The SmartThings Blog

New features, same innovative SmartThings. Recently, SmartThings announced a suite of updates and exciting partner announcements, including: Shareable routines Enhanced hub functionality Matter 1.2 support New Device Control  SmartThings Energy enhancements These new advancements will make managing smart devices and routines even easier, reflecting SmartThings’ dedication to streamlining the connected home experience and removing the obstacles associated with smart home living.  Here’s a closer look at what’s new with SmartThings.   Unlock Smart Home Sharing with Shareable Routines Another leap forward in connecting your devices and the people you love, Shareable Routines is a new feature within the SmartThings platform that allows you to share your daily routines with others. This means you can easily pass on your automated sequences of tasks or actions to guests or friends, enhancing the overall usability and accessibility of these routines.  For instance, you may have a wake-up routine where your lights gradually turn on, your coffee maker starts brewing, and your favorite morning playlist starts playing. With Shareable Routines, you can easily share this routine with your friends or family who want to set up the same routine at their house. They can activate (and customize) the shared routine by simply scanning a QR code of the routine, and SmartThings will take care of the rest.    Enhanced Smart Home Reliability with New Hub Features Building on advancements like Hub Groups and Hub Replace, SmartThings has introduced the new Hub Manager in the SmartThings app. With this app, you can configure your smart home using a central hub management interface. Create Hub Groups with various types of SmartThings Hubs and enable Hub Backup. To make your smart home more reliable and resilient. Hub Backup prevents disruptions to daily routines by swiftly switching to a secondary hub if the primary hub fails. All device configurations, network settings, and routines transfer easily.   Matter 1.2 Certification and Support The SmartThings platform has been updated and certified to the Matter 1.2 SDK, bringing a host of enhancements to the SmartThings ecosystem. SmartThings seamlessly integrates with partner devices that support Matter 1.2*, including refrigerators, room air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry washing machines, robotic vacuums, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, air quality sensors, air purifiers, and fans. Updates to Matter support streamline developer integration, ensuring a smoother experience in line with core spec updates. Follow the SmartThings blog to stay updated on the latest around Matter support.      Device Control Plus Galaxy users will appreciate the convenience of the new Device Control feature, which allows easier access, navigation, and control of their smart home devices without interrupting their lives.  Here’s why. Device cards are bigger to show you more controls for home devices, and you can select devices to create your own home control page. Then, you will have greater ability to control the smart home device, including adjusting TV volume or light brightness. On phones and tablets, Device Control can be used right through the quick panel, similar to how users access controls for Bluetooth, WiFi, airplane mode, etc.    SmartThings Energy Enhancements Saving energy is fun with SmartThings Energy’s new features. With the latest update, you can now experience gamified elements including Energy Level and Activity badges. When saving energy effectively through AI Energy Mode, you will receive Samsung Rewards Points that can be used to purchase products on Samsung.com. Earn one Energy Stamp per day for every 400Wh of electricity saved with AI Energy Mode, and each Energy Stamp can be converted to 20 Samsung Rewards Points.   SmartThings UX Enhancements One important change in this update is that you can more easily find and quickly control your smart device. We’ve restructured the device tab to display rooms as top-level tabs, so you can effortlessly navigate and efficiently manage devices within each room. Furthermore, an enhanced device search not only helps you find your devices more quickly but also offers search suggestions based on the types of devices you own. In addition, each device plugin provides visualizations that highlight the key features and states of each device. For example, in the case of the smart door lock, a highlighted color indicates whether it is locked or unlocked. Also, if the device’s battery level drops below 15%, an alert appears at the top of the screen, ensuring that essential information is effectively communicated. These updates simplify and improve the management of smart home devices. Mark Benson, Head of SmartThings U.S., said, “This expansion of platform offerings is another step toward creating more seamless routines and providing greater accessibility for smart home device users.We take immense pride in this update and are excited to see how families will use it to enhance their everyday lives.” Enhance your everyday life and download the SmartThings app and activate SmartThings Energy today!   Read more about our new updates HERE.   *Support for Matter 1.2 indicates that SmartThings can manage and operate new device types that are part of the Matter 1.2 standard. It also means that all devices supporting control through Matter 1.2 can be linked together. 

