Meet the 13 new products that now work with Wink!

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The list of products that work with Wink continues to increase! Today we’re welcoming a number of best-in-class products in lighting, security, and utilities. Here’s the full list:

Lighting

Safety and Security

Utilities and Climate

Safety and Security

Our mission has always been to bring the products you love together in one app and we hope you enjoy officially connecting these products into your Wink smart home!

 

Check out the newest products that now work with Wink!

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Works With Wink continues to grow! Over the past few weeks, we’ve added a slew of new products to Wink, continuing our commitment to bring the best products from top brands together in a unified experience. Check out what now Works With Wink below and how they can make your home safer and more secure. 

Lighting:

The possibilities with smart lighting products are endless. From making your home look lived in when you are away, brightening a dark home upon arrival, or turning off appliances you may have forgotten about; connected light bulbs, plugs, and switches are the gateway to the smart home. Here are the new products that now work with Wink:

Safety and Security:

Your home can never be too secure, and now with additional sensors and detectors, you are always in the know if things at home go awry:

Let’s not forget the Dome leak detector and shut off valve, two great products that ensure water leaks and flooding woes remain things of the past:

Utilities and Climate:

Smart thermostats can be adjusted from a mobile app wherever you are and learn your temperature preferences over time, saving you money. The newest thermostat joining the Wink ecosystem can even be changed with a simple voice command!

Let us know in the comments which product you're most excited about adding to your Wink system!

Introducing a New Approach to Home Safety

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Today we're excited to unveil new experiences that blend hardware and software in a friendly, non-intimidating way to elevate people's feeling of safety and security in their home.

Meet Wink Bright, Home Sitter, and Moonlight.

Wink Bright

Wink Bright is the smart essentials lighting kit and a perfect gateway into the smart home for people who are considering it, but not sure where to begin. Wink Bright includes one Wink Hub 2 and two SYLVANIA Smart A19 Dimmable light bulbs.

Furthering Wink's commitment to simplifying smart home setup, Wink Bright arrives pre-paired, meaning the SYLVANIA bulbs are already connected to Wink Hub 2.

Simply plug in and connect Wink Hub 2 to your router, twist in and turn on the light bulbs, and download the Wink app. Once you've created an account, Wink will recognize the products within Wink Bright, guide you through a few simple steps, and then you're ready to go. 

Wink Bright is the perfect complement to two new free services we're excited to introduce within the Wink app: Home Sitter and Moonlight. 

New Wink App Services

We recently conducted in-home studies and learned that people view light as intrinsic to their feeling of security and safety. The most cited use cases? Lights being used as a deterrent (to make it look like someone is home) and for outdoor security (to ward off intruders or animals).

We created Home Sitter and Moonlight with those learnings in mind.

Home Sitter

Remember that scene from Home Alone where Kevin tricks Harry and Marv into thinking everyone is home, courtesy of lights, stereo turntables, mannequin manipulations, and a cut-out of Michael Jordan moving around on a toy train?

Home Sitter accomplishes the same goal with just a few taps in the Wink app. It makes it look like someone is home when you're away by turning your smart lights on and off in a way that mimics natural, human patterns.

Confirm your home location, the lights you'd like Home Sitter to control, and breathe easy the next time you're away from home for an extended period of time. Wink ensures the cadence never looks forced (your lights won't turn on during broad daylight or at 4:00am when you'd expect everyone to be asleep).

Moonlight

Moonlight ensures you always return to a well-lit, inviting home by turning your smart lights on and off at predetermined times. Select the smart lights you want Moonlight to control - whether it's outdoor lights or indoor lights near your home's entryway - and Wink will take it from there. 

Moonlight defaults to the sunrise and sunset times in your local area. You can also have Moonlight jump into action between sunset and midnight or sunset and 2:00am.

Where is this available?

Wink Bright has an MSRP of $119 (U.S.) and is available for pre-order starting today on Wink.com, HomeDepot.com, and HomeDepot.ca. Orders will begin to be fulfilled in one to two weeks.

