6 of the best Apple-friendly products at CES 2022

Eve Systems brings an excellent and HomeKit Secure Video savvy outdoor camera

Despite Covid, the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 went ahead and while we won’t know if that was such a good idea for a couple more weeks, the event has seen some interesting smart products appear for smart Apple users.

Eve Outdoor Cam

Eve Systems jumped in early with the introduction of two exciting products I think should be very popular among HomeKit users; a smart rolling system for blinds and a fully HomeKit compliant outdoor security camera.

The $250 Eve Outdoor Cam ships in April and supports Apple HomeKit Secure Audio. The latter means all data is processes locally and video recordings are encrypted and stored in your iCloud+ account, which makes them ultra-secure. The waterproof unit is built for the outside, has 1,080p video, a nice wide 157-degree view, and infrared night vision and motion detection. Dimensions are 6.7-x-2.6-x-6.3-inches and the system must be connected to the mains.

“Combining elegant aesthetics with technology designed to safeguard privacy, Eve Outdoor Cam goes beyond legacy surveillance camera concepts with their conspicuous looks and manufacturer clouds”, said Jerome Gackel, CEO, Eve System.

It connects to your home network (and HomeKit hub) over Wi-Fi and is the second HomeKit Secure Video compatible floodlight camera to reach market 9the other comes from Netatamo. While the camera lacks a siren it does have a built-in microphone and speaker, so if you spot someone you don’t know you can tell them you are watching them. You can stream video direct from your camera to your phone and set up a range of automations in the accompanying Eve app which works with HomeKit.

Wemo HomeKit Secure Video smart doorbell

In what may be an ultra-secure solution for smart homes, Wemo announced its Smart Video Doorbell at CES ($250). The wired doorbell provides a 178-degree view, 4MP camera with night vision, and person detection that uses information about people tagged in your Photos app. It connects to the ‘net using 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi and works with HomeKit Secure Video, which should help maximize your privacy. The 1.4-x-1.7-x-4.9-inch product will be available in the U.S. and Canada.

Eve smart Motion Blinds

I’m impressed by the Eve MotionBlinds. Available today, they cost from c.$400/shade (depending on material used). They can be ordered from any Coulisse retailer, as Eve worked with that firm to make these blinds.

Like all Eve’s products, the blinds work with Thread/Matter and HomeKit. That means you’ll be able to use Siri to raise and lower your blinds, or use automations to do the same thing to create the illusion that you occupy your home when away.

Eve’s blinds are powered by a USB-C battery, but also have manual controls. “As Thread-enabled accessories, Eve MotionBlinds can support Matter, the smart home standard of the future that is currently being developed by Google, Amazon, Apple and numerous IoT manufacturers,” said Eve’s CEO.

What’s really useful about the blinds is that they should easily integrate into your existing smart home system. You’ll also find it very easy to set these things up using the well-featured Eve app.

[Also read: Matter: Apple supported smart home standard gets new name]

Belkin SOUNDFORM earbuds with FindMy

New from Belkin, SOUNDFORM True Wireless Earbuds are the first such third-party accessory to support Apple’s FindMy network, which lets you track the location of the case. The black (or white) earbuds offer IPX5 water and sweat resistance.

“Featuring a Bluetooth® chipset that allows for Multipoint sound, you’ll connect and seamlessly switch between phones, tablets, and laptops, never missing a call or notification during work or play. Three mics per earbud drive Hybrid ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) technology to silence the roar of everyday elements. You’ll revel in vivid audio signal and never miss a word, whether it’s sung or spoken, with 12mm drivers and aptX HD 24-bit audio technology,” the company said. All pack active noise cancellation and cost from $179. Expect c. 36 hours battery in the case and around 8-hours per charge from the buds.

Targus Cypress Hero backpack – now with FindMy

A second product integrating built-in support for Apple’s FindMy system that appeared at CES comes from Targus. The Cypress Hero EcoSmart backpack is made from 26 recycled plastic water bottles and should be available in spring.

A CES® 2022 Innovation Awards honoree, the backpack has a built-in location tracker that enables its owner to find it on the Find My app if it goes missing. While a button in the pack will ping your iPhone if that is mislaid. Built to fit laptops up to 16 inches, it is intelligently designed with a dedicated padded laptop compartment and plenty of pockets and storage compartments for carrying and organizing multiple devices and personal items.

The company also introduced a range of hubs, cable locks and a UV-C LED disinfection light to help protect against coronavirus.

Withings Body Scan

The latest Body Scan model from Withings will provide daily analysis of biomarkers associated with common health conditions. It can monitor segmental body composition, heart rate, and vascular age and boasts a 6-lead ECG.

Body Scan will also allow users to access coaching, clinical specialists and personalized, holistic plans in-app to help them reach their health goals.

Developed with specialists in cardiovascular, neurologic, and metabolic conditions, these programs will provide users with important insights based on well-known metrics and the ability to be connected with medical specialists in case of health concerns. It should be available in the US in 2H 22.

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