Summer is heating up on both coasts and when the temperature rises, so does energy consumption across the US. Flex Connect, a demand response program powered by SmartThings Energy, can help ease the load. California and New York residents can now enroll in the program through SmartThings Energy and leverage their connected devices to participate. The program enhances our smart home solutions by giving users more options to conserve energy and promote eco-friendly living in their communities. Let’s take a closer look at what’s possible with SmartThings Energy Flex Connect.  Expanded Energy Management Solutions - If you live in New York and California you can now leverage your supported devices (e.g., thermostats, washer and dryers, refrigerators, etc.) in SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in the SmartThings app, to optimize your energy usage at times of peak energy demand. This automates your devices to participate in an event when a Demand Response (DR) signal is received, for example, when electricity demand surges due to extreme weather. Reduced demand on the energy grid helps balance the supply and demand of energy and stabilize the grid. Flexibility, Choice, and Control - With the flexibility to automate a large variety of loads such as plugs, AC, lights, TVs, and appliances in Flex Connect, you have even greater choice and control over your energy management. Plus, you can adjust your participation selections at any time. For example, you can schedule your dishwasher or washing machine to operate only during periods of lower demand. With these automation capabilities, you can effortlessly support the grid, without lifting a finger or sacrificing your comfort.. Save Energy and Earn Rewards - By taking advantage of the Flex Connect program, your devices will automatically participate in energy events, modestly adjusting your energy usage when it matters most. You’ll get energy usage data and alerts to help you scout out potential areas to save energy, and can earn Samsung Rewards for your participation.  Check Your Eligibility for Flex Connect and Enroll If you haven’t already, download the SmartThings app and activate SmartThings Energy in the Life tab to explore all that it offers! When you navigate to SmartThings Energy and click on Activity, you will see Flex Connect listed on the screen. Click on Flex Connect and scroll down to click Sign Up. If you have not provided your zip code in Settings, you’ll be prompted to provide it. If your address is eligible for Flex Connect, follow the prompt to get connected to the service. Once you have signed up, you can select the devices you want to participate. It’s quick and easy! More About SmartThings Energy SmartThings Energy boasts features that allow you to check your home energy use from anywhere and reduce your carbon footprint (and energy bills(!). You can check the energy usage of your paired devices and learn how to optimize their usage with automation features and energy-saving tips. If you forget to turn off a light when you leave for work, for example, you’ll be notified and can turn it off right from the app. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Mode is an innovative feature within SmartThings Energy that can save you up to 70% on energy consumption for top Samsung products (e.g., refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) and cycles by learning your routines and adjusting your devices accordingly. AI Energy Mode also uses machine learning to recognize when your energy use exceeds the targets you've set in SmartThings Energy, notifying you and explaining why that happened. “At Samsung, we are all about helping users obtain greater flexibility and convenience with their smart home devices,” said Chanwoo Park, EVP, Samsung Electronics. “SmartThings Energy empowers our users with tools and information to monitor their energy consumption and save money, and launching Flex Connect is a crucial step in creating a greener and smarter world. Customers can not only conserve energy with Flex Connect, but also earn Samsung Rewards for participating.”   Are you ready to join us in building a more sustainable future right from your smart home? Click on the link to see if you’re eligible and Enroll in Flex Connect today.  Android and iOS users click here You can read more about the Flex Connect program here.

