Klug Review

Klug is a USB-sized device that turns any router in a smart home hub, connecting to all ZigBee and Wi-Fi devices using artificial intelligence. The device is preparing to ship in 2016. Here’s our preview of Klug.

What is The Klug Smart Home Hub About?

Klug Hub (made by Intraix) is a USB-sized device that promises to turn your router in a smart hub for your home. It connects to all ZigBee and Wi-Fi devices to become the “centralized controller for your smart devices.” They also have the Klug Air which is a smart InfraRed thermostat that works via remote control to save energy and money be being more efficient.

Unlike other home hubs, Klug promises to learn from your connected devices and adapt to your lifestyle.

As an example, Klug claims that you can use the device to wake up to a home that’s the perfect temperature, then find your way around your home using lights that are perfectly dimmed for the early morning light, and then find freshly-brewed coffee waiting for you after your morning shower.

Or, Klug claims it can have your curtains automatically close when you start a Netflix session. The air conditioner can be set to automatically turn off at night, and the lights can go off and on when you need them.

Basically, Klug wants to help you turn your home into a smart home.

Klug recently launched on IndieGoGo, where it’s seeking to receive $30,000 USD of funding and has the official website of GetKlug.com.

How to Use Klug

Using Klug is straightforward: you just plug the device into your router.

Typically, when you setup your “smart home”, you need to integrate different devices from different brands together. Klug promises to simplify this process and avoid wasting your time.

After plugging Klug into the router, you are done. “Let Klug do the hard work for you”, the makers of the device explain.

After plugging it in, you can use voice commands to control the device. You can also control devices from iOS, Apple Watch, Android, and Android Wear, or from the Klug app itself.

As an example of the devices you can control, Klug mentions Amazon Echo, Philips Hue, Apple Watch, Ecobee 3, and the Netatmo Weather Station. Basically, if it’s a smart device for your own, Klug wants to be able to control and connect.

Klug Tech Specs

ZigBee Chip

• 32 bit ARM Cortex M3 Processor
• 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4-2003 transceiver & lower MAC
• AES128 encryption accelerator
• Frequency range of 2400 to 2500 MHz
• Data rates of 250 kbps
• ZigBee Home Automation Profile

Wi-Fi Chip

• 802.11 b/g/n
• Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, supports WPA and WPA2 networks
• Certified by the FCC, CE, TELEC, Wi-Fi Alliance, and SRRC

Platform Compatibility

• iOS and Apple Watch
• Android and Android Wear
• Works with Amazon Alexa
• Programs recipes with IFTTT

Requirements

• Apple or Android smart device
• Wi-Fi network with 2.4GHz router running on WPA-PSK, open security, or WEP

Supported Devices

• Klug supports all ZigBee Home Automation profile devices as well as all Wi-Fi API-enabled devices

Klug Pricing

Klug is scheduled to ship out its first products in October, 2016. That’s assuming that the IndieGoGo campaign reaches its fundraising target. The campaign just launched and is seeking to raise $30,000 USD in financing.

Here’s how pricing for Klug breaks down:

• Super Early Bird Pricing (First 500 Units): $79
• Early Bird Pricing (Subsequent Units): $89
• Starter Kit (Includes Three Smart Plugs): $199

Klug claims that the future retail price of the device will be $109.

At the time of writing, all of the above packages were still available for purchase.

How Does Klug Work?

Klug claims to use a series of algorithms to take input data – from your existing smart devices – and turn it into a smarter, more comfortable home for you.

As an example, Klug claims that input data can include your sleep cycle, metabolic rate, user schedule, personalized schedule, and phone location. Then, Klug takes that information and uses it to make smart decisions about your coffee machine, water heater, iron, toaster, air conditioner, and lights.

As another example, Klug takes temperature data from your home (using the Netatmo weather station and public weather APIs), your metabolic rate (from your FitBit or other wearable), and user preferences (from your Android or iOS device) and turns that into smart decisions about the temperature in your home.

The makers of Klug wants you to image a typical night with Klug like this:

“You're on your bed, browsing through Facebook, or perhaps reading a book. You start to feel sleepy, and you're done for the night. But your bedroom light is too far away from your reach.

So you told Alexa, “Hey Alexa, tell KLUG I'm going to sleep.”

She replies, “Okay, good night, sleep tight.”

Immediately, your night lamp begins to dim. And your air conditioner temperature turns on to the correct temperature, the way you personally like it for your slumber.”

As you sleep, Klug continues to look out for you. It uses data from your Jawbone or fitness tracker to notice that you’re entering deep sleep (it can see that your heart rate is going down and your body temperature is dropping). Then, Klug tells your smart air conditioner controller (like Klug Air) to adjust your A/C to the perfect setting. You don’t wake up shivering from the cold, nor do you wake up sweating. You stay at a comfortable temperature all night.

Then, the next morning when you wake up, Klug knows you woke up because it looks at your fitness tracker data. It starts to brew your coffee in the kitchen using your smart coffee maker. Then, Klug pre-heats water for your morning shower. Once Klug realizes that you’ve left your house for work, it turns off your air conditioner to save money.

Who Makes Klug?

Klug was created by co-founders Bryan Lee and Darrell Zhang. Bryan graduated from the National University of Singapore Business School and leads the product team. Darrell is a computer engineer and energy manager.

You can follow along with Klug’s development at their extensive IndieGoGo page here. The company is headquartered in Singapore at the following address:

79 Ayer Rajah Crescent #02-23
Singapore 139966

You can get in touch by emailing [email protected] or by calling 65 9009 1829.

Should You Use Klug to Control your Home?

Klug is a futuristic device that only really works if you already own multiple smart devices. If you’re the type of person who uses a fitness tracker to track sleep patterns, a smart thermostat to control your home’s temperature, and a smart coffee maker to control your morning coffee, then you’ll get maximum use out of Klug.

If you don’t do any of those things, then Klug is unlikely to be of much help.

We have yet to see if Klug will reach its fundraising target on IndieGoGo. However, the ambitious project has shown strong early sales figures and appears to be on track to meet its $50,000 of funding.