Gadgetory

hi right Chris for CNET here and we've got the Belkin Wemo switch and motion detector to look at today this is basically a socket that you can power on and off with your smartphone and that's a really cool thing because you can plug anything into it and then make that into a remotely controlled device the Wemo switch sells on its own for $49 but for $79 you can get a package with the Wemo motion detector now this device plugs in just like the Wemo switch but it connects to this motion detector and then you can use that to power the Wemo switch either way if you get the Wemo switch or the Wemo switch and motion you're going to control it with the Wemo app and this is an app that you can download for iPhones for iPads and also for Android devices the Wiimote app is really easy to use it's really intuitive and simple and the great thing about it that I like is that when you first plug in your devices it walks you through the setup process it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to connect it to your Wi-Fi network and how to get started with automating with the Wemo app you'll be able to create what they call rules and these just dictate what the device does when different things happen so let's say you want your lights to come on at 8 a.m. you can program that really easily and let's say you want the lights to come on when you enter the room and trigger the motion detector that's really easy too this is all pretty standard in the world of home automation and it makes a good entry point at the price point but the great thing that I'm really excited about with the Wemo is that it offers full integration with if this then that or if IFTTT now if tis a great free online service that connects your favorite web services social networks and online tools and makes them do things together so when you do something on Facebook something happens on Instagram or when you do something with your Gmail account something will happen on Twitter but I'm really excited about what the Wemo is that it's fully integrated with it so you can hook up your motion detector and make that this if the motion detector is triggered then you get a tweet or you send a text or you can have the vet be the Wemo switch if something happens online if someone tweets something or if you send a text to IFFT it'll your lights on and this all might sound a little gimmicky and not all that useful but if you use your imagination there are some really cool practical uses for this let's say that you want to have a notification on your cell phone when your kids get home you can have the motion detector trigger a text that comes to you while you're at work my one problem with the Wemo app is that it only shows you the rules that you make in the Wemo app it doesn't show you the recipes you make on it and if won't show you the rules you make on the Wemo habit this means if you use both the Lemos rules and ifs recipes which I think most users are going to you're never going to have all your rules and recipes in one place and you'll have to use two apps to use your devices one use for the motion detector that I really liked is that you can set it up in the morning oh sorry about that you can set it up so that in the morning your lights come on when you wake up just by waving your arm so my alarm clock goes off in the morning I want to get up but I'm really bad at getting out of bed so I just wave my arm in the air the lights come on and I have an easier time getting out of bed if you can think of a use for the Wemo that justifies owning it the price is right I say go for it if you can't and you think it sounds a little gimmicky don't rule it out just yet I recommend you go to WWI F TTT calm and try if down if tis free you can try out all the integration with your social networks and if you find recipes that you like or you enjoy thinking them up and experimenting and find cool uses for if the chances are very good that you will really like this product Kristina I'm Ren Chris you