Recent Articles

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
May 30, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Leviton on Lighting the Future of Smart Homes

Smart lighting has redefined how we interact with and manage our homes, offering unparalleled convenience and control. We can automate lights to turn on only when someone is in the room and turn them off from our phones, no matter where we are. With smart lighting solutions from companies like Leviton, we can create safer and sustainable homes. For over 115 years, Leviton has developed thoughtful electrical, lighting, energy management, and more solutions to light, power, and connect everyday spaces. Now, users can control Leviton’s smart lighting devices conveniently and sustainably with SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in the SmartThings app. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with Leviton 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: Which Leviton products work with SmartThings? Leviton: Leviton has Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee devices that work with SmartThings, with more products coming in the future! Users can explore our range of dimmers, light switches, outlets, smart plugs, and more on the SmartThings website!  SmartThings: How does Leviton work with SmartThings and our other partners to improve the smart home experience?  Leviton: Leviton seamlessly integrates with SmartThings and its app, offering users total control. By linking Leviton’s Decora Smart Z-Wave or Wi-Fi lighting controls to the SmartThings Hub, users can easily monitor and control their homes remotely via the SmartThings app. Plus, with SmartThings compatible voice assistants, users can manage Leviton smart lighting and other devices with simple voice commands, enhancing their home automation experience effortlessly. SmartThings: Knowing sustainability is a key pillar at Leviton, we're eager to hear about your efforts! How do you see smart lighting control boosting energy efficiency and sustainability today? Leviton: At Leviton, we're dedicated to sustainability and helping our customers do the same. Our products promote sustainability in buildings, factories, and homes, and with our CN2030 program, we're committing to Carbon Neutrality by 2030, reducing our environmental impact and building a greener future. Over the past five years alone, our residential dimmers have contributed to saving an impressive 52 billion watts of energy annually, resulting in a reduction of 44 million pounds of CO2e per year. Additionally, our innovative Sustainably Smart packs are making strides in reducing job site waste by providing environmentally friendly alternatives to individually packaged jacks. By eliminating over 2 million single-use polybags each year, we're proud to play a part in creating a greener future. But wait, there's more! Click the link below to discover even more exciting initiatives: https://leviton.com/company/sustainability  SmartThings: Since you bring up Leviton’s auto-shutoff features, that reminds us! With the days getting longer and summer on its way, we know a lot of people are going to be out later and enjoying outdoor spaces more. Which Leviton products are must-haves for the summer season? Leviton: All of them, for sure, but if we had to choose, definitely our Matter-enabled outdoor smart plug that has superior weather resistance and a built-in light sensor to automatically turn lights on during evening hours, perfect for outdoor lighting such as string lights to enjoy those summer evenings in your backyard. With the aid of SmartThings, essentials like our switches, dimmers, and new outdoor smart plug empower users to remotely monitor and control their lights from anywhere. Our full conversation with Leviton SmartThings: Hey Leviton! We have some questions we’ve been dying to ask you. First up, for those who are new to your brand, what is Leviton?  Leviton: Hey SmartThings! Thanks for having us. At Leviton, we are pioneers in creating innovative solutions that revolutionize how we illuminate, power, and connect everyday spaces. From electrical wiring solutions to lighting, data networks, and energy management, our comprehensive range of products caters to the diverse needs of our customers! SmartThings: Thanks for the intro! We’re thrilled to have you as a part of the SmartThings ecosystem. Which Leviton products work with SmartThings? Leviton: Leviton has Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee devices that work with SmartThings, with more products coming in the future! Users can explore our range of dimmers, light switches, outlets, smart plugs, and more on the SmartThings website!  