物联网(Internet)使许多家务劳动减少到事后的想法成为可能。(Things)您可以安排机器人吸尘器在工作时清洁地板，离开时自动锁门，远距离开灯和关灯。所有这些便利都可以让现代家居感觉(home feel)有点像The Jetsons，但这是有代价的：智能(The Jetsons,)家居应用程序(home apps)太多。
当您必须打开十几个应用程序(dozen apps)才能访问您的所有设备时，便利变成了负担。值得庆幸的是，有些应用程序可以将您所有的智能应用程序组合到一个位置。以下是完全智能家居自动化的最佳智能(home automation)家居应用程序(home apps)。
其中一些应用程序可能需要外部集线器，而其他应用程序只需要您的手机。
SmartThings智能家居(SmartThings smart home)应用程序是最初的一体化智能家居控制应用程序(home control apps)之一，由三星 SmartThings Hub(Samsung SmartThings Hub)提供。它连接到Yale、Ring、ecobee 等设备。它将每个连接设备的控制组合到一个应用程序中。
您还可以通过SmartThings 应用程序(SmartThings app)设置例程和自动触发器。虽然它并不兼容所有设备，但SmartThings可以与绝大多数主流设备兼容。如果您拥有来自更名不见经传的公司的智能家居设备，SmartThings可能不是最佳选择。
您可以下载适用于Android 和 iOS的(Android and iOS)SmartThings 应用程序(SmartThings app)。SmartThings Hub(SmartThings)必须直接连接到您的路由器，但是一旦设置了应用程序，就可以轻松连接您的设备。(Hub)
任何拥有Alexa 设备(Alexa device)的人都需要Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)，无论是像Amazon Echo还是(Amazon Echo)内置 Alexa(Alexa built-in)的第三方设备。如果您有Alexa 设备(Alexa device)，那么您就有了应用程序——您可以轻松添加其他兼容设备。
亚马逊Alexa(Amazon Alexa)智能家居应用程序(home app)与大量设备兼容，因为即使是最不起眼的智能家居产品(home product)公司也尝试使用Alexa 功能(Alexa functionality)。它适用于飞利浦 Hue(Philips Hue)、Nest、Wemo和许多其他产品。不过，Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)不仅仅可以控制您的智能家居；它可用于创建购物清单、听音乐等。
Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)也是用户可以拨打其他Alexa用户、通过Echo Show进行视频聊天、共享图像等的方式。该应用程序将提示用户添加兼容设备，并将引导您完成设置它们的过程。
Amazon Alexa 应用程序(Amazon Alexa app)是控制所有设备的绝佳选择，因为它可能已经成为现代智能家居设置(home setup)的一部分。只需下载(Just download)它，设置兼容的设备，并从一个地方控制它们。
Alexa可能会引领智能家居市场(home market)，但对于更喜欢Google的用户来说，Google Assistant 应用程序(Google Assistant app)是从一个地方控制整个智能家居的绝佳选择。Google 助理(Google Assistant)与飞利浦 Hue(Philips Hue)、霍尼韦尔(Honeywell)、Nest和更多智能家居公司合作，让您几乎完全控制。
Google Assistant的真正强大之处在于它的多功能性。它可以通过手机给家人发短信、在网上搜索信息和播放音乐。
(Google Assistant)与Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)一样，Google Assistant会提示您添加它在网络上检测到的兼容设备。与Alexa一样，如果您有 Google 设备，Google Assistant 应用程序(Google Assistant app)已经成为您应用程序集合的一部分，但(Google device—but)您不必拥有Google 设备(Google device)即可下载应用程序并使用它。
Google Assistant智能家居应用(home app)适用于iOS 和 Android(iOS and Android)。
[家庭套件]
Apple HomeKit在这些选项中的兼容性范围最小，但由于 Apple 对市场的掌控力如此之强，它也是一个受欢迎的选择。由于iOS 上预装了Home 应用程序，因此它已经可供大量用户使用，但它确实需要一个集线器才能工作。(Home app)
好消息是集线器可以是 iPad、HomePod或Apple TV。大多数 Apple 用户已经拥有其中一种设备（尽管让我们面对现实吧——没有人(face it—no one)拥有HomePod。）更好的消息是，虽然HomeKit不能与亚马逊或谷歌(Amazon or Google)一样多的产品使用，但它确实有一系列专用设备。
在HomeKit(HomeKit)上设置设备通常也很容易。大多数设备只需要您扫描背面的二维码，其余过程大部分是自动化的。(QR code)HomeKit在另一个方面也很出色：美观。HomeKit 应用程序(HomeKit app)的布局很吸引人，并且比大多数智能家居应用程序(home apps)具有更现代的外观。
如果您发现打开一个又一个应用程序来控制您的家的想法没有吸引力(home unappealing)，请查看这些智能家居应用程序(home apps)之一。当您可以从一个地方控制一切时，智能家居将变得真正方便。
你最喜欢的智能家居应用是什么？请在下面的评论中告诉我们。(What is your favorite smart home app? Let us know in the comments below.)
