GKRootWire
Cloud & Sysadmin Microsoft Confirms Preview Update Wipes Out Desktop SettingsAI Nvidia to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 BillionDev Tools A Deep Dive Into Intrusive Linked ListsGadgets DJI's Romo 2 Robovac Adds Local-Only Mode After Privacy ScareAI Nvidia Reportedly Moves to Acquire Hugging FaceAI Anthropic Launches Claude Tools for AI Shopping AgentsCloud & Sysadmin Microsoft Confirms Preview Update Wipes Out Desktop SettingsAI Nvidia to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 BillionDev Tools A Deep Dive Into Intrusive Linked ListsGadgets DJI's Romo 2 Robovac Adds Local-Only Mode After Privacy ScareAI Nvidia Reportedly Moves to Acquire Hugging FaceAI Anthropic Launches Claude Tools for AI Shopping Agents
Gadgets

SwitchBot's New Retrofit Smart Lock Packs 19 Ways to Get In

The Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo swaps your key for fingerprints, palm veins, and a whole lot more.

SwitchBot used IFA to unveil its most feature-packed smart lock yet: the Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo, a retrofit system aimed at European homes that don't want to replace their existing door hardware entirely.

The bundle pairs the new Lock Ultra Max with SwitchBot's Keypad Vision Pro and a Hub Mini Matter, unlocking (literally) 19 different entry methods. Beyond the usual passcode and NFC card options, it supports fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and even palm vein authentication, plus remote unlocking, voice commands, smartwatch triggers, and phone widgets through SwitchBot's app.

It's a multi-user setup clearly built for households or shared spaces where different people might want different ways in. The combo will run €339.99/£339.99 (about $395), a notable step up from the standalone $249.99 Lock Ultra.

Why it matters: Retrofit locks are gaining traction because they modernize entry without ripping out existing deadbolts, but stacking this many biometric and wireless unlock methods also multiplies the potential attack surface and points of failure. Buyers should weigh the convenience against how many of these 19 methods they'll actually trust—and whether firmware updates keep pace with the added complexity.

Sources: The Verge