Installing and configuring all the elements of a smart home is not enough for its full use. On top of everything else, it needs to be controlled.
The rationale for using a smart home
And beforehand, a brief reminder of why using a smart home is so popular. Its owner gets:
- security: surveillance systems work at all times and are able to alert the owner at any time, and smart sensors will automatically shut off water or cut off electricity in an emergency;
- comfort: you can set up your own work scenarios, which will take care of most of the daily activities;
- economy: all electrical appliances work only when they are needed – outlets, kettles, lamps, and so on.
However, all of this needs to be controlled by a special program. Otherwise, all the benefits are meaningless.
Smart Home Apps for Android
And now what about directly controlling the smart home. You can do this with an application for Android or iOS – here it all depends on the specific manufacturer. Often they support both systems. And, to highlight the leaders in this segment, let us consider mobile solutions for the Android system.
Plus Appliance Home
This is a solution from the Canadian company plus-appliance-repair.com, which can manage many smart devices and water leakage control systems. It’s currently under development, with a release planned for 2022.
And despite such limited functionality, you should not underestimate the application. Not many manufacturers on the market take on thermostats and similar devices that are hard to replace and often require “corporate” durability. Helpful information on how to use it is located on the official website and directly in the app.
Mi Home
It can be used to control all the gadgets included in Xiaomi’s smart home kit. And while it was originally intended only for soil analysis – using the appropriate device – it has now evolved into a full-fledged control center. Its advantages are:
- templates: the manufacturer has already set scenarios for the behavior of some elements so that the user does not have to configure them manually;
- manual tuning: if the presets are not to your liking and need to be changed, this is also acceptable;
- control of other devices: if the smartphone has an IR port, you can add TVs or other third-party equipment to control them.
Philips Hue
It’s designed exclusively for lamps that are used in technology homes. Many people may think that a specifically created app for lamps doesn’t justify this division, but it doesn’t.
It allows you to control lamps that are ZigBee-capable. It is special if only because in a smart home a high sensitivity to light is mandatory. The system needs to understand the level of light as well as when it should be on and off. In addition, users can adjust their own color, which, if fixed to a specific time of day, is a necessity.
Implementing the system into the existing ecosystem of the home is also seamless. Using a separate utility is for the most part only necessary for the first setup. There are no conflicts and no resetting of these settings.
Panasonic Home Network
This solution already covers a specific area – the security system. It gathers everything from cameras to sensors to outlets. The app is able to notify the owner of the house not only with notifications but also with a phone call. No other competitor has this, which gives Panasonic’s solution an advantage for people who can’t use the Internet all the time.
It is also capable of detecting plumbing leaks, controlling lights and power to all electrical appliances that are connected to a smart outlet.
Mobile home management solutions aren’t limited to Android or smartphones alone. Manufacturers are trying to cover a larger spectrum and are gradually beginning to introduce new ways of control, such as smartwatches. Using smart locks with them is becoming a lot easier. It is possible that soon you will not have to apply anything at all and the system will work according to the location of the owner of the house.
Where to buy
You can buy equipment for the Smart Home, easily controlled by a smartphone, both in a specialized store and online at the online store.
