C by GE Becomes CYNC
Savant’s GE Lighting is rebranding its C by GE products as CYNC, transitioning the name in the coming months – with all of the previous products supported by a new CYNC app. A number of new CYNC products have also been announced, including the $70 CYNC Indoor Smart Camera with privacy shutter, on-board storage via micro SD, and optional cloud storage through Cam CYNC (for $3 per month). There is also a fan-speed smart switch and an outdoor smart plug. The new app, which the company says is more user-friendly and includes functionality such as TrueImage, which gives consumers the ability to preview color and brightness changes using a photo of their room in the app.
The NPD Take:
- The smart lighting market has been…lit up…since the pandemic hit and still shows no signs of slowing down, with retail units so far this year nearly double what they were at the same time last year (Source: NPD Weekly Retail Tracking through Week Ending July 03, 2021).
- Yet another rebranding from GE Lighting could be confusing for current users of their ecosystem, but first-time buyers ultimately will purchase what is readily available to them at a good price.
Lenovo Launches New Smart Clock with Wireless Dock
Lenovo introduced its Smart Clock 2, with a new shape that eliminates the wedge form factor and now looks more like a small smart display with a 4” screen, 3 different colors of fabric to choose from, and an optional wireless charging dock for Qi-compatible devices. The dock is supposed to support fast charging and be MagSafe compatible (presumably to help your iPhone perfectly align to the charging coil), and also acts as an ambient night light. Smart Clock 2, like Lenovo’s others smart displays/clocks, is compatible with Google Assistant. It will be available in September, starting at $90, and will replace the original Lenovo Smart Clock.
The NPD Take:
- Lenovo’s take on the smart display market has always set the company apart from others by focusing on the bedroom location – a classic location for overnight phone charging needs. Now is the right time for Lenovo to capitalize on consumers’ growing desire for convenient and easy charging phone charging solutions, though the fact that the dock charges only one device (and not say, a phone and headphones and/or watch) will be a dealbreaker for some.
ADT Tries to Block Vivint Imports
ADT filed a patent infringement complaint against Vivint, seeking to block imports of its products. ADT claims Vivint’s home security monitoring and automation control panels infringe two patents for “smart home integration, data collection, and control panel functions and interfaces, among other capabilities and features.” Vivint’s SkyControl Panel allows consumers to monitor smoke detectors, lights, doorbells, and other devices via a mobile app.
The NPD Take:
- This marks just the latest competitive legal battle in the smart security system world. ADT also has a lawsuit against Vivint for using misleading tactics to convince ADT customers to switch services. Vivint has a suit against ADT for patent infringement. ADT also recently settled a lawsuit against Ring, forcing them to change their Ring signage (that looks remarkably similar to ADT’s own blue octagon signage).