Home automation apps are a great way to keep tabs on your house and appliances. These programs let you control things like the lights, the TV and other electronics with just your voice. They are also easy to use, making them ideal for people who are new to home automation.
Philips Hue
If you have Philips Hue smart lighting installed in your home, you may be interested in learning about the different types of home automation apps available for your device. These apps allow you to perform tasks such as setting up a multicolor light arrangement based on a photo you took or syncing your phone’s audio with your lights. Some of these apps even allow you to use text to control your bulbs.
The most popular home automation apps for Hue include iConnectHue, Homekit, and Amazon Alexa. While all of these apps provide the same basic functionality, they don’t offer the same features. A third party app, like iConnectHue, offers more features while allowing you to tweak the settings to fit your personal preferences.
The Hue app has been revamped and should be a more pleasant experience than its predecessor. It now has more user-friendly controls and a slicker design. Now you can switch between Hue Bridges, add new lights, and manage zones. You can even set up your bulbs to turn on at sunrise and off at sunset.
The new and improved Hue app also includes a nightlight recipe. You can now create an automatic scene to dim the lights and gradually transition from low levels of blue light to brighter hues.
Another cool feature is the ability to control your lights with a two minute timer. This may be more helpful if you have a busy schedule. But in general, you can control your lights from your phone or email.
You can also make sure your lights are turned off when you leave the house. This is done through a background operating feature. And, while it’s a gimmick, it does work.
WeMo
WeMo is a home automation brand that offers a variety of products including motion sensors, light bulbs, cameras and electrical plugs. It also has a mobile application, which allows users to control their devices remotely.
With its intuitive design and multifunctional functions, Wemo is a great way to add smart features to your home. You can use the app to schedule your lights, appliances and thermostat. Or you can just use it to turn them on or off at a specified time.
The app lets you use IFTTT to trigger certain actions. For example, you can configure a lamp to turn on at a specific time every night. And when you leave for work, you can set it to turn off. This will help save you money and energy.
Another cool feature is that the app can pair with other Wemo devices. So if you have the Smart Dimmer with Thread, you can also control your lights with Siri.
To get started, you need to download the app. Once you do, you will be able to control your Wemo device from any location.
The WeMo app works over any type of wireless network. It is compatible with both 3G and 4G networks. While this app is not as user friendly as the Apple Home app, it does the job.
In addition, you can also control your devices using the IFTTT platform. If you have IFTTT, you can control your WeMo home automation system and your devices from anywhere in the world.
The Belkin WeMo iPhone app lets you control your electronics from your smartphone. This is the best way to manage your appliances while you are away from home.
Savant’s TrueControl
Savant’s TrueControl home automation app allows users to easily control lights, shades, audio, and security from their Mac computers. It offers the same user interface as the award-winning Savant iOS app for iPad. In addition to controlling the lighting and shades in a room, this app also features two-way video and climate control.
The TrueControl app is available in the Mac App Store. This app requires a valid Apple ID, and must be installed on a Savant system that was installed by a qualified dealer. To download the app, tap on the GET button. Once the app has been downloaded, a password will be required to enter.
Savant’s TrueControl app is compatible with all current generations of iPads. You can also use the app on iPhones and iPod touch devices.
With this app, you can take your favorite media from any device and distribute it to any room in your home. As you do with the Savant system, you can choose how and when to play it.
You can access your smart home from anywhere. Just tap your screen to view images of your rooms, then pinch your screen to control them. Your options include re-setting the alarm if you need to. During the day, you can configure lights and shades by time and day. And if you are using the app during the night, you can change the temperature of the room.
Savant’s SmartSystems are easy to program and robust. They are ideal for commercial applications as well as residential. They are easy to set up, and provide two-way control of audio, video, lighting, and climate. Whether you are controlling your whole home, or just one room at a time, you can create a customized experience that suits your lifestyle.
Samsung SmartThings
SmartThings is a home automation software platform that connects your devices together and gives you control over them. It works with a wide variety of brands of smart home products, allowing you to automate tasks and react to the status of your home.
The Samsung SmartThings app is a convenient way to manage your home. This mobile application allows you to connect and control all of your home’s appliances and devices. You can also add new devices to the SmartThings ecosystem.
Before you can use the Samsung SmartThings app, you must create a Samsung account. After you’ve done that, you’ll be able to link your compatible devices to the app.
You can set up SmartThings to turn on lights when you arrive home, or have them turn off when you leave the house. You can also set up routines to run automatically at certain times. There are plenty of other ways to customize your SmartThings experience.
The Samsung SmartThings app has a sleek, modern interface. It is easy to navigate and will allow you to schedule devices and perform complex routines. However, there are a few glitches and bugs.
Some users have reported a lack of support for third-party devices. In addition, the SmartThings app has a limited Windows client. Also, some devices don’t work with the app, such as some SONOS and BOSE speakers.
Unlike Google Home, Samsung SmartThings has a much larger roster of big-name brands. These include Philips Hue, BOSE, LG, SONOS, and more.
With the SmartThings Find feature, you can locate your devices quickly. The software is designed to be user-friendly, though it can sometimes be difficult to find the right devices.
Alexa
If you’re looking to automate your home using smart gadgets, you should consider installing an Amazon Alexa app. The app makes it easy to control a number of devices without needing your hands.
To use the app, you first need to sign up with an Amazon account. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have access to the Energy Dashboard, which provides a wealth of information about your energy consumption.
The Amazon Alexa app supports a number of different companies, including Ecobee and Garageio. It also offers a variety of features. These include a voice command function, an energy dashboard, and the ability to set up to-do lists.
Aside from the app, you can also control smart appliances using the Echo Dot. You can also pair your Echo Dot with an Amazon Smart Plug.
For a bit more control, you can build your own DIY smart switches. There are plenty of options out there, from relay modules to ESP8266 MCUs.
Another great feature of the app is the ability to create “routines.” Routines are like HomeKit Scenes. Each routine can be named and triggered according to certain conditions.
You can name and trigger an Alexa routine for any number of devices. For example, you can create a routine to turn on all the lights in a room when you get home. Alternatively, you can create a routine to turn off all the lights in a room when you leave.
Similarly, you can create a routine to play music on your favorite playlist when you get home. And while the app doesn’t have a lot of automation options, it is more than adequate for basic home automation.
You can also try out the augmented reality functions of the Amazon Alexa app. Alexa uses your location to map your house, and it even improves its responses to your future questions.
