Product Changes for 2017

At SmartThings we’ve always prided ourselves on being open and honest with our community–and sometimes that hurts. To be as transparent as possible, we’d rather tell you the good (and the bad) when we can. With that said, we have several unpleasant announcements:

Migration Tool
In 2014, we announced the SmartThings v2 Hub as the next generation Hub to replace our initial Kickstarter product. At that time, we were hard at work on a “migration tool” to help users who wanted to transition from the original Hub to the newer model. Unfortunately, after several false starts, we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not feasible to reliably transfer settings and devices from the first version Hub to the newer model. With that, we are no longer planning to deliver a Hub v1 to Hub v2 migration tool.

We regret that we can’t deliver on our initial promise, but in order to release a migration tool we needed it to deliver a great experience. We found it would be extremely difficult to automatically exclude and shift devices to the new Hub, and we’re unable to meet the expectations we set. Our goal is to always deliver the best mix of features and customer experience, and we regret that we’re letting some of our most loyal customers down.

Windows Phone App
We also regret to announce that version 1.7.0 of the SmartThings app for Windows Phone will be the last major release for the Windows Phone OS. We are no longer able to provide the desired level of updates and support for this platform and have made the tough decision to discontinue Windows phone development.

Version 1.7.0 now offers support for Windows 10 features. Barring unforeseen issues, this version will continue to function (with Windows Phone 10 Anniversary update). On April 1, 2017 version 1.7.0 will be removed from the Windows app store, and it will no longer be possible to download it and install it onto a new device. We will continue to offer technical support through June 2017 for existing users.

SmartApp Curation
Finally, over the next few months, we will be removing SmartApps from the Marketplace that are no longer updated or supported by their developers. We will notify, where possible, the SmartApp developer beforehand, and help existing SmartApp users find alternatives.

SmartThings did not make any of these decisions lightly, and we understand that we are disappointing some of our users. However, these changes allow us to continue to focus on other products and services to help the whole of our community.

 

Category:
News, SmartThings Updates

Join the conversation! 88 Comments

  1. Thank you for the honest information.
    Do you happen to have any updates on the battery corrosion problem that has recently come to awareness?

    Reply
    • Just curious… would battery corrosion be the fault of improperly sealed batteries more than of a hub design?

      Reply
      • From what I see on the Facebook Smartthings Users Group the battery corrosion issue is with more than one brand of batteries, could happen within 3-4 weeks of a new Hub with new batteries and has affected hundreds of users.

        Reply
  2. The battery issues is a problem.

    Reply
  3. Are you buying back the two hubs I bought? #Windows user.

    Reply
  4. I can appreciate that sometimes hard decisions have to be made. A product that never drops support for old and unmaintained features will stagnate or suffocate. Hopefully this will allow more resources to improve SmartThings overall. Looking forward to any “good news” announcements on that front!

    Reply
  5. Where is this version 1.7 app anyway? 1.6.3.2485 here.

    Reply
  6. How exactly are we supposed to use your product if the apps for our platform are no longer available? Is there a particular reason why you are dropping support for an operating system platform with hundreds of millions of users (Windows 10)? Will you be purchasing the hubs I bought that will become useless thanks to this decision? Or are you expecting that I’ll just go out and spend more money on Android or iOS devices just to use your platform?

    Reply
  7. NNNNOOOOOooooooo ! no more Windows 10 support !!!
    I have been using Smartthings for a couple of years now and all my family is on Windows 10 Mobile devices! All my IT ecosystem is around Windows (Wndows 10 PCs, Xbox (win10 ), Windows 10 mobiles!).
    I don’t buy iThings, far too expensive and limiting for the price.
    I don’t buy Android, major security risk and I don’t like the interface / usability…

    Is this due to the fact that MS has announced that they are going to push hard for IoT with the Home Hub and Cortana Integration ???
    They recently poached a senior IoT director from Cisco to head that product line…?

    Come on Smartthings, don’t push out your current Windows users base!

    Utterly disappointed!

    Reply
  8. Hey SmartThings – I work for Microsoft. Part of the reason I chose you over your competitors was for Windows support.

    I totally get it – It’s a platform that no longer has much support out in the wild, so it’s expensive to keep it up-to-date. HOWEVER, if you will consider open sourcing the SmartThings client for Windows, while I personally do not have any authority to make any kind of partnership with you regarding it, I have many friends and other contacts in the company that would be happy to lend this project their support.

    To be clear, I’m not officially representing Microsoft AT ALL, but I happen to know for a fact that if you were willing to open source it, and include a clear disclaimer that it’s not owned or maintained by SmartThings, there would be support both from Microsoft and from the community to keep this thing alive. Reach out to me – My contact info is easy to find.

