IFTTT – ifthisthenthat, lets call it internet automation

If you came here from my twitter account (@uhaefele) you saw what IFTTT can do. IFTTT or in its longer form ifthisthenthat is a new kind of internet automation service. IFTTT let you define trigger, like a new blog post. IF something (THIS) happens IFTTT initiates certain actions (THEN THAT). It sounds easy and astonishingly is as easy like that.

The current version of IFTTT is beta and only open after application or invitation and it took some time till my account was activated. But its worth waiting.

One of the basic concepts of IFTTT is the channel. A channel is used to define triggers as well as actions. Channels are:

  • Date & Time
  • Delicious
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS & Atom Feeds
  • Flickr
  • Google Reader
  • twitter
  • vimeo
  • tumblr
  • and more

Since a channel defines both, triggers and actions there are various posibilities to combine them in what IFTTT calls tasks.

My first trails where promising. I tried facebook, twitter, RSS, Google Reader, Email, Date&Time, Weather (my Favorite), and  the delicious Channels and they worked fine. In Germany not available is the Phone-Chanel, this is an US only service.

What I saw and tried was working fine and sometimes even useful.  The tasks I tested ranged from a “Take your umbrella” email notification to automated content distribution.

I missed Channels for Xing, Mister Wong, Fouresquare and some more. IFTTT is only Beta so they’ll come sooner or later. Since IFTTT is located in California for the Xing or Mister Wong channel later might end in never. What I would recommend is “Filters” on channels.

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