Ryobi Phone Works Combines Your Smartphone And Power Tools

Your DIY home repairs don't have to be archaic, at least as far as Ryobi is concerned. The power tools manufacturer has released a new line of "smart" power tools designed to work with your smartphone and a related app, which when combined give the tools additional functionality they wouldn't have on their own. This allows the tools themselves to be priced cheaper than they would if each provided the extra tech as integrated features, and gives you an excuse to pull out your phone while working.

Called the Ryobi Phone Works line of tools, each can be connected to your smartphone to leverage the device in a task-specific way. There's a laser level, for example, that works with the phone's sensors to provide an on-screen look at your measurements, providing a more accurate measurement than doing it by hand.

There's an infrared thermometer for augmenting your smartphone's camera, allowing it to display a thermal image of a subject. The noise-cancelling headphones take advantage of your smartphone's integrated microphone, using it to help determine what noises to block and which to amplify.

The app itself complements the tools not just by working with them to add features, but also for recording information you'd commonly need to jot down while doing construction work or repairs. There's the ability to store videos and pics, take voice notes, share data, aggregate information to project files, and more. Both Android and iOS apps are available.

VIA: Digital Trends