Hone Kickstarter Project Uses Low-Energy Bluetooth 4.0 To Track Down Your Lost Keys
by Brent Dirks
June 27, 2012
Have you ever lost your keys? Yep, who hasn’t? But a new Kickstarter project is looking to make sure that you never have to run around your house like a crazy person again.
Hone, designed for the iPhone 4S and new iPad, is a Bluetooth fob that makes finding your keys a lot simpler. To activate the system, you place the Hone on your keychain and then download the iOS app. Pairing will happen automatically.
When you lose your keys, users can open the app and tap the find button. If you don’t hear the Hone, the fob has a built-in proximity sensor so you’ll know if you’re moving closer or further away.
Here's a introduction about the project. Click here if you can't see the video.
As a Bluetooth 4.0 device, the 0.6-ounce unit has a range of around 150 feet. And with the new low-energy specification, the Hone’s battery should last around six months. The Hone is also accessible for the vision-impaired while the app supports multiple units.
After launching, to help the hacking community, the Hone’s creators are planning on publishing the UUID and Bluetooth profile
With 19 days to go, the project has already raised almost $58,000, easily surpassing its $46,000 goal. You can still order a Hone on Kickstarter for $49. Expected delivery is in October.
After a crazy Monday morning trying to find my keys inside one of my kid’s toys, I’m definitely in for the Hone.