$SSOHGRHVQ¶WVHOODGHGLFDWHGKXEIRULWV+RPH.LWSODWIRUPEXW\RXFDQXVH
certain Apple products, such as an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad, as a hub.
'HYLFHVWKDWVXSSRUW+RPH.LWFDQEHFRQWUROOHGXVLQJ6FHQHVDQG$XWRPDWLRQV
Scenes let you control numerous devices all at once—for example, you can
create a Good Morning scene that sets the thermostat to a certain temperature,
WXUQVRQDOLJKWDQGVWDUWVWKHFR̆HHSRW:LWK$XWRPDWLRQV\RXFDQWULJJHUD
scene or turn on a device based on your location, the time of day, or when a
sensor is triggered.
HUB-FREE CONTROL
Some home automation systems don’t require a hub and can simply be
controlled directly using a mobile app. The Nest ecosystem includes cameras,
doorbells, locks, smoke alarms, and thermostats, and it works directly with your
phone as well as a number of third-party devices.
<RXFDQDOVRXVH,)777DSSOHWVWRKDYHVPDUWGHYLFHVZRUNZLWKRQHDQRWKHU
ZLWKRXWWKHQHHGIRUDKXE,)777DSSOHWVDUHOLNHPLQLSURJUDPVWKDW\RX
FUHDWHWRKDYHGHYLFHVEHKDYHDFHUWDLQZD\)RUH[DPSOH\RXFDQFUHDWHDQ
applet to have your Philips Hue lights turn red when your favorite football team
wins, or you can have a smart plug turn on when a motion sensor is triggered.
$VORQJDV\RXUGHYLFHVDUHFRQQHFWHGWRWKHLQWHUQHWYLD:L)LDQGDUH,)777
enabled, you can have them respond to things such as changes in the weather,
new social media posts, check-ins, and more.
Ultimately, the answer to whether you need a hub comes down to the devices
\RXKDYHWKHRQHV\RXSODQWREX\DQGKRZ\RXZDQWWRFRQWUROWKHP.HHSLQ
mind that the smart home space, while rapidly maturing, is still relatively new.
Our guess is that dedicated hubs will ultimately fade out over time, something
ZH¶YHDOUHDG\VHHQKDSSHQLQJRYHUWKHODVWFRXSOHRI\HDUV)RUQRZWKRXJK
you might want to consider one to take full control over your smart home.
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE (^) I AUGUST 2020