SmartThings Blog

Making the Home Better Connected With Major SmartThings Updates

New enhancements powered by AI offer users a more personalized experiencethrough Home Insight SmartThings has introduced a new app home page, formerly known as Favorites, that is designed to adapt to users’ lifestyle, offering tailored features that simplify home management and improve automation. Whether controlling lights, managing appliances, or creating custom routines, these AI-driven enhancements will help families make the most of their smart home. “As Samsung continues to innovate, SmartThings will remain at the forefront of smart home technology, offering users the best in connected home management,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. "These latest updates do more than signify our steadfast commitment to that goal — they represent the first step towards a new, AI-enabled smart home era.” Personalized Home Insights for Better Living One of the most significant changes is the transformation of the Favorites tab into a Home tab, which now provides personalized Insight messages. Through the AI-enabled ‘Home Insight[1]’, powered by SmartThings, users can receive real-time summaries of their home’s status and suggestions for necessary actions. This is achieved by analyzing various data sources — such as user lifestyle patterns, device usage history, home and device status, daily weather, indoor temperature and more — to provide tailored insights. For instance, if a device is left on while no one is home, SmartThings will recommend turning it off to conserve energy. Another notification could include changes in indoor temperature or humidity that deviate from the usual levels, which will prompt suggestions to adjust devices for optimal comfort. By offering immediate and relevant information, these insights enable users to more efficiently manage their homes. (Image) SmartThings Home Insight Consistent Experiences and Seamless Connectivity Over Various Samsung Devices The SmartThings app on Samsung Galaxy devices, Smart TV, Family Hub™ and Galaxy Book has been enhanced to provide a consistent experience to users. For example, the expanded device card allows users to access key functions without navigating to the devices' detail page. This expanded functionality is available via the Device Control panel on Galaxy devices — as well as from the new Map View and the new SmartThings app on the Galaxy Tab S10— greatly enhancing usability. Additionally, for users building a multi-hub network containing SmartThings Hub-embedded Samsung products, such as a Samsung Smart TV, Smart Monitor, Sound Bar, Family Hub™ Refrigerator or SmartThings Station, the auto-hub backup feature ensures stable and uninterrupted connectivity by automatically switching to a secondary hub if the primary one goes offline. (Image) Consistent SmartThings Experiences and Seamless Connectivity Over Various Samsung Devices (Image) Expanded device control panel in SmartThings Map View Galaxy Tab S10 Transforms Into a Home Dashboard The Galaxy Tab S10 comes with immediate access to SmartThings via the Home Insight Widget. This will transform the tablet into a personalized home dashboard by giving users the ability to view real-time summaries of their home’s status along with suggestions for necessary actions, as well as a Map View that allows for easier device control. Enhanced SmartThings Experience on the New Galaxy Book5 Series With the newly launched Galaxy Book5 series, users can control their devices more quickly, without interrupting key tasks being handled on their PCs. Additionally, a significant update to the SmartThings UX on Windows brings a panel-style interface that enhances both accessibility and convenience. Key features include support for camera streaming and phone-finding functionality, and users can instantly control important functions such as temperature while receiving doorbell notifications with a live streaming view that allows them to see who's at the door. These features are supported on PCs running Windows OS 10 20 H1 and more recent models. Expanded Family Care for All-in-One Home Management Family Care has been expanded to support a wider range of devices that can sense activity, allowing users to monitor their loved ones’ daily routines through the usage history of various appliances, including TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, ovens and induction cooktops. Now, simple actions such as opening the refrigerator door or taking clothes out of the dryer can work alongside phone usage to notify users that their loved ones may be active on various devices. These enhancements enable users to seamlessly manage family care needs. The update also introduces child account support, enabling parents to monitor their children and ensure their well-being, creating safer, more customized smart home environments for kids and extending SmartThings’ services to all family members. In addition, the update integrates with events and location notifications to further streamline family management and daily routines.[2] Simplified Device Transfers With QR Codes Device access has also been made easier as users can simply scan a QR code to easily transfer device access to others. This is particularly useful for users who might find manual registration of a device challenging. Therefore, all household members can conveniently enjoy the benefits of smart home technology. [1] Supported devices are Galaxy Smartphones, tablets and Samsung Smart TVs, with plans for further expansion. As of October 2024, summary and suggestion features are currently available only in the U.S and South Korea but will gradually expand to other regions. [2] Currently available only in the U.S and South Korea, but will gradually expand to other regions by end of this year.

