By Scott Kramer
If you’re like me, you use plenty of low-tech products that don’t necessarily need digitizing. I do not need to have a connected refrigerator, a smart washing machine or a printer that automatically orders ink when it’s low. But sometimes products emerge that are well thought out — even when you think the low-tech version is sufficient. Such is the case with Tapplock one, which is billed as the world’s first smart fingerprint padlock.
Now I don’t typically use a padlock. Every once in a while, I take one to the gym if I’m going to shower and change clothes there. Last time I did that, though, it took me a while to remember the lock’s combination. I know I have it written down somewhere. And given an hour to look, I might be able to come up with it. Of course, the other general problem with traditional padlocks is remembering how many times you’ve spun the dial right and left while you’re trying to open it quickly. Regardless, this timeless design has always worked just fine.
But this new lock gives you security without the hassles of a combination. First of all, it’s forged with a Zamak 3 zinc alloy metal body. Then it has a cut-resistant 7mm reinforced stainless steel shackle that’s fortified by a double-layered design. It’s also armed with anti-shim and anti-pry technologies, to help avoid thefts. The moment you first pick it up, you realize it’s small but substantial. It has some nice weight to it, as well. It also has a state-of-the-art capacitive fingerprint sensor — packaged in a small square up front — that allows unlocking in less than 0.8 seconds. Plus, it stores up to 500 fingerprints for multiple users. And its adaptive algorithm means the lock actually becomes faster and more accurate each time you access it. Finally, it’s water-resistant, rust-proof and rain-proof — and fully functional between 14 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s designed to unlock three ways: Via a fingerprint, Bluetooth on your phone, and using a pre-set Morse-Code sequence by manually pressing long-and-short combinations on the power button. Setting it up is pretty straightforward and quick. You must first download the app — as you have to do with pretty much every smart product these days. Then you just follow the instructions. From start to finish, it took me only a couple of minutes.
It takes just two hours to charge the battery via the included magnetic cable that instantly locks into place, which will yield up to a year’s worth of juice — the company claims that’s about 3,500 unlocks per charge. The app even shows you the remaining power. And it allows you to share and control access remotely to unlimited users, as well as view access history with time and location. You can even give someone temporary access to unlock it for just a few minutes, if you want.
What I really like about Tapplock is how silent it is, and simple to use. There’s a certain “cool” factor that goes with it. I’m now looking for ways to use it. Tapplock one comes in three finishes: gun metal, sterling silver and midnight black.
Scott Kramer is veteran, Southern California-based writer primarily versed in golf and personal technology. Studying Computer Sciences in college, and then working as a programmer/software engineer for about a decade, triggered my passion for today’s high-end, high-tech gadgets. I can’t help myself whenever I see any kind of cool new personal technology. I feel compelled to further check it out and see what it’s all about. And even if I have no use for it personally, I’m always thinking who it might best suit. There are exciting new innovations emerging daily that are shaping the future and simplifying life. And I hope to be your eyes to that world, through the words of this column.