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Craving a cozy fire on a snowy night? There's an app for that

With Heat & Glo's new IntelliFire app, a roaring fire is just a tap away.

Ry Crist Senior Editor / Reviews - Labs
Originally hailing from Troy, Ohio, Ry Crist is a writer, a text-based adventure connoisseur, a lover of terrible movies and an enthusiastic yet mediocre cook. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, broadband and home networking.
Expertise Smart home technology and wireless connectivity Credentials
  • 10 years product testing experience with the CNET Home team
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Ry Crist
Heat & Glo

If you're looking for further evidence that 2014 is shaping up to be the year of the smart home, take a look at fireplace manufacturer Heat & Glo, which announced the new IntelliFire Touch Control app at today's NAHB International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. Using IntelliFire, you'll be able to control and monitor your Heat & Glo fireplace directly from your iOS or Android device, whether you're home or not.

Aside from starting and stopping the gas flow that feeds the flames, the app makes it possible to monitor fireplace usage by individuals and engage additional features, such as a child safety lock. IntelliFire also provides smart diagnosis and troubleshooting assistance, as well as a programmable thermostat setting that automatically adjusts the fireplace to maintain a desired temperature in the home.

Heat & Glo estimates that IntelliFire will be available for both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets in the third quarter of 2014. In the year following its introduction, Heat & Glo will gradually expand the app's compatibility across its entire offering of gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts. Would-be Casanovas, Quagmires, and Bond villains might want to start saving, though, as Heat & Glo's gas fireplaces can retail for as much as $8,805.