Staples Connect

I loved the Staples connect hub and had hoped it would continue to evolve. Sadly I received notice today that the hub is officially ending all support for this app. Look elsewhere if you are starting out. The Staples connect hub is dead forever.

Please make it stop opening whenever my phones connection changes.

Hub registration function is broken

Much too basic. You cannot even set lights to come on before or after sunset.

All I can say about this app. is UPDATE and SUPPORT is needed. Hardware works great.

Pros: With Staples Connect HUB by D-Link, it supports almost all home automation protocols: Z-Wave Plus, ZigBee, Lutron Clear Connect, Bluetooth, Wifi, Ethernet, USB... Cons: GUI has lots of room to improve

I'm amazed that there are no instructions included in the box with the initial hub. All this app does is setup and control the functions. However, if setup does not go as planned you have to feverishly search for an explanation as to what is going wrong. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever gotten and I'm so glad it was a gift and I didn't waste my money on it.

It works consistently. Major flaw is that it only works in portrait so it is awkward on a tablet. The Web, Android and iOS versions each have their quirks so some activities need to be set up on one device vs another. Another pet peeve is why show options for what is either not activated or not purchased? EDIT 12/07/14 at this point I have it working with a Honeywell Thermostat, Door Sensor, Flood/water sensor, Lutron in wall dimmer and a Switch, Lutron Plug in Dimmer and Schlage Door Lock.

The app is buggy and badly needs an update. Users don't work - so I have to sign myself in on my wife's phone. Every time my phone loses a carrier signal this app will pop-up, steal focus from whatever I was doing, and tell me that I've lost signal. It showed a lot of promise initially, but it seems to be abandoned at this point. Still workable, barely, but I don't know how long that will remain true.

Would you please consider making this work with the keen vent control i love the every thing else but i really want these vents to work

The app is buggy bordering on useless. It interrupts whatever you're doing to open itself and tell you it's been disconnected (at which point you usually have to re-enter your login information). The developer (Zonoff) doesn't respond at all to support requests in their forums or via email. Updates are few and far between and almost always contain only one or two device additions but no improvement on the app itself. No IFTTT or Tasker integration. It's fine when it works, but it's disruptive more often than not.

Leaving for work each morning the app leaps to the main screen, kicking Waze to the curb and flooding my car with white light, since Waze was in night mode. If any other app did that it would be uninstalled immediately. But, since I can't replace this app with a better one, I just have to deal with it... and I think the developers know that. Shame on you for pushing out such an inferior and slow product.

UPDATE: This platform has not been updated in a while. Still works well, but no new features have been added in a very long time and Staples doesn't seem to be actively supporting it. Likely it is either dying of will be sold off. PREVIOUS REVIEW: Is very stable, works even if Internet connection is down, and has plenty of protocol options. UI could use a refresh and still waiting for more advanced features.

Can't do anything with it. You cant do logic, there is no, if, or, and, timers, etc... Can't combine inputs. Can't say if motion sensor and door... Sucks... Wish I could just use tasker. This app makes hub USELESS

App is buggy. Opens by itself to tell you that it has disconnected. Other hubs have better apps. No shortcuts or widgets.

Awesome. I have used this app since day one.

UPDATE: This is a good project with great hardware. There is still a lot to do, don't think there are enough devs working on it, their "roadmap" is moving slowly. Project is over a year old now without many improvements or notable hardware (no, I don't need overpriced Bose junk). It is a functioning system but needs to support more products and sensors. Down another star... Hurry up or you will be replaced!

Disconnects often, automatic rules fail unless you have the app open. No API for things like IFTTT. Poor for advanced automation.

Great app and hub very easy to set up. Works out of box with listed devices but have had trouble adding unlisted generic zwave devices. Number one upgrade should be adding users such that family members can install the app and control devices as users. Second, add more device support, specifically zwave.

Horrible product

I bought Staples Connect on basis of features, despite complaints about the app. Big Mistake. App appears to be "designed" to be the only thing used on a device, always in the foreground. If it ever goes to the background, even for a second, it has to reconnect and starts back at the useless front page, instead of where you left off. That's not the worst thing, though. The worst thing is that every time there's an even momentary network event (switching from wifi to 4g, etc.) the app will pop to the foreground with a screen informing you it has lost the connection, interrupting whatever it is you're doing, with no way to disable that absolutely broken experience. Returning the hub this weekend, will try SmartThings next.

