Flex To Acquire Wink

Today, we’re excited to announce that Wink has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Flex, the sketch-to-scale™ solutions company that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world. The sale is expected to close later this month and concludes the corporate updates we made in September.

Flex has long been a strategic and supportive partner of Wink. They serve as the primary supplier of our hardware, including the Wink HUB and Wink Relay. Flex knows our business, our users, and our industry inside and out. There couldn’t be a better fit for Wink.

Once the acquisition closes, Wink will remain an independent company with its own management structure for day-to-day activities and operations. There will be no impact on how people use and interact with their Wink homes. We will continue to bring new features and partners to the platform. We will also continue to provide the same high quality customer support our users rely on.

Being part of the Flex family will give us opportunities to leverage their scale, resources, and expertise to bring the connected experience to more consumers in innovative ways. With Flex, we know we can make great strides toward achieving our mission of making the smart home accessible to everyone.

We’re thrilled about the next chapter for Wink, and the possibilities ahead!

EVEConnect Brings Wink to Tesla

We're committed to extending the possibilities our users have to interact with their smart home. Over the past few months we've brought the power of Wink to your wrist, through our new Apple Watch app, and voice control, through our growing compatibility with Amazon Echo. And we're just getting started.

You may not know, but the Wink API is completely open and available to developers that wish to build applications on top of the platform. We wanted to share a particularly interesting way that Evolved Vehicle Environments (EVE) used our APIs to bring the smart home to the car. Yes, the car - the Tesla Model S and Model X specifically.

With their latest product, EVEConnect, EVE has created a very simple and non-distracting interface that lets Tesla Model S and Model X drivers control smart products around their home, receive alerts, and automatically adjust their home settings with the car enters or leaves the driveway.

Here are a few examples of how this works:

• Automatically lock doors, close the garage door, turn off lights, and arm security sensors when you leave your driveway for extra peace of mind that your home is secure.

• Alternatively, have your home come to life as you arrive home (particularly handy for those days when you've got an armful of groceries).

• You can even save energy by having your thermostat auto-adjust as soon as you head to work.

Other custom apps EVE has created have been designed to take advantage of the 17 inch touchscreen inside Teslas, giving you the ability to check your Gmail, calendar, local weather forecast, and even your Instagram handle, at the touch of a finger.

Pretty exciting stuff!

We'll continue to work with EVE to add new Wink-compatible products and features to their app in the coming months. For now, you can control lights, locks, thermostats and smoke/CO detectors from brands like GoControl, Nest, Philips HUE, and Schlage.

Check out the full list of compatible products and learn more about EVEConnect here!

Wink now works with Canary

Today, we're thrilled to share that Canary has teamed up with us for their first ever third party integration!

With Wink, you’ll be able to connect Canary with hundreds of Wink-compatible products from trusted home brands for more ways to enhance your home's security. Canary will be compatible with the Wink platform as part of our next app update for iOS and Android users.

If you’re not familiar, Canary is an all-encompassing security system packed into a single device that you can control from your phone. If Canary senses anything out of the ordinary, you’ll automatically receive a notification with a recorded HD video of the event. Its algorithm-based motion detection learns over time to send you smarter notifications, so the longer you have it, the more effective it becomes. Canary even monitors air quality, temperature, and humidity!

Here are a few ways you can put Wink + Canary into action:

• Create a Robot in Wink so that every time Canary is armed, your front door automatically locks and the hallway lights turn off. Perfect for those mornings when you're rushing out the door for work.

• On the flip side, give the illusion that you’re home by setting up a Robot in Wink so that if Canary is armed, the lights in your front windows turn on.

• Disarm Canary when you walk through the front door at night to trigger your home to come to life. Without you having to think about it, your thermostat will start to crank up the heat, the lights in the living room will dim, and the blinds will raise, all through Wink.

Wink and Canary share a complementary vision for home security and this partnership will further our efforts to deliver a more holistic, interconnected, yet simple solution for users. We’re excited to team up and look forward to adding new ways to keep your home secure and connected down the road!

Pick up Canary today at The Home Depot or Amazon.com!

Meet the Newest Wink-Compatible Products

We recently released a new app update for iOS and Android and with it, have brought two new products onto the Wink platform. We’re very excited about them and wanted to share a quick overview of the latest Wink partners!

iHome SmartPlug - Wink HUB not required

This WiFi-enabled wall plug lets you control small appliances up to 1800 watts, including lights, fans, and portable heaters, right through your smart phone. Its slim design fits any standard outlet so you can keep one outlet free, or plug in two.

Forget to turn off the coffee maker or TV before leaving for work? With Wink, you can turn appliances plugged into your SmartPlug on or off in a pinch. You can also integrate iHome SmartPlug with existing Shortcuts or Robots for even more home automation possibilities.

Carrier® Côr™ - Wink HUB not required

The Carrier® Côr™ is a smart thermostat designed to combine home comfort with reduced energy use. Its smart setback feature enables the Côr thermostat to adapt beyond manual programming for greater efficiency, while its energy reports give you in-depth information and tips on how you can save money. It even uses local weather data so it can make even smarter, energy-saving decisions.