SmartThings Updates

November 12, 2024

SmartThings Hubs Now Work Together as a Team

Latest SmartThings Hub updates include a new hub manager, backup capabilities, and hub group support As the smart home becomes an integral part of modern living – just as essential as utilities like power and water – its reliability must be equally paramount. At SmartThings, we’ve always believed local connectivity is the key to reliability in connected living. Our hub-based platform was designed so users could connect, control, and automate devices locally, reliably, and securely. Our Hub Everywhere strategy has empowered more users to establish and expand their local smart home infrastructure. Now, we’re excited to introduce new ways for users to harness these hubs to further enhance the performance and reliability of their smart devices. Expanding Smart Living with New SmartThings Hub Features Last year, we introduced two significant features: Hub Groups and Hub Replace. Hub Groups enable users to extend their Thread and Zigbee networks across multiple SmartThings hubs, creating a more robust mesh network. Hub Replace allows users to upgrade their hubs seamlessly without the need to individually add each device again, ensuring their smart living infrastructure can evolve with their needs. Now, we’re thrilled to announce the extension and enhancement of our smart living capabilities with two new features in the SmartThings app - Hub Manager and Hub Backup. Introducing Hub Manager, Hub Backup, and Expanded Hub Group Support The new Hub Manager is a central management interface designed to streamline the configuration of smart home infrastructures. Users can now create, edit, and delete Hub Groups to better organize their network. This enhances the ability to manage multiple hubs, including the SmartThings 2018 (V3) hub, Aeotec Smart Home Hub (V3), SmartThings Station, Samsung Smart TV, Smart Monitor, Family Hub refrigerator, and Samsung soundbar hubs. They can also easily manage their Hub Groups by editing existing ones or deleting them as needed. Hub Backup increases resiliency by allowing secondary hubs to act as backups if the primary hub goes offline. In such cases, users receive a notification about the disconnection and assistance with diagnosing the issue. If reconnection is not possible, users can select another hub within their Hub Group to become the new primary hub. The Hub Manager then guides users through the process of transferring all devices and routines to the new primary hub, ensuring seamless continuity. If a user does not take action within ten minutes of the primary hub going offline, transfer to an available secondary hub will happen automatically. How to Create a SmartThings Hub Group A Hub Group is made up of a primary hub and one or more secondary hubs working together to extend the range of Zigbee and Thread networks. If you have a Hub Group, devices that are far away from the primary hub can still connect to its network via a nearby secondary hub. Routines will also work faster without needing an internet connection when devices are connected to the same Hub Group. When you add a new eligible hub to a location with one or more existing eligible hub(s), a new Hub Group will be automatically created if none exist. If a Hub Group already exists, the new hub will be automatically added to the Hub Group as a secondary hub1. You can also manually create and manage a Hub Group. When you create a new Hub Group, there must be at least one hub that has no devices connected to it. There are two ways to create a new Hub Group: Starting in the “Favorites” page, select (⋮) More Options and tap “Manage Hubs”. If a Hub Group is eligible to be formed, there will be a button titled “Create a Hub Group”. You can also click on one of your hub icons from the favorites screen or the devices screen where the hub is located. The hub’s device card will open, and if a Hub Group is eligible to be formed, there will be a “Hub Group” section with a button titled “Create a Hub Group”. Note: If you have a hub that supports Z-Wave devices (such as the SmartThings V3 hub), it's recommended that you set it as the primary hub in your Hub Group. Z-Wave devices cannot connect to a Hub Group if the primary hub doesn't support Z-Wave. How to Edit SmartThings Hub Groups In Hub Manager you can also change the primary hub for a Hub Group, and add or remove secondary hubs from a Hub Group. There are several ways to access the Hub Manager when a Hub Group already exists: Select (⋮) More Options in the “Favorites” page and select “Manage Hubs”. Then select (⋮) More Options again and tap “Edit a Hub Group”. You can also click on one of the hub icons from the favorites screen or the devices screen where the hub is located. The hub’s device card will open, and there will be a “Hub Group” section showing all of the hubs in the current Hub Group. Click the Settings wheel in the upper right corner of this section to open the Hub Manager. In the Hub Manager, you can change a secondary hub to a primary hub, remove a selected secondary hub from a Hub Group, or add another secondary hub. How to Enable Hub Backup and Set Preferred Hub The Hub Backup feature is enabled by default when a Hub Group is created, in “Auto Hub Backup” mode, and does not need to be enabled by the user: When a primary hub goes offline, the user will receive a notification that the hub is offline, and will be able to perform diagnostics. If the primary hub is still offline after ten minutes, and a secondary “backup” hub is online, devices and automations will automatically move to a “backup” hub with no intervention needed from the user. A user can disable Auto Hub Backup if they do not want devices and automations to automatically move to a backup hub when their primary hub is offline for more than ten minutes. If Auto Hub Backup is disabled, Hub Backup becomes “user-guided”, and the user has the ability to accept or reject the transfer to the secondary hub when they are notified. Users can do this from the Hub Manager: Select (⋮) More Options from the “Manage Hubs” screen. Then select “Auto Hub Backup” and toggle to “Off”. This will make Hub Backup user-guided. The “preferred hub” is the hub that will become the primary hub anytime it comes online and “Auto Hub Backup” is enabled, such as after a secondary hub has taken over primary hub duty. A user can change their preferred hub by first manually changing their primary hub, and making sure that “Preferred hub” is enabled in Hub Manager. To select “Preferred Hub”: Select (⋮) More Options from the “Manage Hubs” screen. Then select “Preferred hub”. Note: the Hub Backup feature refers to transferring devices and routines to backup hubs and does not refer to the process of periodically backing up hub and device data to the SmartThings Cloud. Periodically backing up hub and device data to the SmartThings cloud occurs automatically and does not require that a hub be part of a Hub Group. How to Permanently Replace A Hub Announced in 2023, the Hub Replace feature allows you to replace or upgrade your existing hub with another hub. When you replace a hub, all devices and routines on your original hub will be transferred to the replacement hub. The Hub Replace feature is similar to changing primary and secondary hubs with the Hub Backup feature, but there are some differences. Hub Replace removes the original hub from the location after replacement, and if possible, factory resets the original hub. Hub Replace is separate from Hub Groups and Hub Backup and cannot be used with hubs that are part of a Hub Group. To replace a hub that is in a Hub Group, the original and destination hubs should be removed from the Hub Group. Hub Replace provides an upgrade path for some older hubs that are not supported by Hub Groups, such as Samsung Connect Home, SmartThings Wi-Fi, and Samsung SmartThings Hub 2015 (Hub v2). Hub Replace can be initiated a couple of ways. To replace a hub, you need another hub in the same location that has no devices connected to it and is not part of a Hub Group. From the Manage Hubs screen, select (⋮) More Options and tap “Replace Hub”. You can also click on one of the hub icons from the favorites screen or the devices screen where the hub is located. The hub’s device card will open. select (⋮) More Options and tap “Replace Hub”. Building for the Future At SmartThings, we are committed to continually enhancing our platform’s key features, providing users with greater reliability, performance, and confidence in their smart home systems. Our goal is to support users in starting, growing, and enjoying their smart homes from day one and well into the future. Ready to take your smart home to the next level and unlock the full potential of your SmartThings ecosystem? Thanks to Hub Everywhere, you can start creating your Hub Group today. For more information, read SmartThings Hub Groups and Hub Backup FAQs here.

Partner Spotlight

November 8, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Tuya on Building a Smarter Tomorrow