    Reply
    • I’m more interested in why they never developed a universal app for Windows. The size of that customer base should easily justify the expense of development.

      Reply
      • There’s a disconnect between the alleged customer base, and the quality of the windows store – the latter is truly awful and people just avoid going in there.

        UWP is a dead platform, since now that WMobile is abandoned by MS, it has no more reason to exist. People don’t care about weak and feature barren mobile apps on Windows desktop, Xbox division doesn’t want UWP junk anywhere near their pristine marketplace, and Hololens is DOA since neither developers nor consumers care.

        SmartThings is doing the right thing focusing their effort where it matters: Android and iOS.

        Reply
        • I am sorry, but I am not sure what you are smoking. If you had use a W10 pc, or an xbox recently, you will see that there are plenty of Universal apps that work great….

          Reply
          • The following smarthome apps are NOT FOUND on Windows10: Samrtthing, Nest, Wemo, MyQ, Wink, Hue, Cree Connected, Arlo, August, Kevo, echobee and the list goes on. Yes, there are some third and fourth party app but support and functionality among those offerings are spotty at best. The Windows10 store is a joke. You would be better off running an android emulator and install app in that. If publishers wanted to get the best bang for the buck, stick to Android and IOS, for all others develop a web interface (P.S. follow Netgear’s Arlo example, two apps and a web login). That would be a win for all users regardless of platform.

        • Neither developers nor consumers care? I think not. Have you seen the news in the past 2 weeks? HP, Dell, Acer and Lenovo just to name a few all have made VR Windows Holographic devices because of HoloLens.
          UWP isn’t a mobile thing. It’s a base for coding One time for multiple devices. And “Junk”….well if you create junk, yeah…it’s junk. If you’re a good developer and make quality content..then guess what? People care! FYI…Halo Wars, Gears of War 4, Killer Instinct, Microsoft Office, Netflix, Facebook……all products of UWP.
          So before you fling poo…..be prepared to have it flung back.

          Reply
    • Sure.. SmartThings will open source their proprietary intellectual property.. just as soon as Microsoft does the same for their abandoned projects.

      How about Microsoft “open source” Kinect? How about they open source windows media center (wmc)? Nah didn’t think so.

      Reply
      • Microsoft has actually provided help to various opensource projects, they’ve also done a lot of closed-source working on FOSS stuff like SQL Server on Linux. From what I understand though, the Kinect related imaging drivers and related ‘spacial recognition’ software was licensed, not developed by Microsoft. As far as I know they don’t have the rights to open source that. Similarly, several parts of WMC is tied to various HDCP and related content copyright provisions which also limits this. I’m sure they’re not trying too hard, but you kind of picked the two projects that microsoft couldn’t opensource even if they wanted to. Might want to use better examples next time.

        Reply
      • Did you bother researching anything before you opened your mouth? https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/kinect/develop https://www.ericsson.com/news/1727445

        Guess you’re one of those people that listen to rumors from your friends and that also don’t do their research!

        Reply
    • If they would at least publish an API, we could write our own better apps. You’re not really missing much with not getting the Android app… it’s been spectacularly bad.

      Reply
  9. This is really a sad news. This is a “no buy” for me.

    Reply
  10. win 10 uwp. k thx bye
    mobile, pc, tablet, and my xbox. make it happen.

    Reply
  11. I am sure glad I read this when I did. I bought the SmartThings hub two weeks ago because there was a Windows Phone app. I maybe understand dropping the app, but at least we should be able to configure/access it via a web interface or via a PC. Without either of those, it is a useless brick that I can’t use.

    Contacting Amazon right now to return it and I’ll find something that can work on a PC or a Windows tablet or on a Windows phone.

    Reply
  12. How about this, SmartThings? Provide a decent mobile browser experience, and keep us Windows 10 Mobile users happy.

    Reply
    • Why when if they had a universal app they get a higher quality experience and the justification to continue support.

      Reply
      • Well, I mean, sure that would be great. And I hope that’s what’s happening here. I’m not going to get too fired up until I see how it goes. Other services have reported over the last year that they’re “dropping support for Windows Phone” only to turn around the very next day and announce support for “Windows 10.” If that happens, I’ll once again be a very happy customer.

        But what boggles my mind is why they don’t just provide a decent web-based UI for folks who don’t have or want an app. That would at least provide a baseline experience that the apps could build upon.

