In all the hubbub around the smart home, we often talk about light bulbs, cameras, and other things that it's easy to tell a virtual assistant to act on. One thing that I see less often than others is the front door, rather the deadbolt that seals the entrance to your sanctum. One of the better brands for that, August's third-generation Smart Lock is currently on sale for the low price of $99, its lowest on Amazon.
Read MoreAugust Smart Lock drops to $94 ($56 off) on Amazon
Sometimes, I wish that I wouldn't have to get out of bed every night to make doubly sure that I locked the front door. Sometimes, I just wish I could roll over, pick up my phone, and check. Luckily for all of you like me, there are several options for smart locks on the market. And if you're looking for one, Amazon has a great deal on a third-gen August Smart Lock: $94, a very nice $55.99 off the MSRP.
Read MoreAugust can now unlock your door and announce visitors with Google Assistant
August, maker of smart door locks and doorbell cameras, has announced further integrations of its devices with Google Assistant — as well as some other features coming to Amazon Alexa and IFTTT. So if you have one of the company's products, or if you're considering them, you can now do more with voice commands and smart automations.
Read MoreAugust announces Alarm.com partnership to make its door lock even smarter
August's Smart Lock Pro is a popular option for those looking to add a connected front door lock to their smart home setup, and now it's getting even better thanks to a new partnership. Integrating with the Alarm.com platform opens August's lock up to a wide ecosystem of smart home security solutions including DSC, Interlogix, and Nortek.
Read MoreAugust and Schlage smart locks get new Alexa voice unlock skill
If you've been itching to unlock your Schlage or August door locks with Alexa, I have some good news for you. Both companies announced a new skill that allows you to do just that. Some of you might have security concerns about this, but both Schlage and August are quick to affirm that this system is, in fact, quite safe.
Read MoreGoogle Assistant now works with 5000 devices, direct Logitech Harmony and DISH control coming, security systems, and more
Support for the Google Assistant is ramping up from major and minor smart home device makers alike. It was only this January that we reported the Assistant had support for 1500 devices, but now that number has jumped, nay, soared to 5000 devices. Along with that happy threshold comes the news of many other upcoming integrations for our favorite smart home assistant.
Read MoreAugust's direct Google Assistant integration is official, includes DoorSense to see if your door is open or closed
August's door locks have been supported on Google Assistant (and thus Home) for a long time, but you had to voice your request as, "Ok Google, ask August to lock the door." That Actions on Google / Assistant Apps integration had a few drawbacks like being dependent on Voice Match and talking back to you in a different voice (you can read about its limitations in our ultimate Google Home guide). But about a month ago, we noticed that the August Home was showing up as a direct service under Home control, which meant that you didn't need to ask or tell or talk to August anymore, and it wasn't voice-dependent either (again, you can check the distinction between this and Assistant apps in our previously linked guide).
Read More[Deal Alert] August Smart Lock 2nd gen drops to $105.79 on eBay
Not having to carry or interact with a physical key is the new hip thing. Cars have had keyless entry and push-button start for years, and now Teslas can even be used with just a phone app. Smart locks for homes have been around for some time as well, and if you don't already have one, you might want to look into this deal on the August Smart Lock 2nd gen, which is now being offered for $105.79 via eBay.
The Best Of AP
[Deal Alert] August Smart Lock on sale for $139.99 ($90 off)
Making your home smarter might involve swapping in a connected thermostat that can save energy or adding a few cameras to keep an eye on things. But what about getting into the house? Smart locks are weirdly expensive, but the August smart lock is on sale today at a few retailers. It's $90 cheaper than usual, and you can get it in time for Christmas.
Read MoreMost Wanted: The best smart home products you can buy
One of the biggest trends in consumer technology over the last few years has been the rise of the smart home. The number of different device categories that now make up the 'Internet of Things' (IoT) has grown immensely, with connected appliances now found in many households across the US and beyond.
The smart home was once an expensive hobby for tech-fiends only but has now become an affordable aspiration for normal people. You can get started for less than $30 these days, with some lights or a smart switch that can connect to your Wi-Fi network and be controlled with your phone.
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