Apps

The garage door is a common roadblock for home automation, because garage door openers are “dumb”, expensive, and not something you'd want to break. Have no fear! If you pair a SmartThings hub with the Chamberlin MyQ Garage Door Kit, you can control your garage door remotely, and check its current status. You can even automate it using IFTTT and webCoRE.

What is webCoRE? webCoRE ("Community's own Rule Engine") is a free, 'rule engine', with advanced capabilities, for Samsung SmartThings; WebCoRE enables full customization of tiggers, automation flows, geo-fencing, and much more. While users can create their own scripts, no coding experience is required to get started. WebCoRE interprets...

The Logi Pop smart button is, by far, the most aesthetically pleasing IoT push button. However, this beautifully designed smart button requires an additional hub for basic remote operation. To achieve an experience comparable to a native SmartThings device, you'll need to use a custom device handler & smart app, on top of IFTTT web hooks.

To get a true disco party going, you’ll need some strobe lights for your dance floor. If you have Hue color lights, you’re in luck! I use Hue Disco ($3.99) on my iPad to get the party going. Hue Disco for iOS is an app that...

Help Nest Learn Your Schedule The Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the most popular smart home products on the market today. The Nest thermostat lets you control your home air conditioner/heater via your smartphone. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "atb-singleprod-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design =...

Start with the thermostat The idea of purchasing a "smart home" is alluring for most techies, if affordable. But what about those of us who can't/won't move in to a "smart home" and want to retrofit our current residences? It's a daunting task, but advancements...