Wireless Parrot Door Bell

Now this is a product that will tickle the fancy of many a bird lover or others who like unusual and unique gadgets.

The Wireless Parrot Door Bell is something that can provide endless enjoyment and joy to all who visit your front door or entry way.

It will give off bird sounds or up to 6 seconds of pre-recorded sounds, enabling a very unique and different attraction to potential visitors.

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Yale Conexis L1 - A New Smartphone Enabled Access Control Locking System

Yale, the ages old company and inventor of the modern day pin tumbler principle, the same name for which the world reknowned university was named, in recent years has seen it's original premise and products be modified and expanded to encapsulate more diverse fields, including (but not limited to) trucks, forklifts, golf-buggy's, etc.

Yale, once known as the leader in residential, commercial and institutional security products, are continuing to press the boundaries of the digital revolution with the introduction of the Conexis L1 electronic, wireless access control product.

Part of their Real Living genre of products, Yale have decided that their foray deeper into the modern digital era involves eliminating the very product for which their name was made famous.
The Key.

While many consumers agree that the convenience aspect of modern day access control products is most likely the primary aim, statistical analysis conducted by many agencies using multiple surveys and other data gathering techniques, reveal that the humble mechanical key is still a highly sought after feature desired.

Removing the mechanical key component does help to produce more competitively priced products, but can be an impediment to sales because electronics failure or electronic malfunction cannot be mitigated using a mechanical key, in an emergency or urgency.

Yes, battery technology continues to improve and the long term future for electronic wireless - battery powered products is intriguing. I do suggest that companies need to continue to include high quality mechanical key overide systems with their new products, to offer the consumer the continuing benefits mechanical brings.

The video below shows typical installation for the Yale Conexis L1 in the UK.



In America we are getting to see many similar types of door locks offering the atrium type of mechanism. Companies like Pella, Anderson, Peachtree etc, have been bringing in these modern and stylish types of doors, in excess of 25 years now and the market for these types of doors continue to evolve. Many customers enjoy the quality and convenience offered by these styles and types of doors.
HOWEVER.......

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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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...

Sinji - A Competitive Option To Ring

Sinji Wireless Doorbell and Camera System offers alternative to the Ring doorbell system.

This inexpensive alternative differs from Ring because it is not taking video and consuming significant storage.

We have reported about Ring products a number of times in recent years

This product is quite different in that it takes a snapshot of the door bell ringer and sends it over your home wifi system to users of an app.

Storage of pictures occupies significantly less storage than you need using the Ring product, yet offers similar security, albeit for much more competitive prices.

• Keep tabs on who comes to your door straight from your smartphone via app
• Easily install w/ zero wiring or professional installation required
• Monitor visitors at all hours w/ night vision support
• Anti-theft device alerts you if the doorbell is tampered with

Specs

• Dimensions: 3.3"H x 2.2"L 0.5"W
• Infrared night vision
• Snapshot function when bell is pressed
• Fully wireless
• Easy-install
• Resolution: 408 x 320
• Transmission distance: 98'
• Image sensor: 1/4 CMOS
• Lens: 80°, F2.8 aperture
• Power supply outdoor unit: 2 x AAA battery
• Power supply indoor unit: EU plug 100V-240V AC
• Outdoor transmission: 2.4G RF
• Indoor transmission: RF + WiFi

Compatibility

• Works with various IP camera apps, including Eye4 and EyeCloud
• Eye4 app requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android: varies with device
• EyeCloud app requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android 4.4 or later

Includes

• Outdoor unit
• Indoor unit
• User manual

Shipping

• Ships To Contiguous US
• Expected Delivery: Sep 13 - Sep 16

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Poly-Control Z-Wave Retro Fit Access Controller For Deadbolt Locks

Poly-Control is a Scandinavian company on the cutting edge of product design, especially aimed at the access control and home automation market.

They recently released this sensational product that enables computerised digital access control capability that can be added to your existing deadbolt lock without any necessary hardware replacement (except the turnbutton).