Both Home Sitter and Moonlight can be found in a new Services menu within the Lights & Power section of the Wink app (make sure you update to version 6.0 if your Wink app doesn't auto-update).

They're a great way to amplify how you can use Wink Bright, but can also be used with any Wink-compatible lighting product, including light bulbs, dimmers, outlets, and switches.

A little light goes a long way

In Wink's Smart Home Index - a national data report focused on smart home behavior - we found that of the Americans that have purchased a connected product, 44% did so to keep their home safe.

We see a lot of opportunity to elevate people's feeling of home safety by creating experiences that blend hardware and software together in a friendly and non-intimidating way.

Light is a natural place to start and we'll be upping the ante later this year. Stay tuned!

Wink expands support for Lutron Caséta Wireless products

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Yesterday we pushed the latest version (5.7) of the Wink mobile app live and with it, added a whole bunch of new Lutron products to the Wink ecosystem! 

Wink Hub 2 now supports the full line of Lutron Caséta Wireless switches and dimmers. In addition, both the Wink Hub and Wink Hub 2 now support the two-button (PJ2-2B) remote.

With Wink + Lutron, you can easily set the lighting to match your mood or turn off lights left on from afar using the Wink app.

In fact, that same ease of use provides the perfect solution to two interesting discoveries uncovered in our new Smart Home Index (which explores smart home consumer behavior patterns nationwide):

  • Nearly three quarters (71%) of Americans wish they could monitor their home when they’re away.
  • 51% of Americans have forgotten to turn off a light before leaving home in the past six months.
  • If you’re interested in adding a Lutron product to your home, here’s the complete list of Wink-compatible models:

Wink Hub

  • In-Wall Dimmer (PD-6WCL)
  • Plug-in Dimmer (PD-3PCL)
  • 2 Button Remote (PJ2-2B)
  • 3 Button Remote with Raise/Lower (PJ2-3BRL)

Wink Hub 2

  • In-Wall Dimmer (PD-6WCL)
  • Plug-in Dimmer (PD-3PCL)
  • 2 Button Remote (PJ2-2B)
  • 3 Button Remote with Raise/Lower (PJ2-3BRL)
  • In-Wall Dimmer PRO (PD-10NXD)
  • In-Wall ELV + Dimmer (PD-5NE)
  • In-Wall Neutral Switch (PD-6ANS)
  • In-Wall Switch PRO (PD-5WS-DV)

Wink Smart Home Index: 71% of Americans wish they could monitor their home

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We know that consumers are adopting connected products at a rapid rate, with analyst firm Gartner recently forecasting that 20.4 billion will be in use by 2020.

What we wanted to dive deeper on: why? Who is buying smart products and for what reasons? What do people wish their home could do but can’t currently? What is stopping more people from making their home smart? 

Introducing Wink’s Smart Home Index.

We worked with the team at Harris Poll to survey 2,177 adults nationwide to get the answers to these questions. The full report - including the unexpected consumer behavior patterns we discovered - can be found here. The following are a few of the nuggets we uncovered:

PEOPLE FORGET TO DO THINGS THAT SMART PRODUCTS CAN FIX

Ever rush out of the house and get halfway to work or the airport only to question whether or not you locked the front door, closed the garage door, or turned off the lights? If so, you’re certainly not alone.

57% of Americans - that’s over 141 million - have forgotten to do a routine household task after leaving home in the last 6 months. 

While forgetting to turn off a light isn’t a worst case scenario, leaving your door unlocked can yield very real - and serious - consequences. Wink gives you the power to take care of your home and the people in it no matter where you are.

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PEOPLE CRAVE THE CONTROL SMART HOMES PROVIDE

We also found that nearly three quarters of Americans (71%) wish they could monitor their home when they’re away. 

The rise in popularity of smart cameras like Canary and sensors like GoControl are proof positive that people want to stay connected to what’s happening back at the ranch.  

RENTERS WANT TO GET IN ON THE ACTION TOO

A big misconception people have about the smart home is that it only makes sense if you own.

