Integrated Control vs. Multiple Apps for Home Automation

Have a smart thermostat? There’s an app for that. Has you front door been fitted with an electronic lock on the front door? You can control it from an app, too. Want to stream music to the loudspeakers in your house? Just peck at the app on your phone. It seems that for nearly any type of electronic component there’s an app that can be used to monitor, manage and control it. And, many of these apps can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet free of charge.

Feasibly, from one...