Meet Noke: The Bluetooth Padlock That Needs No Keys


FuzNokeIt’s a very smart world we’re living in these days, and it seems everyone is trying their hands at making our lives ever-easier through the use of long-lasting Bluetooth-enabled gadgets. The most recent product to hit Kickstarter that seems primed to do just that is the aptly named Noke (pronounced “no-key”), a water-resistant, connected padlock that doesn’t need a physical key (or a combination!) to be unlocked.

FuzNoke1Billed as “the world’s first Bluetooth padlock”, the concept of Noke is a fairly simple one. In an effort to take the guesswork out of trying to remember a combination or keep a tiny key constantly on-hand, the lock pairs with a companion app on your smartphone. To unlock the device, simply click the hook down into the body of the lock and Noke will “wake up” and search for your smartphone in the near vicinity. If the accompanying smart device is within 10 feet of the lock, Noke will instantly unlock - without you even having to pull your device from your pocket or bag. It can even be shared with other users via the Noke app for either a set amount of time or indefinitely.

FuzNoke2The Noke will be able to function with any assigned iOS or Android device equipped with Bluetooth 4.0. It comes with a CR3032 battery, which designers have made replaceable even if the battery runs completely out of juice (the Noke app will of course alert you when it is getting close to time to replace). So what happens if your smartphone runs out of battery life? There is a workaround for that too – tap a pre-assigned click pattern into the hook of the lock and the Noke will open right up for you.

FuzNoke3The folks over at Fūz Designs, the minds behind the Noke, set a pretty ambitious initial Kickstarter goal of $100,000. With 30 days still to go in the campaign they are sitting pretty with just over $60,000 in funding, so it’s probably safe to say this thing is good to go. You can reserve one of your own for the low, low early-bird price of $59 (that’s $30 less than the estimated retail cost) and the product itself is slated to ship in February 2015.

Topics: Technology News Apple Battery & Power Technology Gadgets & Peripherals Inventions & Innovations Smartphones & Mobile Devices

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