Garage Door Beacon

The Garage Door Beacon is a novel product that effectively brings your automatic garage door into the 21st century.

Using Bluetooth as it's communication protocol, the Garage Door Beacon has successfully integrated this modern disruptive technology into the everyday use for all the family.

Many homeowners across America enjoy automatic garage door openers for ease in entering premises or simply garaging your vehicles.

Using a small product like the Garage Door Beacon, enables a simple connection to your existing automatic door opener and can be set using the Bluetooth technology to authorise individual operators via individual PIN codes.

Now, it is quite well known that garage doors are not the most secure points of entry to any dwelling, however the incidence of failing remotes, non-functional external keypads and other operability problems continue to be a source of business for repairers and is likely to not stop anytime soon.

But with the multitude of products becoming available in increased numbers today, thanks to the current technology age we are in, consumers need to be vigilant and investigative to keep up on the latest products and the quality they offer.

This is why simple to install products like the Garage Door Beacon, that are hardwired to your existing power supply, offer a quality access control solution that is long lasting, sheltered from the elements, easy to setup and install and best of all intrinsically native to operate.

With smartphone apps in both Apple and Google app stores, this is almost a no-brainer for anyone who owns a home with an automatic garage door and/or a modern smartphone.

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Skybell - New Alternative To The Classic Doorbell

I have written about other versions of doorbells over the last few years, but as yet have not found the simple yet intuitive device that might solve the demands of many. Until now, that is.

The product featured in the video above, is a new product designed and built in the USA. Of simple construction and occupying a small footprint, the Skybell is designed to replace many of the common doorbells found on most of our homes.

Intercom systems have been around for about 50 years now and intercoms that include a video feed have been around for about 15 years. The technology required to build a long lasting video intercom product, has been evolving and improving frequently.

Skybell allows for connection to a home wifi system and can be viewed wirelessly on almost any wifi connected device. Your iPhone, your Android, your Mac, your Windows PC all can connect to this smart device, enabling your ability to see and hear the person at your door.

App controlled by your smart device, you can greet the person at your door, from the comfort of your current location, without physically answering the door.

What separates this from other "wireless" devices is that it actually connects to your mains. That means you never need to replace batteries.

Currently in crowdfunding mode, I expect this device to take off and finally we may have the appropriate product, so many inquirers are searching for.

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August Smart Lock - Not So Smart

End of May last year we wrote an article about the August Smartlock that has seen a great many pageviews.

I just came across an article in The New York Times written by an author who has been using their August lock for a little while and found some difficulties.

In the article the author suggests that people dont really need to invest sometimes hundreds of dollars for a battery powered door lock that has obvious shortcomings like battery life, proximity issues and no wifi connectivity. Without explaining the pro's of keyless entry systems, he has more or less tossed many of the current crop of similar gadgets on to the waste pile as not as secure or convenient as one might have expected.

He did explain the obvious benefits of the product, easy to install, giving temporary key access to friends or strangers etc.

And the product, similar to the Lockitron in it's intended use, does look good.

Reading through many of the comments to the article, shows that many people are looking for another kind or style of product instead.

Coming Soon - Auto-Magnetic Latching Lock with wireless release option!

View the New York Times article in the source below.

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Smartphones To Open Doors For World's Biggest Lock Company As It Eyes Deal With Telcos

Assa Abloy is the world's largest lock manufacturing company.

Last year alone it made more than $300 million, across multiple different manufacturers.

There has been a continual, albeit modest push to introduce more and more electronic smartphone enabled lock systems across their diverse range of products. 

technology companies like Samsung, Apple and Google have been at the forefront of research and development of all things smartphone, ever since Google beat Apple to market with the first Android mobile operating system.

Many startups have entered the market, touting their own novel products aimed at the residential home security market.

Products like Lockitron, August Lock, Yale Real Living and Schlage or Kwikset Z wave, to name but a few.