        Reply
        • Web based UIs would take even more work to support. Why do I say this? Because when I create websites I have to validate it against every major browser, screen size, plugins, and versions. With apps, there are 3 platforms and that’s in. Screen sizes are more tightly controlled and in the case of Windows and Android, Flexible. Overall it is easier to validate.

          Reply
  13. I am surprised that SmartThings would end support and not make a UWP app. There are over 300 million devices running Windows 10 and that includes mobile, Xbox, HoloLens, and PC. Is that much of a market saturation too low for SmartThings? I hope the new 1.7 version fixes a lot of issues with the app.

    Reply
    • Actually the number is well over 400 million now.

      Reply
      • And none of them go into the windows store. See the problem?

        It’s that awful.

        Reply
        • Back your words with facts. This is simply untrue.

          Reply
          • Back YOUR words with facts. He’s telling the truth, you’re being a sore-loser fan-boy unable to cope with the harsh reality colliding with your narrow cult-like religion.

          • Fact…I use it, my wife, kids, sister and her family. Hmm….just back my fact. So “None of them us it” is in fact…not a fact. Thank you.

        • All of my extended family that has a Windows 10 computer uses it. My work uses it and I have some businesses that are working to integrated employee installs using it without needing to involve IT.

          Reply
  14. Since you’re discontinuing the WP app do you also want to buy back my hundreds of dollars of SmartThings hardware?

    Disappointed in this news.

    Reply
    • Ask for a cheap android phone instead. less money for them, and a non dead platform for you.

      Reply
      • Windows 10 has 500 million users, and growing. Its hardly a dead platform. My tablet controls my whole house and yard.

        Reply
        • The number of people in that alleged “500 million” that care about metro apps could be counted on one hand.

          Desktop users don’t care about the Windows store.

          Reply
          • Personally, I don’t care whether an app comes from the Windows Store, or from Adobe’s website, or from Piratebay. Why is this even relevant to the conversation?

          • You do realize the majority of Windows 10 devices sold now are not tradition desktops by hybrids with touch. Tradition desktops are in the decline. That’s where modern apps come in. There is also a lot more to modern design than that. Things like not having to deal with a registry, clean uninstalls, single location for installs install of buying from multiple sites with multiple accounts, battery awareness, automatic updates without needing to create infrastructure, analytics to get stability of app without building infrastructure, geographical target without building infrastructure, and the list goes on. Just because you don’t see the benefit doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or others don’t want them.

          • Metro? That’s not even a thing anymore….you’re so ignorant about the ecosystem.

      • Why when my Surface Pro would work great if they properly supported it.

        Reply
    • It takes a lot of gall to waste time and money on a phone platform whose abject failure was utterly predictable, and then act salty when those predictions come true.

      As an ex WP user and ex WP developer, I feel your pain that the ecosystem didn’t live up to everybody’s hopes and dreams. But if you’re looking for a refund, consider asking MSFT, not Samsung.

      Reply
      • What did you develop? I’m sure if it was good content it would’ve been used. Just saying….

        Reply
      • Interesting discussion although often unnecessarily negative and preoccupied with knocking Windows 10 rather than discussing loss of the Smartthings app. I just purchased and installed their system because they had a presence on Windows 10. Now I am thinking about returning it while I still can. This discussion helps in looking at the alternatives. My option could also be to stay with it for a year since their tech support ends in June and see if someone else will pick up support. Their sensors work well and I like the logic rules I can apply and the push notifications which are essential to me. I just learned about Home Remote and installed the basic version. This allows turning components on and off but not rules. Their designer program may provide that but is too complicated in my opinion. My wife has an Ipad and I could use that but prefer to use my Windows Lumina 735 and Asus 8″ tablet.

