Available starting todayRemove non-product link, Nanoleaf’s new Elements line follows in the footsteps of last year’s Shapes light panels, complete with a modular design and the ability to tap and swipe the panels to change lighting scenes and even control other smart devices. But while Nanoleaf’s other light panels look somewhat
meh when they’re turned off, the Elements panels boast a “wood-look” finish for a warmer, more natural look, even when the panels aren’t glowing.
Controllers with Thread
Meanwhile, the touch-sensitive controller that snaps onto an Elements installation has a surprise under the hood: a Thread border router that can connect other Thread-enabled devices to the internet. A software update due shortly after Nanoleaf’s unveiling today will turn older Shapes controllers into Thread border routers, too.
Nanoleaf s new wood-inspired HomeKit-enabled light panels help keep you grounded with a more natural feel for your smart home.
The Wood Essentials are Nanoleaf s newest designs following the company s rollout of its initial Essentials products. The Essentials line began with a light strip and smart bulb, both Thread enabled. Now the Essentials line is growing with the addition of the Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons.
A new take on light panels
Most smart home devices are modern-looking. They are stark white, clean edges, and can often stand out. Nanoleaf is guilty of this more than almost any other smart home manufacturer. Its light panels are very white when not in use, let alone their smart bulb that is shaped like a dodecahedron.
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A compact, HomeKit-compatible smart plug with plenty of automation options along with robust energy-monitoring features, Eve Energy might be pricier than its competitors, but it comes with an ace up its sleeve: support for Thread, an exciting wireless protocol that will eventually work hand-in-hand with Matter, the new smart home platform that promises to finally teach Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit to play nice with each other.
Eve Energy checks most of the most important boxes when it comes with energy-monitoring smart plugs, but because it only works with HomeKit (for now, anyway), Android users will need to look elsewhere. The same is true for anyone who depends on Alexa or Google Assistant for smart home control.
(Pocket-lint) - Though it s attractive to imagine that the devices in your smart home system are all joined together through whimsy and wonder, it s actually rigorous wireless protocols performing the magic - and Thread is the latest you need to know about.
Up until now, much of the conversation regarding smart home protocols has centred around Z-Wave and Zigbee. Thread, though, is aiming to one-up these mesh networks by solving some long-standing issues.
It may not quite be a household name just yet, but Thread is starting to gain some momentum with companies like Apple, Google, Nanoleaf and Eve.
That s why, below, we ll be explaining everything you need to know about Thread - what exactly it is, how it affects your smart home and how it differs from what we ve seen so far.