The automobile industry has long used the transponder chip technology to better secure our cars and trucks, but the residential entry door market has lagged behind this disruptive technology, only due to the issue relating to electricity.

You see, the reason electronic technologies work on vehicles is because vehicles already use batteries to start, run and power vehicle systems.

Most doors in a dwelling are free standing and most often NOT connected to a power source. This has lead to a surge in the number of battery powered products, like the brands listed above, entering the market. The primary drawback with these products, is the need to constantly be replacing batteries on the units to maintain operability.

There are many dwellings that use electric strikes and hardwired electric lock systems, but that technology, even though it has been around for over 100 years, is expensive to install and consequently maintain.

The market is heating up and demanding better electronic technology for use in our homes, but there has been little productive solutions to the issue of the lack of power.

Whereas the market will continue to develop and no doubt grow, I just cannot conceivably fathom the perfect or best solution to this power predicament. When the power dilemma finally gets solved, perhaps electronic and smartphone technologies will provide a benefit to us home owners who dont want to spend the required arm and leg to hard wire our doors, when a totally mechanical, environmentally friendly, green mechanical key operated hardware solution continues to provide ultimate comparative security and convenience for our homes.

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Noke - Futuristic Padlock Controlled With Your Smartphone

Kickstarter is well known for being the breeding ground of new ideas. A service where anyone can source funding for almost any kind of project.

Access to capital funding is the most difficult and often stressful issue hampering inventors from proceeding with their ideas. Sure there are wealthy entrepreneurs, who do support ideas from time to time, usually at significant cost to the inventors. Until crowd-sourcing became the new accepted method for sourcing capital, funding took the form of painful, often laborious effort and mountains of paperwork required to prepare and very often resulted in a rejection.

The Noke Bluetooth Padlock is an example of yet another inspirational idea designed to make use of smartphone technology in attempt to make life easier.

Simply pair the padlock with your Bluetooth smartphone for easy and controllable access. This is a system designed to do away with mechanical keys (that I believe is a fundamental mistake).

Removing a mechanical, physical key from a padlock, may seem like a logical step in increasing access control capabilities, but what happens when the internal battery runs down? How do you get your padlock open?

Any electronic product, especially wireless products are open to hacking far more easily than a suitably protected high-security restricted mechanical physical key. Mechanical, physical keys have been used for centuries because they provide quality security protection that is virtually cost-less to run.

A green minded consumer will recognize that the benefits of a non-powered product. The life expectancy of a mechanical product is usually significantly longer than almost any wireless powered product available today.

Will this product take off? Probably, but consumers who desire proper security that lasts, is generally maintenance free and does not require an engineering or electronics degree to understand, will continue to protect the marketplace for many years to come, I suspect.

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After Almost 2 Years Of Patiently Waiting - It Is Here Finally!

Well, after 2 years of patiently receiving updates from the company, of unexpected delays, of production issues, of inferior components, of re-coding of software, our Crowd-Funded Lockitron product has finally arrived.

We received a 3-pack, in Bondi Blue, Obsidian Black and Pearl White.

We will attempt to video the unboxing of the product in a later post and hopefully capture the installation to an apartment door  on video soon too.

We already have 2 units sold to customers (who we are please have waited patiently for almost 2 years for this product, that they will be able to use with their iPhones) and hopefully (if the product lives up to the hype) receive significant more orders in future.

GoKey - Battery Backup, Smartphone Charging, Bluetooth Finder, Sync Cable - The All In One

GOkey Indiegogo Campaign Video from Go Devices, Inc. on Vimeo.


A new product has recently started funding on a crowdsourcing page that might be the extra boost many of us smartphone users are challenged with.

Check out the video above and see why this is yet another idea that makes our lives a little bit easier.

It does look a little bulky, I think. And given that many car keys on our keyrings are recommended to not carry extra weight (thanks GM), I'm not sure this really appeal to the masses.

