There is an increasing market for home gadgets that can utilized in conjunction with a home network. Many of them also can be controlled through the Internet via web page or smart phone app.
Many of us here on the SDMB are gadget people. Personally, I’d like to know more about why types of gadgets exist that fall into that category.
I’ll name a few to start; then hopefully you guys will come up with some other cool home network/wifi gadgets.
My first entry is the NEST Thermostat - Nest learns your schedule, programs itself and can be controlled from your phone.
Home Security Cameras - Too many on the market to mention as this (to me) was one of the first uses of home network technology designed to be accessed outside the home.
Web Based Sprinkler and Watering system - While I’m not sure why this one is such a big deal to be controlled by the web; I see it in a lot of searches about home web based gadgets.
What other cool devices are out there that can be controlled via the web or app?
I don’t have a Sonos, but I have a Bluetooth adapter hooked up to my home theater system so I can play music wirelessly from my iPhone. It’s pretty cool. I can keep my phone near me and control my music without having a wire tether to the speakers.
Eh, I forgot, I can control the YouTube app on my PS3 with my iPhone. I open the app on my PS3, then go to the YouTube mobile site on my phone browser, and then sync. I can select videos on my phone and stream them on my TV via the PS3.
It is not uncommon for this to apply to televisions now. Our Samsung LCD has built-in wireless, and we use Netflix / Amazon / Hulu streaming services directly from the TV. For historical reasons we also have a Roku box that does the same thing.
Both the TV and the Roku box have iPhone (and perhaps Android) apps where if the phone is on the same wireless network you can use them as remote controls. Thats quite useful for (a) entering text and (b) when our 18 month old son hides the actual remote somewhere in the house …
You can buy an adapter you plug into a power outlet so you can control the power via your internet connection. Which is nice if you have something you want to cook in a crock pot or something like that and want to turn it on or off. But the outlets cost more than a time controlled appliance.
You can lock/unlock your car from an app.
Aside from that, I don’t know but I’m interested in hearing what all is out there. I’m really not sure what all a person would want to control honestly. Things like the home entertainment center or home security sure. But most other things I don’t know what demand is there for them.