The IT Nerd

Pushing the boundaries of design and technology, the Obsidian — the latest addition to Weiser’s line of smart locks — is a slim, modern and key-free lock that will keep your home secure while adding a flashy new element of style to its look.

The Obsidian, introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 in Las Vegas, is the lowest profile smart lock in the industry, with a dark, sleek touchscreen that pushes the boundaries of design in the touchpad and touchscreen lock category. Obsidian will be available for purchase in Spring 2017. With the introduction of Obsidian, Weiseroffers consumers a sleek, modern smart lock that completely eliminates the need for traditional keys.

Features of the Obsidian include:

• Low-Profile Design: Obsidian is the only key-free, low profile smart lock in the industry. Projecting less than an inch off the door, Obsidian is an aesthetically pleasing smart lock option that delivers convenience and security.
• Convenient Touchscreen: Obsidian features a convenient responsive exterior touchscreen that quickly illuminates upon touch for faster code entry. The illuminated screen reveals a crisp white LED display designed for both day and night lighting.
• Patented Security: Obsidian’s touchscreen exterior features SecureScreen™ technology, helping prevent against unwanted entry using patented security features. With SecureScreen™, users are prompted to touch two random numbers before entering their access code as to encourage fingerprints across the screen.
• Standalone Home Access: Obsidian will also be available as a standalone smart lock, giving homeowners key-free convenience.

Obsidian is available for purchase for the suggested retail prices of $239.99.

In about the time it takes to watch a TV show, homeowners across Canada can reduce the risk of home burglary with a quick do-it-yourself home security audit checklist. Weiser, Canadian makers of residential locksets and door hardware, is urging home owners and renters to perform an annual home security audit this November to reinforce their home protection measures and better prevent a possible burglary from occurring.

Physical Security:

• Windows and doors: Check all points of entry to your home and ensure that doors and windows fully shut and lock. Keep windows locked and ensure that your front, back and side doors have functioning deadbolt locksets. Sliding doors and windows can also be reinforced with a bar placed in the tracks to prevent them from sliding open. Garage doors and doors from the garage to the house should always be closed and locked at all times.
• Fences: Check all fences bordering your property and look for any rotted posts and loose boards. Check your gate hardware as well and ensure that the gate fully closes and latches shut.
• Locksets and keys: Do a quick inventory of who has keys to your house. If you can’t remember who you gave keys to, or if you have recently moved in, consider changing your exterior door locks. This is a quick DIY job and gives you peace of mind knowing that you are the only person who has access to your home.
• Outdoor lighting: Check all outdoor light bulbs to ensure they function and test the range and sensitivity of any motion sensor lights that you may have. Double check that they are also positioned to shine in dark areas – especially back and side doors.

Protecting valuables:

• Curtains: Do you have curtains and if so, do you close them when you’re not home? Open curtains allow everyone to see what you have in your house.
• Safe: Consider storing valuables in a fireproof safe, including important documents and emergency money. Not only does it help to prevent theft, it protects documents in case of a fire. Consider hiding some valuables in spots no one would think of looking but don’t forget where you hid them!
• Valuables list: For insurances purposes, you may want to make a list of all of your valuables, including model, make and serial number. Keep this list somewhere safe, or even better, on the cloud, such as Google Drive, so you can access it from anywhere and at any time.
• Yard maintenance: In the winter, a sidewalk that goes unshoveled for a couple days makes it look like no one is home. Ask a neighbour to shovel your sidewalk and walk-way if you are planning to be away. This goes the same for collecting newspapers and mail and cutting grass and raking leaves in the warmer months.

Weiser, manufacturer of smart lock products that are made for the world you live in, has officially unveiled Kevo 2^nd Gen. The smart lock provides the same trusted touch-to-open smart lock experience available in Kevo 1 Gen teamed with a refined user experience, sleeker design and added security.

Kevo 2^nd Gen represents the best smart lock option on the market today for homeowners and boasts a flexible platform in terms of compatibility with other smart home products to ensure homeowners can easily upgrade to a smarter home.

What’s New for Kevo 2^nd Gen?