How can we make your life easier? That's the question driving the smart solutions that SmartThings and our partners, like Tuya, deliver every day. Tuya is a leading cloud platform service provider that works with and for developers to create the devices that make our lives smarter. Users can control these Tuya-enabled devices seamlessly using the SmartThings app. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with Tuya to discuss our partnership, the future of AI technology, how their solutions work with SmartThings, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. The Highlights SmartThings: Why is our partnership so significant? Tuya: Our collaboration stands out for several key reasons: Seamless Interoperability: Together, we're breaking down barriers with Matter protocol integration, offering a seamless smart home experience across Tuya and SmartThings ecosystems. Expanded Consumer Choice: Customers can gain access to a wider range of smart home solutions, blending the SmartThings app with the versatility of Tuya-enabled devices. Simplified Control: Customers experience the ultimate convenience with a single app to manage their entire smart home ecosystem. But the most important aspect is that we both share a vision for a smarter tomorrow, where technology seamlessly enhances our lives. That is what we are working towards as we continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions for a more comfortable, convenient, and sustainable future. SmartThings: That’s very well said! We’re eager to see how our collaboration unfolds. Speaking of progress, congratulations are in order! It is Tuya’s 10th anniversary this year. Reflecting on the past 10 years, what are some of your most significant accomplishments? Tuya: Reflecting on Tuya's decade of innovation, we've achieved important milestones in three key areas: Firstly, we've upgraded our developer platform, developed Cube AI & AI Energy Saving Dashboard, refreshed Smart Commercial SaaS, and introduced Home & Building Energy Management Systems. These endeavors have bolstered our portfolio and pushed the boundaries of smart technology. Secondly, our thriving developer community and global partnerships have accelerated smart industry growth. Integration with Matter applications, alongside collaborations like SmartThings, has enhanced user convenience and fostered intelligent, eco-friendly experiences. Thirdly, we’ve achieved quarterly profit in Q2 2023 and Non-GAAP profitability in Q1 of this year, which underscores our resilient growth and commitment to sustainable success. Looking ahead, we're integrating generative AI into our offerings to enable global developers, while revolutionizing user interactions. Confident in our leadership, we'll continue delivering value to clients and users. SmartThings: Tell us more about your developer solutions and how they work! Tuya: We offer a cutting-edge cloud developer platform, with extensive development tools and support for swift, efficient smart device and application creation. Customers can leverage devices as connectivity nodes to create differentiated smart solutions to enhance products, optimize user experiences, and boost commercial success. For device connectivity, we support mainstream protocols across industries (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter) and mainstream ecosystem platforms especially Samsung SmartThings, enabling seamless integration. Moreover, we support more than 2,800 device categories, allowing developers to customize products for their business needs. For customers seeking all-in-one integrated solutions, we provide comprehensive support for various vertical application scenarios, facilitating one-stop deployment through software-hardware synergy. For those who prefer private deployment, our Cube Cloud solution caters to enterprise-level Cloud-edge-end privatization, enabling exclusive smart management systems tailored to client requirements. Our full conversation with Tuya SmartThings: Hey, Tuya! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. For those who are new to your brand, what is Tuya? Tuya: Hey, SmartThings! Thanks for having us. Tuya Inc. (NYSE: TUYA; HKEX: 2391) is a global leading cloud platform service provider with a mission to build a smart solutions developer ecosystem that enables everything to be smart. Tuya has pioneered a purpose-built cloud developer platform with cloud and generative AI capabilities that delivers a full suite of offerings, including Platform-as-a-Service, or PaaS, Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, and smart solutions for developers of smart device, commercial applications, and industries. Through its cloud developer platform, Tuya has activated a vibrant global developer community of brands, OEMs, AI Agents, system integrators, and independent software vendors to collectively strive for a smart solutions ecosystem embodying the principles of green and low-carbon, security, high-efficiency, agility, and openness. SmartThings: Why is our partnership so significant? Tuya: Our collaboration stands out for several key reasons: Seamless Interoperability: Together, we're breaking down barriers with Matter protocol integration, offering a seamless smart home experience across Tuya and SmartThings ecosystems. Expanded Consumer Choice: Gain access to a wider range of smart home solutions, blending the SmartThings app with the versatility of Tuya-enabled devices. Simplified Control: Experience the ultimate convenience with a single app to manage the entire smart home ecosystem. But the most important aspect is that we both share a vision for a smarter tomorrow, where technology seamlessly enhances our lives. That is what we are working towards as we continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions for a more comfortable, convenient, and sustainable future. SmartThings: That’s very well said! We’re eager to see how our collaboration unfolds. Speaking of progress, congratulations are in order! It is Tuya’s 10th anniversary this year. Reflecting on the past 10 years, what are some of the most significant accomplishments? Tuya: Reflecting on Tuya's decade of innovation, we've achieved important milestones in three key areas: Firstly, we've upgraded our developer platform, developed Cube AI & AI Energy Saving Dashboard, refreshed Smart Commercial SaaS, and introduced Home & Building Energy Management Systems. These endeavors have bolstered our portfolio and pushed the boundaries of smart technology. Secondly, our thriving developer community and global partnerships have accelerated smart industry growth. Integration with Matter applications, alongside collaborations like SmartThings, have enhanced user convenience and fostered intelligent, eco-friendly experiences. Thirdly, we’ve achieved quarterly profit in Q2 2023 and Non-GAAP profitability in Q1 of this year, which underscores our resilient growth and commitment to sustainable success. Looking ahead, we're integrating generative AI into our offerings to enable global developers, while revolutionizing user interactions. Confident in our leadership, we'll continue delivering value to clients and users. SmartThings: Tell us more about your developer solutions and Tuya-enabled devices and how they work! Tuya: We offer a cutting-edge cloud developer platform, with extensive development tools and support for swift, efficient smart device and application creation. Customers can leverage devices as connectivity nodes to create differentiated smart solutions to enhance products, optimize user experiences, and boost commercial success. For device connectivity, we support mainstream protocols across industries (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter) and mainstream ecosystem platforms especially Samsung SmartThings, enabling seamless integration. Moreover, we support more than 2,800 device categories, allowing developers to customize products for their business needs. For customers seeking all-in-one integrated solutions, we provide comprehensive support for various vertical application scenarios, facilitating one-stop deployment through software-hardware synergy. For those who prefer private deployment, our Cube Cloud solution caters to enterprise-level Cloud-edge-end privatization, enabling exclusive smart management systems tailored to client requirements. Given this, why are developers so important for the IoT market? SmartThings: Developers are essential to building and launching user-friendly IoT products that make life more enjoyable, productive, and sustainable for consumers and businesses. Helping developers build these products and bring them to market is very important, and we applaud the work Tuya has done for their IoT Developer community. At SmartThings, we also work very closely with our developer community, as their partnership and feedback are vital to how SmartThings functions and how integrations work now and in the future. Additionally, we’ve heavily invested in our Developer Center to help our diverse device partners succeed, integrate with SmartThings, and reach users worldwide. Our Developer Center offers a range of tools, including: A Getting Started Wizard, Documentation, and Code Samples. A no-code Edge Driver builder and SmartThings Command Line Interface for development. A Certification Console featuring a new Test Suite and product management tools so developers can quickly submit their devices to integrate with SmartThings, such as Certification by Similarity and Product Cloning. New post-certification analytics to track product usage and options for users to buy products directly from our partners. We are here to support our developers every step of the way and are grateful for our partnerships. SmartThings: How does/will AI play a role in the future? Tuya: AI will play a pivotal role in shaping the future by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, improving decision-making, addressing global challenges, and transforming industries like healthcare, transportation, and education. For instance, in energy-saving scenarios, our Cube AI analyzes real-time consumption to generate optimal strategies, offering cutting-edge AI technology and product value. Its application potential spans diverse smart scenarios, addressing issues like energy conservation and management in industrial, commercial, and household settings. Additionally, we create AI development tools for global developers, including the AI Developer Kit integrating large language models and platforms for efficient development, operation, and commercialization. AI Analyst, a practical solution for brand customers, also provides valuable insights and assistance. Looking ahead, we will continue to embrace AI and implement AI in different scenarios, expanding our offerings to cover safety, plant breeding, environmental management, healthcare, pet companionship, and more. SmartThings: That was very informative! Thank you to our partners at Tuya for chatting with us today! Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and drop a note in the comments. Tuya: Thank you for having us, SmartThings!

SmartThings Updates

Smartthings Updates

November 12, 2024

FAQ: SmartThings Hub Groups and Hub Backup Features

This FAQ provides essential information about the SmartThings Hub Groups and Hub Backup features, including compatibility, functionality, and troubleshooting. For more detailed insights, visit our blog here. Which Samsung/SmartThings hubs support Hub Groups and Hub Backup? Aeotec Smart Home Hub, Samsung SmartThings Hub 2018 (Hub v3), SmartThings Station, Samsung Smart TVs*, Family Hub refrigerators*, Samsung Smart Monitors*, Samsung Soundbar * Hub Groups and Hub Backup currently only support models with Thread/Zigbee radios built-in. Models that require Zigbee/Thread radio dongles are not supported, even if a dongle is installed. What happens if a primary hub is more capable than the secondary hub, specifically if the primary hub supports Z-Wave devices and the secondary “backup” hub does not? If “Auto Hub Backup” is enabled in Hub Manager, and SmartThings determines that the best available secondary hub is one that is less capable than the primary hub, the devices and routines will still be automatically transferred to the secondary hub, and Z-Wave devices will be offline. If “Auto Hub Backup” is disabled when the primary hub goes offline, the user will be prompted and given a choice to change their primary hub selection to one of the secondary hubs. They will be told about the limitations of the candidate secondary hub before they confirm the change. If they choose to proceed, then the Z-Wave devices will be offline. If a less-capable secondary hub is made into a primary hub, and the original primary hub comes online (now secondary), will it automatically reclaim its primary status, and if not, will its capabilities enhance the Hub Group as a secondary hub? If "Auto Hub Backup" and "Preferred Hub" were both set prior to the original primary hub going offline, then it will reclaim primary status automatically when it comes back online, and all previous device connections will be restored. If "Preferred Hub" was not enabled, then the original primary hub will not automatically reclaim its primary status when it comes back online. The user would need to manually make the original primary hub the primary hub again using Hub Manager. Until the user makes the change manually, the hub will remain secondary. As a secondary hub, its advanced capabilities will not enhance the Hub Group, as connectivity and device capacity of a Hub Group are determined by the primary hub’s capabilities. To regain the original primary hub’s capabilities, the user would need to manually make their original primary hub the primary hub again, and their Z-Wave devices would be restored. The user always has control over which hub is their primary hub with Hub Manager. How soon after the primary hub goes offline will the transfer of devices and routines to the backup hub take place? At initial launch, the transfer will take place ten minutes after the primary hub goes offline. We may continue to optimize this number in future releases. Does this Hub Backup feature replace the “Hub Replace” feature, or affect it in any way? Hub Backup will not replace the Hub Replace feature or change it. Hub Replace is intended to help users permanently transfer their devices and routines to a new hub when the user wants to upgrade their hub or their hub no longer functions. Hub Backup is a feature that is limited to hubs in a Hub Group, while Hub Replace can be used with hubs that are not part of a Hub Group. If I have multiple secondary hubs, is there a way for me to choose the best hub that can be promoted as a primary? How can I make that determination? The user cannot choose which secondary hub will become primary if the primary hub goes offline. The best possible secondary hub is determined automatically based on device/protocol support and other technical considerations. Is there anything that is permanently changed when the user allows a hub change via Hub Backup? Nothing is permanently changed or lost. Records of hub state are preserved across primary hub transitions. How many Hub Groups can be in one location? A location can only have one Hub Group at a time.

