Wemo's WiFi Smart Dimmer light switch is gaining Apple HomeKit support, with a new update bypassing the need for a hub to integrate with Apple's smart home system. Launched back in 2017, the WiFi Smart Dimmer is intended to replace a traditional light switch in the wall, and thus enable remote-control access to the light that it operates.
On launch day for the Apple iPhone Xs and Xs Max, Belkin revealed their newest dual-device wireless charger for iPhones and the Apple Watch. The BoostUp Wireless Charging Dock has "optimized wireless charging" up to 7.5W for one iPhone and 5W/1A for Apple Watch. This dual-device charger also has a USB-A port so a third device can also be plugged in at the same time.
Apple's software protocols allowing HomeKit compatibility without demanding IoT gadgets have a physical chip inside have finally made it into the wild. A new firmware version Belkin's Wemo line-up of connected smart switches make them the first to gain support, which is widely expected to light a fire under Apple HomeKit adoption.
Belkin made one of the first USB-C keyboards in the universe, and today they've revealed it to the world. This isn't the FIRST USB-C keyboard in the world, but it's easily set to be one of the best-selling. That's because Belkin is a go-to brand for accessories, and given the relative lack of Chrome OS-centric accessories in the world today, Belkin might well be in a great position here to get a real stack of cash.
The aux cable is getting a 21st century update, with Belkin revealing its newest cord to hook your headphone-jackless iPhone up to your car's dashboard or just about anything else. Apple's decision to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack on its more recent iPhone models prompted no shortage of teeth-gnashing, but little more so than in the car.
The Trump administration may have blocked the purchase of Qualcomm by Broadcom, but another transaction seems to have flown under its radar. Taiwan-based Foxconn is probably best known for assembling iPhones but it has recently been expanding its reach to become a force to reckon with in the hardware business. Now it has just announced that it will be acquiring Belkin International, which means that it might soon own Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo to create a “global consumer electronics leader”.
Wemo is adding Apple HomeKit support, with the new Wemo Bridge joining the gap between the iOS smart home system and its remotely-controlled plugs and light switches. Announced last year, Wemo has confirmed today at CES 2018 that the Wemo Bridge is now on sale. It promises easy setup by plugging via ethernet cable into your existing router.
With CES 2018 kicking off next week, accessories maker Belkin has unveiled its latest lineup of wireless charging products. With Apple's new iPhone X and iPhone finally adopting wireless and fast-charging features, it seems Belkin's new solutions are aimed at these smartphones in particular. The products include four different charging pads, each available in several colors, and all support Qi-enabled devices.
For over a decade, Apple has been using its own proprietary charging connector for its MacBooks. While it offered safety features no other connector did or does to date, it was also non-standard and incompatible with the not so small number of competing standards already in the market. When Apple finally gave in, it didn’t come without a price. The 2015 MacBook only had one USB-C port for both data and charging and last year’s MacBook Pros threw all ports out, replacing them with two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports. That, however, consequently gave birth to a new market of docks and dongles that aimed to bring back what was lost. One of them is the new Belkin USB-C Express Dock 3.1 HD, which we have taken for a spin to see how it fares against the competition.
There's a dongle/adapter out there made by Belkin, a piece of equipment that's ready to engage with all the iPhones. This device is called the "3.5 mm Audio + Charge RockStar", and it comes with its own way to correct and/or fix the feature many headphone-wearing fans of Apple struggled to wrap their mind around since this time last year. This Belkin accessory plugs into the iPhone and allows the user to plug in both a charging USB and a standard pair of headphones.
Thunderbolt 3 may be the wunderport of the future, but sometimes it feels like nobody told the peripheral-makers that. While notebooks like the most recent MacBook Pro may have switched entirely to Thunderbolt 3 and the USB Type-C connector, actually finding things to plug into them can be hard going. Enter Belkin's Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock, one of the first to market to take advantage of the connection's 40 Gbps throughput and power/display/data flexibility.
Smart home products these days speak different languages, which sometimes defeats the purpose of having an automated home. But rather than trying to force existing and future products to speak a single language, device and platform makers are solving the language barrier like we do in the real world: with translators. The Belkin Wemo Bridge is one such translator and it is quite adept at one language. This tiny square that you connect to your Wi-Fi router allows Wemo's switches and plugs to speak Apple's HomeKit language.