• Refined User Experience: Homeowners can begin using Kevo 2^nd Gen within minutes of unboxing the smart lock. The lock offers homeowners the industry’s first in-app and interactive installation experience and eliminates user-initiated calibration.
• Improved Design: Kevo 2^nd Gen boasts a sleek, all-metal interior with a dramatically reduced interior size, making the smart lock more durable and stylish than its first generation predecessor.
• Advanced SmartKey Security: Kevo 2^nd Gen features the latest version of the Weiser patented SmartKey security. The advanced SmartKey security provides strong resistance against forced entry techniques, passes the most stringent lock-picking standards (UL 437, par 11.6 & 11.7) and utilizes BumpGuard to prevent lock bumping. SmartKey also allowshomeowners to reset their security by re-keying their locks quickly and easily; rendering lost, loaned or unreturned keys useless. Kevo 2^nd Gen will be the first Weiser smart lock available for purchase with the latest SmartKey security.
• Easy Home Management through eKeys: Easily manage home access for family, friends and guests using the eKeys in the Kevo app developed by UniKey Technologies.
• Anytime eKey holders have unlimited locking and unlocking capabilities
• Unlimited Guest eKeys allow Kevo users to send free, unrestricted access with a guest for a 24 hour period
• Scheduled eKeys allow Kevo users to set repeating date and time constraints for the eKey prior to sharing with the guest, perfect for babysitters or dog walkers
• Flexible Platform: Kevo 2^nd Gen is engineered to integrate with a wide range of smart home products to ensure homeowners can easily configure a smarter home.
• Nest Learning Thermostat: Trigger home temperature adjustments and energy savings with Nest Learning Thermostat by locking or unlocking Kevo
• Ring Video Doorbell: Sync the two industry-leading devices, Ring and Kevo, to secure and control your entire entryway
• Honeywell Total Connect Comfort Wi-Fi Thermostats: Seamlessly connect Kevo to compatible Honeywell thermostats to enable greater energy saving potential with each lock or unlock of Kevo
• Android Wear: Lock or unlock Kevo directly from an untethered Android Wear device, like Moto360 smart watch, for on-the-go convenience

Kevo 2^nd Gen also supports remote access capabilities with the Kevo Plus upgrade. Kevo Plus establishes direct, online connectivity to Kevo 2^nd Gen, allowing users to lock and unlock Kevo 2^nd Gen from their smart device from anywhere in the world if connected to the Internet.

Kevo 2^nd Gen will be available in 2016 at select retailers. For additional information about Kevo 2^nd Gen, please visit Weiserlock.com.

Weiser has just released an Android app for its Bluetooth-enabled smart lock, Kevo. The app will allow Android users with compatible devices to experience full functionality of Kevo previously only available to iOS users.

The Kevo Android app is available for download from the Google Play store to select Android devices that support Android 5.0 Lollipop (L) software. Compatible devices include Samsung’s current flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S5, Nexus 6 phone and Nexus 9 tablet. Kevo Android allows users the same functionality available to iOS users including touch-to-open convenience, electronic key (eKey) management and Kevo Works with Nest compatibility.

For more information about the Kevo Smart Lock, please visit www.weiserlock.com/en/Kevo/default.aspx.

Now available for pre-order, Kevo is the first deadbolt intelligent enough to communicate with a smartphone and unlock with a simple touch. This technology is so convenient that the user doesn’t even need to remove the smartphone from their pocket or purse when unlocking their door. The one-of-a-kind Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt allows for an entirely new interface for keys, using the latest Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 technology. The Kevo mobile app turns a smartphone into an electronic key (eKey) and allows the deadbolt to recognize and respond quickly to the touch of a finger, all while communicating seamlessly with the Kevo app in the background of the smartphone.

Kevo is compatible with smartphones that support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0 and have the Kevo mobile app installed. The app is currently available for iPhone 4S and 5, as well as the fifth generation iPod touch, third generation or higher iPad and iPad mini. The app will become available for additional devices, pending software upgrades to support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0. App development for Android and Blackberry is currently underway.

Kevo is engineered for both maximum security and technology performance. Kevo uses multiple levels of encryption to increase digital security, while also being tested to some of the most stringent lock picking and physical security standards. The lock contains Weiser’s patented SmartKey re-key technology, which provides superior security and re-key convenience unlike any other smart lock on the market.

To learn more about the Kevo technology, visit Weiserlock.com/kevo. You can also pre-order Kevo for delivery in October from there as well.