and secure. August Works With partners including Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, Logitech, Nest and Xfinity Home.  

The Activity Feed in your August app just got a lot smarter. The new Activity Feed presents all of the activity that happens at your front door in a graphic timeline for a more contextual view. Additionally, users can now assign August Smart Keypad codes remotely. These features are available immediately for iPhone and Android users. Your Activity Feed Tells a Story Now when a series of events occur at the door, triggered by a specific user in the same time span, a “story” is automatically generated in the Activity Feed. All of the events are grouped together along with graphical icons representing the action, such as the door being unlocked using the August app or a 1-touch lock using the August Smart Keypad. Additionally, thumbnails of any images captured by the August Doorbell Cam or video from a Nest Cam connected to the August Smart Lock or Doorbell Cam are included in the Activity Feed. Tap a Doorbell Cam image thumbnail to open a larger image view or tap the “play” icon on a Nest Cam thumbnail to view an animation of the captured video from within any story. Assign Smart Keypad Entry Codes From Anywhere The August Smart Keypad lets users create unique entry codes for family, friends, a dog walker, handyman, or guest to unlock an August Smart Lock without a traditional key or smartphone. Now August Smart Lock users can create, update and delete entry codes for an August Smart Keypad, from anywhere. This new feature makes assigning access codes seamless, especially for Airbnb Hosts who frequently need to provide guest access. Assigning codes remotely requires an August Doorbell Cam or August Connect to connect the Bluetooth August Smart Lock lock to Wi-Fi.

Today we are announcing that our popular August Smart Lock is the first smart lock skill to launch on Alexa-enabled devices. Amazon Echo users can now ask Alexa to lock the front door or check if the door is locked from anywhere. “As the first smart lock to support Alexa-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo, we are giving consumers a whole new level of convenience with a hands-free way to control the front door,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home Inc. “Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices have captivated consumers with the ability to integrate voice into the smart home. We share Amazon’s vision of delighting consumers with awesome experiences. This marks the first announcement in an ongoing relationship we have with Amazon.” “We’re excited to work with August to expand our smart home capabilities by launching an Alexa skill for Smart Lock, the first ever Alexa-enabled Smart Lock,” said Charlie Kindel, Director Amazon Alexa Smart Home. “The Alexa smart home category has been tremendously popular with our customers, and continues to grow with great developers such as August introducing new Alexa capabilities, showcasing the benefit of hands-free, voice control throughout the home.” August Smart Lock customers using the 1st generation or 2nd generation lock can begin using Alexa by enabling the August Smart Lock skill within the Alexa app. Using the August Smart Lock with Alexa-enabled devices also requires the August Connect Wi-Fi bridge to connect the Bluetooth lock to Wi-Fi.

Today we are announcing a new integration with Nest enabling the August Doorbell Cam to work in sync with the Nest Cam to detect and record motion activity inside and outside the front door. Now, both camera views are available together in the August app for a more contextual view of motion activity and greater peace of mind over the security of the home. “Video is a powerful aspect of smart security in the connected home. The integration with Nest lets our Doorbell Cam and Nest Cam work together to bridge the gap between activity happening inside and outside the home,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home Inc. “As we evolve the August Home experience for customers, we will continue to work with leading smart home innovators like Nest to bring Smarter Home Access to life.” The August Doorbell Cam lets consumers see and speak with visitors at their door, from anywhere, using a smartphone. Nest Cam is an easy-to-use Wi-Fi-enabled security camera with cloud service that lets people stay aware of what’s happening at home, no matter where they are. August Doorbell Cam and Nest Cam work together to show Nest Cam video animations that happen just before or after a visitor rings the doorbell. This includes any information about Activity Zones that have been created to tell Nest Cam to pay closer attention to motion in specific areas. Users can now see the video activity as one complete view, all from the August app. The August Smart Lock already works with Nest Cam and the Nest Learning Thermostat. Users can view a video animation taken from Nest Cam each time someone enters or exits the home. Users can also set the status of their Nest Thermostat to Home or Away each time the door is unlocked or locked and view the temperature from the August App.

“Hey Siri, is my door locked?” Today, August Home begins shipping its 2nd generation Smart Lock, featuring HomeKit support. The new Smart Lock includes the ability to use Siri™ to lock or unlock doors and check the status of doors using voice commands including “Siri, lock my door,” on an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch and 4th generation AppleTV. The August Smart Lock HomeKit enabled is available immediately at automatednow.com for $229 USD. The 2nd generation Smart Lock is also compatible with third-party HomeKit apps including Insteon+, Lutron and iDevices that can be set up to turn on or off lights and appliances as the door is locked or unlocked. “We are committed to providing value by partnering with companies such as Apple to deliver the features our customers are asking for, including HomeKit integration and support for Siri voice commands,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home Inc. “We will continue to develop best-in-class products and partner with leading smart home companies to add convenience to consumer’s daily lives and new smart security features that are an essential element of the connected home.” The August Smart Lock 2nd generation has a modified industrial design with a magnetic faceplate to easily access the battery compartment and HomeKit code, new micro-patterns to improve grip and rotation of the lock and a slim, chrome indicator at the top of the device so users can visually see if the door is locked or unlocked. The August Smart Lock HomeKit enabled is part of the August Smart Home Access System, which also includes the August Doorbell Cam and August Smart Keypad.

Controlling your August Smart Lock is now more convenient than ever. We’re excited to release a new version of the August iOS app that makes it possible to control your August Smart Lock with your Apple Watch. Features include: Lock and Unlock Your August Smart Lock – initiate a lock or unlock from your Apple Watch with just a swipe and a tap. View Your Lock’s Most Recent Activity – view a log of who has entered or exited your home and when, right on your wrist. Receive Instant Notifications – get real time notifications when your door is unlocked so you have peace of mind.   To start controlling your August Smart Lock from your Apple Watch: Download and install the most recent August app on your iPhone Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone Select August and turn on “Show App on Apple Watch” and “Glances”