European Custom Installer

The Watchguard Firebox T-series of unified threat management (UTM) appliances promise residential installers a means to offer customers with scalable, enterprise-guard network security.

Featuring simple, plug-and-play installation, the Firebox T-series appliances provide a strong defense against the rising tide of online attacks, including advanced malware, ransomware, botnets, trojans, viruses, drive-by downloads, data loss and phishing. Aimed primarily at residential or small business applications, the T15, T35 and T55 UTM firewall boxes plug into the LAN backbone and can handle up to 35 users with up to five wired network connections.

Hogar Control launches the Prima Touch, a line of multi-function, modular capacitative touch switches featuring a 3-inch glass design in single, double, triple or four-button configurations.

The switches are designed for on/off, dimming and scene control for Z-Wave and ZigBee smart home devices such as lighting, comfort, entertainment, security and more. Customers can install up to four touch switches in a four-gang light box location using existing wiring, allowing for up to 16 different scene actions.

The 8K Association (8KA) announces a Certified program for 8K TVs meeting the exacting requirements outlined by the association, such as the amount of pixels and high dynamic range performance.

TVs with such certification feature x4 as many pixels as standard 4K TVs, and deliver exceptional contrast and colour for high dynamic range performance. Member companies of the 8KA can promote 8K TVs under the Certified banner after each TV model is validated by an independent certification program manager, and the logo can demonstrate to consumers the verified high-performance characteristics of each TV model.

The August smart lock collection gets an update at CES 2020-- the Wifi Smart Lock features a design by co-founder Yves Béhar 45% smaller in volume and 20% slimmer than the Smart Lock Pro, plus a number of "key new design changes."

Available in either matte black or silver finishes, the smart lock update carries built-in wifi, meaning it does need pairing with an August Connect hub. The result, the company says, is an instant connected upgrade for any front door. Setup should be simple, since users simply need to pair it with the August Connect companion app providing remote access management.

According to Futuresource Consulting, almost 50% of the population living in the UK, France, Germany and the US owns a smart home device in 2019, up from 30% in 2018, in good part thanks to the popularity of smart speakers and smart security products.

The results come from an October 2018 consumer survey involving a nationally representative sample of around 4000 participants. It shows that while smart speakers are an entry point into the smart home category, smart security is far more prevalent among advanced users. Perhaps predictably, the advanced user skews towards male, younger, higher income and urban profile.

“Smart devices have captured consumers’ hearts,” the analyst remarks. “With 47% of the population now owning at least one smart device, the technology is moving swiftly through the adoption curve. Our research shows the number one motivator for purchase is to make life easier. Other high-ranking responses include making a home more comfortable, increasing security, improving efficiency and enabling control of devices while outside the home. What’s more, over 90% of device owners are either extremely satisfied or very satisfied with their purchases.”