Smartthings Updates

November 12, 2024

SmartThings Hubs Now Work Together as a Team

Smartthings Updates

November 12, 2024

Making the Home Better Connected With Major SmartThings Updates

Partner Spotlight

Partner Spotlight

November 8, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Tuya on Building a Smarter Tomorrow

Partner Spotlight

November 4, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Sapphire Connected Communities Bring Smart Home Solutions to Apartment Residents

You don’t need to own a house to enjoy the perks of a smart home—your apartment can be one, too! Whether renting, owning, or managing a property, you can experience seamless, connected living with the right technology. That’s where SmartThings and our partner, Sapphire Connected Communities, come in. Sapphire Connected Communities is an enterprise software company that has built the first multifamily smart apartment solution on our SmartThings Pro B2B development platform. Together, SmartThings and Sapphire are redefining apartment living. Residents can enjoy all the features in the SmartThings app, and property managers will benefit from an all-in-one solution that boosts convenience, efficiency, and peace of mind for everyone. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with Sapphire to discuss our partnership, how their solutions work with SmartThings, our impact on sustainability in the smart home, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. The Highlights SmartThings: What is one of the benefits of integrating with Sapphire? Sapphire: It’s important to note that most platforms are very limited in what the resident experience can be, and if they buy devices, chances are they can’t use them at the next place they move to. With SmartThings, if a renter is living in one SmartThings community and moving to another, it’s a very seamless experience of bringing their own devices with them to continue the connected living experience. As technology changes, residents have the flexibility to add what’s important to them, leaving multifamily owners to focus on more permanent fixtures that don’t walk away and can also generate revenue. You will never move into any community needing access to a door lock, a thermostat, and a light fixture. SmartThings: What are some of the benefits of the Sapphire platform, and why should property teams or owners adopt your technology? Sapphire: We are the future of true planning, and here is one of our favorite examples! Traditionally, when appliances have issues, properties wait for those to be reported via work order. Depending on that particular resident's awareness or even priority, there could be a delay in when the issue started and when it was reported. By the time there’s a visible issue with an appliance, there could be a good chance of it being in a worse state than had it been reported sooner. Appliance Diagnostics via Sapphire now gives properties the chance to be proactive versus reactive. Alerts can be managed through the Sapphire dashboard, letting the team know what the issue is and how to fix it, reducing the time spent troubleshooting while improving customer satisfaction. SmartThings: What are your thoughts on how a partnership like Sapphire and SmartThings push for the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives multifamily owners are striving to attain? Sapphire: Sapphire makes this possible through an enterprise-level solution, where bulk unit control comes into play. For example, in a 300-unit community, where 30% of the property is vacant. How efficient is it to send a team member out to check and change the thermostats on 90 units, especially during a hot summer day? Now, with this technology, all 90 units can have the thermostats controlled with one press of a button or even adjusted based on scheduled automation. Our full conversation with Sapphire SmartThings: Hey, Sapphire! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. For those who are new to your brand, what is Sapphire and what is your approach to Smart Apartment Technology? Sapphire: Hey, SmartThings! Thanks for having us. At Sapphire Connected Communities, our approach is to provide an experience for Property Management teams and Residents that is different from what they’re used to today. With our unique partnership with SmartThings, Residents can truly customize their smart homes with popular consumer products like Samsung TVs, speakers, indoor cameras, Robot Vacuum cleaners, and many more. The Resident experience is no different than SmartThings' consumer experience, as you would traditionally see with a single-family homeowner. On the property management side, our aim is to provide enterprise smart home software that gives property management teams both the tools to manage and deploy SmartThings at scale. SmartThings: How does our partnership benefit Multi-Dwelling Unit owners and operators? Sapphire: The partnership makes sense when we’re aiming for reliability, longevity, and stability in the industry. Proptech can be a very volatile industry, so partnering with an organization like Samsung and SmartThings means we can offer multifamily owners and operators peace of mind. The combination of Samsung’s established reputation, vast resources, and commitment to innovation bodes well for enduring success and global impact, and we are really able to leverage your consumer strength and global reach on the platform. Samsung and SmartThings are here to stay! For Sapphire users who may not be as familiar with you, could you elaborate on what makes the SmartThings platform different from any other IoT platform in the multifamily space today? SmartThings: Our ecosystem is a big part of it. SmartThings has one of the biggest ecosystems out there, offering 6,000+ compatible devices. Through our partnership with companies like Sapphire, we can offer residents in smart apartments an enhanced connected living experience. So, what is one of the benefits of integrating Sapphire? Sapphire: It’s important to note that most platforms are very limited in what the resident experience can be and if they buy devices, chances are they can’t use them at the next place they move to. With SmartThings, if a renter is living in one SmartThings community and moving to another, it’s a very seamless experience of bringing their own devices with them to continue the connected living experience. As technology changes, residents have the flexibility to add what’s important to them, leaving multifamily owners to focus on more permanent fixtures that don’t walk away and can also generate revenue. You will never move into any community needing access to a door lock, a thermostat, and a light fixture. SmartThings: What are some of the benefits of the Sapphire platform, and why should property teams or owners adopt your technology? Sapphire: We are the future of true planning, and here is one of our favorite examples! Traditionally, when appliances have issues, properties wait for those to be reported via work order. Depending on that particular resident's awareness or even priority, there could be a delay in when the issue started and when it was reported. By the time there’s a visible issue with an appliance, there could be a good chance of it being in a worse state had it been reported sooner. Appliance Diagnostics via Sapphire now gives properties the chance to be proactive versus reactive. Alerts can be managed through the Sapphire dashboard, letting the team know what the issue is and how to fix it, reducing the time spent troubleshooting while improving customer satisfaction. SmartThings: That sounds like a win-win for everyone! The future of the smart home is simplifying routines and making sure everything works together. Can you tell us a bit more about resident support, what does it look like when residents are trying to connect their own devices via the SmartThings app? Sapphire: One of the reasons why we also love partnering with SmartThings is because of how easy they make this process. The process is designed to be very straight, with clear instructions and automatic detection of many devices, all from within the SmartThings app. It’s easy and user-friendly. From a support standpoint, residents are offered an expanded level of support, where they can go through Sapphire for help or use SmartThings support for assistance via text, phone call, or email. There is also online content available for those who like to figure it out. Switching gears a bit, how can a partnership like Sapphire and SmartThings push for the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives multifamily owners are striving to attain? SmartThings: SmartThings enables users to monitor and control energy usage in their homes by intelligently managing devices, such as smart thermostats, lighting, and appliances. This can lead to reduced energy consumption, lower utility bills, and a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with environmental sustainability goals. And with our Works With SmartThings program, we add partners to our ecosystem that also provide solutions that promote energy-efficient homes and residences. What are your thoughts on this? Sapphire: Sapphire also makes this possible through an enterprise-level solution, where bulk unit control comes into play. For example, in a 300-unit community, where 30% of the property is vacant. How efficient is it to send a team member out to check and change the thermostats on 90 units, especially during a hot summer day? Now, with technology, all 90 units can have the thermostats controlled with one press of a button or even adjusted based on scheduled automation. SmartThings: What does the future look like for Sapphire with this partnership? Sapphire: The future of IoT alone looks promising, with continued growth and innovation. IoT used to be a luxury commodity in multifamily, and now it’s become an industry standard for working more efficiently. Overall, the future of the Sapphire and SmartThings partnership is likely to be characterized by continued innovation, improved integration experiences for property teams, and expansion outside of the unit as it evolves to meet the changing needs and expectations of users in the smart home market. With Sapphire and SmartThings, we feel we can finally deliver on a truly connected community! SmartThings: Are there any limitations to the Sapphire and SmartThings experience? Sapphire: Yes, Sapphire and SmartThings generally require the property to deploy a managed Wi-Fi network or community IoT network in order to provide a community-wide Connected Living experience. Given the expansive device integrations and extensible nature of the resident’s IoT network, the hubs need to be able to communicate seamlessly with the smart devices. A managed WiFi network ensures stable and reliable connectivity. SmartThings: That was very informative. Thank you to our partners at Sapphire for chatting with us today! It was great learning more about your technology and the solutions you provide to consumers, property teams, and owners. Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and drop a note in the comments. Sapphire: Thank you for having us SmartThings! Don’t miss our next partner Q&A! Follow us on LinkedIn and X, and to learn more about our partners, visit partners.smartthings.com/supported-devices.