As the video above shows, you can easily add this product to your existing installation and convert your existing deadbolt into an internet controllable wireless access control solution.

Chamberlain Garage Door Controls

Chamberlain, well known as one of the leading garage door operating systems manufacturers ahve recently released this wonderful new product competing with the Master version we published previously.

This Biometric Fingerprint activated wireless entry device is designed to work with most existing Chamberlain Automatic Openers.





Chamberlain's 942FP Fingerprint Keyless Entry makes home access even more effortless - no codes, no lost keys, ad nothing extra to carry. It uses fingerprint sensor technology to make access to your garage quick, safe, and secure.

• Wireless, battery-operated (includes four AAA batteries)
• Equipped with Security+ rolling code technology; Entry pad transmits a new code with every use
• Reads up to 10 unique fingerprints so only the 10 registered users can gain access to your garage
• Weatherproof slide-up protective cover

Wireless Digital Peephole

A different version of the wireless peephole concept now available, but perhaps a little expensive.

This super intelligent device is designed to retro-fit in place of an existing peephole and enables full color images of persons or objects outside the door.

The innovative Digital Door Viewer ™ is an electronic video system designed to replace common door viewers and peephole viewing tubes. The Digital Door Viewer ™ delivers on-demand, high quality images, and is totally integrated and self-contained.

• Stand alone function — requires no connection to external power wiring or monitor displays
• Quick and easy to install into new construction or retrofitted to existing door
• Easy operation — press a button and a color video image is displayed on a monitor mounted on the inside of the door
• Provides an expanded field of view from a comfortable viewing distance

$399.00

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Wireless Portable Security Alarm

Catering to security minded people is what this site is aimed at.

This product is another twist on the portable alarm offerings and priced at only $35.00

A passive infrared system that will detect movement in any selected 40 ft. area, 105 db Alarm. Complete with programmable security code, adjustable sensor head, low battery indicator. Mounting screws and hanging hardware included. 9 volt battery (not included).

This incredible new camera from Linksys is amazing. This type of product enables wireless security at it's finest. ~$350.00

When the camera detects motion, it begins to record the video and audio feed and simultaneously sends an e-mail alert to the office, a pager or a cell phone. Up to three e-mail alerts can be sent, including a short video clip in an email attachment. Users can then log onto the live video stream if the situation warrants

Changing Locks - How Much Does It Cost?

Many locksmiths would prefer you not know how lock re-keying is done. This talented young fellow has shown exactly the steps involved.

Almost 4 years ago we posted a very popular article here explaining fees.

Locksmith publications usually publish annual accepted industry averages. These prices vary across the country from $12 to $55 depending on where you live.

We are pleased to say our prices have not increased in this time. We still charge $15.00 per keyhole including parts and labor. Master Keying is $20.00 per keyhole.

We also rekey car locks too. Often $30 in parts are required and labor is negotiable.

Many people are starting to look at wireless and battery powered digital door locks. It is important and vital to always include the mechanical backup option even with battery powered door locks. When your batteries run down, you still need to get in. This also explains why you should not just rely on your Remote Garage Door Control.

I cant tell you the number of times I have been called to open houses for people who cannot get in their garage. Usually, power loss is the cause. But they dont carry a house key and to make worse, often leave the garage-house entry unlocked too. Does this sound familiar?

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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Keyless Security Has Turned The Corner - No External Interface Means Nothing To Attack

VL464 Versatile Deadlock

Pictured here is the fabulous Versatile Deadlock from Outlocks, the distributor of Knock-N-Lock technology, we have previously discussed here over the years.

Knock-N-Lock technology is an upmarket Israeli designed and manufactured, high-security lock system that is virtually impregnable.

Why?

Because there is no external keyhole. No keyhole means nothing to attack.

This version of the deadbolt lock is available in hardwired or wireless (battery) operated versions.