        Btw, as an aside because of some of the negative points made here, I want to convey that I am quite happy with Windows 10 at this time and have watched it going through growing pains and quite successfully. My perceptions, interests and motivations are different and lead me to different conclusions. I read up on the difficulty a programmer designer is faced with in scaling screen, text, feature sizes between vastly different platforms with very large desktop screens to small phone screens and in between. It is enormously challenging in working out the correct workable scaling factors to successfully implement a universal platform independent windows presentation (I read the technical papers) and that is where MS development spent a lot of time slowing down Windows 10 introduction. I decided to be patient and I began to see how thoroughly MS implemented their strategy with slight improvements arriving with every automatic update. Thus, initially, I could no longer do my banking on my phone anymore because my bank’s web site had difficult scaling and the text and graphics were totally out of joint. I complained to MS and over time a completely new revamped text and graphics scaling system, controlled by the user, was introduced on windows phone permitting separate sufficient scaling of text and graphics for ANY of the Windows phone or device screens. I can now accommodate and customize any native Windows 10 phone or device screen or web page screens. This solved the problem and the user is now fully in control of how he/she wants to, or needs to, scale their material for readability and/or aesthetics as well as color schemes, tile icon transparency, and live tiles. This is only one example of what I consider to be a highly professional and pleasing implementation of an OS. The same is true for everything else. E.g., I had lots of problems with Outlook mail updating and working correctly (POP mail always worked so that I ran both types in parallel). MS had problems on their server backend updating mail in a timely fashion. At this point I find it is basically working now and I will soon entirely switch to Outlook. Basically, because of my interest in tech, I love the much greater depth, complexity, customization possibilities that Windows 10 offers the user but for which you must show an interest or it is wasted on you. All the griping I read about concerning Windows 10 is usually the result of people showing no interest in exploring the capabilities of Windows 10 and becoming familiar with the various available options and features. I am familiar with IOS on the Apple phone and Ipad and it is simplistic by comparison and not logically laid out and is not able to hold my interest. Further, my demands for operating my devices are different, I make much greater use of the built-in features of Windows 10 so that few apps are really needed. I find the clamor, the app war, amusing since it is born out of ignorance of what a Windows phone can really do for you with regard to both usage and form factor. Not only that, my Lumina 735 cost me $135 new at Verizon while Apple phones with fewer capabilities cost $400 to $800.- at that time. I have a 64 GB SD card in my phone and have set it to install my apps, documents and music to the card, which I can remove if I want to back it up on my PC. I have to laugh when I consider the absolute genius of Apple in convincing entire nations that it is desirable to spend a fortune on a much less capable device. But, if you must, suit yourself, after all thinking things through is hard as we see daily in TV news.

        Reply
  15. Please support Windows tablets. I dont care about the phone, but . Come on! We are at 500 million users now!

    Reply
  16. Protest on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/smartthings/

    Reply
  17. Hey SmartThings. I bought into the statement said a while back that not only were you going to support Windows Mobile but that a universal app was in the works. Windows 2-in-1 devices with touch has been the fastest growing market and Windows 10 alone counts for over 400 million devices and counting. Consider that a good portion of people would like the option to be able to use their Windows 2-in-1 to control their SmartThings using touch and what better way than with a universal. Your competition, such as Insteon and Vera to name a few, have made the leap so why can’t you guys? Shouldn’t 400+ million devices be justification?

    Reply
    • All this talk of Windows UWP… I’m in an industry where we have been considering that carefully too. It’s bogus. Statistically close to nobody is buying via the “Windows Store”, precisely at nobody is currently buying Windows Phones, and Xbox Users aren’t buying all that many non-games.
      The fan-boy rants on UWP are not matched by sales numbers. It’s just not worth the effort yet. Perhaps some day, but Microsoft did give up on Windows Phone.

      Reply
      • I work in an industry that integrates solutions for clients based on what is available. We can’t use what doesn’t exist. How can you buy into something that doesn’t exist? How many companies are making choices using flawed logic on based on statistics that do not yet exist. How many truly quality Universal apps exist on Windows? There is demand from integrators but we can’t integrate a product which is not there.

        I hate using such antiquated and juvenile terms as fanboys but are fanboys not customers?

        As for UWP I am referring to any touchscreen 2-in-1 device such as the Surface. I lost count of hoe many times I’ve had to explain to a client that their tablet doesn’t have the app. When they don’t see it they become conditioned to stop looking. There is a huge advantage technologically to UWP on battery powered 2-in-1 but of course I have communicated with suppliers asking for support and the moment I mention Windows the same response of “fanboy” comes up. If they are more professional they simply say they have a desktop app and never respond to touch support issue or battery optimization. Statistics don’t tell the whole story and are easily skewed.

        Reply
        • While it’s true that, as you say, “Statistics don’t tell the whole story and are easily skewed”, they are statistically (see what I did there! ;) ) more valid than rabid enthusiast anecdotal rants. The reason “fanboys” is used so often… and yes, by professionals… is because it sums it up nicely and succinctly. We are not generally talking rational actors here.

          Don’t forget – the Surface and Surface 2 cannot run UWP; they ran Windows RT. Only. Microsoft muddied the waters so badly that now the current Surface devices can run normal Windows apps… you don’t need UWP.

          So what is UWP for? Windows Mobile support only. That’s it.