Partner Spotlight

October 10, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and ABB on Delivering Simple Smart Home Solutions

What do SmartThings and our partners have in common? We use automation to create a more sustainable, efficient future. For us and our partner ABB, this future starts at the smart home. Since 1891, ABB has led the way in developing technological innovations in automation, and now offers you solutions connecting devices and appliances, regardless of brand. Users can control their devices from different manufacturers via the ABB-free@home® automation app, which is integrated into SmartThings seamlessly and sustainably with SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in our app. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with ABB to discuss our partnership, how their products work with SmartThings, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. The Highlights SmartThings: Walk us through a case study or example of how your products work with SmartThings. ABB: Absolutely! In practice, in a residential apartment setting, residents can now holistically manage appliances and devices from different manufacturers via a single home automation app for seamless and complete home management. It’s effortless. It can all be done from intuitive wall panels, laptops, or smartphones. The first-of-a-kind integrated system covers residents’ every need: lighting, blinds, door entry, energy flows, EV charging, smart sockets, appliances, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), home entertainment, and load management. SmartThings: Sustainability is a very important topic for both SmartThings and Samsung through SmartThings Energy and programs like Flex Connect. How can residents take their energy consumption into their own hands with ABB? ABB: Homeowners want to save energy, but they also need ease of use when it comes to technology to simply enjoy the best of seamless, connected, and holistic modern living. That means addressing their needs at the most basic level with one manufacturer-agnostic interface. Together with SmartThings, we help residents make a home their own in terms of customization and convenience, but also energy management. Through the central management of solar energy generated, battery storage, and EV chargers, energy consumption can be optimized accordingly – thus improving their impact on the planet. SmartThings: We are all about keeping it simple! And speaking of devices talking to each other, how does ABB-free@home® work with Matter? And why does Matter matter? ABB: People are adopting smart home technology at lightning speed. To keep pace, we, as industry players, need to consider things like standardization. ABB is a leading player in the cross-manufacturer connection standard Matter and the network protocol Thread. Boasting support from industry giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, Matter, for example, signifies a crucial step towards ‘interoperability,’ allowing diverse devices and systems to communicate effortlessly. ABB acquired Eve Systems in June of last year. Based on Matter, Eve Energy, Eve Motion, and Eve Door & Window devices are already part of the SmartThings ecosystem. SmartThings: A big misconception is the time and energy it takes to get started and set up a smart home. Is all this new technology reserved for people in newer or very modern homes? ABB: No! ABB’s retrofitting abilities are propelling us, along with SmartThings, into a new era where residents can manage energy and their surroundings with unprecedented convenience and safety. The strategic move to integrate Matter and Thread smart buildings technology through Eve’s plug-in, interoperable devices enables the rapid transformation of existing homes into smart spaces. This extends the benefits of cutting-edge technology and flawless integration to a broader spectrum of customers than ever before. And we have a question for you! How do new or existing SmartThings users go about setting up an ABB-free@home®? Our full conversation with ABB SmartThings: Hey, ABB! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. For those who are new to your brand, what is ABB, and what makes ABB home automation products different? ABB: Hey, SmartThings! Thank you for having us! We win awards for elements like design and innovation, but what is most relevant here is ABB’s commitment to open systems and interoperable technology. In other words, smart home technology that can “interconnect.” This is so important because homeowners want smart home solutions that link all the devices in their homes, whether they are from Samsung, ABB, or other brands. SmartThings: How do your products work with SmartThings? ABB: The ABB-free@home® automation app is already integrated into the SmartThings platform, so the vision of all home devices and appliances talking to each other through one centralized system to effortlessly save money, time, energy, and hassle is now becoming a reality. SmartThings: Walk us through a case study or example of how that works. ABB: Absolutely! In practice, in a residential apartment setting, residents can now holistically manage appliances and devices from different manufacturers via a single home automation app for seamless and complete home management. It’s effortless. It can all be done from intuitive wall panels, laptops, or smartphones. The first-of-a-kind integrated system covers residents’ every need: lighting, blinds, door entry, energy flows, EV charging, smart sockets, appliances, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), home entertainment, and load management. SmartThings: Sustainability is a very important topic for both SmartThings and Samsung through SmartThings Energy and programs like Flex Connect. How can residents take their energy consumption into their own hands with ABB? ABB: Homeowners want to save energy, but they also need ease of use when it comes to technology to simply enjoy the best of seamless, connected, and holistic modern living. That means addressing their needs at the most basic level with one manufacturer-agnostic interface. Together with SmartThings, we help residents make a home their own in terms of customization and convenience, but also energy management. Through the central management of solar energy generated, battery storage, and EV chargers, energy consumption can be optimized accordingly – thus improving their impact on the planet. SmartThings: We are all about keeping it simple! And speaking of devices talking to each other, how does ABB-free@home® work with Matter? And why does Matter matter? ABB: People are adopting smart home technology at lightning speed. To keep pace, we, as industry players, need to consider things like standardization. ABB is a leading player in the cross-manufacturer connection standard Matter and the network protocol Thread. Boasting support from industry giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, Matter, for example, signifies a crucial step towards ‘interoperability,’ allowing diverse devices and systems to communicate effortlessly. ABB acquired Eve Systems in June of last year. Based on Matter, Eve Energy, Eve Motion, and Eve Door & Window devices are already part of the SmartThings ecosystem. SmartThings: A big misconception is the time and energy it takes to get started and set up a smart home. Is all this new technology reserved for people in newer or very modern homes? ABB: No! ABB’s retrofitting abilities are propelling us, along with SmartThings, into a new era where residents can manage energy and their surroundings with unprecedented convenience and safety. The strategic move to integrate Matter and Thread smart buildings technology through Eve’s plug-in, interoperable devices enable the rapid transformation of existing homes into smart spaces. This extends the benefits of cutting-edge technology and flawless integration to a broader spectrum of customers than ever before. And we have a question for you! How do new or existing SmartThings users go about setting up an ABB-free@home®? SmartThings: That is a great question to close out our Q&A! It’s a 7-step process! Open the SmartThings App Click on ‘devices’ and on ‘+’ Click on ‘add’ under ‘partner devices’ Select 'ABB’ Login to ABB myBuildings portal Success, click on ‘Done’ See all your ABB-free@home® devices and functions in Samsung’s SmartThings App You can also watch this video on how to set up ABB-free@home® in the SmartThings app. Well, that was very informative. Thank you to our partners at ABB for chatting with us today! It was great learning more about your technology and the solutions you provide to consumers and property teams and owners. Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and make sure you are following @SmartThings and @ABB on our social media channels, and stay tuned for a blog post recapping this Q&A. ABB: Thank you for having us, SmartThings!

