Microsoft recently opened the doors for third-party apps on the Xbox One. While we are in the very early days of the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) on the gaming console we see quite a few apps already populating the Store.
One of those is Home Remote, a popular universal home automation app found on iOS, Android, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, and now the Xbox One.
Home Remote lets you connect up to various smart services, such as:
- ecobee Thermostats
- Insteon Hubs
- IP Cameras
- Nest Thermostats
- Philips Hue
- SmartThings Hubs
- Sonos
…and more. While the app is quite barebones (it's not particularly pretty) it does let you control some of the major features right from your phone, PC, and now gaming console.
In my hands-on video you can see the app in action, and while not everything is working just yet, (e.g. I can't change the temperature on my new ecobee3) things like Philips Hues works just fine. Truth be told, it's not even that awkward to use either and I dig the lighting presets a lot.
I think Home Remote (which I didn't know was a thing even on iOS and Android) could use some polish, but we're just starting with apps on the Xbox. The future for such integration and the home is only beginning. Tying into things like Cortana and making user-interactions easier could be a significant shift in how our homes work.
To grab the app on the Xbox just search the Store for Home Remote. If you're Windows 10 or Windows 10 Mobile hit the Store link below to try it on your PC or phone. You can use the Home Remote site for support including their forums, which will help walk you through advanced setups.
Tell me in comments what app you want to see for the Xbox and whether home automation will be the next big thing.
Download Home Remote from the Store