Tyler and Julia Waneka from San Francisco disagree. Longtime Wink users (and renters), they recently turned their new home into the landlord-friendly smart apartment of their dreams. 

We asked renters what they thought about the smart home, and found 36% would pay more in rent to have smart products included as amenities in their home. 

How much more? 5% annually. If you’re paying the median price for a one bedroom in Boston, that comes out to $1,680 more in rent per year.  

THE PERCEIVED COST IS VASTLY INFLATED

Another common misconception about the smart home is that it is exorbitantly expensive.

Do you know what else you can buy for $20,000? One Honda Civic, 55 iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaners, or 5,479 grande lattes at Starbucks.

People think they have to spend a small fortune on dozens of products to fully reap the benefits of a smart home, but that’s not true. In fact, the average Wink user starts out with about 4 products, totaling approximately $175-200.

Our first and foremost tip to anyone interested in making their home smart is this: pick the smart products - whether that’s a few or a bunch - from the brands you trust and that make the most sense for your lifestyle and dwelling. 

As Tyler Waneka told Curbed last month: ‘You just kind of get one thing at a time and then it starts making sense how you can wire them up...and make them play together.’

For more information on the Smart Home Index, email pr@wink.com. 

Wink Now Works With the Google Assistant on Google Home

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In December, Google announced it was updating its Weave platform to make it easier for connected devices and platforms – Wink included – to work with services like the Google Assistant. 

Starting today, we’re excited to announce Wink-compatible lighting products (light bulbs, switches, dimmers, and outlets) and thermostats can now be controlled with the Google Assistant on Google Home!

If you’re not familiar, Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. A quick voice command triggers the Google Assistant on Google Home to help you get answers, enjoy music, manage your everyday tasks and now, control your Wink-compatible lighting products and thermostats, just start by saying, “Ok Google."

Connecting Wink with Google Home is easy: 

  1. Add your Google Home device to your Google Home app (available for free download from Google Play and the iTunes Store).
  2. Tap the menu button on the upper left corner of the main page of your Google Home app.
  3. Tap “Home Control.”
  4. Tap the “+” button in the lower right corner.
  5. Select “Wink.”
  6. Enter the email and password associated with your Wink account.

That’s it! From there, you can turn both individual and groups of lights on / off or dim them to your desired brightness. For example, just say Ok Google, turn Downstairs on or Ok Google, set Hallway Light to 50 percent and you’re in business. It’s as simple as that.

Changing the temperature is just as easy. Say Ok Google, set Bedroom thermostat to 70 degrees or Ok Google, turn up the temperature by 5 degrees and your wish becomes Google Home’s command.

We’re big fans of voice control. Wink was the first smart home platform to work with voice assistants because we recognized how perfectly voice complements other interfaces like wearables and mobile phones when it comes to controlling your connected devices. 

The Google Assistant on Google Home’s powerful artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities extend the possibilities for voice control into new arenas. We’re thrilled to bring that to Wink.

Amazon Alexa can now control Wink-compatible smart locks

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Today we’re excited to announce a brand new category of Wink-compatible products that work with Amazon Alexa: locks! 

You can now ask Alexa-enabled devices to lock any of the locks (including those from Schlage, Kwikset, and Yale) that work with Wink or check the status of a lock with a simple voice command. For security purposes, Alexa cannot be used to unlock a door at this time.

Connecting your Wink-compatible door locks to Alexa is easy:

  1. If you haven’t already, connect your locks with the Wink app and set individual names for each if you have more than one (Front Door, Back Door, etc.).
  2. Then, enable the Wink Skill within the Alexa app (Settings > Skills > Wink > Enable).
  3. Sign in with your Wink username and password.
  4. From there, say “Alexa, discover new devices.” This can take up to 20 seconds. Your locks will then appear in the Alexa app as the name you gave it in step one.

From there, just say “Alexa, lock the front door” when you’re walking in with arms full of bags after work or “Alexa is the front door locked?” after you’ve parked up on the couch. She’ll take care of the rest. 

