Goood morning amigos!
We are BACK! Yep – 2 weeks off and no server talk, API events, Bugs, Apps, Cloud, FW, HW, maintenance, updates, storage etc blah blah. Truth be told, we’ve actually missed it, but the good news is we can talk about it all year until next Xmas!
We’ve got some GREAT news!
We got into Techstars – the biggest accelerator for startups on the planet, so we must be doing something right and we are as it goes! (more news next month)
We’ve built a fully functioning, scalable Internet of Things cloud, meaning that after spending over 40,000 hours building to work great with smart plugs, we can now leverage the entire build and help other companies connect their ‘dumb’ stuff to our cloud and make it smart. These can literally be anything, a smart wallet, a smart cupboard, garage doors, radiators, dishwashers – it doesn’t need a plug, although, if it did, we would be the guys to do it!
The reason we get so much attention isn’t really our smart home offering, even though it’s cool as hell and still the only UK plug to work with Siri, Alexa, Google, Cortana and IFTT out of the box. it’s down to out Open API platform which is in our DNA, no other smart home product on the planet offers it, meaning cloud connections and connecting to other companies is super straight forward.
Luckily the guys over at Apple saved us a pretty big job – we get so many requests from customers wanting to control their plugs from their Macs and with Apples latest software update, launching on 24th September you can do just that!
Download MacOS Mojave and control from your desktop!
Hello Pluggers! It’s been another busy month for us. We’ve launched a new firmware, a new iOS and Android app, and made significant changes to our cloud services. We are confident you will benefit from these updates and enjoy a great end-user experience. We’re still the only plug to work with all voice platforms without the need for any additional hardware and we’re pretty proud of that!
We’ve written a couple of blogs on IFTTT this month too. We really don’t want to go on about it too much but we are sure that if you check it out, you will absolutely love it! IFTTT is a great way to get your apps and devices talking to each other. For a number of people, the prospect of integrating WIFIPLUG with another app might seem pretty daunting but it’s honestly a piece of cake and you can find out how to do it here. We’ll even help you to get set up if you’re struggling! Once you get up and running, you can do things like set your lamp to come on when the sun goes down. IFTTT automatically updates the timers for you according to daylight changes and simply put, it’s brilliant! There are thousands of possibilities – in our office, we have the lights flashing every time the International Space Station goes by – but we appreciate that’s not for everyone (even though it’s probably the coolest thing we’ve ever heard of). We have put together a ‘Fun Things to Try’ page for our users so they can take advantage of some of the great uses for WIFIPLUG.
On that note, we’ve also started hearing about our customers’ positive experiences of WIFIPLUG. Last week, we heard from a customer who had integrated WIFIPLUG with a motion sensor in order to turn a light on when motion was detected, as well as sending a notification to the their phone. We thought this was a great integration (and again, wouldn’t be possible without IFTTT). Whether you are using your WIFIPLUG to operate a lamp or to set up a complex rule-based system, we hope you love the experience. We would love to hear about any other ingenious or inventive ways you are using your WIFIPLUG – get in touch on Twitter @wifiplug
So what’s the future looking like? Pretty good actually! We are developing some very cool features with Alexa, Siri and Google so watch this space for some combined functionality! We always like to dedicate some text to thanking our early adopter customers and acknowledge that without you, none of this would be possible.
As we’ve previously said, we’re a small company with big dreams and your commitment to us makes those dreams a reality – so once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Happy plugging!
We’re always curious to know what our customers use our products for. It’s really interesting to hear where their needs stem from and how they have integrated WIFIPLUG into their home or SMART home. We think we’re pretty inventive but some of our customers have some absolutely fantastic uses for their plugs.
For instance, we spoke to a customer this week who had paired his WIFIPLUG up with a D-Link motion sensor in order to not only turn a light on but also, to notify him of the movement when it was detected. This was achieved by using IFTTT’s functionality. If you haven’t used IFTTT before, then we must urge you to stop reading this and check it out right away! We’ve previously written about our love for IFTTT so it’s excellent that we now have customers telling us how they’re using it! We partnered with IFTTT a few years ago and we genuinely can’t get enough of it!
Likewise, another customer uses their WIFIPLUGs as a way to check in on the movements of an elderly relative. They have two devices: one plugged into a lamp and the other plugged into the TV. Using the energy monitoring functionality of our app, they are able to see the family member is up and about without needing to take away their independence by constantly checking in.
Another customer we spoke to last week told us about how he has integrated WIFIPLUG with his solar power in his house. He has set up a timer (using IFTTT again of course!) so that when the sun comes out, his lithium-powered vacuum cleaner can go on charge. This means he is essentially charging his device for free without having to manually operate switches when the sun is out.
