Is it Time for You to Upgrade to a One-App Smart Home?
Avoid App Clutter with a Professional Home Automation System
Knowing whether to go with a DIY smart home installation or a professional one can be difficult. Though there are a lot of differences between the two, there’s one major distinction to consider for your Scarsdale, NY, home. DIY installations usually revolve around individual smart devices, with a separate app needed for each. Home automation systems, on the other hand, bring all devices within one central platform.
In this blog, we'll highlight some of the most significant benefits of a one-app smart home and the unique cases when it might not be the right choice. Streamlining your smartphone's home screen is only one of the reasons you may want to move away from a DIY installation.
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Centralized Control
Naturally, the most significant benefit of a one-app smart home is reducing application clutter. Throughout the day, you don’t want to have to alternate through ten applications to manage your technology. If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, centralizing control has an added benefit. Efficiently manage lights, audio, video, climate, and security from one same user interface instead of having to deal with different software and navigation for each device.
Smart Scenes
All of your smart devices work together in a one-app environment. With all your technology under one umbrella, you can create smart scenes. Save settings for a wide range of smart devices and pull them up simultaneously. Every time you sit down to watch a movie, activate a 'Cinema' scene. It'll dim the lights, close the shades, and turn on your display to your Blu-ray player or go-to streaming service.
Secure Remote Access
When you access any of your smart devices remotely, you’re opening an external port to your home network. Each additional device—with its distinct app—creates extra entry points to your network. However safe those devices claim to be, there’s no reason to expose yourself to additional risks when it’s not necessary.
Secure your network with a home automation system that offers remote access to all your technology from one mobile app. Lessen the risk by having only one entry point and strengthening it as much as possible. Each of our Savant, Crestron and Control4 systems include network upgrades with additional encryption and firewall technology to keep you safe from any external attacks.
When to Use a Multiple-App Solutions
Multiple-app smart homes may be the right option in some cases. Even if you're interested in one-app control, budget limitations may mean you start in just one room, perhaps a dedicated home theater. Also, if you’re only interested in adding a couple of devices in select places, then a one-app solution is probably not the best option for you yet.
One way to ease into the one-app approach is to create distinct apps based on particular features. Our clients, for example, like dividing environmental and entertainment features into separate apps. With the former, they manage lights, security, HVAC and shading. With the latter, they easily manage AV components to watch movies and TV shows or listen to their favorite music.
Do you want to embrace the benefits of a one-app smart home? Set up a consultation with us by calling (914) 921-0099, filling out our contact form or chatting with us below.