Wink was the first smart home platform to work with Alexa when we introduced voice control for select Wink-compatible lighting products in 2015. We’ve since tripled the number of Wink-powered light bulbs and switches that work with Alexa, extended support to Wink-enabled Nest Thermostats, and are thrilled to bring compatibility to locks!

Control Wink Shortcuts With the Flic Wireless Smart Button

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Meet Flic - a wireless smart button you can place anywhere and click to trigger over 40 apps and features in your phone: from ordering an Uber to setting an alarm to playing music. 

Flic recently used our open APIs to add Wink Shortcuts to that list. Here’s a few examples of how clicking Flic to trigger a Wink Shortcut can make life a little bit easier:

Say you have a ‘Welcome Home’ Shortcut setup that turns on the lights, adjusts the thermostat, and puts your camera into Home mode. Place a Flic on your car dashboard, connect it with your Shortcut, and press it when you’re pulling into the driveway for a more convenient arrival home. 

Or maybe you have a ‘Goodnight’ Shortcut and are in bed ready for sleep, but you left your phone plugged in downstairs. Place a Flic on your bedside table, press it when the yawning becomes unavoidable, and your home will power down (all without you having to make the groggy trip downstairs).

Please note, Wink Shortcuts that contain garage door openers or unlock doors are not compatible with Flic at this time.

The beauty of Flic is you can place it wherever you want. Now, with support for Wink Shortcuts, bringing your smart home to life from the places that are most convenient for you has never been easier!

Want to try it out for yourself? Getting started is easy and Flic has a step-by-step guide here.

Wink Now Works with the August Smart Lock

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Today, we’d like to formally welcome August Home to the Wink family! 

With a suite of intuitive, beautifully designed products and services, August Home gives you total control over your front door no matter where you are.

Through our latest mobile app release, you can now use an August Smart Lock paired to an August Connect with Wink. The August Smart Lock is compatible with most single-cylinder deadbolts used in many homes and only replaces the interior side. Your exterior lock hardware stays the same. The August Connect is what enables remote access and control of your lock.

Once connected to Wink, you can monitor the status of your August Smart Lock, lock or unlock it from afar, and receive alerts when activity takes place, all within the Wink app. 

You can also add the August Smart Lock to existing or new Wink Shortcuts and Robots to further automate your home. For example, a “Goodnight” Shortcut could be used to automatically lock your front door while turning off the lights and adjusting the temperature with just one tap in the Wink app. With an “I’m Home” Robot, unlocking your August Smart Lock can trigger the hallway lights to illuminate and your smart blinds to open.

Wink strives to bring the best products from the most trusted brands together, and we’re very excited to expand our smart home security footprint with Wink + August Home.  

Enjoy!

Meet Wink’s Newest Compatible Security Cameras

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Whether you’re on vacation, or want to make sure your furry friend hasn’t made a mess while you’re at work, a smart security camera is a perfect (and easy way) to have peace of mind about what’s happening at home. Today we’re excited to welcome two new industry-leading products to Wink’s growing ecosystem of compatible cameras: NETGEAR Arlo and Ring Stick Up Cam. If you’re not familiar, here’s a short primer on each: 
 

NETGEAR Arlo

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NETGEAR’s suite of Arlo cameras keep every angle of your home and business covered so you can know with confidence that someone has your back while you’re away. Add your Wink-compatible Arlo camera to an existing Robot to trigger actions in other smart products if motion or sound is detected. Wink currently supports three Arlo models:

  • Arlo: Wireless and weatherproof, Arlo provides HD quality video wherever you want a second pair of eyes.
  • Arlo Q: With AC-power, 1080p HD video, 2-way audio, and enhanced night vision, Arlo Q ups the ante in home security.
  • Arlo Q Plus: Designed for business applications, Arlo Q Plus delivers flexible power and connectivity options, including an Ethernet port for smoother reliability.

Ring Stick Up Cam

We’ve big fans of the Ring Video Doorbell and are thrilled to expand our compatibility with Ring’s product family by introducing the Ring Stick Up Cam to Wink. You can mount Stick Up Cam anywhere to see, hear, and speak with your visitors. Customize motion zones and sensitivity to activate Stick Up Cam and have alerts sent to the Wink app. 