Whether you are using your WIFIPLUG to operate a lamp or to set up a complex rule-based system, we hope you love the experience. We would love to hear about any other ingenious or inventive ways you are using your WIFIPLUG – get in touch on twitter @wifiplug
Happy Plugging!
The Best SMART Plug for HomePodThis week, the Apple HomePod’s launch was finally announced and we cannot contain our excitement! We are absolutely desperate to get our hands on one!
As always, Apple has been predictably secretive about the launch of the HomePod, pre-order date of the HomePod, functionality of the HomePod – in fact, they’ve kept shtum about everything. They’ve got a real knack of creating hype by remaining quiet; it’s certainly worked with us! We couldn’t be keener!
The thing we’re most excited about here at WIFIPLUG is HomePod’s Siri intelligence. WIFIPLUG is HomeKit enabled, which means it will talk to Siri as a friend. So, if you fancy turning the lamp on, it’s a simple case of asking Siri to make it happen. For us, it’s the whole reason we decided to run with HomeKit hardware and we are hopeful (in fact we’re certain!) that the Apple’s offering will rival the other SMART assistants already on the market. We’re the only SMART Plug able to speak all languages so in theory, you could tell Siri to turn a lamp on and then get Alexa to turn it back off. And in a normal family home, with a variety of technology, preferences for manufacturers and a love for new gadgets, that’s something that our users are likely to want to do.
What’s more, HomePod will also act as a HomeKit hub, allowing users to control their devices from outside of the home. For WIFIPLUG users, this isn’t an issue as you can already use our app but if you prefer to use the Home app for particular tasks, now you can!
All in all, we are super excited about HomePod and will update everyone in due course when we’ve got some cool videos to share.
It’s been a huge month for WIFIPLUG – our new product, WIFIPLUG HOME hit the shelves with an Apple-certified HomeKit chip inside, our new app was launched and next week, we are going to Las Vegas to exhibit our kit at CES. This really is the crème-de-la-crème of technology exhibitions and we hope that WIFIPLUG becomes the standout product in our industry. We have been entered for several innovation awards for our new features and we are hopeful that we will gain plenty of recognition in a week’s time. If you follow us, you can keep up-to-date with how we get on.
So what’s new this month? Well, first of all and as always, we would like to thank our customers. We’ve had some incredible feedback on WIFIPLUG HOME and we are genuinely thrilled that so many of you love it as much as we do! The HomeKit functionality seems to be going down a storm and our new Apple-certification means that WIFIPLUG integrates seamlessly with your Apple TVs, iPhones and other HomeKit accessories. But that’s not all – we are the only plug on Planet Earth to work with everything: Alexa, Siri, Google, IFTTT – WIFIPLUG really is the plug that speaks all languages!
This month, we are tweaking our back-end infrastructure: our server is being upgraded to handle the load of our ever-increasing customer-base, our databases are being redesigned and we are developing new firmware to roll out with the new app – so it’s all go at WIFIPLUG! Our goal is to deliver the perfect user experience and we’ll stop at nothing to make it happen.
So – to CES! We have been talking to just about everyone about our exhibition plans: Apple, Amazon, tech bloggers and journalists, IoT businesses – the list goes on (and on!). Our plan is to make some meaningful connections as our product continues to grow, so watch this space for more HomeKit functionality, added Amazon features to work with Alexa and some super nifty Google and IFTTT commands.
What does 2018 have in store? Here’s a hint of things to come: you may have noticed ‘HeartBeat’ mode on the current app. We are working to develop an intuitive AI Engine that will allow the plug to learn user routines meaning when you’re out, people passing will think you’re in. We see this feature (for which we have a patent pending) as the future of SMART technology and by bringing it to market first; we hope to lead the way to the future!
As always, we will keep you up to date on Twitter, our website and through other media throughout the month and year. We would like to wish all of our customers a Happy New Year and prosperous 2018.
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How to make your Android & WIFIPLUG a lot cooler!
Head to the Google Play Store: Search ” Wifi Plug Widgets” or click here Download the Widget & use your normal WIFIPLUG login details
Open the widget and position it anywhere on the screen. |
After 3 years – WIFIPLUG HOME 1.0 has reached its end of life.
We look forward to bringing you WIFIPLUG HOME 2.0 with patented (NRG1 smart meter) and revised circuitry Q3 2020.
This is a direct recording in real time to show you just how easy it is to set up the newest member of the family – WIFIPLUG HOME
Benefits:
Security: Apple end to end 256 bit encryption
Easy set up: Scan the HomeKit Setup code
Works out of the box: No additional Hardware required
Price: upto 25% discount now
Voice: “Hey Siri, turn the lamp on”
Meter: Calculate realtime energy and start saving money today
Welcome to the new WIFIPLUG website. Please feel free to browser our product range and get in touch with any questions.