We’re less than a month into the new year, but it’s starting to look like the smart home in 2018 will be defined by all-in-one hubs. Leading up to and during CES, we’ve already seen several companies looking to try their hands at the centralized gateway concept. Milo is one such hub, that packs Z-Wave Plus and Zigbee device compatibility alongside Google Assistant integration.
Milo is touted as the first smart speaker and home hub that’s centered around Google Assistant. As such, it embodies a similar form-factor to just about all of the other digital assistant-packed speakers we’ve seen this past week.
But it’s on top of the device’s cylindrical casing that things change, as a circular touchscreen provides on-screen controls alongside the power to command it through voice. This gives Milo an overall look quite similar to Apple’s HomePod.
Aside from its 3 far-field microphones and integrated dual-driver speaker, Milo’s main draw is that it also packs Z-Wave Plus and Zigbee radios.
This combination alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth gives the smart home hub one of the most robust lists of compatible devices we’ve seen. And the fact that it’s based around a familiar interface for controlling connected devices is just about the biggest benefit Milo has over its competition.
Of course all of these features come with a higher price tag than your typical smart hub or speaker. But surprisingly, Hogar’s newest hub will be launching with a more affordable $149 price tag. It is said to be shipping sometime during the first quarter of the year.
While Google Assistant voice control is a huge benefit, it also bolsters Milo’s connection to third-party services. This makes Hogar’s latest hub much more appealing than say Toshiba’s latest all-in-one device.
All things considered, with its low price point and feature-packed capabilities, Milo looks to be a compelling option for smart home owners.
[9to5-press-release]
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — CES 2018 Sands Booth #41717 — The Milo Smart Home Speaker (Milo) by Hogar Controls is the first-ever combination smart speaker and home hub to include support for Z-Wave Plus and adds multi-platform access for Zigbee, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. Milo’s integrated smart hub feature also works with the Google Assistant, so you can ask questions, control devices throughout your home, stream music and more.
A sleek and sexy design with on-board one-touch scene control and a smart home mobile app, Milo is an all-in-one solution for connecting you with what matters in your world. Milo leverages the popular Z-Wave ecosystem for control of smart home devices including lights, shades, locks, thermostats, garage door openers, and more; Milo also works with the Google Assistant, so it can stream music, news, weather, and so much more. Milo can be both a hands-free speaker or one-touch controller of your favorite scenes.
Smart speakers have exploded in growth over the past few years and led to a new wave of consumers discovering the power and convenience of a smart home. Consumers want easy access to their technology, using a combination of physical control, mobile app monitoring and voice commands to interact with their smart devices. Milo represents a complete shift in the design of smart home technology; before Milo, users would need to buy a smart home hub, a smart speaker and external controller devices to create the same level of convenience in the home. Milo solves this by being an all-in-one device with Z-Wave Plus hub functionality that works with the Google Assistant for voice control and streaming, and on-board one-touch scene control built into the glass top.
With premium audio technology, compact industrial design and an integrated smart home hub, Milo is a complete voice-powered entertainment and smart home solution, right out of the box.
Features (short version)
- Smart speaker with built-in Z-Wave Hub featuring onboard touch controller and works with the Google Assistant
- Connectivity: Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Z-Wave Plus – featuring latest Z-Wave Security S2 framework and ability to connect hundreds of devices
- Zigbee 1.2Ha – connect with popular Zigbee devices
- Bluetooth 4.0 – audio streaming
- Integrated 3 microphone array for superior far field hands-free use voice recognition
- Integrated amplified high excursion speaker with 2″ driver + dual 2″ passive radiators to deliver clear highs and deep bass
- Controls hundreds of smart home devices through cloud to cloud integration within a home
- Glass top with back lit one-touch scene control buttons and volume slider
- Mic mute and unmute, configuration button
- Wakeup, sleep LED indicators
- Lux Sensors on top of device for triggering different scenes
- Rolled with fabric, with aluminum brim and black touch glass – available in light gray and black, other colors to come
- DC 12V Powered
- Compact 3.94″ height x 3.35″ width
- Light weight – less than 450g/1lb
- Includes all-in-one mobile app for control of locks, lights, sensors, thermostats, music and more
Milo by Hogar Controls will be available in Q1 2018 for US MSRP $149 with a one-year warranty.
For more information on Hogar Controls, visit https://hogarcontrols.com/.
Hogar Controls®
Founded in 2015, Hogar Controls is a global design-first smart home and building automation company delivering powerful solutions for residential, hospitality and commercial markets. In 2018, Hogar Controls launched in the U.S. with the Milo Smart Home Speaker – the first-ever combination smart home speaker and home hub to include both Google Assistant voice functionality as well as support for Z-Wave Plus devices. Hogar’s full line of sleek, modern smart products offer homeowners, retailers and professional integrators stylish solutions that afford user-friendly control and a wide ecosystem of product choice to allow individuals to connect what matters most. Visit https://hogarcontrols.com/ for the full line.
[/9to5-press-release]
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