Check Out Wink’s New Manhattan HQ

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When Wink launched in 2014, we established our roots in a tiny (sadly now leveled) garage in the heart of SoHo. A New York interpretation of the classic Silicon Valley startup origin story, if you will. The heating didn't work in the winter, we had a mouse problem, and there was only one bathroom for over 40 people. But it was our first home and we loved it.

Since those early days we've switched locations countless times, always bringing the "garage" moniker along with us.

We're now starting a new chapter in a new garage. One that we've designed to evolve with us for the foreseeable future as we bring our vision of the smart home to life. Located in the historic Terminal Warehouse building near Hudson Yards, our new Manhattan office is home base for Wink's growing engineering, design, business, and operations teams. 

Scroll through the gallery below for a first look at the space.

You'll notice a few empty desks here and there. If you're interested in helping us fill those out, we want to hear from you. We're always looking for great new talent to join the Wink team. Check out our list of current openings here!

 

 

Wink Hub 2 Is Now Available

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It’s stronger. It’s faster. It’s more reliable. And starting today, you can purchase it for just $99 USD on Wink.com. Wink Hub 2 is now available.

When we first took to the drawing board, we knew we wanted Wink Hub 2 to be for everyone, regardless of technical know-how or familiarity with the smart home. Every new hardware feature and software improvement was created and designed with that in mind.

If you’re a veteran user, Wink Hub 2 has a much more powerful processor, enabling us to run advanced automations locally while making control of your smart products lightning fast. Original Wink Hub owners that want to upgrade can also take advantage of our new hub-to-hub transfer process, which migrates your smart home over to Wink Hub 2 in just a few minutes through the Wink app.

If you’re just getting your feet wet with the smart home, we think you’ll like the dramatically simplified setup process, the Ethernet port that improves network connectivity, and the industrial-grade security features. We’re also all about providing choice when it comes to buying connected devices. That’s why Wink Hub 2 works with more smart home technologies than any other hub — so you can choose from hundreds of products by 31 trusted brands.

We’re proud of what we’ve created and we hope you enjoy it!

In addition to Wink.com, Wink Hub 2 is available today at Amazon.com, The Home Depot, and select Walmart stores nationwide. Availability at Home Depot Canada will follow in the coming weeks. The original Wink Hub is available for $69 USD while supplies last and we will continue to support and update it just as we always have.

Alexa Can Now Control Wink Lighting Shortcuts

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Hey Alexa fans! Starting today, you can now control Shortcuts that include only Wink-compatible lighting products (light bulbs and switches) with a simple voice command.

Say you have a bunch of lights in the living room that you want to turn off, dim, or change the color of as you’re sitting down for a movie

  1. Set up a “Movie Time” Shortcut in the Wink app, and adjust your lighting products to the desired settings
  2. Go into the Alexa app and select “Discover devices”
  3. Your Shortcut will be discovered, and from there, you’re set!

Simply say "Alexa, turn on Movie Time" and your living room turns into your very own home theater. Go through the above steps to create a “Movie Time Over” Shortcut to change the lights back with Alexa when the movie is over by saying "Alexa, turn on Movie Time Over."

Just keep in mind that if you change the name of your Shortcut in the Wink app, you’ll need to select “Discover devices” in the Alexa app again.

Shortcuts that include non-lighting products will not be discovered by Alexa, but stay tuned, as we’re continuing to work on expanding Alexa support!

 

Wink Relay Now Works with Uber, Fitbit, and IFTTT

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Starting today, you can do a lot more with Relay - the Wink touchscreen control panel.  

In addition to controlling the smart products you use every day, Relay can now be used to call an UberⓇ, monitor fitness through Fitbit, and take advantage of the many automations possible with the IFTTT ecosystem. 

We introduced Relay in 2014 to bring the light switch into the digital era. We imagined a beautiful, unobtrusive device in the familiar spot we have become accustomed to controlling our lights from, but with the power to control everything in the home.

The first step was Wink-compatible devices.