Try setting up an “Away” Shortcut in Wink that automatically adjusts the temperature of your Côr thermostat while ensuring other energy-hogging devices are turned off while you’re not home.

Wink Integrates With Ecobee

Today, we’re really excited to let you know that the ecobee3 smart thermostat and remote sensors are now Wink-compatible!

If you’re not familiar, ecobee3 intuitively understands when to turn on your HVAC system based on your home’s unique energy profile, your schedule, and the weather outside.

What really makes it handy are the ecobee3 remote sensors. These little guys (one comes with your ecobee3 thermostat purchase and you can buy more) can be placed around your home and measure temperature and occupancy so you’re always comfortable in the rooms you’re actually using.

With Wink, you can integrate ecobee3 into existing Shortcuts and Robots or monitor and adjust your home’s environment through the Wink app in a pinch.

For example, a ‘Vacation’ Shortcut (especially helpful as we enter the busy holiday travel season) could be used to lower your ecobee3’s temperature, turn off the lights and ensure the front door is locked with one tap.

Grab one today at Amazon or Home Depot!

Ding Dong - Ring is Now Wink-Compatible

Today we’re really excited to announce that the Ring Video Doorbell is now compatible with Wink! Not only does this mark our entrance into the doorbell category, it gives Wink users a bunch of new ways to enhance their smart home security.

Ring Smart Video Doorbell

Ring lets you answer the door from anywhere using the Ring app on your smartphone. It features an HD camera to provide a clear view from your front door, two-way talk for clear communication, and sends motion-triggered alerts to notify you of arriving guests and deliveries. You can also review your recording history so you don’t miss any activity.

Ring Smart Video Doorbell in Wink App

With Wink, you can now integrate Ring with the products you already have to provide even greater peace of mind that your home is safe and secure:

• If you’re running late and receive an alert that your parents just rang the doorbell, you can visually confirm that it is indeed them through the Ring app, and then unlock the front door with Wink

• On the flip side, a “Lock Up” Robot could be set up so that if you mistakenly leave the front door unlocked and someone presses Ring, Wink will automatically lock it.

• You can even set up your Ring to trigger the front porch lights to go on when someone’s at the door!

Learn more or grab one today at Amazon or Home Depot

Wink Releases Apple Watch App

We’ve long strived to bring easy access and control of your smart home right to your fingertips, whether that’s through the Wink app on your mobile phone or the Wink Relay control panel. Today, we’re excited to add another touchpoint with the Wink Apple Watch app.

Bringing your Wink smart home to your wrist is simple. Just open the Apple Watch app on your phone, scroll and select Wink and switch the toggle to “Show on Apple Watch.” From there, Wink will pull in the top 10 Shortcuts from your account so you can easily control groups of products around the home.

As the Apple Watch platform evolves, so will we. We’re excited to work with Apple to create even more ways for people to easily interact with their smart home right from their wrist. In the meantime, enjoy!  P.S. We'll be adding "glances" soon!

New Products Now Compatible With Wink

Wink gives you choice and flexibility when selecting smart products for your home by working with the best smart products and leading brands.  Today, we're excited to introduce two new products that are now compatible with the Wink platform. To connect them with your Wink account, simply tap “Add new product” within the Wink app and follow the instructions!

Here’s a bit more about each:

OSRAM LIGHTIFY LED Tunable A19 White Bulb - Wink HUB required

This smart bulb lets you customize the color temperature of your home’s lighting to enhance your environment. How? It has an adjustable temperature range, so you can switch between warm and cool shades of white. You could have bright light for when you’re hard at work or a much softer light for a cozier feel when you’re watching TV. 

With Wink, you can also connect it with other smart devices in your home so that certain events (opening the front door, for example) will trigger it to turn on or off. 

Emerson Sensi™ Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat - Wink HUB not required

This smart thermostat gives you the ability to control your home’s temperature anytime, anywhere through the Wink app. You can set schedules, monitor the temperature, and even turn on your air conditioner when you leave work so your home is nice and comfy when you arrive. 

Or, if you want your thermostat to kick into gear along with other smart products, you can integrate it into a Wink Shortcut. A “Bedtime” Shortcut, for example, could dim your lights, lower the blinds and adjust your thermostat with just one tap.

Interested in picking these up? Both products, in addition to a variety of other Wink-compatible devices, can be found on the new Wink endcap in The Home Depot stores nationwide this summer!

Wink+Amazon Echo: Just ask to control smart products around your home

UPDATE 10/26/15: Amazon Echo + Wink now supports dimming! Just ask Alexa to dim your lights by saying “Alexa, set living room light to 50%.”  Choose from over 40 lighting products from the most trusted lighting brands including Cree, EcoSmart, GE, Leviton, Lutron, OSRAM, Philips, and TCP

UPDATE 8/14/15: We've added more Wink-compatible lighting products to the Amazon Echo certified product list so you can chose the light that's right for you.  You can now control Cree, OSRAM LIGHTIFY, and TCP LEDs with Echo+Wink.  More products and features coming soon!

