SmartThings

Feel Safe at Home in the New Year with Arlo

January 8, 2021 / SmartThings / No Comments

In our ongoing quest to enhance our ecosystem of compatible devices, we are pleased to announce a new version of the Works With SmartThings integration, built in partnership with Arlo. The integration rounds out our portfolio of home security products by letting you connect to any Arlo device¹, including their latest security products.

Beyond adding support for more Arlo devices, this new integration enhances the overall user experience with improved stability and reduced latency so you can get faster access to your camera recordings or video doorbell feed. Users will still be able to enjoy the same features they most commonly use, such as turning all Arlo cameras on/off when arming/disarming the SmartThings Home Monitor, or using the Arlo camera sound sensor to trigger a siren or get lights to turn on, and more.

The process is simple to integrate Arlo with SmartThings, and users will be able to leverage powerful Automations and Scenes to create rich personalized connected home experiences. For example, keeping an eye on the nursery from your Samsung TV with an Arlo Baby camera, or connecting your Arlo video doorbell to answer the door from your Samsung Family Hub fridge.

During this new normal where we spend a lot more time at home, we are committed to bringing smart functionality and capabilities everywhere you want it to be, and partnerships like Arlo help us meet your needs of personalizing your home — whether it’s giving you peace of mind that your home is protected inside and out, or bringing you the convenience of knowing exactly when your packages arrive.

¹ Arlo Go and Audio Doorbell are not supported by the integration.

Samsung SmartThings and Google Join Forces to Enhance Smart Homes With Nest Integration

December 8, 2020 / SmartThings / No Comments

New integration allows SmartThings users to control Nest devices

Today we announced a partnership with Google, bringing the company’s portfolio of Nest products into SmartThings, one of the largest IoT ecosystems. Through the integration, Google Nest devices, including thermostats, cameras and doorbells, will be “Works With SmartThings” (WWST) certified, allowing users to seamlessly control their smart homes through SmartThings.

For the first time, SmartThings users will be able to adjust a Nest thermostat, view live camera feeds from outdoor Nest cameras and hear who is at the door with Nest Hello, all through their smart devices. SmartThings users can also incorporate Nest devices into their current WWST-certified devices to create Scenes and automated experiences, controlling the functions with simple voice commands or through the SmartThings app. Soon, users will be able to stream right from their Nest devices directly to their Samsung TV or Family Hub fridge.

SmartThings technology powers endless possibilities for enhancing everyday life. Scenes can seamlessly adjust the lighting. Automations can signal to a Nest thermostat when it’s time to adjust the temperature or if a window is open. It can set the optimal temperature for a baby’s nap or even a home alone pet, taking into consideration details such as its fur length. Users can also activate outdoor and indoor lights ahead of arriving home.

“SmartThings technology continues to enhance and improve the way we experience smart living. We’re pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Google and integrate Nest into our portfolio to offer users more ways to control and automate their home,” said Ralf Elias, Global Vice President IoT / Business Development & Partnerships at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to creating a universal system where all smart home devices can work cohesively together.”

Following the recent SmartThings IoT integration with Mercedes-Benz, this partnership with Google represents the next step in SmartThings’ commitment to technology innovation and to working with third parties to create a universal smart home standard. The company is focused on simplifying smart technology development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers.

SmartThings technology will be available on Google Nest products starting in January 2021.

Try This: Control your Samsung TV with Hey Google

December 4, 2020 / SmartThings / No Comments

No remote? No problem! For those times when you can’t find the remote, SmartThings lets you control your Samsung TV with your voice using a smart speaker or smartphone. Just start with “Hey Google”.

Turn the TV on or off

Have you ever fallen asleep whilst watching TV and woken up with no clue where the remote is? With SmartThings, you can turn the TV off by simply saying “Hey Google, turn off the TV”*.

Pause and Play video or music from your favourite TV apps

Perfect for when the doorbell goes or your phone rings. Just say “Hey Google, pause on TV”* and when you’re ready to resume, just say “Hey Google, play on TV”*.