We knew there was a need for an additional touch point through which you could control your smart home that didn’t require being tethered to your phone. Mobile phones are inherently personal and rarely shared. Relay provides a common interface for anyone to lock the doors for the night, turn off the lights, or adjust the temperature, easily from the wall.

The next step, starting today, is to unlock a new class of services and experiences that can be accessed through the convenience of Relay. 

THIRD PARTY INTEGRATIONS:

Uber and Fitbit will appear as widgets on the Relay interface as part of an update we’re releasing to all users today. Relay is also now live as a Channel on IFTTT. It’s easy to put all three into action:

Uber: 

The Uber widget can be found on the Relay homescreen. When you press it for the first time, you will be prompted to log in to your Uber account. The Home location and default credit card on file will automatically carry over, and Relay is now set up to order a ride whenever you need!

When a ride is confirmed and on its way, you'll see how much time you have until it arrives. As the ride gets closer, you'll see your driver’s name and picture, along with the make, model, and license plate of the car. Rides called from your phone will also show up on Relay.

Just like in the Uber mobile app, if there is surge pricing, Relay will prompt you to confirm the fare. If you need to cancel a ride, do so at any time by pressing the cancel button below the ETA. And if your driver cancels your ride, Relay will tell you so you can order a new one.

Fitbit: 

To connect Fitbit, select the Settings icon on the Relay homescreen. Navigate to the Widgets page and then select the top right icon. Then, press Fitbit and you’ll be asked to sign in to your Fitbit account.

From there on out, Fitbit will ambiently display your step count and progress toward your daily step goal on the Relay sleep screen. It’s the perfect fitness nudge on a lazy day (or high five during those crazy times when you’re running around)!

IFTTT: 

You can now turn the two Relay buttons to the right of the touchscreen into triggers for the many automations enabled by IFTTT (pressing the Relay button becomes the “This” in “If This, Then That”).

To get started, log in to your IFTTT account (online or through the IFTTT app) and select “Create a Recipe.” Under “Choose Trigger Channel,” search for and select Wink Relay. You’ll then be prompted to connect IFTTT and Relay by entering your Wink login credentials.

Select which button you want to have trigger the automation, and then you’re off to the fun part: identifying what you want Relay to prompt. For example, a text could be sent to your phone when your child presses a Relay button in the afternoon, letting you know they are home from school safe and sound. 

RELAY PRODUCT UPDATES:

In tandem, we’re introducing a number of enhancements to the Relay user experience.

The microphone and speaker functionality have been enabled so that if you have multiple Relays, you can turn them into an in-home intercom system. Simply press the microphone icon on the top left of the touchscreen, talk as you would normally, and your message will be broadcasted to the other Relays throughout your home. Corralling the family out the door or downstairs for dinner is now a lot less cumbersome. 

In addition, we’ve refreshed the design of the weather and clock widgets on the sleep screen with a sleeker look that’s easier to read at a glance.

Relay makes taking advantage of the technologies and services you love easier, so you can spend less time tethered to your phone. Stay tuned, because ordering a ride, tracking your fitness goals, and communicating around the house are just the beginning of what we have planned. Additional lifestyle experiences will be introduced over the course of 2016.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy! 

And of course, if you don’t already have Relay you can purchase one (or many) today for $99 at wink.com and Amazon.com.

Wink Recognized on Albany Times-Union 2016 Top Workplaces List

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Our mission at Wink is to bring the best smart home products from the best brands together. Our dedicated, scrappy team works hard day in and day out to make that mission a reality. Today, we’re thrilled to see that work recognized by the Albany Times-Union, who has recognized Wink on their 2016 Top Workplaces list! 

For the past five years, the Albany Times-Union has identified 50 companies and organizations in the Capital Region as Top Workplaces based solely on employee surveys. Being named to this year’s list is a testament to the passion and dedication of our customer support team in Schenectady, and the unique culture that office has cultivated.

Wink’s customer support team is on the front line of our daily business operations. It is incredibly important to Wink and something we pride ourselves on. No other smart home platform gives users the option to call, email, or chat with dedicated in-house agents. The team supports the entire Wink ecosystem, so whether users have a question about their Wink HUB or one of our many partner products, our agents are fully knowledgeable and trained across the board to assist.

