Samsung has rolled out new updates to the SmartThings platform for 2020, combining new app features and ecosystem partnerships to bring more simplicity, control and fun to the growing Connected Living experience.
Last year, Samsung says that SmartThings experienced a 61% growth in registered users, bringing total users to over 120 million worldwide. With an ever-expanding ecosystem, including most Samsung products, SmartThings now allows users to bring more devices together than ever before, maximising the value of their smart experience.
Following 12 months of frequent updates and developments, the SmartThings app has further enhanced the user experience through its three key strengths:
Open
Users’ experience comes first, as SmartThings brings together 80% of the UK’s leading IoT brands and every major voice assistant – Bixby, Alexa and Google Assistant – to work in harmony on one central platform across both iOS and Android.
Simple
Bringing the smart home to life has never been easier, as SmartThings allows all devices to be controlled in one, simple-to-use app, whilst at home, or on the go.
Secure
Extra peace of mind for customers with the knowledge their smart home is backed by Knox, Samsung’s enterprise grade security platform, protecting personal data between home and Cloud.
SmartThings at home
SmartThings takes the stress out of controlling the home. Thanks to the latest software updates, users can sit back, relax and let the app do the hard work.
- Experience voice integration – experience updated SmartThings voice integration with Alexa and Google services, providing faster device responses and an easy set-up process. Following an April update, users can now add more than 400 Samsung devices, up from 150 previously.
- Group your lighting – following an update late last year, users can now combine smart bulbs and smart plugs, from any brand, into one group enabling them to create the perfect lighting mood in one tap.
- Enhance your home security – for extra peace-of-mind, group cameras, inside and out, to view them in one place in the SmartThings app, to check your home at a glance. For a crystal-clear and larger view, users can view home CCTV functions on a Samsung TV (2018-2020).
- Control your devices – users can now manage Bluetooth devices – as well as Wi-Fi, ZigBee and ZWave products – without leaving the SmartThings app: smart control has never been easier.
- Add a widget – for additional simplicity, the new SmartThings scene widget, introduced in Autumn last year, allows users to quickly trigger scenes – like “bedtime” and “leaving the house” – without entering the SmartThings app.
SmartThings on the go
The new software updates are just as important for controlling and monitoring the home when users are on the go, as it is when they’re at home.
- Two-factor authentication – in a boost to security, two-factor authentication was added to the SmartThings app in April.
- Home monitor – the SmartThings app now includes a home monitor notification, to send instant alerts relating to detections of movement, smoke or water. To avoid receiving unnecessary push notifications if motion is detected when the user arrives home, the option of setting a 30-60 second delay is available.
- Automation builder – following April’s update, users can now create automations regardless of whether the product is online or not, allowing on-the-go users to provide instructions for devices when they turn back on.
- Landscape view – the Android Tablet app has been updated to provide users with an improved and consistent viewing experience in landscape format. Use SmartThings on a tablet for a bigger, portable smart home control, which can be shared with the whole family. The update follows the launch of the new Tab S6 Lite.
“We are delighted to provide such an extensive update to our SmartThings app. The rise in registered users over the last 12 months has been hugely encouraging, highlighting consumer enthusiasm for building their own smart home environment,” said Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Living (AI & IoT), UK & IRE at Samsung Electronics.
“The features included within our updates are designed to make people’s lives that little bit easier, elevating the compatibility SmartThings shares with over 150 leading smart home brands. This is another significant step forward for the platform, and we are excited to continue the journey with SmartThings, its ecosystem and our customers.”
SmartThings is continually adding new brands and devices to enable users to conveniently control all their Smart home products from one app. As part of the latest announcement, SmartThings has added the following third-party services to its ever-growing portfolio:
- Philips Hue – an updated connection with Philip Hue lights allowing users the option to connect via Cloud to Cloud or Lan, without an additional SmartThings hub.
- Sonos and LIFX – integrations were also updated recently, using the most up to date technology to ensure the user experience is seamless.
- Garmin – users can add the SmartThings app to their Garmin Watch for quick, easy control of their smart home automations.
- Popp TRUE Secure Flow Stop – the first SmartThings water shut off valve in the UK, allowing consumers to protect their homes from leaks when combined with a water leak sensor.
