Ecobee just released the SmartThermostat with voice control.. The Ecobee SmartThermostat is impressive, based on its ease of installation, configuration, and operation. It has outstanding features and great performance, including voice and communications features, and a great music sound quality from the thermostat’s speaker.
It’s Alexa-compatible as well with voice command capability. It can also play podcasts, playlists, and news via Alexa, while also being able to stream music from subscriber’s Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora, TuneIn, and Spotify. It supports Alexa Calling, Messaging, and Drop-In. The SmartThermostat uses digital microphones, having dropped the analog mics from earlier models, with improvements in word detection and echo cancellation. It’s also compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT.
This latest model has a similar appearance to the company’s earlier versions with its “squircle shape,” but adds a 320 x 380 resolution LCD glass-front touchscreen display.
The SmartThermostat also now has a new quad-core processor, able to run advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning for improved natural language speed detection. It’s also equipped with dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, making it gain both speed and operating range with remote sensors. Ecobee stated that the SmartThermostat can operate up to three times faster than previous models.
The temperature is managed by Ecobee’s SmartSensors. The new sensors have an updated design, with enhanced wide-angle detection, sensing both motion and temperature with Bluetooth pairing up to 60 feet. You can control the SmartThermostat with Android and iOS Ecobee apps.
Ecobee’s statement about the SmartThermostat sounds like they’re describing a prominent smart home hub.
“We see the smart home emerging as an oasis where great technology can fade into the background and free you from the chaos of everyday life,” said Ecobee President and CEO Stuart Lombard, in a release for the SmartThermostat launch. “We’ve designed the new Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control to be the foundation of that vision. It’s packed with more power than ever before to deliver a best-in-class user experience and effortlessly connect you to the solutions and services you love, but also work quietly in the background so you can focus on the things – and people – that matter most.“
The SmartThermostat goes for $249, including the new SmartSensor remote satellite device, which can sense both motion and temperature. In case you want two additional SmartSensor remotes, you can get them for $79.
