Honeywell branches out with smart thermostat

MINNEAPOLIS — Honeywell, already well known as a manufacturer of home thermostats, is looking to expand in the consumer electronics category with its new Lyric WiFi thermostat. Consumer electronics site TwiCE notes that the device is now available through contractors and will hit retail markets in August. The Lyric can be connected to a smartphone to detect the user’s comings and goings, in addition to preset options.