Insteon started its beta program earlier this month, testing its new mobile app experience. The new app works with customers’ existing Insteon Hub (v2—the square one that works with Alexa, Yonomi, and other third-party services), and it brings an entirely new, contemporary experience to Insteon.
Even early in the beta testing program, the app feels largely complete. Insteon is still working to expand support for more of its popular devices, but the core of device and scene management is all there.
Speaking of scenes, Insteon has largely overhauled how the app creates, manages, and presents scenes. This includes friendlier terminology for consumers, replacing the relatively technical controller/responder concept with scene directors and actors, respectively.
The team has also been working to streamline the process of creating and updating scenes, and the results are dramatic. Creating a scene to simulate the function of a 4-way circuit with three Insteon switches, for example, could take 2–3 minutes in the current Insteon for Hub apps. The new mobile app brings that down to as low as 15 seconds.
The beta app addresses some customer requests, too, like a sunrise/sunset offset to let you adjust when the sunrise- and sunset-triggered schedules actually occur. It also more clearly calls out schedules, so you have better insight into what’s happening in your home. The app background even changes with the time of day. It’s a little gimmicky, and it’s not quite “dark mode,” but it’s a surprisingly pleasing effect.
We know it’s early in the testing cycle, but so far things look pretty good. There are still issues Insteon needs to address, and the good news is that folks are actively working on it. They plan to expand device support in the app to include Insteon thermostats, sirens, remotes, and more. And they’re being incredibly responsive with beta testers who are providing feedback and asking questions.
You can apply to participate in Insteon’s beta program at Insteon.com. A first step in Insteon’s next-generation roadmap, this new Insteon mobile app, when released, will support iOS and Android.