SmartThings Energy

Smartthings Energy

August 27, 2024

Save Energy and Get Rewarded with SmartThings Energy

Chances are, you’ve been experiencing some of the hottest weeks of the summer and are thinking about how to better manage your home’s energy use to save money on your utility bills. The good news is that SmartThings Energy offers many features that allow you to take advantage of automation to become a more efficient energy consumer. Flex Connect, available in California and New York, is one example of how SmartThings Energy’s AI Energy Mode feature automates user devices to help them save energy. With Flex Connect, Earn a Reward for Helping Out the Grid The recently released Flex Connect program, a demand response initiative powered by SmartThings Energy, offers residents in New York and California a smarter way to save energy. By signing up for the Flex Connect program and connecting your smart home devices to the SmartThings app, you can earn a reward for helping the energy grid. All it takes is entering your zip code to see if you qualify to get started. How SmartThings Flex Connect Works SmartThings offers functionality that enables eligible users to connect Samsung home appliances, TVs, and other compatible devices through Flex Connect. During peak energy demand periods, these devices automatically reduce their energy usage. For example, when electricity demand surges due to extreme weather, your eligible smart home devices will consume less energy during these peak times. This reduced strain on the grid helps balance the supply and demand of energy. Residents of California and New York now have even more ways to save energy while earning rewards effortlessly with Flex Connect. Click here to check your eligibility and enroll. How All SmartThings Users Can Take Advantage of SmartThings Energy Energy savings and the ability to earn rewards aren’t just available for New York and California residents. If you have Samsung home appliances, TVs1, and other compatible devices connected to SmartThings, you can take advantage of SmartThings Energy features available today, such as automation and energy usage data. Automations built into SmartThings Energy elevate energy-saving features to a whole new level. For instance, AI Energy Mode is an exciting feature that learns your routines and adjusts your device’s energy usage in real-time. It uses machine learning to detect when your energy use exceeds the targets you’ve set in SmartThings Energy and provides insights into why this happens, so you don’t have to lift a finger (and likely won’t notice the difference). With SmartThings Energy, you can also view energy usage data for all of your paired devices and learn how to optimize energy use in your home. For example, if you forget to turn off a light when you leave for work, you can be notified and turn it off right from the app. Thanks to Electricity Maps’ partnership with SmartThings, you can even see how your energy usage translates to carbon emissions. All of this helps you take control of your energy management. Even More Ways to Have Fun and Save Energy With SmartThings Built into the latest release, you can now enjoy gamification elements, including earning Energy Stamps, for taking steps towards saving energy with the SmartThings AI Energy Mode feature. Once you’ve leveraged your supported devices in the app, you can earn one Energy Stamp per day for every 400Wh of electricity saved using AI Energy Mode. Each Energy Stamp can be converted into 20 Samsung Rewards Points. You can earn up to one Energy Stamp per day, totaling 365 stamps over the course of a year, which can accumulate to 7,300 Samsung Rewards Points. These points can be used to purchase products on Samsung.com. This is all just scratching the surface of what SmartThings Energy can do for you. #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store. Activate SmartThings Energy and start living a more sustainable life.

Smartthings Energy

July 30, 2024

Electricity Maps and Samsung continue to drive carbon emission awareness together within SmartThings Energy

Did you know that the carbon emissions from using or charging your smart home devices vary throughout the day? This means that using electricity when there is more renewable energy on your local grid — for example, on sunny days when there is a lot of solar power generated — can lower your carbon intensity and resulting emissions. Samsung SmartThings continues its partnership with Electricity Maps, established in 2023, to provide you with even more ways to access comprehensive data within SmartThings Energy to inform your energy usage. The integration helps you be more informed about your carbon emissions and enables you to actively reduce your impact based on these fluctuations and your energy habits. About Electricity Maps Electricity Maps is a fast-growing Danish start-up that plays a pivotal role in the global transition to a decarbonized electricity system by organizing and mapping real-time electricity data to compute and forecast carbon intensity for over 200 zones worldwide. Their API provides individuals and businesses with more data to make more informed decisions about electricity consumption. How it Works Electricity Maps offers an API that enables you to access historical and forecasted data on the electricity mix and carbon intensity in a specific region through SmartThings Energy. This allows you to monitor your carbon emissions based on your home's electricity usage. You can benefit from real-time information on your electricity usage, including details on energy sources and carbon intensity. Moreover, you can actively leverage this data to reduce your carbon footprint by utilizing features like Optimal Charging and AI Energy Mode, both available in SmartThings. The Benefits of the Partnership With the increase in consumers choosing more sustainable smart home purchases, SmartThings aims to offer eco-friendly solutions in the market that empower you to make more sustainable decisions and enable you to have a real impact by becoming a more informed energy consumer. Moreover, the integration with the Electricity Maps API has expanded the capabilities of SmartThings, linking appliance energy savings data to carbon emission reduction data. This integration allowed for the launch of pivotal features within the SmartThings app, like Optimal Charging and Optimal Scheduling. The AI Energy Mode can be set to activate based on the captured carbon intensity data, focusing on reducing carbon emissions. With these intelligent features, SmartThings leads the way in providing you with the information and tools to better manage your carbon footprint. View Your Carbon Emissions Data and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Electricity Maps provides global coverage, which means carbon emission insights and carbon-optimized charging and scheduling features are available to all users in the SmartThings app. To view your carbon intensity data click here, or download the SmartThings app (if you haven’t yet)—available on iOS and Android—and navigate to SmartThings Energy. In SmartThings, select the Life tab at the bottom of the screen to navigate to SmartThings Energy. Scroll down to the ‘Carbon emissions aware’ card, where you can access unique information on your carbon emissions. Ensure your Samsung appliances and smart devices are connected to obtain the most comprehensive data on your energy usage. Samsung and Electricity Maps, Making a True Impact “The carbon monitoring function using Electricity Maps is a unique solution where everyday appliance energy usage is directly linked to its carbon footprint,” said Barry Holland, Director of Product & Business Development at SmartThings. “We are excited to continue partnering with organizations focused on providing tools to inform consumers and enable them to reduce their carbon footprint.” “Electricity Maps is proud to continue working with Samsung SmartThings, paving the way to more sustainable homes,” said Olivier Corradi, CEO and Founder of Electricity Maps. “We're excited that our API’s carbon-intensity insights enable consumers to be more aware of their carbon emissions and to reduce their carbon footprint on a daily basis. The collective impact of millions of users optimizing their home devices will be a significant step toward decarbonizing the electricity grid.”