Perched high above State Street, our office is wrapped in floor to ceiling glass providing a front row view of downtown Schenectady. There are no offices or cubicles here; transparency and open lines of communication are key to providing the high quality of support our users have come to depend on. It’s a fun loving, tight knit team that works hard, rallies together, and enjoys the challenge of elevating what’s possible with the smart home.

We couldn’t be more appreciative of this recognition, and always looking for talented individuals to join our growing team! Keep an eye out on our careers page for opportunities in both Schenectady and our New York City headquarters!

Image by Shawn Morgan Photography

Image by Shawn Morgan Photography

Wink-Enabled Nest Thermostats Now Work with Amazon Alexa

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Wink + Amazon Echo users rejoice! Today we’re very excited to announce that you can now use Alexa to control your Nest Thermostat (or Thermostats) through Wink.

Last summer we unveiled our initial integration with Amazon that enables Alexa to control Wink-compatible lighting products, and were blown away by the response. We’ve been hard at work ever since adding additional functionalities (dimming) and now, a brand new product category in thermostats.

Connecting your Nest Thermostat with Echo is easy:

  1. If you haven’t already, first set up your Nest account and name each thermostat you have (living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc.).
  2. Next, connect your Nest account with your Wink app. Your Nest Thermostat will appear in the Wink app as “[location] + [name] + [the word ‘thermostat’]. "Home Living Room Thermostat,” for example.
  3. Then, link your Wink account to Echo within the Alexa mobile app (Settings > Connected Home > Device Links > Wink). 
  4. Finally, say “Alexa, discover devices.” This can take up to 20 seconds. Your Nest Thermostat will then appear in the Alexa app as [name] i.e. “Living Room” or “Bedroom.”  

From there, you can adjust the temperature day in and day out with an easy voice command.

If you know the specific temperature you’d like your home to be, simply say: “Alexa, set [name] to [XYZ] degrees.” An example would be: “Alexa, set upstairs to 70 degrees.”

You can also adjust the temperature incrementally by saying: “Alexa, [increase or decrease] [name] by [XYZ] degrees.” An example here would be: “Alexa, increase bedroom by 3 degrees.”

In order to conserve battery life on your Nest Thermostat, Nest limits the number of interactions per hour. After the limit is reached, Alexa will respond with "Sorry, the device [your thermostat name] is not responding."

We’ll soon be connecting Alexa with other Wink-compatible thermostats so stay tuned for more!

Introducing Wink’s First Compatible Water Sensor

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Water damage is the second highest claim filed with insurance companies in the United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute. As anyone who has come home to leaking water can attest - whether it’s a puddle by the dishwasher or a rapidly expanding swimming pool in the basement - the experience isn’t an enjoyable one. 

With our latest app update, we hope to bring Wink users a little peace of mind in this department through our first ever water sensor integration with the leakSMART wireless and waterproof leak Sensor and leakSMART Valve.

Simply install and connect the leakSMART Valve to your home’s main water supply and then place the Sensors strategically throughout your home near appliances, plumbing fixtures, and pipe seams. Then, once both the Valve and Sensors are paired to the Wink HUB, a Robot can be enabled within the Wink app that will automatically shut off your home’s main water source if any of the sensors detect a leak. No matter where you are, you can breathe easy that your home is safe and sound.

In addition, you can set up alerts within the Wink app so you are notified when your leakSMART Valve is opened, closed, offline, or running low on batteries. Along with leak detection, the leakSMART Sensors can detect room temperature - especially useful for second home owners who want to check their home’s temperature remotely, adjust the thermostat settings, or remotely shut off the home’s water if it gets cold enough to freeze pipes. 

We’re always looking to bring new product categories onto the Wink platform that provide value to users and enable a more complete smart home ecosystem. With leakSMART + Wink you can say goodbye to your water worries!