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ChargeKey - iPhone, iPad, Android Charger To End Them All

The Chargekey by Nomad, is a beautifully produced and high quality mobile device charger that has recently gone on sale in the USA and Europe.

This intelligent creation provides that ever necessary accessory that we (who use smart devices) seek to have accessible at all times.

I see it everyday. Many people out and about using their phones but forgetting to bring their spare charging cable with them.

Dont worry, now you just connect it to your keyring (that is if you still carry a keyring?!?).

$29.00

But where do we plug it in? Why are there not more USB ports around the place?
Actually there are some establishments that I know of in my area that offer USB ports connected to power allowing you to bring your own charging cable to recharge your smart device on the fly (more on that in another article).

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Dormi - Dont Throw Away your Old Android When You Update, Use It As A Baby Monitor or Security Listening Device

Dormi is a product for the modern era. Y'know, most of us who use smartphones, update them every 2 years at the end of our contract.

There are recycle programs out there, but why not, instead of disposing of, selling or recycling your old phone keep using it but as a baby monitor (or any listening device actually).

Dormi is an app for Android that does exactly that. All that is required is to download the app to 2 Android devices and pair them.

There is no need to have a telephone network connection on your old phone because Dormi uses the WiFi feature built into most existing Android phones. so there is no extra phone line cost involved.

The added ability to communicate back with your child, if necessary means you may not even have to get up and tend them.

Unobtrusive and silent, it works in the background oblivious to the surroundings. It may even make a potentially secret listening device if you so desire.

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Carlock - iPhone And Android Vehicle Tracker Made Simple

 Trust the Europeans to come out with a sensational smartphone compatible product that enables real time GPS tracking of your most prized possession - your vehicle.

This absurdly intelligent idea to use the OBD (on board diagnostic) port, found on just about every modern day vehicle and connect a small (almost hidden) dongle that operates on the GSM network (AT&T or TMobile), install the appropriate app from either Apple iTunes or Google Play and you suddenly have a super intelligent vehicle monitor.

The system works using the GSM (Global System for Mobiles) telephone network, where the dongle houses a mini SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card that you can purchase from AT&T or T Mobile on a prepaid plan.

 Plug the dongle into your OBD port, usually located under your dash and it receives its power from there.

Install the appropriate app from your network provider to your iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S running on both iOS 6 or iOS 7 platforms. Android 4.0 smartphones and up.


Currently available across the European Union, the plan is to release the product to the USA and Latin American markets toward the end of 2014.

The product is designed to work straight out of the box, which means no learning curve is necessary for any person to install, use and operate the Carlock. Because the product is plugged into the vehicles OBD port, it constantly trickle charges the built in battery, yet doesnt affect any of the vehicles operating systems. 

The product will come with a 2 year warranty. See the source below.

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Clay - Introducing Cloud Controlled Wireless Access Control

Clay are proudly introducing a Salto inspired access control solution across Europe, the UK and Australia.

This intelligent access control solution will work with just about any type of mortise or rim lock, narrow style frames and padlocks.

The intelligence of the Salto systems is being heralded across the world as the new frontier in keyless access control solutions.

We say keyless, although you still need to carry a fob, if you are an authorized entrant. Remote control from any platform, be it Android, Apple iOS, Windows, Linux etc allows for cross platform operation that minimizes inconvenience, allows you to use an app to control your systems so that you can still let in your technician or plumber or anyone you choose, without actually being at the location yourself.

There is a fabulous video on the company's site that I encourage all to view, to better understand how it works. Visit the website in the source below.

Salto, have been mentioned in this blog before and are slowly becoming a major player in the hotel arena and other industries intent on maximizing control of their locking hardware systems.

The intelligence is in the handle not the lock and because of this, there are many options available to the customer.