Other things to try

∙ “Hey Google, mute the TV”*

∙ “Hey Google, is the TV on?”*

∙ “Hey Google, run Movie Mode”* (or any other scenes you have created within the SmartThings app)

To get started, add your TV to SmartThings by following these steps in the SmartThings app on your Android or iOS phone or tablet:

1) Hit the ‘+’ icon

2) Highlight ‘By device type’

3) Select ‘TV’

4) Select ‘Samsung’

5) Select ‘TV’ again and follow the on-screen instructions

Then, link your Google Account to SmartThings by following these steps in the Home app

Google Cast is recast as Google Home companion app - CNET

1) Hit the ‘+’ icon

2) Select ‘Set up new device’

3) Select ‘Works with Google’

4) Scroll down to “SmartThings” and select it (or use the search bar to type “SmartThings”)

5) Sign in to SmartThings using your Samsung account (this will auto-complete if you’re already signing in to SmartThings on your device)

6) Authorise Google accessing locations, devices, and scenes from SmartThings

7) Your accounts will link

8) Your devices, locations, and scenes from SmartThings will now show in the Google Home app

9) Say “Hey Google, turn on the TV”*

Haven’t got a SmartThings account yet?

Download the SmartThings app on your Android or iOS devices now.

*Requires Samsung Smart TV, SmartThings app and compatible voice assistant. Voice assistant must be set up on SmartThings account.
*Use the name of the TV as it appears in your SmartThings app – you can rename it to make things easier! For example, if your TV is named ‘Living Room TV’ then say “Hey Google, turn off the Living Room TV”.
*Google and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC.

SmartThings Find – Keeping Everything You Care About Accounted For

November 26, 2020 / SmartThings / No Comments

Tech of today no longer works alone. Smart applications have become engrossed in multitudes of different devices, including watches, phones, headphones, televisions, and more. They all work together, so if one of them is missing, users can lose out on features.

We’re thrilled to introduce SmartThings Find, a tool used to locate missing Galaxy devices, all through the SmartThings app! Leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies to locate smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds – even down to each individual bud – SmartThings Find is the tool you’ve been waiting for.

SmartThings users will complete a brief registration process to link their devices together. Through the SmartThings app, all devices are organized in one place, making it as simple as tapping the device you are looking for to bring up information on its location.

What if your device lost its battery power, or is in a location where there is no service like a basement? With SmartThings Find, offline no longer means “offline”! SmartThings users now have the option to use their device to securely locate an offline one. When a device has been “offline” (either dead, or in a dead zone) for 30 minutes, a BLE signal is released that can then be found by other devices as well. But – it does not just stop with friends. If you report a device missing, ANY Galaxy tablet or phone can opt in to help you.

In addition, SmartThings Find offers features like the ability to ping a device when searching for it in a room or specific area, and also integrates map directions so you can get the precise location. There is also an AR feature for nearby searching, which will display different color hues as you are getting closer to the device, perfect for being stuck in hard to reach or see places. SmartThings Find is available for all Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and other devices running Android 8 or later.

“Hey Mercedes!” Welcome to one of the World’s Largest IoT Ecosystems

November 2, 2020 / SmartThings / No Comments

Our ecosystem continues to grow and we’re pleased to share that SmartThings will power Mercedes-Benz’s latest smart home function, giving drivers and passengers unprecedented ability to use their vehicle as a control center for the home. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the first native in-car voice assistant system to be integrated into a smart home platform. We’re thrilled to offer drivers, as well as passengers, remote connectivity to thousands of intelligent devices made by hundreds of brands supported by SmartThings’ open IoT ecosystem.

Recognizing the evolution of IoT, this announcement is the first of several showcasing our strategy to take a technology-first approach, to bring smart functionality and capabilities everywhere consumers want to be. Car-to-home experiences represent yet another step in creating a universal smart home standard while simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers.

By unlocking the vast power of the SmartThings platform, Mercedes-Benz customers will enjoy first-of-their-kind capabilities when they leave their house or are heading home after a long day at work. Drivers and passengers can seamlessly connect and control many aspects of their home environment including lights, locks, thermostats, electric outlets, garage door openers, sensors, and home security systems, all through Mercedes-Benz’s integrated voice assistant. Using natural language, such as “Hey Mercedes, did I forget to turn off my lights at home?” to “Hey Mercedes, is anyone at home?”, the MBUX Voice Assistant minimizes distraction, allowing drivers to focus on the road in front of them and know that everything is alright at home. Additionally, passengers in the rear seats can also enjoy the full scope of the smart home integration and interact with their smart homes.

SmartThings unlocks endless possibilities of connectivity from within the car and while inside the home. From monitoring an elderly loved one to being alerted about a grocery item when you’re driving by a store, SmartThings’ integration with Mercedes-Benz adds to the robust features of the luxury car. Bridging the gap between car and home, SmartThings offers the reliability that drivers trust. SmartThings technology will be available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, starting with the S-Class, beginning in 2021.