The lock, which can automatically lock and unlock when you come and go, is an aluminum cylinder that, instead of forcing you to change your locks and piss off your landlord, simply “attaches to the back of the door’s deadbolt”. Clear instructions include the lock itself as well as a Philips head screwdriver. The device only needs four AA batteries to run for an entire year.
Operated via iOS and Android app, August Smart Lock works by tapping into your smartphone’s Bluetooth LE for operation. It’s sleek exterior was designed by Yves Behar, August co-founder, and also designer of the Jawbone UP24. It’s motor drive (the part that pushes the lock into the frame) is the main reason the company hasn’t made the lock available yet. It is necessary that the drive proves strong enough for all doors. Jason Johnson, CEO and co-founder of the company said, “We had a product a year ago we felt pretty good about, but realized we could do better. We could make this more powerful”.