In a world where the average home has 16 connected devices, people need simple and easy control otherwise smart home management can become overwhelming. That’s where we step in. Our latest feature makes it even easier for users to manage the entire lifecycle of their Samsung devices. SmartThings has transformed the shopping, device management, and home control functions making connected living even easier than ever before. Device Purchase Tracking From the moment you click "purchase," SmartThings takes the reins, tracking the product from checkout to your front door— all while providing real-time updates on the status of your delivery, enabling users to know exactly when a device is out for delivery, when it's arrived, and even how to set up their devices for optimal performance.  Also, it’s no surprise that device maintenance is often overlooked in the fast-paced world of technology. Say goodbye to unexpected breakdowns and hello to a well-maintained smart home ecosystem. Peace of Mind Once your Samsung device arrives, SmartThings simplifies the setup process; as soon as your product is turned on, your Samsung TV or Galaxy will register the new device and request to add it to your smart home’s ecosystem. You can even register multiple devices at once, saving valuable time and ensuring that every device in your home is seamlessly connected. Once your Samsung device arrives, SmartThings simplifies the setup process; as soon asyour product is turned on, your Samsung TV or Galaxy devices will register the new device and request to add it to your smart home’s ecosystem. You can even register multiple devices at once, saving valuable time and ensuring that every device in your home is seamlessly connected. Smart Living Assistant Beyond device registration, this new feature provides an in-depth understanding of the devices in your home, and the SmartThings app becomes your personal assistant by suggesting behaviors to improve your daily routines, making your smart living experience truly intelligent and personalized. Watching your favorite series? SmartThings will ask if you’d like for it to turn off your lights or close the blinds for an elevated viewing experience. SmartThings ensures that your devices continue to deliver peak performance, enhancing their longevity and maximizing your investment. From purchase tracking and device maintenance to device registration and intelligent living suggestions, this innovative solution is set to redefine the way we interact with our smart devices. Embrace the future of smart living with SmartThings and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a seamlessly connected, intelligent home.

Daylight Savings Time is here (yay for more sunlight!), but if springing forward has knocked your sleep schedule off track, we can help with that. With just the tap of a button, SmartThings will prepare you for the best night’s sleep—and show you how to make your routine easier for everyone.  Read on to learn how you can #DoTheSmartThings and enjoy restful nights ahead.  What is Our Circadian Rhythm? While one hour may seem inconsequential, the time shift can disrupt our circadian rhythm—also known as our internal clock. Humans and other mammals adhere to circadian rhythms, natural 24-hour cycles governing sleep, appetite, and mood. These rhythms hinge on exposure to light, synchronizing with natural light-darkness cycles for optimal sleep and health. Sudden time changes can disrupt our sleep, causing circadian misalignment and sleep debt–the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep regularly–harming overall health. Sleep, after all, helps your body and brain repair, restore, and re-energize.  Fortunately, with the SmartThings Station, our app, and your connected smart devices, you can transition smoothly into the time change, keeping your sleep routine consistent and uninterrupted. Set Your Sleep Routine with SmartThings SmartThings enables you to automate your home, streamlining your mornings for ease and ensuring peaceful nights. First, connect your smart devices to the SmartThings Station so you can control your sleep-related devices with a simple touch of a button. Then, in the SmartThings app, you can create custom routines designed to streamline your sleep adjustment process by setting up your Works with SmartThings-certified devices to react and respond automatically. For example, you can create a night routine where one tap turns off the Philips Hue lights, closes the Somfy blinds, adjusts the Nest thermostat, locks your doors, switches on your security system or outdoor Aqara motion sensors, and turns on any night lights if you have little ones. You can also create a morning routine that opens your blinds, turns on your Samsung TV or your alarm, and starts brewing coffee right from bed! Programming these routines to occur at the same time every day will help you stick to your sleep schedule. Want to know more about our Works with SmartThings-certified partners? Check them out at partners.smartthings.com/supported-devices.  You’ve created your bedtime routine. Now, you might be wondering, how do I determine my ideal amount of sleep? Samsung Sleep Coach While it’s commonly recommended that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep nightly, each person actually has a unique sleep pattern or preference shaped by genetics (this is crucial for aligning with our body clocks). To help you better understand your sleep preference, Samsung partnered with the National Sleep Foundation to analyze your health with advanced and actionable sleep insights. Samsung Galaxy Watch6 This series of watches features the Sleep Coaching Program, which analyzes your accumulated sleep pattern data and provides you insights like a trainer. The program tracks your progress and offers you tailored advice on how to improve your sleep habits, whether suggesting you meditate before bed or use natural light to wake up.  The SmartThings-integrated watch also incorporates a Sleep Mode, which disables any notifications from your connected devices and dims the screen to avoid disturbing your sleep with light. Sleep Smart As we navigate through the changes brought by Daylight Saving Time, prioritizing our sleep health is crucial. SmartThings and Samsung’s innovative smart home solutions give us greater control over our sleep environment, letting us rest easier and more deeply, and enhancing our overall wellbeing.  So, this week, #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to set your sleep routines for healthier, more restful sleep.

