Will.i.am’s Wink’s offering may have been released on Halloween, but there’s nothing uncanny about it. In fact, it’s rather run-of-the-mill.
Would you trust Will.i.am with the keys to your home?
Okay, maybe not, but under his leadership (after i.am+ acquired Wink back in July) the manufacturer is going all out on offering “affordable” security products. This may now seem to be getting a little bit Groundhog Day-esque, after all we’ve seen the likes of Nest, Ring and Samsung/ADT all vying to be the DIY option of choice for homeowner looking to branch out into smart security recently.
Wink’s Lookout security is the manufacturer’s latest offering to join its line-up of smart light bulbs and hubs incorporating both Alexa and Google Home support.
On the surface the range isn’t bringing a huge amount of innovation to what’s already on the market.
The system consists of a hub, three Z-Wave-enabled motion sensors (for doors and windows and ground-level sensing) and a siren/chime device. The siren/chime activates and flashes to warn users of any potential intruders.
It runs via the Wink mobile app which has been recently upgraded with a new-look interface. Actions available to the user include the ability to react to recent activity alerts, turn the siren on and off, open up a phone call to call an emergency service or simply call a contact.
The Lookout package is priced at the same level as Ring (making it cheaper than the likes of Nest) at $199 in the US, with individual parts also available for purchase separately. There is no word yet on integration with monitoring services or when the product may cross the Atlantic.