We anticipate becoming a local dealer of the fabulous Salto - Inspired Access Control systems in the near future. We have already recommended numerous enquirers and owners of CISA hotel access control systems to upgrade to Salto. (No word on the North American release dates)

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Bilock Pinner App Now Available On Google Play Store

Tony Steward is a very talented colleague from Australia. A master locksmith in his own right, Tony is well respected among his peers as an innovator and technical wizard in the locksmith field.

I recently downloaded his newest application for my Android device that helps to design and create simple Bilock key systems. The app is simply designed, easy to use and explains the loadings for each core.

Any Bilock dealer in the world will instantly recognize the value in this simple to use application available in the source below.

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Kwikset Kevo - Bluetooth Enabled Deadbolt

Kwikset are soon to release (October 31st, 2013) a new version of their electronic deadbolt entry system.

Called Kevo, this new product is especially designed with an included Bluetooth transceiver, enabling hands free and wireless key-free access control to residences.

In keeping with other modern electronic deadbolt systems, Kwikset have chosen to include their patented Smartkey technology cylinders into the key portion of the lock.

It is quite well understood across the locksmith and residential security products markets that the Kwikset Smartkey products have some inherent faults that render the security of their products, ineffective. We have mentioned in this blog before and repeatedly about some of these faults and issues. We receive a significant and increasing number of hits to this site about Kwikset Smartkey Problems. Recently an issue has surfaced that allows the locks to be bypassed with absolutely no visible damage to the mechanism, without picking or bumping the locks.

We include a video of this new product after the jump...

Firstwatch Securemote - Advanced Bluetooth Garage Entry Product

Residential and Commercial security products is my main focus in business, but products that provide convenience and security while being aesthetically pleasing is very rare, indeed.

The Securemote product by First Watch Security  is one such device that is making waves through the residential security market.

The product is an advanced Bluetooth controller that is designed to connect alongside your existing automatic garage door or gate and provide authorised access control from most modern smartphones.

Intelligently designed with the home owner in mind, the product shines where previous entrants failed.
View the video after the jump for more information and a simply explained installation and programming guide.

New Window Film Offers Smartphone Controllable Shading

 We have discussed security film here before and we also sell and install the high quality Shattergard product made by Global Security Products. The Shattergard product is the type of product that strengthens glass windows making them significantly harder to smash, thereby increasing the security of your premises without detracting from the ambience of your living areas.

Sonte are a company that have recently introduced a long sought for solution for transition windows. Transition windows are windows that include the ability to alter the opaqueness of the window. This enables you to have a clear see through window and change it yourself to provide privacy.

There are companies that make dedicated windows that can be transitioned from clear (see through) to frosted (privacy mode) but they are very expensive and time consuming to install.

The pictures here display the difference between clear and frosted look.

Sonte have taken technology further than the dedicated transitioning glass companies and produced a window film product that enable you to apply the same transitioning technology to existing windows, but using your smartphone as the controller. (See the installation video after the jump)

August Lock - A New Bluetooth Key System

This is the August Lock Adaptor. It is a product similar in concept to the Lockitron product we have mentioned before here.

This classy looking gadget works similarly to the Lockitron product, using Bluetooth to pair with your selected mobile handset.

This is an add on product that installs to the inside of your existing deadbolt lock. It offers convenient keyless access to your entry. It is designed to work with many existing brands of single cylinder deadbolt locks.

Similar to the much touted Lockitron product (which is currently 6 months overdue for release), you simply replace the inside turn button with the August Bluetooth adaptor. The product works just like your existing turnbutton.

Here you can see a depiction of what it will look like on the inside of your door.

Once programmed, you can invite selected users to use their personal phone to access your door. No more handing out keys or worrying about surreptitious duplication.

The product uses a proximity sensor to detect an authorised user's presence and automatically unlocks the lock.

It is important to remember that this is only designed for the deadbolt. many people also use a locking handle or knob on their entry doors. If you do use a locking knob, the August product becomes irrelevant.

Realistically, locking knobs are not a secure product anyway and often the only real security you have on your door is through the use of a deadbolt lock.