On that note, can you tell us a little bit more about how SmartThings helps create a fully integrated smart home experience? SmartThings: Great question! For us, it’s all about our amazing partners, like Leviton, who help to complete the experience, by allowing users to connect to whatever smart products they need to seamlessly move through their day. Thanks to Matter and our diverse array of partners across various sectors, collaborating seamlessly through our app, we achieve comprehensive automation of every facet of smart home living. Speaking of partnerships, how does Leviton work with SmartThings and our other partners to improve the smart home experience?  Leviton: Fantastic question, SmartThings! Leviton seamlessly integrates with SmartThings and its app, offering users total control. By linking Leviton’s Decora Smart Z-Wave or Wi-Fi lighting controls to the SmartThings Hub, users can easily monitor and control their homes remotely via the SmartThings app. Plus, with SmartThings compatible voice assistants, users can manage Leviton smart lighting and other devices with simple voice commands, enhancing their home automation experience effortlessly. SmartThings: That’s great to hear! Next, let’s talk about sustainability, as it is Earth Month and we’re focusing on our SmartThings Energy initiative. Knowing sustainability is a key pillar at Leviton, we're eager to hear about your efforts! How do you see smart lighting control boosting energy efficiency and sustainability today? Leviton: At Leviton, we're dedicated to sustainability and helping our customers do the same. Our products promote sustainability in buildings, factories, and homes, and with our CN2030 program, we're committing to Carbon Neutrality by 2030, reducing our environmental impact and building a greener future. Over the past five years alone, our residential dimmers have contributed to saving an impressive 52 billion watts of energy annually, resulting in a reduction of 44 million pounds of CO2e per year. Additionally, our innovative Sustainably Smart packs are making strides in reducing job site waste by providing environmentally friendly alternatives to individually packaged jacks. By eliminating over 2 million single-use polybags each year, we're proud to play a part in creating a greener future. But wait, there's more! Click the link to discover even more exciting initiatives: https://leviton.com/company/sustainability  SmartThings: Wow, that’s impressive! Leviton certainly has an incredible history. Since its start, how would you say the company has evolved to meet the demands of connected living? Leviton: With 118 years of success, we stay connected to our customers and adapt to the ever-evolving smart home scene. Anticipating needs, we deliver innovative smart lighting solutions for every scenario. Safety-conscious users find peace of mind by controlling lights through scheduling or even motion detection, ensuring they always return to a well-lit home. Plus, our lighting controls include thoughtful features such as auto-shutoff capability for energy-conscious users, so they never have to worry about leaving lights on. It's a win-win!  SmartThings: Since you bring up Leviton’s auto-shutoff features, that reminds us! With the days getting longer and summer on its way, we know a lot of people are going to be out later and enjoying outdoor spaces more. Which Leviton products are must-haves for the summer season? Leviton: All of them, for sure, but if we had to choose, definitely our Matter-enabled outdoor smart plug that has superior weather resistance and a built-in light sensor to automatically turn lights on during evening hours, perfect for outdoor lighting such as string lights to enjoy those summer evenings in your backyard. With the aid of SmartThings, essentials like our switches, dimmers, and new outdoor smart plug empower users to remotely monitor and control their lights from anywhere. SmartThings: Love that. So smart plugs, switches, and dimmers - got it! Speaking of your products, anything new that we should keep an eye out for? Leviton: We’re glad you asked! We’ve just introduced our new Decora Smart Z-Wave 800-Series Switch and Dimmer, a great solution for SmartThings customers looking for Z-Wave lighting controls. Our new devices feature the latest in Z-Wave technology for security and interoperability including SmartStart enrollment, which makes it easier than ever to enroll. SmartThings: A huge thank you to our partners at Leviton for chatting with us today for the SmartThings Live Chat! We enjoyed learning all how Leviton is enhancing the world of smart devices, doing so sustainably, and more than anything, how wonderfully our partnership works together! Want to know more? #DoTheSmartThings and send us a message! Leviton: Thank you for having us SmartThings!  To learn more about our partners visit partners.smartthings.com/supported-devices. Interested in integrating your devices with SmartThings? Visit developer.smartthings.com. 
April 15, 2024

