One of the biggest challenges with today’s myriad devices is interconnectivity. Let’s face it; there is no frustration like excellent old network troubleshooting. It is a problem that is nearly impossible to avoid when you’re trying to rig and consolidate all your apps and gadgets.
No matter how comprehensive a company claims its device ecosystem, no single manufacturer covers everything. We know, Apple, their products interconnect well right? Well, does Apple make an indoor water fountain that you can fit with smart bulbs? No. And yes, that is a real thing which you have to check out over on the Soothing Company.
That is just one example of the many kinds of smart niche products on the market. Even just going about integrating bespoke home installations of this kind requires an insane amount of tech prowess. Nevermind the fact that once it’s in, you need a way to control it from your other smart home devices.
IFTTT (If This Then That) is profoundly easy to use application that allows users to download any number of applets to compliment and control just about any connected system. Oh, and did we mention you can make your applets without any coding experience? If the idea has you excited, you are going to love our list of top IFTTT applets.
Hue Applet
Even though Hue lights have a standard app to control them, it has nothing on the IFTTT applet. With the Hue applet, you can use your phone’s assistant, for example, Google Assistant, to control your lighting with simple voice commands.
You can also set timed schedules for lighting, e.g. have all lighting in your house turn off at a particular time. If that weren’t enough, you could also use proximity to automatically turn lights on and off as you enter and exit a room.
Nest Protect Call
If you aren’t familiar with Nest, it’s pretty much exactly what a smoke detector in 2020 should be. A smart device that can keep you updated with notifications. The IFTTT applet expands on this functionality by allowing the Nest app to make a phone call if it detects smoke. This is a no-jokes potential lifesaver. You could set it to call a neighbour or emergency contact to assist you should you be incapacitated.
Blink Timer
Let’s say you are cooking, or perhaps baking something in your very clever stove that undoubtedly has a touch screen and a Harvard degree. Let’s also say that your favourite show is on and you know you have a half-hour before the baking is done.
You can see where this is going. Even if your oven or stove plate, whatever the case may be, does beep and buzz, you may not hear it. By using the timer applet, you can set a timer with Alexa, and once time’s up, your entire house will remind you by way of flashing lights.
So Much More
These applets are just the tip of the iceberg to whet your appetite. There are hundreds of premade applets and thousands more to try out. The possibilities are quite literally.