Having already captured European consumer imaginations with its Smart Thermostat, Tado is ready to hit the Sates – and it is bringing a clever take on mobile device-controlled air conditioning.
The German company's Smart AC Control works with existing air conditioner units, so long as they utilize IR control. When the mounted module is placed on a wall in full view of the AC unit, it beams directives to the system.
That means that you can schedule coolings, control the temperature, and turn the unit off and on remotely, so you've got a nice cool room when you get home.
The wall-mounted module looks almost identical to the company's thermostat unit. It's a small, white, Apple TV-esque box with embedded lights that display the temperature. It's not as snazzy as Nest's thermostat, but it's a heck of a lot more unassuming.
The system is controlled by the company's Android, iOS, and Windows-compatible app. Oddly, Tado hasn't combined it with the thermostat app into a single catch-all, a la Nest. That seems like a no-brainer of a next step.
The system is available from a wide variety of U.S. retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Home Depot.