Local Control Now Available for Wink-Compatible Lighting Products

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UPDATE 6/15/16: We’ve been working hard to expand local control to additional product categories and with our latest HUB update, are thrilled to announce all Wink-compatible locks can now be controlled locally. As with lighting, this makes your locks not only more reliable, but faster than ever while maintaining the same high level of security you expect from Wink. 

When you turn a product on or off within the Wink app you want it to happen immediately. Understandable. It’s something our engineering team works hard at to make possible everyday. 

Today we’re excited to announce a new feature for all Wink users that takes those efforts to the next level - local control of your Wink-compatible, HUB-required light bulbs and switches.

This makes control of your lights in the Wink app MUCH faster and more reliable. Local control of Wink lighting products reduces latency by at least 50% to less than half a second. It also enables you to control your lights if the Internet goes down while you’re home. 

Here’s why:

Typically, when you control a product through the Wink app, your phone sends a signal to your Internet router, which then communicates with our server in the cloud, which then comes back through your router to the Wink HUB, and then finally to that product.

Local control removes the cloud layer from the equation, so that your phone can talk directly to the Wink HUB on your home network.

No need to opt-in, local control for your lights will just happen automatically so long as your phone is connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. Simply update your Wink HUB with the latest version and you’re good to go.

Our local lighting control was designed with an emphasis on security and data integrity. For example, your activity feed will remain current and accurate even if you are controlling lights locally. We've built a strong foundation for local features within the Wink HUB and can’t wait to extend it to additional product categories and in-app functions.

Stay tuned!

Wink Integrates With ADT Canopy - New Security-As-A-Service

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Security has always been a top priority at Wink. We strive to make our platform the safest and most reliable out there while giving users meaningful ways to monitor, control, and automate their home.

We’re excited to tell you a bit more about how we’re expanding that commitment.

Today at CES ADT - a leading provider of security and automation solutions - unveiled ADT Canopy, a new security-as-a-service that extends its best-in-class 24/7 professional monitoring services to wearables, life safety products, and the smart home.

As part of our ongoing mission to provide best-in-class smart home security, Wink is one of the first to be compatible with ADT Canopy. 
 
Wink users will find the solution integrated directly within the Wink app and can subscribe on a month-to-month basis, with no-term contracts and service options. From there, you can easily access ADT Canopy to manage your home security or connect to live help. 

ADT Canopy also has your back when you’re away. Say you’re on vacation somewhere remote, you can subscribe to ADT Canopy for the month you're away and stay completely covered. If your Wink-compatible door and window sensors or smoke/CO alarms detect abnormal activity, ADT Canopy will immediately spring into action. 

ADT Canopy + Wink gives consumers another window into their smart home through an on-demand security monitoring system from the most trusted name in the market.

For more information, check out the ADT press release here!

Ford to Explore Bringing Wink Into its Vehicles

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Hello from Las Vegas! We’re joining 170,000 of our closest friends this week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a showcase for the latest and greatest in consumer technology, wearables, and of course, the smart home. 

The team is there in full force, meeting with partners, watching keynote addresses, exploring the exhibition halls, and checking out the latest and greatest product debuts.

Speaking of news, we wanted to share a pretty cool announcement with you.

Earlier this morning, Ford announced their intent to bring the smart home into the smart car through SYNC integration with Wink and other leading smart home companies. 

If you’re not familiar, SYNC is Ford’s integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows drivers to make phone calls, control music, and perform other functions through voice commands. 

Wink will be made compatible with SYNC AppLink-enabled dashboards within select Ford models to enable drivers to easily control and automate their smart home on the road. 

For example, a driver nearing their house after work could have the option to either press a button on the dashboard or say a command that opens their garage door, turns on the lights, and unlocks the front door, all through Wink. 

We continue to broaden the Wink experience so you can use your smart home in more immersive, meaningful ways. Seamlessly connecting the car with the physical house expands what’s possible with the smart home, and we’re very excited about that.

Keep an eye out on our blog for more information on timing! 

In the meantime, you can stay up to speed on CES news throughout the week by following @TheWinkApp on Twitter and #CES2016.