Skip to main content

Even your ceiling fan can be a smart home device thanks to Hunter’s new Signal

It’s unclear whether the world as a whole is getting smarter, but your home certainly is. Apple’s vision for a connected home continues to come to fruition, and the latest appliance to join the smart revolution comes just in time for this record-setting summer. Meet the Signal, a Wi-Fi enabled, Apple HomeKit-integrated ceiling fan from the Hunter Fan Company.

It’s the first of what promises to be an “unprecedented 2016 new product launch” from the 130-year-old fan company, and while tradition has kept Hunter in business for well over a century, there’s nothing traditional about the technology behind its latest fans.

Recommended Videos

The Simple Connect ceiling fans can be programmed to be turned on before you ever walk into a room, synced to your thermostat so the temperature is always where you want it to be, and even set up to turn on its light fixtures so that you never have to walk into a dark room.

“This new product launch is a testament to our dedication to un-matched quality and performance and determination to bring our customers the latest designs and technology at an affordable price,” said John Alexander, the firm’s CEO. “We are thrilled to finally share this new innovation with our eager customers and are hoping to see a Hunter Fan in every home.”

Thanks to the fans’ Apple HomeKit integration, users can easily and safely control one or all of the fans in a home using either the new iOS 10 Home app or Siri. HomeKit-enabled products can also trigger one another — for example, you can have your Signal fan turn on when your connected fire alarm detects smoke.

“When we first had cameras on our iPhones, we didn’t immediately envision the ability to deposit checks with them,” said Hunter Chief Marketing Officer John Neilson. “Similarly, we know that these fans enhance energy efficiency, home security and convenience, but we believe we’ve just scratched the surface of their full potential.”

The Signal fan, Hunter’s flagship connected product, promises a contemporary and sleek aesthetic with satin nickel housing, reversible wooden-finished blades, and of course, smart technology. It’s currently available across a number of online and in-person retailers, and sells for $379.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Google’s Gemini AI can now control your smart home devices
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat in stainless steel.

After spending a bit of time in Public Preview, Google is rolling out its Google Home extension for the Gemini app to everyone. This will allow you to control smart home devices using Gemini, including tasks like turning on smart lights, checking your smart thermostat, or adjusting the volume on your speakers.

The Google Home Extension will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and once you've made the update, any compatible devices synced to your Google account will be accessible via Gemini. If you try using commands in the Gemini app that aren’t supported, your smartphone will automatically launch the Google Home app to complete the command (such as accessing camera actions and smart lock features).

Read more
Apple might be releasing a HomePod mini 2 in early 2025
homepod mini side top

The HomePod mini first launched in 2020 to mediocre praise. While Apple fans celebrated the bite-sized speaker, other critics pointed out that it lacked the intelligence of its competitors. The main selling point of the HomePod mini is its sound quality; now that so many other smart speakers have rid themselves of the tinny audio that first plagued their launch, Apple will need to step it up if it introduces the rumored HomePod mini 2 next year.

Unfortunately, it seems the planned upgrades aren't that noteworthy, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The new smart home speaker is said to come equipped with Apple's in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. This would allow the HomePod mini 2 to connect more easily and with greater bandwidth than the current model of HomePod.

Read more
These buttons and dials offer a unique way to access your smart home
The Flic Smart Button on a table.

One of the major pain points of the modern smart home is its digital nature. Whether it’s controlling your smart lights, robot vacuum, smart lock, or thermostat, there’s a good chance you’re using a smartphone for most of your interactions. That makes it less than ideal for other members of the household -- or even guests -- to make changes to your setup. This is where Flic comes into play, as the company offers a lineup of physical buttons and dials so everyone can use your favorite smart devices without the need for a digital interface.

I’ve been testing out both the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist, and while they lack certain functionalities, they’re bound to be a fun addition to most smart homes. That’s especially true if you use Alexa or HomeKit, as both platforms work with the innovative smart buttons.
The Flic app makes setup a breeze

Read more