4 Best Smart Home Apps for Smart Home Automation
The Intеrnet of Things has made it possible to rеduce many household chores to afterthoughts. You can schedule your robotic vacuum to clean the floors whіle you’re at work, automаtically lock your door whеn yоu leave, and turn your lights on and off from afar. All of this convenience can makе a modern home feel a bit like The Jetsons, but it comes at a cost: too many smart home apps.
When you have to open a dozen apps just to access all of your devices, the convenience becomes a burden. Thankfully, there are apps that combine all your smart apps into a single location. The following are the best smart home apps for total smart home automation.
Some of these apps may require an external hub, while others need nothing more than your phone.
The SmartThings smart home app is one of the original all-in-one smart home control apps, courtesy of the Samsung SmartThings Hub. It connects to devices like Yale, Ring, ecobee, and many more. It combines control for every connected device into a single app.
You can also set up routines and automatic triggers through the SmartThings app. While it isn’t compatible with every device out there, SmartThings will work with a vast majority of mainstream devices. If you have smart home devices from more obscure companies, SmartThings may not be the best option.
You can download the SmartThings app for both Android and iOS. The SmartThings Hub must be directly connected to your router, but once the app is set up it’s easy to connect your devices.
The Alexa app is necessary for anyone that has an Alexa device, whether it’s something like the Amazon Echo or a third-party device with Alexa built-in. If you have an Alexa device, you have the app—and you can add other compatible devices with ease.
The Amazon Alexa smart home app is compatible with a huge number of devices, since even the most obscure smart home product companies try to work in Alexa functionality. It works with Philips Hue, Nest, Wemo, and many others. The Alexa app does more than just control your smart home, though; it can be used for creating shopping lists, listening to music, and more.
The Alexa app is also how users can make calls to other Alexa users, drop in to video chat through the Echo Show, share images, and more. The app will prompt users to add compatible devices and will walk you through the process to set them up.
The Amazon Alexa app is a great option for controlling all of your devices because it’s likely to already be part of a modern smart home setup. Just download it, set up compatible devices, and control them all from one place.
Alexa may lead the smart home market, but for users that prefer Google, the Google Assistant app is a great pick for controlling your entire smart home from one place. Google Assistant works with Philips Hue, Honeywell, Nest, and many more smart home companies to give you near total control.
The true power of Google Assistant lies in how versatile it is. It can be used via your phone to text family members, search for information on the web, and play music.
Google Assistant, like the Alexa app, prompts you to add compatible devices it detects on the network. Also like Alexa, the Google Assistant app will already be part of your collection of apps if you have a Google device—but you don’t have to own a Google device to download the app and utilize it.
The Google Assistant smart home app is available for both iOS and Android.
[HomeKit]
Apple HomeKit has the least range of compatibility of any of these options, but it’s also a popular choice due to how strong Apple’s grasp of the market is. Because the Home app comes pre-installed on iOS, it’s already available to a huge number of users, but it does require a hub to work.
The good news is that hub can be an iPad, a HomePod, or an Apple TV. Most Apple users already have one of these devices (although let’s face it—no one has a HomePod.) More good news is that although HomeKit does not work with as many products as Amazon or Google, it does have a range of dedicated devices.
Setting up a device on HomeKit is usually an easy affair, too. Most devices just require you to scan the QR code on the back and the rest of the process is mostly automated. HomeKit excels in another aspect, too: the aesthetic. The layout of the HomeKit app is attractive and has a more modern look than most smart home apps.
If you find the idea of opening app after app to control your home unappealing, check out one of these smart home apps. When you can control everything from a single place, a smart home becomes truly convenient.
What is your favorite smart home app? Let us know in the comments below.