Embrace Green Routines with SmartThings Energy

As Earth Month continues, SmartThings Energy and our Works with SmartThings certified partners will help keep your smart home sustainable and efficient. People today are more deliberate in their energy use, but we may not always know how to be more efficient with our everyday devices and appliances, like heating and lighting.  Are you looking to build better energy routines but not sure where to start? First, activate SmartThings Energy in the SmartThings app. This service tells you which devices take up the most energy, offers tips to save energy with (AI) Energy Mode, and assists in automating your routines for maximum efficiency. Next, read through our tips to build green routines you can start now. Windows & Shades Windows contribute 25%–30% of the energy consumed for heating and cooling in residential spaces due to heat gain and heat loss. With the inconsistent weather this time of year, you may be fiddling with your windows and AC more often and may forget the status of every window.  Fortunately, Aqara’s Door and Window Sensor will alert you if a window is left open, so you remember to close it before you leave the house. Their smart curtain controllers save you energy, too. Natural light from the sun may warm up your home, leading you to turn up the AC. Aqara’s curtain controllers allow you to easily open and close the curtains from wherever you are, using the SmartThings app. Smart Plugs Forget to unplug the coffee maker before work? With Eve smart plugs and power meters, you never have to worry about wasted energy again. Use SmartThings to control these Matter-compatible devices from anywhere, track their energy consumption, and even set timers for them to optimize energy usage. By monitoring individual devices' power usage and monthly costs, you can make informed decisions to lower utility bills. For example, create a routine that triggers plugged-in appliances to switch on and off based on whether someone is coming or leaving home.  Smart plugs also reduce “phantom power” - the electricity devices drain even when you think they’re off. Dimmers & Switches If you forget to turn off a light before leaving a room or going on vacation, turn it off from wherever you are in the SmartThings app, thanks to TP-Link | Kasa Smart light switches and dimmers.  Create a routine to automatically toggle a switch upon detecting someone entering or leaving a room and activate the switch when it detects motion. SmartThings and our innovative partners will help reduce your carbon footprint, cut down on electricity bills, and make your smart home as comfortable and kind to the planet as possible.  This Earth Month, do #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to activate SmartThings Energy and build a greener, more sustainable home.
April 8, 2024

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with SmartThings Energy 

It’s Earth Month, which means now is the best time to activate a sustainability routine with SmartThings Energy.  Did you know? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American shells out $2,000 every year on energy bills. But guess what? Some of that money could be going down the drain because of how we use energy at home. With SmartThings Energy, you can save money while creating automated energy-saving routines. Enjoy peace of mind knowing you're making your home and the planet better for you and your family. Read on for tips on how to get the most out of SmartThings Energy, your smart appliances, and devices that work with SmartThings. What is SmartThings Energy? Ever wish you had a personal energy assistant? That’s SmartThings Energy. Available in the SmartThings app, SmartThings Energy helps you take control of your carbon footprint and cut your energy bills by letting you check your home energy use from anywhere.  Use the service to manage the energy usage of any of your devices that work with SmartThings, create energy-saving routines, get impactful energy-saving tips, and use AI Energy Mode to maximize your energy use. Besides helping your devices run smarter, SmartThings Energy also supports you in larger energy-saving efforts. In times of high energy demand, energy suppliers may charge you higher rates, known as Demand Response. With SmartThings Energy, you can configure your #smart devices, such as your Nanoleaf lights, TP-Link plugs, and smart thermostat, to run less during these peak times. This not only cuts your energy bills but also helps the environment.  SmartThings Energy can also help you leave more money in your pocket. By simply monitoring and cutting down on your home energy use, you could score cash rewards and lower your utility bills with our energy savings programs! Stay tuned to learn more. What is AI Energy Mode? Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Mode is an innovative feature within SmartThings Energy, which can save you up to 70% of energy consumption on select products and cycles. AI Energy Mode learns your routines and adjusts your devices to save energy without you lifting a finger. It uses machine learning to recognize when your energy use goes beyond the targets you've set in SmartThings Energy. Plus, it gives you insights into why it happened. Let’s look at some of the ways AI Energy Mode helps with your everyday routines. Washer & Dryer: From your workout clothes to the kids’ athletic gear, it can feel like you’re constantly doing laundry, which means you're using a lot of water. Thankfully, AI Energy Mode optimizes your Samsung Bespoke Washer & Dryer. The Bespoke AI Washer adjusts wash cycles based on load size, potentially reducing energy usage by up to 70%. Meanwhile, the Bespoke AI Dryer monitors temperature and humidity, with AI Dry potentially cutting energy usage by up to 20%. Refrigerator: Your fridge is a major energy consumer in your home, running constantly even when you're not there. But what can you do about it? Turn to AI Energy Mode. It ensures you’re using your Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator efficiently by optimizing compressor speed, defrost cycles, and temperature settings, potentially reducing energy usage by 15% during operation and an additional 15% when not in use. Whether you're out of town or simply away for a while, rest assured that you're conserving energy while keeping your groceries at their ideal temperature. Air Conditioning: Typically, 43% of a home utility bill goes to heating and cooling. Now, with many of us working from home, our AC usage tends to increase, especially as warmer temperatures approach. With AI Energy Mode, your Works with SmartThings thermostat becomes smarter, adjusting settings based on your usage patterns, room temperature, and humidity. No need to compromise your comfort to save energy. TV: Whether you’re watching a movie at night or the baseball game during a bright, sunny Sunday with your Samsung Frame TV, AI Energy Mode ensures you always have the perfect brightness for the best viewing experience. Activating AI Energy Mode triggers your TV’s processor and sensors to detect and analyze your room’s environment and adjust the relevant settings, potentially saving up to 20% energy. No more fiddling with brightness settings. Plus, if you accidentally leave the TV on in another room, it automatically dims its brightness when it detects no viewers for more than two hours. This is just scratching the surface of what SmartThings Energy can do for you. Any way you use it, SmartThings Energy takes care of the little details so you can focus on what truly matters—living your life to the fullest. This Earth Month, #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to activate SmartThings Energy and start living a more sustainable life.  
April 3, 2024