It is rather industrial looking but is extremely secure because a would-be attacker will have no knowledge of it's location inside your door.

All Knock-N-Lock products operate with the use of a unique external keyfob

This keyfob is the only way to operate the product.

Following is a video that explains the unique locking system uses and how the technology works.

We have been receiving numerous inquiries from customers lately desiring the highest form of security, due to attackers finding methods to beat virtually all other systems they have installed.

There are a number of products made that we can show you after the break.
All operate with the use of the unique fob.

The product is in use in many Asian countries and is finding traction in North America too.

CISA Not Servicing USA anymore.

Pictured to the left is the CISA CS9800 Smart Lock. We previously posted about this product last year. While we still believe that CISA make unequalled quality products for the hotel market, it is most unfortunate that another Ingersoll Rand company has chosen to not support it's products in the US market.

There are other manufacturers of superb quality hotel RFID locks. One we like to recommend is SALTO. Salto produce modern super-high quality access control solutions, especially designed for hotels, schools, hospitals and condominium complexes. Their simple, wireless designs employ virtually impossible to hack card/rfid reader systems, that reduce the cost for installation, maintenance and service.

While it would have been nice to see CISA return to the USA market, there are other companies who see the value in servicing this market with products and services that are more competitively priced, aesthetically pleasing, using installation services that are more user friendly, economical and ultra-modern.

Good bye CISA. It was fun working with, installing and servicing your products, but it is time to look to the future instead of burying our heads in the sand buckets of the past.

Ring - Nouveau Wireless Peephole

I recently came across one of these devices installed on a customers home and it looks like the bees knees.

easy to install and offering multiple conveniences, Ring is quite possibly the answer to entry monitoring/doorbell needs for modern times.

Impressive to say the least.



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The Maunder Minimum - A Natural Revolution

A recent report tabled by the Royal Astronomical Society, published Thursday July 9, 2015, highlights the phenomenon known as The Maunder Minimum.

A respected Russian scientist, Prof Valentina Zharkova has just published findings about this repeating event that affects not only our planet but most of our solar system too.

But, as we are the only known (to us) planet with educated life, these findings will have a noticeable affect on the daily lives of most of the planets inhabitants, within the next 20 years.

The Maunder Minimum is the event that determines sunspot activity and directly interferes with our planets weather patterns. One of the more recent Maunder Minimum  observations was recorded in the years 2000-2001  and threw out a slew of orbiting satellites, interrupting global communications and, for all intensive purposes, marking the possible beginning of the 1000 year drought currently being experienced in the western part of the United States.

The report tabled by Prof Zharkova, highlights a 30 year study, using widely sourced astronomical records to produce a model that is suggesting close to a 97% accuracy in predicting the next 'mini ice age' that will affect our planet.

According to the report (in the source below), the model suggests that solar activity will fall by 60% in the 2030's, "to conditions last seen during the 'mini ice age' seen in 1645" .

So, why is this pertinent to this website?

There is an overwhelming market, currently unfolding across the world. The age of the electronic connected smartlock is currently a multi-billion dollar a year industry and is set to increase exponentially in the next 2-5 years.

People everywhere are increasingly interested in having and using electronic, connected lock and door systems that require infrastructure (wiring) to maintain power to operate. Even if a product is touted as wireless or battery powered, it still uses internal wiring to run the electronics on board.

More well known to the average person, is the facts that anytime water (humidity, condensation etc) gets into any electronic component, those components suffer sometimes catastrophic failures.

The locksmith industry evolved to include electronics into products aimed at improving inter-operability of mechanical locking systems. For many years the simple electric strike was seen as the introduction of the modern electronic security products field, with many apartment complexes across the world eliminating the concierge or front desk guard, in favor of intercom systems that directly control the entry to the building and consequently access to residents/tenants therein.

Even today, the reach of electronics has invaded our homes and offices, our cars and buses, our trains and planes. many of these same services were previously operated using mechanical products that seemed to last forever with minimal maintenance.

