Design vs. Retrofit: Brand Differentiation

Join us in this episode as Garrett Lovejoy, SVP at Fortune Brands and General Manager of Connected Security, shares insights into the evolving landscape of smart locks, industry standards like Matter, Thread, and UWB, and the future of intelligent home automation. Discover what’s next for connected security, design trends, and how AI is democratizing automation creation.

In this episode:

• The impact of CES 2026 on smart home industry innovations
• How Matter, Thread, and UWB are transforming device connectivity
• The role of AI in simplifying automation setup and personalization
• Differences and future plans for Yale, August, and other brands in the market
• Advances in retrofit solutions for smart blinds, shades, and other accessories
• Challenges with multi-home device management in apartments and condos
• Emerging smart lock technologies including UWB and Aliro
• The User Experience evolution with automatic unlocking and tap-based access
• The significance of design innovation and brand differentiation
• Industry resilience and firmware update strategies for complex home systems

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• @andrew_osu on Twitter
• @andrewohara941 on Threads
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Sponsored by:

• Gusto: Try Gusto today at https://gusto.com/homekit, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.
• Shopify: Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at: shopify.com/homekit

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Links from the show

• Multiple Apple Home garage doors in CarPlay
• Great projector automation from Aqara forum
• SwitchBot Wooden Air Purifier
• Yale Assure 2 Lock with Matter
• Yale Home Website

Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com