Amazon lovers, you’re really going to like this one... Wink is now compatible with Amazon Echo!  If you’re not familiar, Echo is a product completely designed around your voice. It’s always ready; as you say the wake word—“Alexa” or “Amazon” (most people select “Alexa”)—it springs to life. Alexa is the cloud-based voice service that powers Echo--you can ask for information, play music, get the weather, and much more.

Starting today, Echo can also control a number of Wink-compatible lighting products from GE, Leviton, and Lutron. Here’s how to get started:

1. Connect compatible products in your Wink app and set individual names for each lighting product (bedroom lamp, kitchen light, etc.). 
2. Then, link your Wink account to Echo within the Echo mobile app (Settings > Connected Home > Device Links > Wink).
3. From there, say “Alexa, discover new devices.” This can take up to 20 seconds.

After that, you’re all set up. You can then turn your smart products on or off in the blink of an eye with a simple voice command to Alexa. For example, you could say “Alexa, turn on the living room lamp ” or “Alexa, turn off the kitchen light.” 

This integration gives Wink users like you yet another touchpoint through which you can easily control your smart home. And we’re just getting started! We’re excited to work with Amazon to add additional functionalities and many more Wink-compatible products down the road.

Want to learn more about Amazon Echo? Click here for more info and to purchase one today!

Wink + Pro.com: smart home installation made easy

Some exciting news! Wink and Pro.com—the company simplifying home installation—are partnering to bring you an extra set of hands when setting up your smart home. 

We’re always looking for ways to make building your smart home as easy as possible. This partnership gives you the option to seamlessly utilize Pro.com’s expert professionals; they’ll install your Wink compatible devices to get them up and running in a snap. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Shop Wink.com for hundreds of smart products from leading brands
2. Tell Pro.com which products you would like professionally installed
3. Schedule the installation and a job manager from Pro.com will contact you within the hour
4. 100% satisfaction guaranteed - you pay only when the job is complete and you’re happy with the installation.

The service is available beginning today for residents in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Seattle. Additional locations will be supported as the partnership rolls out nationally. Find out when it will be available in your area here.

Get started today by visiting wink.pro.com!

Wink now compatible with IFTTT, Google Now and the Google app

We’re always looking for ways to make it easier for people to interact with their smart home and control their favorite devices. Here are three of our most recent partnerships that will help you do just that: IFTTT, Google Now, and the Google app. Here’s how they work:

IFTTT

IFTTT or “If This Then That” is a web service that aggregates lots of web apps—from Instagram to Dropbox to Gmail—into one place and then performs actions given a certain set of criteria. How? Once you’re signed up, you can create “Recipes” that automatically prompt something to happen as soon as something else does.

The Wink Shortcuts channel on IFTTT enables you to activate Wink Shortcuts through IFTTT triggers.
Use a Jawbone UP to monitor your sleep activity? Set up a recipe in IFTTT that tells the lights to turn off and the thermostat to adjust automatically when your UP goes into Sleep mode.

Google Now

Google Now is an intelligent personal assistant available for Android users that serves information at the right time. If Google and Wink detect you aren't home and your door is unlocked, an alert will now automatically prompt you to take action through the Wink app. Google enables Wink Android users to know what's going on in their home, no matter where they are.

 

 

 

Google App

Lastly, the Google app integration allows Wink users on Android phones to trigger eight different Wink Shortcuts by saying "Ok Google, activate [shortcut] on Wink."

Users can customize each Shortcut within the Wink app so that multiple smart products can be controlled simultaneously with a simple voice prompt.

For example, saying "Ok Google, activate Away Mode on Wink" can now lock the doors, lower the thermostat, and turn off the lights.

Introducing the Wink blog

Wink’s mission is to make the smart home accessible. Whether it’s improving how users interact with our app or partnering with trusted brands to bring their products onto the Wink platform, that mission is the underlying driver behind everything we do.

Where it all started.

Since our launch last July, we’ve experienced some amazing highs: We tripled the number of partner devices compatible with Wink, brought the Wink HUB to nearly 3,000 retail stores, and began adding a new Wink home every 60-90 seconds.

But, we’ve also seen some lows: The service disruption we experienced in April was proof positive that any company can make an error that impacts the people who rely on it.

No matter how high the highs or low the lows, we pride ourselves on our transparency and honesty when communicating with our customers, partners, and the industry.

With that in mind, we realize there is a growing need for an outlet to share what’s going on at Wink while helping people navigate the smart home.

And so today, we’re thrilled to introduce the Wink blog! We’re just getting started, but here’s what you can expect to see from us here:

• The latest Wink product news and partnership announcements
• Our take on topics currently bubbling up in the industry
• Content that demystifies some of the common misconceptions or confusion surrounding the smart home
• Tips and tricks to maximize the value of your smart home
• Spotlights on the real people using Wink each and every day

We hope this will be a valuable resource for you, and we are excited to see it grow and evolve. Please check it out and let us know what you think!