SmartThings and LIFX Introduce the New Era of Home Lighting Experiences

With homes becoming more connected than ever, SmartThings and LIFX are revolutionizing the way consumers experience their living spaces.  Through their collaboration, the companies are emphasizing the 'futuristic' experiences you can create today, right at home. Users can experience situations like stepping into their kitchen after a long day at work and being greeted by the perfect ambiance of lighting, their favorite playlist in the background, and a carefully curated selection of recipes and cooking tips suggested by their Samsung devices awaiting them. The collaboration between SmartThings and LIFX is not just about illumination; it's about creating immersive lighting experiences for day-to-day activities, without even having to think about it. LIFX’s Smart Lighting meets SmartThings Smart Home Connectivity With LIFX's unique 'SuperColor' technology, users can bring the most potent, stunning lighting moods together with sounds, creating a synchronized experience with other devices in their smart home ecosystem. No matter your users’ routines and schedules, SmartThings and LIFX aim to elevate everyday moments into enjoyable experiences. This integration allows for the creation of personalized experiences, tailored to specific lifestyles. Recently, LIFX launched an outdoor range of lighting options which creates additional opportunities for consumers to personalize their outdoor setup with SmartThings. From indoor ambiance to outdoor enjoyment, the possibilities that users have to personalize their lighting experience are endless. Outdoor lighting options include string lights, path lighting, spotlights, and flex edge lighting. Driven by the mission of empowering users, this partnership aims to adapt their home environments to suit their ever-changing needs, moment to moment. SmartThings and LIFX are paving the way for highly dynamic lighting experiences by seamlessly integrating smart devices with these innovative features. The impact of effective lighting also goes beyond aesthetics - more than just decoration, lighting serves as a powerful environmental cue that influences mood, productivity, and overall health. By enabling lighting shifts tied to different home experiences, SmartThings and LIFX are introducing a level of smart home automation that has the potential to transform how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. In addition to the purpose of revolutionizing home experiences, the partnership was formed with sustainability in mind. All lighting products use LEDs, meaning they require a fraction of the energy use and cost of older technologies such as incandescent.  Through the use of energy-efficient LED technology, the products also offer reductions in energy consumption and cost compared to traditional lighting options. With the average cost to run their LED products significantly lower, the partnership not only benefits consumers financially but also contributes to a more sustainable future. By fusing technology and design, the companies are empowering users to unlock the full potential of their homes, shaping the future of smart homes and redefining what it means to live in a connected world. Together, SmartThings and LIFX are working towards creating smarter, more intuitive living spaces for consumers.
April 1, 2024

How We’re Simplifying The Smart Living Experience

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.
March 13, 2024

How to Get the Most out of Your Sleep with SmartThings 

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.
January 31, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Loop on the Road to a Sustainable Future

