Smart home products are supposed to make our lives easier. Despite this high expectation, these products are not for everyone. Before considering bringing just one smart product into your home, there are a few important points worth considering.
In this article, you'll learn six crucial lessons on owning smart home gadgets. After reading this, we hope that you are much more likely to have a successful installation!
How many devices in your home rely on an internet connection? Is that connection fast enough to handle all those devices at the same time? Now imagine adding more accessories, which is what happens when you introduce smart products into your home.
The first step to having a successful smart home setup is making sure your internet connection is good enough to handle it. If you're already having trouble with your connection, things aren't going to get any better once you add more devices to your setup.
Therefore, at a minimum, you should look for ways to improve the connection. Fix your Internet speed with these Windows tweaks. Fix your Internet speed with these Windows tweaks. Windows tweaks to alleviate unnecessary data usage. Read More I'd also suggest using a free online tool like HighSpeedInternet.com to determine the speed you'll need based on your situation.
What's the drawback? A slow internet connection is not good for anyone. If your smart products can't communicate with each other properly, they're not worth the investment.
What is the solution? Internet speeds tend to increase every year. If you haven't upgraded your internet service in the last two or three years, odds are pretty high, a change may be in order. Check with your internet service provider for more information.
When the smart home craze began, compatibility (or lack thereof) between devices was a major concern. However, as the industry has matured, incompatibility has become less of an issue.
Many devices now support multiple protocols, so during installation you have a choice. Meanwhile, software solutions like IFTTT have made it easier for multiple devices to communicate, even if they use a different protocol.
What's the drawback? Ideally, all your smart devices should talk to each other. If this is not possible, you are likely to miss out on some key features.
For example, products like the Nest Learning app work brilliantly with lighting products like Philips Hue, so the bulbs will turn on and off depending on your location. If there is incompatibility, this would not be possible..
What is the solution? Check hardware and software compatibility on manufacturing websites and at retail stores such as Best Buy. Doing this step will save you a lot of time and hassle. Look for products that support the same hub (such as Samsung SmartThings) or protocol (Apple HomeKit).
Security cameras are one of the most popular smart home products on the market. When installed correctly, these cameras can alert you when there is movement in your home.
Before discounts, manufacturers have priced most home security cameras at around $200. At that price, you typically get real-time video monitoring, plus motion-activated video recording. It is in that last point where it is better to read the fine print..
While most companies offer video recordings at no additional cost, those clips are only available for a short period of time, usually 24 hours. Do you want more time? It's probably going to cost you.
What's the drawback? Regardless of the type of smart home product you're considering, check to see if there's a monthly fee required to access premium features.
What is the solution? Increasingly, manufacturers of smart home products are using premium features to generate monthly fees. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you agree to this. Is it worth the price of admission for your situation? Will you be fine with a basic subscription?
Out of the box, there's a lot a smart home product can do. However, with a little learning on your part, you can get it to do a lot more.
At a minimum, for example, most smart light bulbs can be turned on/off with a smartphone. However, with a little training, you can program your lights to sync with your music, TV, and games. Some lights will even adjust based on the time of day.
What's the drawback? You should expect to pay more for smart home products rather than their dumb counterparts. To avoid buyer's remorse, be sure to spend some time learning more about these products before and after installation.
What is the solution? To fully appreciate the smart home experience, you need to look beyond instruction manuals and jump online. Sites like MakeUseOf and others can help you push your products to new levels. All you have to do is look..
There's a little secret that the smart home industry doesn't want you to know. Despite possible claims to the contrary, these products are not perfect.
Like all technology products, with automation devices, you should expect the occasional bug or undocumented enhancement that could cause you frustration. and privacy) that all smart home owners should consider. And then there are these five problems that nobody saw coming. Read more.
To increase the odds of a successful smart home installation in the long run, consider the following two points.
First of all, keep your device software up to date . Most of the time, this is as simple as keeping your smartphone software up to date. Occasionally you will be prompted to update the firmware on your device. Check your device's app for more information about updates.
You should also make sure to change your password for your Wi-Fi connection on a regular basis. By doing so, you can stay one step ahead of hackers looking to hijack your connected devices to wreak havoc.
What's the drawback? Smart devices that are not properly maintained could be slower and more susceptible to security flaws over time. Who wants that?
What is the solution? Keep your software up to date; It's that simple.
Finally, perhaps the most important lesson you can learn about smart home products is that they're not for everyone. As with early computers and smartphones, smart home devices are still in the early stages of development. Future trends in the smart home and the products it will use. . You are about to find out what could be the biggest trends in the smart home industry in 2021 and the products you could be using. Read more.
As such, you can expect to see the product lines evolve considerably in the coming years. Because of this, your best decision might be to wait and not jump on board, at least for now.
If you're not convinced you have the time or resources to fully embrace the smart home lifestyle, don't. Future smart home products are sure to be less expensive and offer easier setup and maintenance. Therefore, waiting might be better.
What's the drawback? Cutting-edge products are not for everyone. There's no harm in waiting for others to fix bugs before joining in on the fun.
What is the solution? Even delaying your smart home purchases for a year could help you avoid headaches.
Bringing smart gadgets into your home can be a rewarding experience. It can also cause you unnecessary trouble if you are not careful. Go into the experience with your eyes open and enjoy..
