Homey just made the smart home controller I hoped Apple would build
The short version
- Smart homes have gotten really good at making things really complicated.
- Turning on a light can involve multiple steps, compared to just flipping a switch.
- Homey, the Dutch-based smart home platform owned by LG , thinks it has a solution.
- This week it launched the Homey Portal, a touchscreen smart home controller that looks very promising, if very expensive.
- Preorders open today at an introductory price of $249/€249, with units shipping in December.
The story
Smart homes have gotten really good at making things really complicated. Turning on a light can involve multiple steps, compared to just flipping a switch. Homey, the Dutch-based smart home platform owned by LG, thinks it has a solution.
This week it launched the Homey Portal, a touchscreen smart home controller that looks very promising, if very expensive. Preorders open today at an introductory price of $249/€249, with units shipping in December.
A 2.8-inch round touchscreen device with a stainless steel dial, the Homey Portal can sit on a desk or mount to the wall and is powered by a USB-C cable. You tap the icons to control devices li …
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The Story At A Glance
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- • Homey launched the Portal, a $249 touchscreen controller with a stainless steel rotary dial.
- • The device centralizes control for various brands like Sonos and Philips Hue.
- • LG owns an 80% stake in Homey and aims to integrate it across their ecosystem.
Homey is a Dutch platform that seeks to simplify smart home management by avoiding single-manufacturer apps. LG acquired the company to expand its smart home presence through integrated connectivity.
Christian Perspective
Technology should serve the sanctity of the home rather than complicating it through excessive digital layers. The shift toward centralized, app-based control can disrupt the natural peace and order of a household. True stewardship involves using tools that enhance domestic life without creating unnecessary dependencies on global corporations.
Implications
The push for interconnected smart devices increases the vulnerability of the private domestic sphere to corporate surveillance. As LG integrates these systems, American families face more points of data collection within their most intimate spaces. This trend risks eroding the privacy and autonomy essential to a free and Christian home.
Broader Trends
The consolidation of smart home technology by massive global entities like LG reflects the growing power of international conglomerates. This centralization mirrors the broader movement toward a digital infrastructure that prioritizes corporate data harvesting over individual sovereignty. Such trends contribute to a world where every aspect of life is monitored and managed by distant, non-national actors.
Takeaway
Prioritize privacy by opting for self-hosted servers over cloud-based subscriptions whenever possible. Maintain control over your household by choosing hardware that does not require constant connectivity to foreign-owned servers. Protect the sanctity and privacy of your family by remaining skeptical of all integrated smart technologies.
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