While the merits of keyless entry are obvious, I think that many people will forget to lock the door as they exit, leaving your property unsecured.

Other features of this product include notifications (logs) of entry and exit that you can view on your computer or mobile phone.

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Shloosl - Duplicating Keys Made Fun And Convenient using Your Cell Phone Camera

Shloosl is an interesting idea that has been created by some designers in San Francisco, California.

Shloosl are not locksmiths and state as much on their website. They are simply a key duplication service. They completely recommend you to visit your local locksmith for all things lock and key related.

The way it works is.

1. Hold the key in your hand, in front of an untextured wall or table

These are great pictures

2. Take a sharp picture of the entire key from about 4 inches away

Focus the camera on the blade. Capture the entire key, including the head.

3. Email pictures to keys@shloosl.com

Send the highest resolution available. Send several pictures just in case.Hint: if you're viewing this page on your phone, click the link above and attach photos to the email.

Of course, there is no better method than taking your key to a professional local locksmith, but sometimes you either dont have the time or the desire to hunt around to find one near you or, reputeable locksmiths that do quality work may be few and far between.

I am a little dubious as to the quality of this product offering, primarily because many keys offered for duplication to locksmiths are already quite worn and often difficult to decipher accurately by photo.

Plus, a significant quantity of key duplicators (like the ones found in hardware stores) are rarely adjusted for accuracy. Most locksmiths, like me, regularly re-allign our machines to have them continually optimized for correct and accurate key cutting.

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Yale Digital Door Locks - Integrated Into SEOS By Assa-Abloy

In September last year, we wrote an article about SEOS, the new access control solution from Assa-Abloy that incorporates NFC (near field communications) into modern access control systems for hotels, institutions, hospitals, dorms, high-rise office buildings and large department companies.

This brilliant system (SEOS) now includes their NFC chips in Yale Digital Door Locks.

We recently learned that this exciting new development will enable more keyless entry solutions for even the average homeowner.

The ability to send a temporary access code to anyone, will avoid the homeowner from requiring to be present for that specialty tradesperson. No more 4 hour windows for arrival by the cable technician.

The Yale deadbolt presented in the video below shows the connectibility to a rim mounted lock system, like the ones used on push bar, panic exit devices that many Authorities Having Jurisdiction require for public dwellings (kindergartens, aged care homes, medical surgeries etc)

Doorbot - The Best Doorbell I Have Seen Yet

Doorbot is an intelligent product that will make life so much easier for homeowners.

There are many search inquiries by people looking for a wireless peephole and in the past we have written some articles that have shown different ideas and products available around the world.

We posted about the fabulous Lockitron wireless deadbolt converter a while back and we are expecting our first three units any day now. The Doorbot has been carefully designed to incorporate a separate model that will work alongside the Lockitron. this means that you will be able to see who is at your door whether you are home or not and unlock your door remotely if you so desire.

Perhaps a little on the expensive side, for a glorified doorbell, but this is a product that will appeal to many and varied homeowners.

See video after the jump.

Continental - NFC Key Control Systems For Automobiles

Continental Automotive Group are a large international manufacturer of sophisticated electronic control systems for passenger, commercial, special and two-wheeled vehicles.

Recently we wrote about the IAA show held in Germany, where a company was displaying their technology for NFC (Near Field Communication) controls for cars. See Article

It turns out that Continental Automotive Group have been one of the leaders of this research for about 3 years now and are ready to begin selling these advanced access control systems to the various automobile manufacturers worldwide.

The Locksmith industry, worldwide has seen many new key manufacturing machines and auto-diagnostic companies develop after market (after-dealership) diagnostic devices capable of programming and originating the electro-mechanical transponder keys used in the modern automobiles we see today on the road.

Your New Car Key 

When NFC started to be included in mobile telephones (smartphones), Continental were one of the first companies to recognize this highly secure technology would dramatically change the whole automotive access control market.