          Some more easily-skewed but current statistics… Windows 7 is still, this month, 48% of the installed desktop O.S. base, with Windows 10 at 24%, followed by Windows XP (over 9%), Windows 8 (8%), Mac (3-1/3%) and Linux. I use mostly Macs so I’m surprised by this, but none-the-less, UWP supports less than 1/3 of the Windows users and essentially none of the phone users, all to provide battery life and a different U.I.? A regular Windows app (or better, Java app) would have far better coverage.

          Reply
          • Incorrect, the Surface RT and Surface 2 RT ran RT. The Pro’s were full blown PC Windows 10. And for UWP, Microsoft didn’t make it just for mobile. It’s so Devs can write their base code One time using the One Core and have it work on Mobile, PC, Xbox, Holographic, IoT and any other platform with Windows 10. And they just announced that they are releasing new updates to it that will allow the app to detect what it is running on so that it will adjust itself truly making it a one time deal for Devs for coding.
            And how is Java better? It’s a memory hog, constantly needs updates because of security holes….it’s crap! Which is why huge companies are going away from it in favor of HTML5.
            FYI, a big chunk of that 48% Windows 7 is Military which is going away from it in favor of Win 10.
            But all this is statistically saying…DEVs don’t do their homework/research before opening their mouths because they are fanboys or flat out lazy. If you don’t bother to develop a app for a platform you have no idea how well it’s going to do. Especially when it’s a crappy app. Devs need to have good content if they expect it to move numbers. Being an IT professional I’ve always said… Crap In – Crap Out. Windows users don’t want that, we want quality. So if you can’t cut the mustard then yes your app will not be used!

          • I keep running into the same issue. Developers say no one is interested when I see a lot of people asking straight off their forums. Then if they do develop an app it is left incomplete an in horrible shape. It is furthermore never updated and never advertised and then it is pulled for “low usage”.

            If someone is going to build a Windows Universal app then PLEASE, make it high quality with feature parity, and display it on your website like the Android and iOS version. That way if you complain about low usage there is at least some ground to stand on.

            Worse yet is I have had companies that I am asking about a problem with their Windows app on my Surface Pro and am told they no longer support Windows Phone??? Their own support didn’t even know that their Universal app was Universal.

      • The reason people aren’t buying phones is because 1..if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. It’s like buying a new PC when the one you have is perfectly good. I haven’t bought a new windows phone in over 2 years…why? Because it runs great. If I had an Android i’d have to upgrade yearly just because each revision makes current phones run like crap. Not to mention Android apps like to keep you from downloading them unless you run a current version of the OS which you’re at the mercy of the manufacturer and service provider to provide you with updates…which pretty much never happens so you’re forced to buy a new Android phone. I don’t have this issue with a Windows Phone. Microsoft updates it with no input from the carrier. So you’re always up to date and because it always runs smooth no need to buy a phone. So honestly, Android users are wasting tons of money on phones on a yearly basis. 2…App gap, not because the OS isn’t good. It’s by far the best OS.

        Reply
  18. I have a feeling this is one piece of news that while it may help focus in the short term will cost you in the long term. That always concerns me when I see a company making decisions on the short term rather than the long haul.

    Reply
  19. Suuuuper disappointed in this. I too chose ST because it was platform agnostic. Why spend thousands installing some ecosystem in my home if when I go to resell I’ve put a system in that is useless to the next owner?

    Reply
  20. Hello smartthings. Thank you for your candor.
    That being said as a W10M I am highly disappointed. Firstly we have been experiencing issues with the app logging the user out for months. Then now we hear that as of mid year you won’t support any longer? Why not building a UWP, so that smartthings can be run from desktops, laptops, 2 in 1s and phones. I mean if you guys had a desktop client or web interface, it would make us not feel completely abandoned.

    Ultimately I believe that having a UWP app is in your best interest. If you haven’t noticed you are in a race that you are winning at the moment, and any missteps could set your efforts back. Google and Apple are actively working to dominate the home automation space. Your best best bet is to continue differentiating and having your product in as many people’s hands as possible.

    Please rethink your plan.

    Reply
    • You forgot XBox One. I just described just one great use for having Smartthings Universal and on XBox One turning it into your home hub.

      Reply
  21. So in other words because other apps or poorly made then you should either make your app crappy or not at all. By that same logic Android and iOS would have never taken off. People would use the apps if they were done properly. As it is now a good portion or horrible so we use them. An example of a good one is Pandora. Every person I have shown it now uses the Pandora Windows app because it’s that good. It’s more convenient than the website so none of them that switche have ever gone back.

    You mention it only matters on iOS or Android. So are you telling me that the people with the money to afford a Surface Pro, Surface Book, or even Surface Studio would never benefit from having quick access to the app?