Smartthings Energy

July 16, 2024

How to Integrate Tesla Solar and Powerwall Products with SmartThings Energy

Tesla and Samsung have partnered to integrate Tesla Solar and Powerwall products into the SmartThings Energy platform. Tesla Energy customers can now manage their home’s energy usage, storage, and production all from the convenience of the SmartThings app. The SmartThings app can now display information about energy production, storage and usage for Tesla products such as Tesla Powerwall, Tesla Solar Inverter and the Tesla Wall Connector. Why Integrate Your Tesla Products with SmartThings Energy? Here’s how this integration helps you to be a more conscious energy consumer: Increase energy insights: By enabling Tesla notifications in the SmartThings app, you can receive home energy notifications from the Tesla app on your Samsung TV, providing more access to your solar production, backup duration, and home energy usage. Smart energy management: Tesla notifications on your Samsung devices provide up-to-date information on energy consumption in your home, helping you make smarter decisions to extend your backup duration, such as turning off high-energy usage devices like dishwashers or dryers. Better prepare for power outages: During extreme weather, Tesla Powerwall owners can receive alerts through their connected Samsung TVs and mobile devices, in addition to the Tesla app. When a power outage occurs, the Powerwall automatically detects the outage and instantly powers your home with stored backup energy. If a storm is forecasted, Storm Watch automatically charges your Powerwall to ensure you’re prepared. How to Connect Tesla in the SmartThings App Now that you understand the benefits, connect Tesla in the SmartThings app: Download and Install the Apps Ensure you have the latest versions of both the Tesla and SmartThings apps. Sign in or create accounts in both apps. Connect Your Tesla Site(s) to SmartThings Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Life” icon. Navigate to the SmartThings Energy card. Select the the ⋮ symbol at the top right of your screen. Select “Link to Partners”. Click on the Tesla Energy icon and connect the accounts. Take Full Advantage of the Tesla Integration Through Notifications and Automations Here’s how you can make the most of the notification and automation features available: Enable notifications. Turn on Storm Watch and Off-Grid notifications in the SmartThings app to receive notifications in your app or on your Samsung TV if a storm is forecasted for your area or if your site(s) go off-grid. These notifications can help you make better decisions on when to avoid using high-energy devices like dishwashers or dryers. Here’s how to set up notifications: Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Menu” icon. Tap “Notifications”, and click on the ⋮ symbol to expand your Notifications options. Tap “Notification settings”. Set your listed Tesla products to “On”. Set up automations. Create automation rules for your Tesla products, such as reducing power when the Powerwall switches to Off-Grid mode or prioritizing charging for maximum backup power. These automations help manage the energy consumption in your home. Here’s how to set up automations: Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Life” icon. Navigate to the SmartThings Energy card. Tap the “Save” icon at the bottom of the screen. Follow the steps in Battery Backup Mode to set up your automation rules. Note: Notification and automation features require a stable internet connection. Ready to Take Control Of Your Home’s Energy? Get started today by integrating your Tesla Solar and Powerwall products with SmartThings Energy and experience the future of smart home energy management. Connecting and automating your Tesla Solar and Powerwall products with SmartThings helps you maintain a sustainable and efficient home and reduce your carbon footprint. Click here to navigate to the Tesla integration within the SmartThings app. Share your experience using the Tesla and SmartThings integration. #DoTheSmartThings

Matter

Matter

June 28, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and AiDot on How Matter Creates a More Seamless Smart Home

SmartThings and Samsung believe devices should work together no matter the brand, and that’s where Matter comes into play. Matter ensures your smart home devices speak to each other, offering interoperability between devices and more flexibility. With SmartThings, our ecosystem of innovative, consumer-friendly partners like AiDot, and the power of Matter, connecting compatible devices and systems to create a seamlessly integrated home is easier than flipping a light switch. AiDot, a leader in the IoT industry and trusted by millions of users, is a smart home platform that connects devices across brands and ecosystems. They offer a wide range of smart devices, including Matter-certified plugs, bulbs, switches, and more. Now, users can control AiDot’s products conveniently with the SmartThings app and make their smart home unified, more efficient, and fun. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with AiDot to discuss our partnership, how their products work with SmartThings, Matter, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. The Highlights SmartThings: Since SmartThings and Matter devices from AiDot are compatible with one another, can you explain how to connect AiDot Matter products in the SmartThings app. AiDot: Matter streamlines the device connection process for users. Before adding a device, ensure you have a supported Matter Controller. If a Matter device is in pairing mode, you may receive a notification in the SmartThings app, prompting you to begin the onboarding process. Alternatively, you can manually add an AiDot Matter device by opening the SmartThings app, selecting Add Device, and following the prompts to scan the barcode or enter the setup code. Once connected, you can customize settings such as the hub, room, and network, ensuring a seamless integration into your smart home ecosystem. Connecting AiDot Matter products to SmartThings is super straightforward. SmartThings: For someone who is new to the smart home space, what’s the first thing you would tell them about AiDot and Matter. AiDot: That's a tough question; there are so many great things about it! To sum it up, AiDot Matter delivers a number of benefits to smart home users including simple setup, unified device management, flexibility of hubs and voice assistants, and an open ecosystem that allows device selection based on features and pricing rather than compatibility. These advantages combine to create a seamless and consumer-friendly smart home experience with enhanced interoperability. SmartThings: For those looking to explore your products for the first time, what would you recommend as the best use for AiDot in their daily routines? AiDot: We’re glad you asked! One of our favorite things is the endless unique automations that we hear our users have created. A great one that comes to mind is using a security camera’s motion detection as a trigger, and having that make lights inside and outside the home red to scare away intruders and warn the homeowner someone is in their yard. A similar effect can be achieved with our water leak detectors, so in addition to a phone notification and an audible alarm, the lights in a room will turn blue if a leak has occurred. These particular ideas came from a hearing-impaired user within our community, and we just loved the ingenuity of them. Our full conversation with AiDot SmartThings: Hey, AiDot Smart Home! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. First up, for those who are new to your brand, what is AiDot? AiDot: Hey, SmartThings! Thanks for having us and a great first question. AiDot is a smart home platform that connects devices across brands and ecosystems. We also use Matter, a connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (formerly known as the Zigbee Alliance), but we know SmartThings knows all about the power of Matter. SmartThings: We do! Matter is an important component of our ecosystem. AiDot: Ours too! For anyone new to Matter, it establishes a cohesive smart home ecosystem, enabling devices from various manufacturers to operate seamlessly together, irrespective of their brand or communication protocol. Learn more about it at aidot.com/matter. Can you help explain SmartThings to our followers who might not be familiar with the platform? SmartThings: Of course! SmartThings is Samsung's smart home platform that enables users to connect, control, and automate a wide range of compatible devices through a unified mobile app. We are a comprehensive smart home solution, allowing connection and control of products from outside brands, too! For example, we are compatible with Matter devices from AiDot. Since SmartThings and Matter devices from AiDot are compatible with one another, can you explain how to connect AiDot Matter products in the SmartThings app. AiDot: Matter streamlines the device connection process for users. Before adding a device, ensure you have a supported Matter Controller. If a Matter device is in pairing mode, you may receive a notification in the SmartThings app, prompting you to begin the onboarding process. Alternatively, you can manually add an AiDot Matter device by opening the SmartThings app, selecting Add Device, and following the prompts to scan the barcode or enter the setup code. Once connected, you can customize settings such as the hub, room, and network, ensuring a seamless integration into your smart home ecosystem. Connecting AiDot Matter products to SmartThings is super straightforward. SmartThings: And, to make the process as simple as possible, you can #DoTheSmartThings and use the SmartThings app to scan the QR code on the Matter products. This process seamlessly integrates the AiDot Matter devices into the SmartThings ecosystem without any complicated setup. For users who are new to Matter, how can they identify a Matter product? AiDot: Identifying Matter products is easy! Just look for the official Matter logo on the product, its packaging, and its marketing materials. If it’s there, it’s Matter. If an AiDot Matter user hasn’t set up their SmartThings Station yet, how can they get up and running? SmartThings: It’s simple to get started and the SmartThings Station offers so much for any smart home. After downloading the app, navigate to the Devices tab, tap Add (+), then By brand > Samsung > Smart Home Hub. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your hub to your Wi-Fi network. Once set up, use the app to add and configure your other smart home devices (and your AiDot Matter devices, too!) Speaking of getting set up, can you explain how users can set up their AiDot Matter Smart Home? AiDot: Establishing a Matter-enabled smart home couldn’t be simpler. Begin by selecting Matter-compatible devices from leading brands such as Samsung, SmartThings, AiDot, and many more. The setup process is simple, as Matter provides easy-to-follow instructions to connect devices to your home network. Download the app for your smart home ecosystem of choice. Then simply add your Matter devices to the app, where they will seamlessly integrate into your smart home setup. Come to think of it, we should probably talk about Matter Controllers. SmartThings: Yes! A Matter Controller is a multipurpose hub incorporated into other devices. AiDot: Exactly! It can be baked into other devices, removing the need for a dedicated single-purpose hub device. Some devices you already have may be, or have the capability to become, a Matter Controller. Examples include smart speakers, Wi-Fi routers, digital displays, home assistant devices, entertainment devices and more. Even the SmartThings wireless phone charger can serve as a Matter Controller. You may even see this technology introduced to the likes of fridges and TVs. And if you happen to have multiple Matter Controllers in your home, that will only serve to make your network even more powerful as they’ll communicate and work together rather than competing to control your smart home devices. SmartThings It’s great to see how much AiDot has incorporated Matter into its products. For someone who is new to the smart home space, what’s the first thing you would tell them about AiDot and Matter. AiDot: That's a tough question; there are so many great things about it! To sum it up, AiDot Matter delivers a number of benefits to smart home users including simple setup, unified device management, flexibility of hubs and voice assistants, and an open ecosystem that allows device selection based on features and pricing rather than compatibility. These advantages combine to create a seamless and consumer-friendly smart home experience with enhanced interoperability. Since you mentioned automations, what kind of routines can SmartThings help users create? SmartThings: Dare we say… all of them? With the SmartThings app, you can automate just about anything. Whether it’s controlling your home's lighting, monitoring your pets, or setting up wellness routines, just like AiDot and Matter, we have you covered. For those looking to explore your products for the first time, what would you recommend as the best use for AiDot in their daily routines? AiDot: We’re glad you asked! One of our favorite things is the endless unique automations that we hear our users have created. A great one that comes to mind is using a security camera’s motion detection as a trigger and having that make lights inside and outside the home red to scare away intruders and warn the homeowner someone is in their yard. A similar effect can be achieved with our water leak detectors, so in addition to a phone notification and an audible alarm, the lights in a room will turn blue if a leak has occurred. These particular ideas came from a hearing-impaired user within our community, and we just loved the ingenuity of them. Of course, these are just a few examples of the many custom solutions users can create with the AiDot app and AiDot products, and we encourage new users to give it a try themselves. SmartThings: Well, that was very informative! Thank you to our partners at AiDot Smart Home for chatting with us today! It was great learning about AiDot and how you're using Matter-enabled devices to enhance the smart home experience. Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and send us a message! AiDot: Thank you for having us SmartThings!

