Skip to main content

Even your ceiling fan can be a smart home device thanks to Hunter’s new Signal

Meet the Signal
It’s unclear whether the world as a whole is getting smarter, but your home certainly is. Apple’s vision for a connected home continues to come to fruition, and the latest appliance to join the smart revolution comes just in time for this record-setting summer. Meet the Signal, a Wi-Fi enabled, Apple HomeKit-integrated ceiling fan from the 
Recommended Videos
Hunter Fan Company.

It’s the first of what promises to be an “unprecedented 2016 new product launch” from the 130-year-old fan company, and while tradition has kept Hunter in business for well over a century, there’s nothing traditional about the technology behind its latest fans.

The Simple Connect ceiling fans can be programmed to be turned on before you ever walk into a room, synced to your thermostat so the temperature is always where you want it to be, and even set up to turn on its light fixtures so that you never have to walk into a dark room.

“This new product launch is a testament to our dedication to un-matched quality and performance and determination to bring our customers the latest designs and technology at an affordable price,” said John Alexander, the firm’s CEO. “We are thrilled to finally share this new innovation with our eager customers and are hoping to see a Hunter Fan in every home.”

Thanks to the fans’ Apple HomeKit integration, users can easily and safely control one or all of the fans in a home using either the new iOS 10 Home app or Siri. HomeKit-enabled products can also trigger one another — for example, you can have your Signal fan turn on when your connected fire alarm detects smoke.

“When we first had cameras on our iPhones, we didn’t immediately envision the ability to deposit checks with them,” said Hunter Chief Marketing Officer John Neilson. “Similarly, we know that these fans enhance energy efficiency, home security and convenience, but we believe we’ve just scratched the surface of their full potential.”

The Signal fan, Hunter’s flagship connected product, promises a contemporary and sleek aesthetic with satin nickel housing, reversible wooden-finished blades, and of course, smart technology. It’s currently available across a number of online and in-person retailers, and sells for $379.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Echo Spot vs. Echo Show 5: Is the new Echo Spot the better smart device?
The Amazon Echo Show (3rd Gen) on a table.

The Echo Show 5 is one of the smallest smart displays on the market. However, the new Echo Spot also boasts a tiny touchscreen -- though it's more of a smart alarm clock than it is smart display. But if you're seeking a compact and connected display for your home, is one a better option than the other?

Here's a closer look at the Echo Spot and Echo Show 5 to help you decide which is better for your needs.
Pricing and design

Read more
Echo Spot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon device is better for your smart home?
The Echo Spot on a shelf.

The Echo Spot is a new smart alarm clock from Amazon, though it looks eerily similar to the existing Echo Pop. Both offer a similar, semi-ircle design -- though the Echo Spot is equipped with a touchscreen while the Pop is largely controlled via voice commands. There are a handful of other differences between the Echo Spot and Echo Pop, and since the Echo Spot is much more expensive than the Pop, you'll want to take a close look at both before opting for the fancy new gadget.

From pricing and design to sound quality and additional features, here's everything you need to know about the Echo Spot and Echo Pop.
Pricing and design

Read more
The latest Philips smart lock can read your palm to open your front door
The Philips Palm Reader smart lock on a blue door.

Philips just launched a slew of new products, headlined by the Philips Home Access 5000 Series Palm Recognition Smart Lock. The device works not just with a physical key, PIN code, or Philips mobile app, but also with the built-in palm scanner -- making it one of the most futuristic smart locks of 2024.

According to Philips, the scanner works by tracking "unique palm vein patterns," making it nearly impossible to hack and offering families an ultra-secure way to lock their front door. Setup is just as easy as most other smart locks, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi so you can get up and running without the need for a secondary bridge. It also works with voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Read more