    Furthermore with it being universal you could have an on an XBox One. Hmm sounds like a great use case for a way to integrate it more to your home. Hey Cortana, tell Smartthings to turn on Game Time.

    There are so many use cases by having a full Windows app. There is more in this world than smartphones and so much more that could be done if people would use their imagination, no pun intended.

    Reply
  22. Hey samsung you Should be rename to STUPIDTHINGS…

    Reply
  23. I’ve been a supporter, and promoter, of ST since the Kickstarter days with multiple hubs and countless devices all of which I seriously regret given my commitment was based on shallow promises of supporting Windows and Windows Phone.

    Reply
  24. I purchased a Samsung S2 tablet in the hopes of running SmartThings. Sadly, it’s just not ready for prime time and Samsung said that the present software is not fully supported on tablets. The bigger issue for me is that the system is dependent on the cloud for some processing even for functions that you would expect to be totally local (for example, sounding an alarm in your home when someone breaks in). So, if your internet connection goes down (or the Comcast cable is cut by the bad guys), you are out of luck, even though your local hub and WIFI still function. Moreover, if the SmartThings cloud is hacked (who would worry about this :), all kinds of nefarious things could be done to your home and/or your security. Why can’t the system be 100% local to your hub and phone/tablet/PC? Certainly if you are away from the house and your internet connection goes down, then you can’t send commands or receive info. But, you still want the system to fully function in the “AT Home” case. I hate to be suspicious, but I would not be surprised if Samsung eventually “monetizes” the installed base of hubs by charging a monthly fee for the (necessary) cloud function!

    Reply
  25. This is not cool. It seems a good number of Windows users bought into SmartThings because of the Windows support. How are people supposed to trust home automation platforms like this if they can drop support for devices at any time they choose? Why is a Windows 10 UWP app so difficult to create and support?

    The least you can do if you’re not going to offer an app, is at least make your platform website-accessible. An app would be nicer, but at least a website should ideally work on all modern Internet browsers. By not offering a website interface, you’re really hurting users.

    Reply
  26. No word on the SmartThings Extend in this post ? I think that’s another area of disappointment that I would hope you can come clean about. I know the effort maybe the forced result of your wedding with Samsung, but it would be great if we could have something other than radio silence on the topic. Customers don’t seem very happy on this hundreds-of-comments-long thread: https://community.smartthings.com/t/any-word-on-the-smartthings-extend-for-samsung-tv/52692/175

    Reply
    • I was going to make this same comment. It seems Samsung is being conspicuously quiet about the Extend after hyping it up with the TV products. I bought a 2016 series 8000 TV… it has a port on the back labeled for the Extend. So, where is it, Samsung?

      Reply
  27. This is very disappointing. Like others, I purchased SmartThings (whilst winning the much harder to acquire Wife-Acceptance-Factor) based on Windows support. It felt much more platform agnostic than competitors, which I thought was important for IoT.

    Like others, I truly wonder why you can’t release a UWP app for Windows. Hopefully the naysayers will move on and avoid posting bile about the UWP platform based on opinion. As a developer, I can honestly say it is a joy to develop on, doesn’t require too much effort to make apps work on desktop/tablet in addition to Mobile and the market is massive, right when/where you need it.

    If you can’t or won’t, you need to consider how you can continue to differentiate. You’re not getting the press time that Nest, etc. is getting. If you don’t want to become another platform-specific service, like the rest who have more money and press attention, you will fail. So do the right thing and open up an API or a web portal.

    I am a Windows Mobile 10 user, but I’m not a particularly happy one. I can see that the platform is burnt (partly due to Microsoft’s own doing) and I’ve had to move on. I hate that deeply. Windows Mobile 10 was awesome for me, but there are no new phones so the days are numbered. Not so for Windows 10 overall. (Naysayers, don’t you see MS have already achieved what Apple and Google are trying to, a single unified platform for apps?)

    Reply
  28. You misinterpreted what I am talking about. When I Surface, I am not talking about the now discontinued Surface RT line. I’m talking about the Surface Pro series which is in its 4th and soon to be fifth generation and also includes the Surface 3, Surface Book, and Surface Studio which all work perfectly well with UWP. Don’t forget that Windows 8 and 8.1 also run UWP. Just like MacOS which has people slow to move forward, there are those in Windows who are the same but Windows 7 is officially EOL for regular support and 10 is where the effort is going. Just stepping away from percentages for a moment, there are now approximately half a billion Windows 10 devices. That’s before the businesses I work with have even started their hardware refresh. This is just starting to have a increase and of those new purchases I am seeing, just like the statistics, a strong preferences for devices that are multi purpose such as the Surface series, Lenovo Yoga series, as well as other convertibles by Dell and HP. Most of them come with touch screens. If a business only looks at where a market is and not where a market is going then they can miss an opportunity.

