Nanoleaf Shapes with THREAD - Full Review

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Are the Nanoleaf Shapes worth the cost? We'll cover everything you need to know about these, including how they work in HomeKit and their recent announcement to support Thread!

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NOTE: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:11 Nanoleaf & Thread
2:08 About the Shapes
4:08 Unboxing
3:38 Installation Tips
6:48 Specs & Features
8:06 The Controller
8:58 App Setup
9:27 App Features
10:15 HomeKit Touch Actions
12:17 Scenes in HomeKit
12:46 Screen Matching, Music Sync, & Touch
13:28 Skillshare
15:00 Shapes as Thread Border Router
16:18 Are They Worth the Cost?

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#HomeKit #SmartHome #Nanoleaf

[ShaneCreates]

Use Discount Code SHANE10 for 10% OFF Nanoleaf Shapes from their website until 6/14/21.

✅ Follow me online for more HomeKit stuff every day!

[geek]

Shane, the triangles are really nice. If just one could hide the power cable and make it seamless somehow...

[TheBradLloyd]

Nice video, Shane! Great intro and good choice to put up a “W” with the Nanoleaf shapes! Loved this and excited to hear more about the whole border router piece.

[khaynes]

Hi Shane! I hope you like this idea.

I have the prior generation of these lights. I originally had 12 of them arranged in a snowflake configuration and mounted directly to the wall but after a year, the triangles began to come loose because the drywall underneath is slightly porous. So, I took it down for fear it would fall down while I was away from home and damage them. But rather than give up, I went to Lowes and bought a piece of clear plexiglass. I’d already done the math and had the people at Lowes cut it into a square that was slightly larger than my snowflake shape. It was pricey but a good investment. I returned home and drilled a shallow indentation in the back side of the plexiglass where it would be hidden by the triangles but above the center point of the square allowing the plexiglass to hang like a picture and just deep enough for a nail or screw but not all the way through the material. I replaced the old command strips with new ones trimmed to fit behind the triangles (the release tabs used to stick out from behind the triangles) and remounted them. I placed a drywall anchor into the wall and screwed a small screw in that slightly stuck out and hung the entire thing like a picture. It can be easily moved and the triangles are very secure as the plexiglass has no pores.

My lights are also tied into HomeKit. I use them to wake me up (mimicking the sunrise), they are also tied the motion detectors of the cameras in my backyard so, at night, when motion is detected, they light up briefly to let me know to check the cameras without having my iOS device near.

[RagingFlash]

On top as always Shane. Keep up these amazing videos and honest reviews! You’re the first go to when I need HomeKit related videos. And in my opinion.. slick, direct, very explained. 👌🏼 thanks for continuing these vids!

[Claudwig_]

Good video as always Shane, I’ve had these for a while now, I even asked you before about them, but I can tell you that thru Shortcuts you can tie them to your weather and they will show a specific color you choose for the expected weather at a specifics time, so I have red for hot, blue for cold and purple for rain to display at 8am so my fam knows what to expect (I have them set in diamond shape in my living room). I also have a specific theme pop up at sunset so my kids know it’s time to start getting ready for bed. Lastly you can do special theme colors per season, so there is a lot you can do with these, get creative. Thanks Shane, keep these coming.

[davewalker]

I'm installing a set of 24 of these in my backyard office building. The power cord has always bothered me so I am installing a recessed outlet that will be behind the panels, allowing me to hide that hideous cord. The outlet has to be quite deep though because the transformer/plug is quite large. I'm also venting the recessed outlet so heat doesn't accumulate in that recess.

[rexhua]

Thoughtful VR mode and nice touch panel shortcut for rain forecast!

[homekitnews]

“Commitment anxiety” - I’m glad you found a phrase for the very thing I’m suffering from, and also why all of mine are still in their boxes!

[HeyTechi]

Great video Shane, covered a lot of stuff I didn't know about Nanoleaf Shapes. Definitely one to watch for when they're enabled as a Thread border router! Makes them even more useful than just art!

[tomlawson]

Good video Shane, I have just moved house this week and I think they will be a good edition to my home. Thanks for the discount code, much appreciated! 👌🏼

[Polkster]

Wow, I did not realize that you could do so much with these devices. Unfortunately we have very little wall space in our home and what we have is covered up by art work (oil paintings, water colors, shadow boxes, et cetera. Several of our main walls have large cut outs that help make the main living space seem larger than it is. Unfortunately, that also limits the wall space in these rooms. I'll have to think long and hard to find a spot to put these. I also have to consider the WAF and use cases that would be useful in our home.

I am very glad to see other companies coming out with a Thread border router option. I am surprised that Eve hasn't come out with a device that can act as a Thread border router as they were an early adopter of Thread enabled devices. Now that Nanoleaf has said they will make their light shape controller a Thread border router through a future software update, I am wondering if Eve may do the same with one of their current, or maybe even future, devices.

Another great video. And another video that is making me rethink my HomeKit home and if there is a way I can integrate Shapes into my set up.

I bet you are looking forward to Monday's WWDC commencement address! I will be interested in seeing what this new HomeOS is (hopefully a combining and rebranding of the AppleTV OS and HomePod OS) and maybe, just maybe, some updates to how HomeKit works. Is it too much to hope for that they will bring some more updates to HomeKit, like more light icons, more automation options, and maybe make HomeKit more than a hobby product? Or am I wishing for too much?

[inelonwetrust]

These are beautiful. Gotta grab them soon.

[milwaukeebrewer]

These look like a lot of fun. I think people would be fine with the expenditure as long as they go into the purchase with the attitude that the product is maybe 70% frivolous and 30% functional. I wonder if there's a a practical and safe way to conceal the cord.

[victorvek]

They really need to come up with a hardwire solution that’s UL listed. The wire hanging down the wall detracts from the cool factor A LOT.

[uniqueflh]

Great video (as usual) Shane!
I would SO like to do an entire wall of those…

[mrcancan]

If you use the double sided tape that came in the box good luck with not damaging the wall. I bout the original kit and took those down because I but the new shape kit with 3 expansion.. I learned my lesson..I went out and bought command strip and those work just as good without damaging the wall

[stralog]

Even Shane calls thread border router a hub on 15:30. Why do everybody tell that you don’t need to have a hub when you do?!

[tavey]

can you put the shapes on the wall next to the stairs and have them light up 1 at a time as you go up or down the stairs??

[BZackheim]

Hey Shane. Thanks for the review! I went to sign up for the trial and was first told it would be for 14 days but when I created an account with my Apple login it changed to 7 day. Just FYI.