At CES 2024, SmartThings is unveiling its highly anticipated Map View feature, designed to streamline home management by integrating actual floor plans into its interface. This first-of-its-kind innovation elevates smart home control by visually representing devices within the layout of a home – leading to easier and more convenient smart home management. Today, the average U.S. home has 16 connected devices, and that number is increasing rapidly. As the number of connected devices people have in their home increases, so does the effort in managing them. Map View simplifies device management across the smart home. It allows users to see their entire home at a glance, and all the devices in it, right where they are in the real world, whether via mobile or household device. Users can choose to have the Map View feature activated on their TVs or mobiles, granting immediate access to important home status information. This includes real-time monitoring of cameras, temperature, remaining laundry time, and other essential data. It also provides energy usage data so users can manage their energy consumption from a birds eye view. Previously, managing devices required navigating and scrolling to find individual devices. Now, users can easily generate a 3D map populated with all of their devices, reflecting their real positions within the home. Users can also customize by adding furniture, enabling easy device monitoring and control directly from the map interface. Another exciting feature are the new AI characters that users can create in Map View. These characters can mimic the family members and even pets in the home, and provide an intuitive and fun way to monitor your smart living. For example, if your home is too warm, then your AI characters will appear to be sweating. Not only has Map View made managing your smart home easier, but also more delightful too! Anyone can easily create a 3D layout of their home in Map View using AI technology. For homes with internet available floor plans, users can input their address to automatically create their layout. If they only have a physical copy or image of a floor plan, they can simply take a photo of it and SmartThings will automatically convert it to a 3D layout. Users can even sketch their floor plan in the app to generate the layout.   Samsung’s LiDAR enabled devices, including the Jet Bot vacuum or the Ballie AI robot demonstrated at CES 2024, can be used to scan the home, generating a floor plan automatically, and in the case of Ballie, even placing devices in the right position. The Map View, created by mobile phone or tablet, can be used to check or control the status of each space and smart devices with a synchronized Map View across mobile phones, tablets, TVs and refrigerators – enabling easier, more convenient connectedness throughout your entire space and providing users with the same map view experience on all devices. In 2024, Samsung's focus on SmartThings emphasizes a more immersive and user-centered experience, with easier, more intuitive features. With seamless integration of the SmartThings Hub into TVs and soundbars, it’s even easier for users to start and grow their smart home journey, with the need for a separate smart home hub eliminated. Map View makes the smart home even more friendly and more familiar, and is a great tool for both beginners and power users to manage their smart homes. We’re excited to see how users incorporate the feature to create easier, more connected living experiences.  Learn more about Map View at partners.smartthings.com/map-view.

