We honestly can't get enough of this stuff. In fact, if
there is a gadget or item that isn't somehow connect to the internet, we scorn
it. SCORN! And so, as Test Pit Towers gets even more connected, and as our
phones become even more crammed with apps, we test the D-Link Smart Plug.
'S a plug, innit? That's what you get in the box; something
that looks very much like the old-fashioned mechanical light timers. But
instead of a winding clock by which to set when your lights come on, you get a
plug filled with clever gadgetry and WiFi. As smart plugs go, the D-Link is
quite a chunky monkey, much thicker and wider than the one that shipped with
the Smappee energy monitor (reviewed here).
But this little thing can do so much more, as demonstrated
by the mydlink Home app (for Android and iOS). Simply connect the Smart Plug to
your home WiFi network (an account is required, but it's free and takes mere
moments to set up), then hit the WPS button on both the plug and your router.
In minutes you're ready to go; left only with the choice of where to plug it
in.
This is a connected device, one that can be used remotely
over the internet. Therefore it is important to select a plug socket that you
might want to control remotely, either while you're away on holiday, or
generally just around the house. We chose our hallway lamp.
The Smart Plug also features a handy button on the plug itself, which when pressed will automatically switch it on or off. This can be handy if you're passing by the item that is being controlled by the plug, but you can't be bothered to open the app and change the settings.
In use, it does work very well indeed, and pressing the
switch in the app for that particular plug (as many other units can be added to
the same account) resulted in the light coming to life in just a second or two.
Handy for the security conscious, or - like us - the lazy, gadget obsessed.
£38.50
Visit www.dlink.com/uk