App is OK except for the thermostat. It crashes everytime going into the thermostat memu. It works fine with iOS app and Web interface. Tech Support said my Thermostats is not supported. That's fair. But why does it crash? --- It is a programming problem which they would not fix. Also, the automation or what it calls activity is just too complex and messy for scheduling multiple events. Really, HW is a five star, SW only three.

Pros: With Staples Connect HUB by D-Link, it supports almost all home automation protocols: Z-Wave Plus, ZigBee, Lutron Clear Connect, Bluetooth, Wifi, Ethernet, USB... Cons: GUI has lots of room to improve

The setup was easy, but opening is a little slow. This app really needs widget, at least for the actions in the Activities tab. Having to open the app, wait for it to log into the server, go to Activities or lights tab, then turn off or on the light is really a pain for something that is supposed to make life easier.

I used to use Wink, but Staples Connect is much more versatile and stable. I wish this become compatible with IFTTT in future.

Unlike the SmartThings and Wink systems (both of which I've used), Staples Connect (using the Dlink hub) works consistently. This is because it connects locally over your network, vs. going out to the Internet every time you turn on a light bulb, as these competitors do. However, while reliable, this setup is very basic. No IF support and rules are limited to timers. Can't use switches as triggers. SmartThings is coming out with a local hub soon, so this one is probably doomed.

The biggest feature of the recent update appears to be constant crashing... It's a decent, albeit simple, home automation system otherwise.

This is a good project with great hardware. There is still a lot to do, don't think there are enough devs working on it, their roadmap is moving slowly. Project is over one year old , new D-link hub is 6 months old now. It is a functioning system but needs to support more products and sensors.

Is very stable, works even if Internet connection is down, and has plenty of protocol options. UI could use a refresh and still waiting for more advanced features.

With voice commands via ivee it's even better but since the February 2015 update, it doesn't recognize my schedules anymore

I'm amazed that there are no instructions included in the box with the initial hub. All this app does is setup and control the functions. However, if setup does not go as planned you have to feverishly search for an explanation as to what is going wrong. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever gotten and I'm so glad it was a gift and I didn't waste my money on it.

Easy setup and simple. Would like to see a widget for each connected function for easier access. Example a widget on home screen to open garage door instead of opening app. Also more customizable rules. Ex. When WiFi connected garage and lights turn on and more.

The app fails to log in. Gives me a message to call customer support, which tells me 'Staples is closed'. My home security is now non existent, I can't control my lights through the system. Message says 'one of our servers has failed', revealing a major weakness in the system. I was told by staples that I didn't need a working internet connection, but didn't know their servers held the key to the security of my home. My internet is fine...I'm posting this. Virtually useless system. Waste of 100s of $$$

The app works great and does what it should. Two complaints- slow open time and lacks some other advanced features like geo and widgets.

Installed and paired devices with 0 issues right out the gate - 10x better than the experience I had with competitor Wink. App functionality is a little limited but has been improving. I'm very happy so far!

I see lots of potentials in this app!

The new "modes" feature is what I have been waiting for. Makes it easy to set up the house when leaving.

Works like it should

This app has failed to connect to my hub three times in the last week. Support person directed me to reinstall. This worked for a day. The next day, it happened again. A reload worked again - for a day. This evening, we came home in the dark and tried to turn a light on. It failed again. Reload of app on my phone did not fix problem. We stumbled into a dark house. A reload on my tablet fixed it. Test this app. This is not acceptable. Also needs ifttt. Connect has potential but needs work - badly.

It works consistently. Major flaw is that it only works in portrait so it is awkward on a tablet. The Web, Android and iOS versions each have their quirks so some activities need to be set up on one device vs another. Another pet peeve is why show options for what is either not activated or not purchased? EDIT 12/07/14 at this point I have it working with a Honeywell Thermostat, Door Sensor, Flood/water sensor, Lutron in wall dimmer and a Switch, Lutron Plug in Dimmer and Schlage Door Lock.