August smart lock

August smart lock

On the surface, there's nothing sexy about giving a door lock as a gift. But the August's Smart Lock ($229) is a worthy buy.

To quell fears of getting locked out of the home, it senses when you're near (by detecting your iOS or Android device) and unlocks the door.

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The smart lock -- which requires an easy enough install -- is powered by back-up batteries, just in case the Wi-Fi or power goes down. (You can still carry a key for peace of mind.)

The real advantage is that you can give remote access to visitors -- say, a dog walker who's arriving at a certain time. The app also keeps a log of who's been coming and going, so you can check in to see if your kid is home from school yet.

First published December 12, 2016: 9:37 AM ET

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