Skip to main content

Unlock your door with Lockitron and your smartphone

Smartphones can do a lot of things these days. There’s an app for almost anything, but until now, if you forgot or lost your home keys, your iPhone couldn’t get you out of that mess. Lockitron ($295+) aims to change the game with an app and base station combination that allows you to lock or unlock your home or office from your smartphone. The system works by communicating with a small device that plugs into your Internet router at home (or office), which in turn communicates with your door lock to either unlock or lock the door. The device is available with a self-install kit and works with most popular door lock styles. Besides the convenience of not having to worry about where you last put your keys, Lockitron also makes letting friends or coworkers into your home or office simple and fast. Let a friend in easily to check on your pet while you’re away, or buzz contractors into your office before you arrive. Any Internet-enabled phone can use Lockitron, but a handy text message feature also allows any phone access to the service. While keys seem just as important in theory, the truth is we lose them more often than we lose track of our smartphones, so why not let the smartphones do all the work?

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Montgomery
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…
How to save Ring Doorbell video without a subscription
Ring Doorbell mounted outside a front door.

Take a walk through any neighborhood, and you're bound to see a few Ring video doorbells installed next to front doors. The brand is increasingly popular, thanks to an ever-growing product lineup that makes it easy to find a device for all budgets and security needs. But one of the peskier features of Ring is the need for a Ring Protect Plan -- a monthly subscription service that unlocks the majority of the camera's most useful features.

One such feature locked behind a Ring Protect Plan membership is the ability to save Ring doorbell videos. Without a plan, you'll really only be allowed to view a live feed of your video doorbell. The plans are pretty generous, with the Basic plan costing $5 per month and offering video history for up to 180 days, making it a worthwhile investment for homes worried about their security.

Read more
Amazon’s Echo Pop smart speaker is 43% off, and it’s not even Prime Day
The Echo Pop sitting on a countertop.

Usually we see the best Amazon Echo deals around Prime Day or other Amazon sales events. However, today, you can buy an Amazon Echo Pop for a super low price of $23. It normally costs $40 which is already pretty reasonable so being able to snag one for just $23 is pretty great. A useful addition to any room in your home, let’s take a look at what to expect.

Why you should buy the Amazon Echo Pop
One of the best smart speakers around when it comes to value and functionality, the Amazon Echo Pop is a great little addition to your home. Available in different colors to suit the aesthetic of your home, the compact smart speaker offers full sound that’s particularly well suited for bedrooms and small spaces. It’s small enough to blend in while still being pretty loud.

Read more
Blink sale: Up to 42% off home security cameras and video doorbells
blink mini indoor camera white set in a living room blurred in the background

To make sure that your family is safe at all times, you should think about investing in video doorbells and security camera deals. If you're thinking about buying them right now, you're in luck because Amazon just launched a sale for discounts of up to 42% on various Blink devices. As one of the most trusted names in the home security space with their compatibility with Amazon's Alexa, we don't think stocks will last long for these offers, so it's highly recommended that you choose what to purchase and proceed with the transaction as soon as possible in order to pocket the savings.

What to buy in Amazon's Blink sale

Read more