Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Merkury Smart Home Devices
Merkury smart home products, powered by the Geeni app, offer an accessible way to make your home more intelligent and automated. However, you might sometimes feel that the device isn't doing as much as you'd hoped. Often, the most powerful features are not immediately obvious and require a little exploration within the app.
This guide is designed to help you move beyond the basic functions of your Merkury devices and unlock the full suite of features available to you, from smart automation to third-party integrations.
## Are You Missing Out on Key Features?
Sometimes the feeling of "limited features" comes from not knowing where to look or what's possible. Here are some signs you might not be using your device to its full potential:
- You only use the app to manually turn devices on and off.
- You haven't explored the "Smart Scenes" or "Automation" tabs in the Geeni app.
- You haven't checked for a firmware update since you first set up the device.
- You are unaware of integrations with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
- You want devices to react automatically to schedules or other triggers but haven't set them up.
## How to Discover and Enable More Features
Let's explore the areas where the best functionality of your Merkury devices can be found.
### 1. Keep Your App and Firmware Updated
This is the most critical step. Manufacturers frequently release updates that can add new features, improve stability, and enhance security.
- Update the Geeni App: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and check if there is an update available for your Geeni app.
- Update Device Firmware:
- Open the Geeni app and select the device you want to check.
- Tap the settings icon (often three dots or a pencil) in the top-right corner.
- Look for a "Firmware Update" or "Check for Firmware Update" option.
- If an update is available, follow the on-screen prompts to install it.
### 2. Dive into "Smart Scenes" and Automation
This is where the "smart" in smart home truly comes to life. Instead of just reacting to your taps, your devices can act on their own based on rules you create.
- Open the Geeni App and tap on the "Smart Scenes" tab at the bottom.
- Explore "Tap-to-Run": This allows you to create a single button that triggers multiple actions. For example, a "Good Night" scene could turn off all your Merkury lights, turn on a fan connected to a smart plug, and arm a camera.
- Explore "Automation": This is even more powerful. It lets you set up "If This, Then That" style rules.
- Condition (The "If"): This can be a specific time (e.g., sunset), the weather in your area, or the status of another Merkury device (e.g., if a door sensor opens).
- Task (The "Then"): This is what you want to happen. For example: If the time is 7:00 AM, then turn on the bedroom lamp. If the front door sensor opens, then turn on the hallway light.
### 3. Integrate with Voice Assistants
By connecting your Merkury devices to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you unlock voice control and the ability to include them in routines with smart products from other brands.
- Open the Alexa or Google Home app.
- Go to the section for adding new devices or skills.
- Search for the "Geeni" skill or service.
- Select it and follow the prompts to link your Geeni account.
- Once linked, you can control your devices with commands like, "Alexa, set the living room light to blue," or "Hey Google, turn off the coffee maker."
### 4. Explore Device-Specific Settings
Every device has its own unique set of features. Take a moment to dig into the settings for each of your products. For a camera, you might find motion detection sensitivity controls, notification schedules, and video quality settings. For a smart bulb, you'll find pre-set colour scenes, music sync modes, and customisation options. Don't be afraid to tap through all the menus to see what you can find.