Accessory maker Logitech today is announcing the launch of the Pop Home Switch, a new button that can carry out certain actions when you push it. It’s reminiscent of Amazon’s Dash Buttons, which let you do things like buy new paper towels and laundry detergent, but Logitech’s product is more customizable and more focused on smart-home applications.
The Pop Home Switch will integrate with products from LIFX, Lutron, Insteon, Phillips, Sonos, and other manufacturers, not to mention Logitech’s own Harmony home automation hardware, according to a statement. Unlike Dash Buttons, which do one thing when you push down, you’ll be able to get different results based on the way you push the Pop Home Switch — it will react to a single press, a double press, and a long press.
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Above: One of the buttons.
Later this month, Logitech will start selling its Pop Home Switch Starter Pack (it contains two switches and one plug-in bridge) and its standalone Pop Add-on Home Switch in the U.S. for $100 and $40, respectively. You could compare the latter price with the $5 price of a Dash Button — but each of those has just a single purpose, and they’re only available to Amazon Prime members.
The Logitech button will have a corresponding Android and iOS app, which will become available in the next few weeks and will detect smart-home devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi network. With the app, users will be able to configure the button such that one press triggers actions on multiple internet-connected devices — or just set it up to do a few different things with a single connected device.
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