A new option to share your smart life with family, friends, and guests by providing a QR Code Imagine sharing your smart home devices and routines with family, friends, and guests through a simple QR scan; and tailoring their experience based on their preferences. In the evolving landscape of smart home technology, convenience and personalization have become more important than ever. As reliance on smart devices grows, so does the need for seamless integration and effortless control. Today, SmartThings revealed a groundbreaking feature to transform how we interact with our connected environments. Introducing SmartThings Together, a new way to easily share your smart living through QR customization. The introduction of QR codes as a way to easily share access to devices within the SmartThings ecosystem marks a significant step in automating daily chores and at-home tasks. Issuing home control through QR codes offers a new level of flexibility, enabling each member of a household and any guests to control specific devices and create their own routines. SmartThings QR Codes are all about better connecting your devices and the people you love. This is another meaningful step in removing barriers to enter and expanding the access people have to smart home technology.  Tailored Control for Every Family Member The QR codes make it easy to add new family members or caregivers to your home interface, which will allow them to conveniently control relevant smart home devices for a pre-defined duration. This way, your guests can unlock the door, set the thermostat, and make themselves comfortable. Many homes have one person who is the “smart home” tech aficionado, and the rest of the family has to work around their knowledge and expertise. Now, through SmartThings Together, all users can manage the smart home based on their individual needs and preferences.  For example, parents or homeowners may use their smart home to monitor energy use, check that security features are engaged, or to make sure the coffee goes off at the right time in the morning. A child in that same household might only care about control over the entertainment features - this can be granted by the parent through a QR code, allowing their child to record a TV program or play music through a shared speaker.  Simplified and Secure Guest Access and Management SmartThings Together also allows you to securely share the devices and experiences you want, and control who has access to them and when. This makes it much easier to host guests whether you have a friend visiting, or someone staying at your vacation rental for the weekend. Instead of sharing complex access codes or walking guests through arduous setup processes, a quick QR Code scan grants temporary access and control over designated devices and routines. Whether it's adjusting room temperatures, controlling lighting, or accessing entertainment systems, guests can safely and easily navigate and enjoy the smart home experience without a hassle. Effortless Automation and Device Control With SmartThings Together, users can streamline automation and device configuration. Location owners can designate device lists shared to each member of the household. After scanning a QR code, each family member can trigger an allowed, shared routine among those shared devices. For instance, users may activate a "Goodnight" routine, adjusting lights, thermostats, and security settings according to individual preferences for room temperature, night-lighting, background noise, and more.  It also allows for enhanced security. Each QR code is available to one person only, meaning several people could not scan a QR code at the same time. Additionally, the QR codes are only available for five minutes before they regenerate, creating a reduced window of vulnerability.  Whether you’re creating individualized environments for family members, simplifying guest access, or streamlining automation, SmartThings Together makes sharing the smart home experience with everyone in your home easier and more secure. SmartThings’ QR code sharing will revolutionize how everyday people interact with their smart homes and the people around them, setting a new precedent for more intuitive and controlled homes. Read more about SmartThings products and services at partners.smartthings.com.

During CES 2024, SmartThings unveiled innovative features aimed at creating a more immersive TV experience, allowing for enhanced convenience without interrupting content viewing. The living room serves at the center of many households for families to come together, and SmartThings’ latest enhancements create a more connected living room experience, enabling users to effortlessly monitor and manage all of their smart devices conveniently from their TVs. Unlocking Greater Smart Home Control with TV as a Hub With the TV functioning as a SmartThings Hub, your television turns into a seamless control center for all your connected devices. Your TV can now effortlessly detect your smartphone, turning it into an instant remote, eliminating the hassle of searching for multiple controllers. The SmartThings TV Quick Panel is a non-intrusive interface for quick access to core functions via a remote control, bridging the gap between Samsung TV features and comprehensive connectivity, without compromising content viewing. The TV Quick Panel allows users to manage devices, view cameras, and even ring their phone to locate it within their home. Users will be empowered to oversee their entire smart home without diverting attention from their screens. For instance, as you approach your television, it intuitively turns on, presenting not only your home's entertainment, but also critical information about your devices and appliances. From your television, you can view your home’s camera feed, temperature, and remaining time in your laundry cycle, all at a single glance. Creating Next-Level Entertainment Experiences  Now, users can step into their living room and experience seamless connectivity with the cutting-edge Now+ display – automatically syncing with TVs to effortlessly guide users through switching music sources from their Buds to the TV, speaker, or Sound Bar. Moreover, Now+ offers a comprehensive summary of the home, including insights into security cameras and energy consumption. With TV Hue Sync, users can create an immersive viewing experience through the TV by syncing TV content and ambient lighting – bringing movies, TV shows, and games to life Picture yourself watching a thriller where the room comes alive with vibrant colors matching the on-screen animation, or relaxing at the end of your day in a space filled with calming hues. As technology continues to evolve, televisions will become more than a household device - they will serve as a gateway to more connected, immersive, and dynamic experiences for the whole family. From staying informed about your home’s status to enjoying more captivating movie and TV sessions, SmartThings is introducing users to a lifestyle where entertainment and home efficiency easily coexist.     Learn more at partners.smartthings.com.

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