# IFTTT - what are some cool things to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639 "2017-11-14T21:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/1 "2017-11-14T21:26:28Z")
I just discovered a website called IFTTT (If This Then That) dot com, which lets you do all sorts of cool stuff. I just set it up so that every picture I take with my phone gets copied to my Dropbox account. But there is so much other cool stuff there that it is kind of overwhelming. What cool things do you use it for? Also - is it safe? It strikes me as vaguely disturbing to turn over that kind of access to a random third party on the net. Any humble opinions on that? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/2 "2017-11-15T01:01:21Z")
I have mine set up to send my hubby a text message when I reach (when my _phone_ reaches) a certain point on the highway. That way he knows I’ll be home in 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/3 "2017-11-15T17:19:59Z")
The Dropbox thing you describe can be done without a third party; I believe the Dropbox app walks you through the procedure when you install it on a smartphone. You can even tell it to upload pictures and videos immediately or to wait until you’re on WiFi. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/4 "2017-11-19T23:52:41Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > The Dropbox thing you describe can be done without a third party; I believe the Dropbox app walks you through the procedure when you install it on a smartphone. You can even tell it to upload pictures and videos immediately or to wait until you’re on WiFi. Yes, you are correct, and that worked great on my previous couple of phones. But for some reason it refuses to work on my current one. The IFTTT trick works perfectly, though. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/5 "2017-11-20T00:24:44Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > I have mine set up to send my hubby a text message when I reach (when my _phone_ reaches) a certain point on the highway. That way he knows I’ll be home in 20 minutes. That’s brilliant. I’m going to steal this idea, and also check out the website for more ideas. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/6 "2017-11-20T20:15:56Z")
I set up a text notification to be sent to me when the USGS water level reading gets up to a worrisome level near some low lying creekside property I own. So I can theoretically move stuff before a flooding event. At least I think that’s what I did…unfortunately I have now way to test it with a dry (heh) run. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ifttt-what-are-some-cool-things-to-do/801639/7 "2017-11-20T21:46:29Z")
I thought that the title of the thread was a reference to “I feed the trolls” and seeking new ways to harass them. I was pleasantly surprised to see it is about an app that sounds pretty useful. Carry on.