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"While many smart home companies are likely gearing up to work with Apple's newly announced Home platform, others companies like Vivint want to revolutionize the home automation industry all on their own. \nThe Utah-based company launched a smart hub called Vivint Sky on Tuesday, which will let users control everything from the lights, thermostat and door locks to high-definition security cameras throughout the home \u2014 all from a smartphone, laptop or tablet. The catch, of course, is that you'll need Vivint-branded lights and thermostats for the hub to work, so you're out of luck if you're a Nest person.\nSee also: 8 Futuristic Gifts for Your Smart Home\n\"We may be going in the opposite direction as the Internet of Things because it's complicating people's lives and not simplifying it,\" a Vivint spokesperson told Mashable. \"We think most companies in the U.S. understand innovation is critical and important, but some let others innovate for them and we choose that not to be the case at least for us.\"\nIt's certainly a different mentality these days as so many companies are looking for partners. It's tough for a company not to spread itself too thin \u2014 can one brand really do it all? Vivint is trying. It designs everything from the cloud services to hardware: \"Some companies are delivering what others are building, and that's not what we want,\" the spokesperson said.\n\nImage:  VivintThe SkyControl hub, which is available for installation in the U.S. and Canada, comes with a large touchscreen that lets users tap and swipe their way through the software. The interface has the ability to play videos from the installed video cameras, notify users when a door is unlocked or a family members arrives home and make adjustments to temperature. Since it's all controlled on one system, the hub works with Vivint's corresponding app for both iOS and Android devices. This means you can sit on the couch and make adjustments without visiting the hub at all.\n\nThe hub also collects data from the other products in the home (door and window sensors, motion detectors, small appliance modules), sends it to the cloud and interprets that information to send back helpful suggestions.\nMost importantly, the hub learns user behaviors and makes intelligent suggestions based on your preferences. For example, it learns daily patterns such as the times you're usually not home as a part of an effort to bring down energy costs. It sends SMS messages to users with questions that help the system confirm its predictions are on the right track.\nThe news comes just one week after Apple announced its smart home platform called HomeKit, which will eventually allow people to use iPhones to control their houses. But Apple wants developers to build on the platform so different smart products can talk to others.\n\"We do consider Apple Home a competitor,\" another Vivint spokesperson said. \"Apple\u2019s system is a hodgepodge of other third-party gadgets that are controlled via Apple devices, but there's a lot of features available on Vivint Sky that differentiate it.\"\nVivint offers four packages, ranging from $53.99 to $69.99 each month, with an activation fee of $99. \n7 Incognito Wearables You'd Never Guess Were Gadgets\n\n\nSoldier Selfies\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Norwegian fighter pilot snapped a selfie in an F-16 aircraft. The photo has garnered more than 1,000 likes on Facebook so far.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrigid temperatures didn't do much to deter the selfies.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Norwegian lieutenant sneaked a shot on the bridge of the KNM Thor Heyderdahl.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEven the commanders got in on the action.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs did the dogs.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne soldier took pause during a chemical warfare drill.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA group of French soldiers also took part in the fun.\n\nImage:  RTV/Norwegian Armed Forces\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/06/10/vivint-sky-smart-home/>