Yes, electronics has improved our lives trememdously, however the age of the mechanical door lock is far from over. 

The unrealistic expectations of market driven capitalists hoping to cash in on this evolving market, is seeing an increasing multitude of variations of products aimed at whetting our appetites to the better mousetrap. But with all the electronics cluttering up our locks, there is less and less room for the quality components that actually provide the protection we are seeking for our families and our properties.

And with the Maunder Minimum set to rear it's ugly head again, only this time with an extended 'mini ice age' similar to the 70 year one experience in the mid 1600's, the age of failing electronics and unsecure doors, safes, gates, vehicles etc is again upon us.

To those who still agree that your security, the security of your family, your home, your office or your friends and coworkers is something you take seriously and not for granted, investing in the tried and true mechanical physical options, that protect and secure without the costly electronics (that will fail), the industry applauds you as forward thinking people.


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Smart Armor Cube - Wireless Technolgy Meets Drawer Cupboard Locks

There are a number of electronic locks already on the market that serve the needs of corporate and residential uses.

Many of the leading  lock producing companies already offer quality products that are competitively priced, that serve functions already demanded by customers.

But this does not stop new entrants to the market. This new product attempts to improve upon drawer/cupboard safety and security by integrating the humble smartphone with a new type of cupboard lock.

Uses for this product include but are not limited to child safety, waiter/server access control, hospital pharmaceutical carts, refrigerators etc.

While the Smart Armor Cube looks like a worthwile addition to our lives, perhaps this first of it's kind version will open the market to more aspiring inventors to improve upon it's basic design.

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Poly-Control Z-Wave Access Controller For Euro Cylinder Deadlock

Poly-Control have also released a version for the European market. However this product requires a special Euro cylinder to be provided to enable the correct compatibility.

Like the US deadbolt version, you can enable the wireless, internet controllable Z-Wave system to add the access control capability to many of the existing deadlocks found across the Euro zone.

Again, with the popularity of Android and iPhone products, the added ability to control the lock using your smartphone increases the market effectiveness of these products.

St Louis Home And Garden Show - March 3 - 6, 2015 Booth #3511

We are very pleased to invite our many customers and friends to come and visit with us at the St Louis Home And Garden Show, to be held at the America Center in downtown St Louis from March 3 - 6, 2015.

This 4 day event provides local and interstate homeowners, residents, architects, home builders, interior designers and renovators with the opportunity to view, in person, many of the time tested and latest products and services available to improve your home, garden and office environments and buildings. The ability to chat with experts about their offerings can help to learn first hand, the benefits of many modern products and services available in the greater St Louis region.

We will be very pleased  to greet you at our Booth #3511, located to the right of the main entrance as you walk in.

We will be particularly showcasing our range of modern contemporary Meroni Door Hardware displaying many color options and styles including...

Nova

Combina

Forma

Pigio 1

Pigio 2

Pigio 3

many of the above products can also be embossed with personalized logos or artwork, further increasing the unique and personalized look of your chosen hardware.

The Nova, Combina and Forma models can also be ordered in SC1 keyway, making them compatible with standard Schlage products. That means you can use them with some of your existing house keys.

Falcon Automatic Operator

The Falcon Automatic Operator is the latest addition to the Falcon range of superior quality door closers and operators. This amazing product follows closely with Falcon's industry leading range of door hardware products.

This new addition to the Falcon portfolio of door hardware is the most cost-effective solution in the industry for automating entrances. Designed for the commercial market, the Falcon Operator is ideal for assisted living communities, low traffic store front entrances, or automating interior doors for added assistance. An integrated intelligent power boost graduates additional closing assist when door nears latch. This feature helps to ensure secure closing to overcome external conditions and pressure differentials. The control box demonstrates its intelligence by detecting obstructions and will temporarily reprogram opening degree to avoid abuse to the door. The Falcon Operator comes with an easy to install line of accessories including a wireless transmitter and receiver.

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