Matter

October 5, 2023

Unlocking Seamless Connectivity: SmartThings Offers Support for Third-Party Matter Bridges

In the ever-evolving world of smart home technology, compatibility and connectivity are paramount. The ability to seamlessly integrate different devices and platforms is what makes the smart home experience truly smart. At SmartThings, we constantly work to expand our ecosystem and ensure users have the flexibility to choose, connect, and control a wide range of devices. Today, we are thrilled to take that commitment a major step further by announcing support for third-party Matter bridges. What Are Matter Bridges? Matter bridges are a critical piece of the puzzle when creating a unified and interoperable smart home ecosystem. They serve as connectors, allowing device makers with non-Matter devices (such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, and proprietary connectivity) to seamlessly integrate with Matter ecosystems. These bridges represent non-Matter devices on a Matter network, and vice versa, acting as translators to facilitate communication between devices on either side of the bridge. Many popular brands have announced their hubs — including millions already in homes today — will act as Matter bridges, allowing SmartThings users to connect hundreds of new devices. A Seamless Integration Experience One of the key benefits of SmartThings' support for third-party Matter bridges is the effortless onboarding process. When users commission Matter bridges to SmartThings, we take care of the heavy lifting by automatically onboarding all bridged devices, ensuring a hassle-free setup. We also continually synchronize with the bridge, so that if a user adds or removes a bridged device in your app, SmartThings responds immediately, updating to reflect those changes. This real-time synchronization ensures users always have an accurate view of their smart home. Expanding Reach with Works With SmartThings We know developers are eager to reach a broader audience. That's why we're excited to announce support for bridges is also coming to the Works With SmartThings program. This expansion creates new opportunities for developers to promote bridges and bridge-connected devices to millions of Samsung users. With Works With SmartThings, manufacturers can promote their products to a vast and diverse community of users who are looking to start and grow their smart homes. It's a powerful platform for showcasing devices and driving adoption among users who value compatibility and interoperability with their Samsung devices and SmartThings-powered homes. SmartThings' support for third-party Matter bridges gives users more choices in the devices they enable their smart home with and gives developers more choices in how they integrate those devices. We're proud to continue leading interoperability and openness in the smart home industry and invite developers to join us on our journey. Interested in learning more? Contact us at partners@smartthings.com.

Matter

April 3, 2023

Everything You Need to Know About Matter

Matter, a new industry protocol created by hundreds of leading and innovative companies (including Samsung), marks a new era for the smart home and its users. With a mission of simplifying the connected living experience, Matter makes it easy for users to buy, set up, and control smart devices. And while the new protocol is stirring a lot of buzz, many are wondering “how does it work?” Our Marketing and Strategy Consultant, Daniel Moneta, who is also one of the leads of the Matter working group, let us in on everything you need to know about Matter (and how you’re likely already prepared to use it!). Thanks for chatting with us, Daniel. Can you explain Matter in one sentence or less to someone who's never heard of it? Sure! Matter is an open-standard, common language for smart home devices that makes it way easier to get them set up and working together. What devices connect with Matter? Matter supports many of today’s most common smart home categories, with more to come in the future! Look for lights, plugs, blinds, door locks, thermostats, sensors, and other devices that have the Matter logo. That’s exciting! Is Matter a new kind of radio technology? Nope. Matter is an “application layer”, which means it can run over technologies already in your homes or devices — like Wi-Fi or Thread. Think of it like this: you and I can both have the same radio, but unless we speak the same language, we can’t really do anything interesting together. Technologies like Wi-Fi and Thread let you connect your devices, and Matter is the language they speak to each other. What is Thread, and how is it related to Matter? Matter devices can talk to each other over Ethernet (wired network), Wi-Fi, a new technology called Thread, or any combination. Thread is a new, wireless networking technology. Like Wi-Fi, Thread is based on Internet Protocol (or IP), so Thread devices join your home network just like any other kind of device. Thread is low power, and uses mesh networking to extend devices’ range, so it’s commonly found in battery-powered devices or ones that might be placed farther away from your home router. In order to join your network, Thread devices connect through a “Thread Border Router”, a kind of bridge device that joins your Thread network to your Wi-Fi or wired network (just like an access point or router does for Wi-Fi). Thread Border Routers from any brand can be used to connect Thread devices, and many are built-in to devices including smart home hubs, smart speakers, and lighting. The latest SmartThings Hub, SmartThings Station, Samsung TVs, and Samsung Family Hub refrigerators have Thread Border Routers built in. How will Matter impact the lives of people who use multiple smart home devices on a daily basis? Matter makes smart home devices more responsive and reliable because devices connect to each other directly within the home instead of going through the cloud. And its simple, standard setup process makes it easy and consistent to add new devices to your home, no matter the brand.Does Matter need to be installed or will existing smart home devices be updated to support the protocol? Odds are you’re already set for Matter! Major smart home platforms — including SmartThings of course — have already updated most of their hubs (or products with hubs in them like TVs or smart speakers) to support new Matter devices. As for the devices, a number of existing smart home devices can be updated to Matter. Check with your favorite brands to find out how. But don’t worry: your existing non-Matter devices won’t stop working, and you can still control and automate Matter and non-Matter devices together in SmartThings. Tell us more about smart home hubs. Do users need a hub to use Matter? Yes, but you probably already have one! Matter devices connect locally, so you need a controller (or “hub”) from your favorite smart home platform to connect to and control devices when you’re at home, or away. Most smart home platforms — including SmartThings of course — have already updated devices like hubs, TVs, and smart speakers to be Matter controllers for their users. Thank you, Daniel. Visit our website to learn more about Matter and how it works with SmartThings.

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