With the rise in extreme weather events, increasing droughts, inflation, and energy prices going through the roof, people are more concerned than ever with their carbon footprint’s impact on the world—and their utility bills. Head of SmartThings, Mark Benson said it best: “Sustainability is at the core of everything we do.” SmartThings is always building and partnering with innovative, user-centric solutions for a more sustainable future. This commitment is exemplified through SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in the SmartThings app, and our recent partnership with Loop Global. Loop is the first Electric Vehicle (EV) charging company within the SmartThings network. Now, users can control Loop’s advanced, user-friendly EV chargers conveniently and sustainably. In our latest X (Twitter) Q&A, we chatted with Loop Global 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: What makes Loop and your chargers different? Loop: Here at Loop, we are building the next-generation energy network. Our goal is to become a global leader in the electrification of transportation by bringing to market a suite of smart, simple, and affordable electric vehicle charging solutions for everywhere drivers go, whether at home, at work, or on the go.  Loop: For new or existing SmartThings users, how do you go about setting up Loop chargers in the app? SmartThings: Getting set up is simple! Download the SmartThings app on your phone, click “Connect” and search for devices. You can then establish routines, or customize existing routines, to get the most out of your smart home. SmartThings: Sustainability is hugely important to us and our SmartThings Energy initiative. We know it is just as important to you. Tell us more about your sustainability efforts. How can smart charging solutions contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability? Loop: With Samsung and SmartThings integrations, Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers can set up optimal charging schedules from their car, their office, or anywhere they have service with their mobile phone. This lets drivers start charging when the cost of energy is the lowest, and it helps reduce load on the energy grid. Not only does this help the environment, but it also helps the driver’s bottom line!  Our full conversation with Loop SmartThings: We’ve got some burning questions for you! First up, what makes Loop and your chargers different? Loop: Thanks for having us. Here at Loop, we are building the next-generation energy network. Our goal is to become a global leader in the electrification of transportation by bringing to market a suite of smart, simple, and affordable electric vehicle charging solutions for everywhere drivers go, whether at home, at work, or on the go.  SmartThings: Thanks for that introduction. Which of your products works with SmartThings? Loop: Nearly all of our Level 2 charging solutions are compatible with SmartThings. Our EV-Flex Lite is our most popular at-home option, but we also provide our cellular-enabled EV-Flex and our new EV-Flex Plus, featuring 40 amp charging capacity. For new or existing SmartThings users, how do you go about setting up Loop chargers in the app? SmartThings: Getting set up is simple! Download the SmartThings app on your phone, click “Connect” and search for devices. You can then establish routines, or customize existing routines, to get the most out of your smart home. Loop: That’s great! And will this process work for all of our products? SmartThings: Yes! The process to set up any Loop products is the same. We love making things easy! Loop: Easy is best! So, how do Loop products work with other smart home devices within the SmartThings app? SmartThings: Our goal is that everything works together seamlessly so you can get the most out of our app and the SmartThings experience. Once you are connected, you can control all Loop products from your smart devices.  On that note, is there a limit to the number of chargers that can be connected to the SmartThings app? Loop: Nope! Once connected to the app, Loop will find all home chargers and automatically populate them within SmartThings!  SmartThings: Sustainability is hugely important to us and our SmartThingsEnergy initiative. We know it is just as important to you. Tell us more about your sustainability efforts. How can smart charging solutions contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability? Loop: With Samsung and SmartThings integrations, Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers can set up optimal charging schedules from their car, their office, or anywhere they have service with their mobile phone. This lets drivers start charging when the cost of energy is the lowest, and it helps reduce load on the energy grid. Not only does this help the environment, it also helps the driver’s bottom line!  Switching gears, let’s talk about trends. What are some emerging trends in the evolution of smart homes? SmartThings: We see the future of smart homes and smart products evolving with more powerful automations that simply just work and smart home technology as a way to uplift your everyday living and meaningful moments. The next 5-10 years will mean working with partners, like Loop, to streamline and advance the future of smart living. So, where can SmartThings users learn more about Loop and your products?  Loop: Our blog is the best place to learn more about our products and what’s next. Visit https://blog.loopglobal.com/ or send us a DM with any questions!  Last question from us! Where can EV drivers learn more about SmartThings and how to integrate our chargers?  SmartThings: Make sure you are following SmartThings on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram or you can learn more about our partners on our website: partners.smartthings.com. Huge thank you to our partners at Loop Global for joining us today! If you have any questions on how Loop Works With SmartThings, reach out! Loop: Thank you, SmartThings! Visit partners.smartthings.com for more about Loop Global and additional partners, products, and services.
January 8, 2024

SmartThings Creates TV-Centered Smart Home Experiences for Users

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.