Ondrej Holzman Smart phone, smart watch, smart light bulb, smart home. Nowadays, everything is really smart, so it is perhaps not surprising that we can also find a smart padlock on the market. Paradoxically, this is a very ingenious idea, thanks to which you no longer need a key for your lock, but a phone (and sometimes not even a phone).
Noke (pronounced in English as "no key", Czech for "no key") first appeared on Kickstarter last year as one of many "smart projects", but unlike other gadgets, the Bluetooth padlock caught the attention of fans so much that it eventually made it to mass sales.
At first glance, this is a classic padlock, eccentric perhaps only because of its very successful design. But eccentricity is far from just that, because the Noke Padlock has no key slot. You can only unlock it with a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0, and if this method is not possible for some reason, you can help yourself by pressing the code.
To begin with, it must be said that even though this is a smart gadget, the creators have taken great care to ensure that the padlock is primarily what it should be - that is, a security element that cannot be simply unlocked. That is why the Noke Padlock has, for example, the most modern technology against unhooking the latch, meets safety class 1 according to EN 12320 and can withstand even extreme conditions.
So you don't have to worry about it being some cheap piece that may be smart, but can't fulfill its main purpose. After all, you can already tell the durability when you take the lock in your hand, because you can really feel the 319 grams. The Noke Padlock is not much for carrying in your pocket.
And speaking of security, the developers also paid attention to the lock's communication with the iPhone (or other Android phone). Ongoing communication is strongly encrypted: to 128-bit encryption, Noke adds the latest technology from PKI and a cryptographic key exchange protocol. A breakthrough is therefore not very likely.
But let's get to the main point - how does Noke Padlock unlock? First of all, you have to download the noke app and pair the lock with the iPhone. Then you just have to get closer with your phone and, depending on your settings, either just press the clamp, wait for the signal (the green button lights up) and open the lock, or, for greater security, confirm the unlocking in the mobile application.
For a product like this, I was worried about making the connection and unlocking reliable. Nothing is more annoying than when you come to a lock that you need to unlock quickly, but instead of turning the key, you wait for long seconds for pairing with your phone and the green button.
However, to my surprise, the connection worked very reliably. When pairing was initiated, both devices responded very quickly and were unlocked. Despite the fact that many other products have a problem with connecting via Bluetooth, Noke Padlock worked really reliably in our tests.
The question that arises in your mind is what to do with a locked lock when you don't have your phone with you. Of course, the developers thought of that too, because you don't have the phone with you in every situation, or it simply runs out. For these occasions, you set up a so-called Quick Click code. You can easily unlock the Noke Padlock with a sequence of long and short presses of the shackle, which is signaled by a white or blue diode.
This method may resemble the old well-known locks with a numerical code, only here instead of a number you have to remember "morse code". This way you can always get into the lock when you don't have your phone, but not when the battery dies. This is probably the last potential stumbling block that you will not find with a classic "key" lock.
The Noke Padlock is powered by a classic CR2032 button cell battery and should last at least a year with daily use, according to the manufacturer. However, if you do run out of it (which the application will warn you about), just turn the back cover of the unlocked lock and replace it. In the event that the battery runs out and the lock is locked, you remove the rubber stopper at the bottom of the Padlock and use a new battery to revive the old one through the contacts, so that you can at least unlock the lock.
Within the Noke app, Padlock can be shared with your friends, meaning you can give anyone access (perpetual, daily, one-time or select dates) to unlock the padlock with their phone. In the application, you can see every unlocking and locking, so you have an overview of what is happening with your lock. It is also important to add that when you come to a foreign castle with the application, you cannot connect to it, of course.
However, the highly secure and smart Noke Padlock does not come cheap. It is possible at EasyStore.cz can be purchased for 2 crowns, so if you don't use the padlock really regularly, it probably won't appeal to you that much. But it could interest cyclists, for example, because Noke also manufactures a bicycle holder including a cable made of braided high-quality steel, which cannot be cut so easily. However, you will pay for the holder with the cable another 1 crowns.
We will quickly mention that the Noke menu also includes a Keyfob remote key, which can be used as a phone replacement when unlocking the lock. At the same time, you can use it as a key to hand over to someone who needs to unlock your lock and may not have a smartphone. Key fob it costs 799 crowns.
I can't help myself, but even though I thought about it, it's bullshit, I'd rather have such an oval plate burned on the plasma, which I lock through the lock and in the app, I have keys for 1 and 5 digits stored in 4password. not to mention the savings of about 50.000 CZK when buying, mainly because I don't have to deal with the battery and anything. But for some "dead" mailbox it can be good
I plan to buy it for the fuse box. Why not, I like it, nota bene if you can rely on it.