Ring Smart Lighting system launches at CES 2019 one year after the acquisition of Mr. Beams, maker of quasi-connected outdoor lighting products that Ring is IoT-enabling. Why the proprietary RF and bridge?
Julie Jacobson
Julie Jacobson is founding editor of CE Pro, the leading media brand for the home-technology channel. She has covered the smart-home industry since 1994, long before there was much of an Internet, let alone an Internet of things. Currently she studies, speaks, writes and rabble-rouses in the areas of home automation, security, networked A/V, wellness-related technology, biophilic design, and the business of home technology. Julie majored in Economics at the University of Michigan, spent a year abroad at Cambridge University, and earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a recipient of the annual CTA TechHome Leadership Award, and a CEDIA Fellows honoree. A washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player, Julie currently resides in San Antonio, Texas and sometimes St. Paul, Minn. Follow on Twitter: @juliejacobson
Julie Jacobson's Latest Posts
Dumb Old Low-Voltage Landscape Lights? New Ring Transformer Makes Them Smart
Launched at CES 2019, Ring’s new low-voltage transformer adds IoT to old landscape lighting for control via home-automation app.
Tuya at CES 2019: Biggest IoT Framework U.S. Has Never Heard Of
Chinese home-automation giant Tuya powers more than 100 million smart-home products and is taking the U.S. IoT market by storm, starting at CES 2019.
The Very First Z-Wave 700 Series Home-Automation Product
At CES 2019, Sensative shows flat “Strips” sensor with new 700 Series chipset, boasting 10-year battery life; Silicon Labs shows Z-Wave on Wireless Gecko.
Bluetooth Takes Next Big Step in Becoming a Home-Automation ‘Standard’
Bluetooth Mesh vies to become next big home-automation standard with new Smart Home SIG and application-layer development, backed by Xiaomi, Alibaba and 60 other IoT companies.
Dish Gets Native Google Assistant for Voice Control, Home Automation
Dish already works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control, but now adds native Google for seamless A/V control and home automation via the TV remote. Demo’ing at CES 2019 at the Google booth.
Arlo Launches New Security, Home Automation Hub with Proprietary ArloRF
Arlo chases Nest Secure, Ring Alarm, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, Amazon and other IoT giants with new security system and home automation ‘SmartHub’ with proprietary RF technology. Launches at CES 2019.
Where are all the Home Automation Standards at CES 2019?
The IoT and home-automation standards have been pretty quiet around CES 2019, but Z-Wave, ZigBee, OCF (Iotivity), Thread, DECT ULE and others will be there — some more conspicuous than others.
Legrand’s Radiant Collection is First-Ever OCF-Certified Smart Lighting
In time for CES 2019, Legrand has the first smart lights certified for the Open Connectivity Foundation’s (OCF) device-discovery and -connectivity standard via Samsung Artik.
Judge Rules J Geiger Lawsuit Against Lutron on Motorized Shades Can Proceed
Judge rules J Geiger motorized shades trade-dress design lawsuit versus Lutron can moved forward, but denies ‘unjust enrichment’ claim.
Bose Ventures Made Some Really Interesting Moves in 2018: AR & Wellness
Iconic audio company Bose invested big in augmented reality and health & wellness in 2018, with smart glasses, walking tours and SleepBuds.
Top 2018 Home Tech Mergers & Acquisitions: IoT, Security, Smart Home, A/V, CE
2018 was big for mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, spinoffs, and other transactions in home electronics, including IoT, smart home, lighting, security, audio/video, wellness and the installer channel.
