Life in Use
Offline is not one feature
Turning something on, changing a setting and setting it up again can rely on different parts of a system.
Name the task
A button may work without internet even when the app does not. A stored schedule may continue even when you cannot edit it. Write down the task that matters to you before asking whether a product works offline.
Name the interruption
An internet outage can leave power and the local network intact. A broken router removes a different dependency. A supplier closing a service may also affect accounts, app downloads and future setup. These are different questions.
Include the return journey
It is useful to know that an installed device keeps running. It is also useful to know whether you can replace a phone, reset the device or set it up after moving. Existing operation and recovery need separate answers.
Read the map
Our first documentation comparison separates physical controls, local interfaces, saved rules and the unanswered questions after a permanent cloud closure. Treat a condition as part of the answer, not as a footnote to a yes/no verdict.