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Not everything on the internet plays nice, but IFTTT (If This, Then That) helps you connect the apps, websites and devices you love so they play nice with each other.
IFTTT “Applets” connect two or more services together and help you do something that you couldn’t do with just one service alone.
For example, say you want to post that awesome picture from your vacation to Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Normally that requires opening and posting the picture in four different apps. Tedious, to say the least.
With IFTTT you can post that picture once to Instagram and this Applet will post it to the other social networks automatically (you don’t need to be promoting a business like the description says).
There are thousands more Applets on IFTTT for just about every big-name web service and smart home product; too many to possibly name here. But here are a few of my favorites.
Begin your morning with this Applet that starts brewing coffee when your FitBit registers you’re awake. (Now I need to buy a FitBit and smart WeMo Coffeemaker.)
Get a notification on your phone when your Amazon Alexa timer goes off. Handy for us forgetful types.
Freelancer? This Applet tracks your hours in Google Calendar. Set your work location and whenever you arrive or leave, your work hours will automatically be added to your calendar.
Get a notification from WeatherUnderground if the pollen count is high in your area.
Use this Applet to trigger a phone call (US only) from IFTTT to get out of an awkward situation. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve used this more than once.
Or tweet your Facebook status updates automatically.
And my favorite fun Applet: get a notification when the International Space Station passes overhead.
IFTTT partners with hundreds of companies and devices—Domino’s, Amazon, GE, Apple and Samsung, to name just a few—and connects to their APIs (Application Program Interface). That means IFTTT plays by their rules for connecting.
Many Applets work best with the free IFTTT apps for iOS and Android. Manage your Applets, find new ones and even make your own custom Applets, if that’s your thing.
Previously from One Useful Thing: Open Culture: Free movies, ebooks, online courses and more.
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Keith Monaghan writes the One Useful Thing newsletter and is a researcher who works with creative teams on projects for companies like Nike, The CW Network and Upworthy. He can be reached at useful@keithmonaghan.com or follow him on Twitter @keithmonaghan