Ikea released a new software update for your connected devices, in particular for your Ikea Tradfri Gateway control bridge. Thanks to it, from now on all users who have their products will be able to enjoy using the scenes. This function already exists on other platforms and allows you to control several devices at the same time, thus improving the user experience.
Ikea adds support for scenes in its Smart Home application
Ikea has been investing in the connected home for a long time. They started by offering an intelligent lighting system, where its great value was in a very competitive price and a quite attractive quality considering what other competitors offered, and they continued with another series of devices that add value to the home. Thus, today, along with various sensors and switches, we also have Symfonisk connected speakers that are created in collaboration with Sonos or blinds that go up and down automatically.
The big problem is that, despite being one of the most attractive home automation options on the market, the development of their software is what weighs them down the most compared to their competitors. They already took a long time to add compatibility with HomeKit or in this that seems basic on other platforms: the use of scenes.
Luckily the wait is over. Through the latest update of its software, the version 1.12.31, users with the Ikea Tradfri Gateway bridge can now take advantage of these scenes to control each and every one of the Ikea devices they have at home. Thus, for example, they will be able to create scenes to carry out actions as varied as turning off all the lights and lowering the curtains when they go to sleep or changing the color and intensity of the lights if they want to watch a movie.
All these possibilities can be configured from the Ikea Home Smart application itself, the application for iOS and Android mobile devices. Once done, you can execute them using the touch controls or using the new physical buttons which are also released now.
These buttons, which we were able to see months ago, come to facilitate and speed up the activation of these scenes with a click on a physical device. Which is interesting so that anyone in the house can enjoy them without having to have the device with the app where they were created. The new buttons are not yet for sale and the final price remains to be known, but it is estimated that They could cost between 7,99 and 9,99 euros each.
Ikea and its connected home
With the new Ikea update for its Smart Home application, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to the connected home. However, as we have said, they need to be more agile when it comes to including new features and options. Because it is true that the current pandemic and working from home will have conditioned the deadlines, but if you want to be attractive to more advanced users, they must offer a little more.