The Internet of Things (IoT) can make our lives so much easier:by streamlining simple tasks and removing the human element from many everyday tasks.
Unfortunately, it can also be expensive to get a smart home up and running. Kickstart Your Smart Home With 4 Easy Projects Kickstart Your Smart Home With 4 Easy Projects Creating a smart home can sound like a huge undertaking, and it can be hard to know where to start. But it is not as difficult as you may think! Read more . You may find that you buy a gadget, but need another add-on to make it fully functional. It's draining both your brain and your wallet.
With this in mind, why not treat this smart geek in your life to an awesome IoT-based gift this year? Get them something that gives them all the functionality they need in one purchase.
Here is our list of tips and recommendations:
For those of you who don't know, at its core, the Philips Hue system is a wireless lighting system.
In practice, it does much more. 7 Creative Uses for Color LED Home Automation Lighting 7 Creative Uses for Color LED Home Automation Lighting Turning lights on automatically is great, but it doesn't take advantage of the full spectrum of colors available with RGB lighting. For that, we need to be creative. Read more.
It has also just started to integrate with Apple's HomeKit. Philips Hue works with HomeKit:how to get the most out of it Philips Hue works with HomeKit:how to get the most out of it Philips has finally succeeded in integrating HomeKit into its Hue lighting platform. and it's amazing. This is what you need to know. Read more - a great leap forward.
The starter pack is the perfect way for someone to try out Philips Hue hassle-free and without spending a fortune.
It includes three smart bulbs and the central hub that "speaks" to the individual bulbs.
You can of course add more equipment yourself at a later date.
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance 2nd Generation Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit (Old Model 3 A19 Bulbs and 1 Hub Compatible with Apple Amazon Alexa HomeKit and Google Assistant) 1 Hub Compatible with Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant) Purchase now on Amazon
The weather seems to be getting more unpredictable every day, so a smart weather station could be a very useful (if somewhat unusual) Internet of Things product to invest in.
The $160 package gives users everything they need to start monitoring all aspects of the weather; the ObserverIP module plugs directly into your router, the thermohydro-barometer measures indoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure, and the weather station main unit goes outside.
Measurable metrics include:
Users can also post all results directly to the popular smartphone weather app. Top 7 Free Weather Apps for Android Top 7 Free Weather Apps for Android These free weather apps will help you stay on top of the weather with your Android device. Read more, Wunderground.
WeMo products are popular because users can control all of their home electronics from anywhere.
This means you can do things like turn the lights on and off when you're not home, make sure you don't leave the iron on if you think you've forgotten, or boil the kettle five minutes before you get home.
Available products include electrical outlets and switches, motion sensors, vision switches, light switches, cameras, and a smartphone app.
All products work with IFTTT, integrate with email and SMS, and will work with your existing home router.
Available on Amazon for $122, this starter kit includes two switches and a motion sensor, perfect for giving someone an idea of what the system is capable of.
The Samsung SmartThings system is a home monitoring product that uses a combination of plugs, lights, and sensors to give you more control over your home.
Its features include:
Really, the possibilities are almost endless. 4 Really Cool Uses for SmartThings Open Open Sensors 4 Really Cool Uses for SmartThings Open Open Sensors The Open/Close sensor is designed to monitor doors and gates, but with some creativity it can do so much more. Here are ideas for using the device to make your home a little smarter. Read more.
The home monitoring kit, despite costing $249, is really a good value.
Includes everything you need to get up and running, including the hub, a power outlet, a motion sensor, and two multi-use sensors.
It's easy to set up and will give the geek in your life hours of tinkering fun.
Samsung SmartThings F-MON 1 Home Monitoring Kit, 100 Samsung SmartThings F-MON 1 Home Monitoring Kit, 100 Buy Now On Amazon $109.99
It would be great if we lived in a world where we didn't need door locks. Smart-Lock Review and Okidokeys Giveaway. a smart lock, Okidokeys could be the solution you are looking for. Read More In fact, my grandparents still lament when people tell stories about how the only time they locked their front door was when they went on vacation!
Unfortunately, those days are long gone; In the 21st century, we all need to be security conscious. 5 security issues to consider when creating your smart home. 5 security issues to consider when creating your smart home. Many people are trying to connect as many aspects of their lives as best they can on the web, but many people have expressed genuine concerns about how secure these automated living spaces are. Read More
One of the best smart systems currently available. Safe and Sound:4 smart home security devices. Safe and Sound:4 smart home security devices. Read More
It comes with HD cameras that will allow you to view live or recorded video streamed from your computer or through the app, the cameras have night vision and you can receive motion triggered alerts.
This package, while pricey, comes with four cameras and a base station, giving you everything you need to get started and providing a great foundation for adding more cameras to later.
A perfect complement to the Arlo camera system mentioned above is the iSmartAlarm home security system.
It was originally funded by an Indiegogo campaign, but has now become hugely popular.
It is a self-monitoring and self-monitoring intelligent alarm system. 5 Cheapest Ways to Create Your Own Wireless Home Security Alarm 5 Cheapest Ways to Create Your Own Wireless Home Security Alarm Put one of these five wireless home security alarms together with the recommended components. Or use them as inspiration to create your own alarm system! Read More It will tell you who is in your home or alert you if it suspects authorized activity, and you can even expand the system yourself with a host of available sensors.
This bundle comes with one CubeOne cube, two window/door sensors, one motion sensor, two remote tags, and two sensor stickers.
iSmartAlarm Preferred Home Security Package | Wireless DIY No Charge IFTTT &Alexa Compatible iOS and Android App | iSA3, Preferred Home Security Package iSmartAlarm White | Wireless DIY No Charge IFTTT &Alexa Compatible iOS and Android App | iSA3, White Buy Now On Amazon $99.50
What is the best all-in-one present on our list? Which would you recommend as the perfect gift for a budding IoT enthusiast?
We would love to hear from you. You can leave us your opinions and comments in the comments section below.