    I’m not saying the world is going to go switch to Windows 10 with touch overnight but Windows 10 is where a large portion are moving and likely will continue to transition. It takes time to update a legacy program to a modern app so application developers should looking at where the market is going and not where is it but that half a billion number is already high enough that from a business standpoint it is hard to ignore. Microsoft themselves has already express that legacy APIs will get more attention as all their focus is on the new architecture. Ignoring that could lead to a dead end as your product stagnates as traditional API become less effective. An example already exists. Can a legacy application be marketed, sold, downloaded, tracked, moved, updated, or get crash and usage statistics without purchasing separate pieces or services from mutiple vendors. Do you use Installsheild, Windows installer, or another service. Who processes your purchases? What if a customer wants to move an application to another computer. Do you handle license revocation and activation yourself? Are they going to code their own update system? That’s another service to run on Windows which has a battery and performance hit. What infrastructure are they going to use for crash reporting and analytics?

    Each one of those scenarios I describe and many more they are beyond the scope of a comment system are readily available in the new Universal Application architecture allowing nearly all of the dirty work to be handled in one place without the developer needing to waste time rebuilding or piecing it together. Look up Onecore and Common Shell for Windows and see even more that businesses sticking with standard Win32 applications and APIs are going to gradually be left behind if they don’t adapt. Microsoft has been warning of this for years and even has gone so far as to offer what they call “bridges” to help lesson the strain of updating. For iOS apps their is Project Islandwood and for win32 there is Project Centential. I find it odd that a business would see a market that is already a healthy size and is in transition to a new model and still turn a blind eye but unfortunately a lot of businesses do. Traditional desktop computers are dying and the market has told us users want more portable devices whether it be smartphones or the growing Windows 2-in-1 category.

    Reply
  29. I too am very disappointed and would like to see a desktop, UWP or web app for Windows 10 to mitigate this loss – I think it’s the least you can do.

    Reply
  30. Really awful you dropped Windows support. PUT IT BACK with an updated version please!!!

    Reply
  31. Seems all negative news, no positive product changes…

    Reply
  32. When STV3 comes out, I’ll consider that. Hopefully V3 will be smarter than your “smart” TV’s which are really stupid imo as a software developer…

    Reply
  33. Invest $200M in the platform, then decide to drop UWP Windows support. Genius…

    Reply
  34. Question to all the Android users…and be honest!
    How many Android phones have you bought in the past 5 years?
    Now, Windows phone users…how about you?
    I’ve personally bought 2. A Lumia 920 in 2012 and a Lumia 950 XL in 2015.
    Now…I ask this because. How many of you Android users had to buy a phone because the OS wasn’t being updated by the Carrier or Manufacturer? Or because an app didn’t support your version of OS? Maybe your phone was less than stellar after an update?

    I know for myself, my Lumia 950 XL still being updated to this day. How many of you have Android phones from 2015 that are still getting updates? Will you be getting Android iOS 7? Heck…how many of you haven’t even gotten iOS 6 (Marshmallow)? I know i’ll be getting every major update this year and probably next.

    I’m willing to bet this happens more to Android users vs Windows users. And you know what this does? Inflate numbers.

    Reply
    • Point well made.

      Though don’t forget that Microsoft have broken compatibility and therefgore updates twice in the history of Windows Phone/Mobile between 7->8 and 8.1->10. This left phones out in the cold. There were, of course, valid reasons.

      (I am also a Windows Phone/Mobile user since the HTC HD7)

      Reply
    • Wow, you chimed in for like one day in the past two years. Pathetic.

      Let’s go on the record, since you think I’m an Android fan-boy. I’m willing to escrow $5000, that’s five-thousand-dollars, 2-to-1, meaning you only have to escrow $2500, on the following:

      Tony NW has objectively more Windows Phone experience and knowledge than Mike Mitchel.

      We can calculate this as:
      * For every Windows Phone owned, regardless of version: 1 point.
      * Worked on – as in was paid to write software for, whether OEM (Microsoft) or 3rd Party, but must be provably a paid software writing gig – Windows Phone 6 and below – 2 points per paid verifiable gig.
      * Worked – same definition – Windows CE – 1 point per gig.
      * Worked – same definition – Windows Phone 7 – 3 points per gig.
      * Was employed by the maker – Microsoft – to run some significant chunk of Windows Phone 6+, such as the security response, the sustained engineering, or by a partner (e.g. Samsung or HTC on a Windows Phone release) etc. – 5 points per gig
      * Same definition, for Windows Phone 7 or 8 – 10 points per gig.

