From digital keypads and Android apps to smartphone controlled doors and bike protection, these locks are the key to cool security.
Serial loser of keys? Or perhaps you forget if you’ve locked up? Fret no more, UniKey is here to save the day with science. The UniKey app lets you lock and unlock your door remotely from your smartphone – or, if you've got an NFC-equipped phone, just swipe it to get inside. And if you want to send out a temporary key, just text it to whoever’s waiting on your porch. A great idea – but it’s still just an idea for now. Keep your eyes peeled for our review when it gets released.
This titanium bowed lock is so simple it’s brilliant. Use to lock both wheels to any pole up to 5.5in in diameter. Then slip the 1.8 foot long titanium bow along your bike’s top-tube and pop the pick-resistant stainless steel lock in your pocket and you're good to go. It’s light, strong and barely noticeable – little wonder it smashed its Kickstarter goal by over double the requested amount.
There are a lot of phone locking apps out there – but few as cool as Mirage. Lock individual apps and then set a swipe to instantly unlock that specific app, with 5 swipes available in total. You can also use unique swipes to jump between launchers. There's even an option to leave a contact number on the lock screen in case you lose the phone and a stand-up citizen wants to return it.
Keys are so medieval – so Yale has created a pin-powered lock that uses a futuristic-looking touchscreen keypad to unlock your door. Forgot your code? Get your housemate to text it to you. You can even put in a fake pin to confuse anyone watching while still gaining entry. And it’s easy to install as it runs on AA batteries – which give you 10,000 entries from one set. Time to say goodbye to jangling keys then.
Unless your burglar is a pedantic writer on a self-improvement kick – or Charlie Chaplin, who learned a new word every day – it's unlikely they'll look in this dictionary for your valuables. Plus it's something to put on your bookshelf, now that you've replaced all your weighty tomes with ebooks.