      I have zero respect for you, so I’ll even spot you 25% So not only am I giving you 2-to-1 odds, but you win if you’re only 75% as Microsoft Phone as I am.

      You have five days to accept, so you can’t fully investigate me. I’m “betting” you’re a pompous uncredentialed loser who will run away from having to prove himself, lest he lose what should be, for someone who talks as you do, the completely insignificant sum of $2500. Please please please prove me wrong.

      Reply
  35. If you are affected by this and have a Smartthings Camera or door/window sensor(s) you are looking to sell, let me know… iOS user and I’m considering adding some more to my setup.

    Reply
  36. I don’t think anyone should be surprised at this decision – after losing my Windows Phone just over a week ago I’ve been playing with an Android device (OnePlus One) and other than some apps like Groove which are truly awful on Android, there are definite advantages to being part of a larger platform (the Android app has some important advantages like not having the logout problem and is able to view live video). I still prefer the Windows Phone interface to Android and should my Windows Phone be returned (long story…) I may decide to put off the decision for several months. Before finding out about this I was toying on getting a 950XL but after seeing this decision I think it’s time to move over to a different platform at least for mobile, at least during this period of retrenchment. I still use Windows 8 and 10 on desktops and laptops. Who knows, maybe there will be a UWP app in the future – but even if there is, many of the UWP apps I’ve used (Garmin and Lifx being “good” examples) fail in some of their key usage scenarios. Just a note of caution to SmartThings – I doubt I would have chosen your platform if it hadn’t supported Windows Phone, and most of my investment has gone into ZWave devices, rather than SmartThings specific products, and if you don’t keep widening your platform with support for more devices (really, not even one radiator thermostat is officially supported…) you risk people jumping ship to another platform which for many would be a relatively simple change of hub. If it wasn’t for the community of volunteer developers that put in work to help provide some level of support for a wide range of devices I think this platform would already be dead.

    Reply
  37. Thank for all the update, an how disappointing to hear all negative news. This sound like Smartthings is beginning the trip down being obsolete. There is no good news stated and seems to be no new development with new products support, The industry is already changing rapidly and new products are already here. Example Orbit b-hyve, or even the older samsung smart cams. I would like to hear what our the new developments.

    Reply
  38. If you stick with the plan to drop the Windows Phone app and don’t introduce a way for users to add and manage devices and apps in another way that works with Windows, then  you will be breaking a trust that will be very hard to regain.

    I currently have only Windows devices. Why is that? It is because all of the android device I’ve had are no longer useable.  Two of them were Samsung devices that didn’t last even a year. The third is a TV that  hasn’t gotten an Android update in over 2 years, so it’s not useful as an android device and now has a ton of gaping security holes.

    I have 5 Windows devices that range from 1 to almost 4 years in age, and they all run Windows 10 well.

    This is why I use Windows and not Android, and certainly not Apple.

    So, when springtime comes, and I can’t manage my devices any more, I’m going to be on the market for a new controller. It is also for this reason and for the trailer nature of Samsung products that I am seriously considering buying a Sony TV and not another disposable Samsung.

    Now, if you would consider releasing your Windows Phone app source code, then some of us could see about turning this lemon into lemonade.

    Thank you,
    Thomas Lunsford

    Reply
  39. Well this sucks. I was just about to buy a v2 hub for my parents, but they both have windows phones, so I guess that won’t be happening. Why not produce an HTTP interface that works from any device?

    Reply
  40. Update to 1.728140.0???? Welcome surprise but it would be even better to here that SmartThings has reversed their decision or is working on a UWP app… Come on – give us Windows platform users some love please!

    Reply
  41. Glad I found this. Was about to buy a ton of SmartThings stuff but now I know not to bother. I could get the app for the next few days and use it with whatever I bought now but if they’re never going to update it when they add support for other product lines, there is no use buying in to the SmartThings world to begin with. Sad as I thought I’d found something worthwhile enough to put up with the bugs everyone discusses in the Community.

    I have Android running under AmiDuOS on my MS Surface Pro 4 but every time I switch to Android from Windows 10 it makes my skin crawl and not in a good way. How anyone can call that an operating system is beyond me. How anyone can hold up the google app store as an ideal is beyond me too. And I’m not even going to consider the fruity alternative – been there and won’t go back – really don’t like supporting hyper socially irresponsible corporations.

    So the research continues. Maybe try to integrate things through The Home Remote App which includes most of the manufacturer’s stuff I’d want to use.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *