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Samsung Wants To Control Your Home With “SmartThings”

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Samsung Wants To Control Your Home With “SmartThings”

The next tech battleground is heating up and heading for your home –– and Samsung wants to be top dog in the IOT race


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Make no mistake about it: just as the last ten years saw tech companies battling it out to control mobile, the next ten years will be all about the tech giants trying to win control of your homes. That’s because the mythical “smart home” of the future that many of us were first exposed to in the 1950s with The Jetsons cartoon is actually close to being a reality now thanks to major advances in what’s known as “Internet of Things” technology. This is technology where not only our computers and mobiles are networked together, but every formerly “dumb” device in our home, like kitchen scales, coffee makers, garage door openers, and thermostats.

But in order for all of these forthcoming Internet of Things devices to talk to each other, there needs to be one control center or central hub in your house that lets you easily interact with them. Apple hopes you’ll be using their burgeoning control center–known as HomeKit–which is being pushed out in products from dozens of third-party vendors later this year. But Apple has some MAJOR competition from none other than Samsung and their SmartThings smart home solution. And Samsung has a clear lead as their product is already on the market.

Here’s everything you need to know about Samsung’s SmartThings.

Samsung didn’t actually invent SmartThings

As is usually the case with most major tech companies nowadays, Samsung didn’t actually invent the SmartThings platform. SmartThings was originally its own company, located in Washington DC and created in 2012.  The company began as a Kickstarter project, raising $1.2 million in 30 days.

After operating on its own for a few years Samsung, picking up on the fact that the smart home would be the next big battleground in tech, scooped up SmartThings for $200 million in August 2014.

SmartThings is a system composed primarily of three parts

The great thing about SmartThings is that you don’t need to pay a contractor to rewire your house to make it “smart”. SmartThings is a system comprised of three parts that integrates nicely into any existing home or flat.

The first part of the system is the SmartThings Hub. This is a physical device that sits on a shelf in your home. Samsung rightly calls this the “brain” of the smart home. The hub connects all the different smart devices and sensors in your home. It acts as a central communications point between them so each one can know what the other is doing. It also acts as the command center for your smart home.

The second part of the system is the SmartThings mobile app. This app–unlike Apple’s HomeKit solution–is available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone–making SmartThings a truly cross platform system. Using the app you can monitor every devices in your smart home–from your door locks, to thermostat to wireless speakers. Better yet, the app allows you to control all your connected devices right from your smartphone. This is not only great while you’re in your house. If you left your home and left the radio on, the app will allow you to turn it off from anywhere.

The third and final part of the SmartThings system are the individual device components. These are a virtually unlimited amount of devices–anything that a manufacturer can turn into an Internet of Things device you can bet they will. What’s really great about the way SmartThings handles these devices is that they don’t need to be official Samsung products. Dozens of third-party smart home devices already work with the SmartThings system including the popular Nest thermostat, Sonos speakers, Dropcam cameras, Philips smart lights and many, many more.

How do I get started with SmartThings?

First you need to make sure you have an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows Phone. This will be your remote control for your SmartThings hub. You can download your device’s SmartThings app here.

Next you need to buy the SmartThings hub and at least one SmartThings compatible device. Samsung has wisely chosen to offer starter packs at a reduced cost to rope people into their smart home ecosystem. You can pick up the Smart Home Starter Kit for only $199. It includes a hub and one presence sensor, motion sensor, and open/closed sensor. Samsung also offers other start kits tailored to individual needs, like the Smart Home Security Kit for $389 or the Smart Home Water Detection Kit for $189.

Alternately you can buy a lone SmartThings Hub for $99 and then add sensors ala carte. Sensors range from electrical outlets to water and proximity sensors. Most range in price from $45-55. Finally, you can start buying individual third-party SmartThings-compatible devices. We’ve listed some above, but the full list of SmartThings-compatible devices can be found here.


Michael Grothaus

15:49, 2 Jul 2015

The subsequent tech battleground is heating up and heading for your house –– and Samsung needs to be most sensible canine within the IOT race

Features

Make no mistake approximately it: simply because the ultimate ten years noticed tech firms struggling with it out to regulate cellular, the following ten years will probably be all concerning the tech giants looking to win keep an eye on of your houses. That’s since the legendary “sensible house” of the longer term that many people have been first uncovered to within the Nineteen Fifties with The Jetsons cool animated film is in reality as regards to being a fact now way to top advances in what’s referred to as “Internet of Things” generation. This is generation the place now not most effective our computer systems and mobiles are networked in combination, however each and every previously “dumb” tool in our house, like kitchen scales, espresso makers, storage door openers, and thermostats.

But to ensure that all of those approaching Internet of Things units to speak to one another, there must be one regulate middle or primary hub in your home that permits you to simply have interaction with them. Apple hopes you’ll be the use of their burgeoning regulate middle–referred to as HomeKit–that is being driven out in merchandise from dozens of 3rd-birthday party companies later this yr. But Apple has a few MAJOR festival from none rather than Samsung and their SmartThings sensible house answer. And Samsung has a transparent lead as their product is already available on the market.

Here’s the whole thing you wish to have to find out about Samsung’s SmartThings.

Samsung didn’t in fact invent SmartThings

As is frequently the case with so much best tech firms this present day, Samsung didn’t in fact invent the SmartThings platform. SmartThings used to be at first its personal corporate, situated in Washington DC and created in 2012.  The corporate started as a Kickstarter venture, elevating $1.2 million in 30 days.

After running by itself for a couple of years Samsung, choosing up on the truth that the sensible house will be the subsequent large battleground in tech, scooped up SmartThings for $200 million in August 2014.

SmartThings is a gadget composed essentially of 3 portions

The wonderful thing about SmartThings is that you simply don’t want to pay a contractor to rewire your home to make it “sensible”. SmartThings is a device constructed from 3 portions that integrates properly into any present house or flat.

The first a part of the gadget is the SmartThings Hub. This is a bodily software that sits on a shelf in your house. Samsung rightly calls this the “mind” of the sensible house. The hub connects all of the other sensible units and sensors in your house. It acts as a significant communications aspect among them so each and every possible realize what the opposite is doing. It additionally acts because the command middle on your sensible house.


The 2d a part of the gadget is the SmartThings cellular app. This app–in contrast to Apple’s HomeKit answer–is to be had for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone–making SmartThings a really move platform device. Using the app you'll be able to screen each and every units on your sensible house–out of your door locks, to thermostat to wireless audio system. Better but, the app permits you to regulate your whole hooked up units proper out of your smartphone. This is not just nice at the same time as you’re in your home. If you left your house and left the radio on, the app will will let you flip it off from any place.


The 3rd and ultimate a part of the SmartThings gadget are the person tool parts. These are a nearly limitless quantity of units–anything else that a producer can transform an Internet of Things tool you'll be able to guess they are going to. What’s in point of fact nice approximately the best way SmartThings handles those units is they don’t want to be reliable Samsung merchandise. Dozens of 3rd-birthday celebration sensible house units already paintings with the SmartThings device together with the preferred Nest thermostat, Sonos audio system, Dropcam cameras, Philips sensible lighting fixtures and plenty of, many extra.

How do O get began with SmartThings?

First you wish to have to be sure you have an iPhone, Android telephone, or Windows Phone. This might be your far flung keep an eye on on your SmartThings hub. You can download your device’s SmartThings app here.

Next you wish to have to shop for the SmartThings hub and no less than one SmartThings suitable tool. Samsung has correctly selected to provide starter packs at a discounted value to rope folks into their sensible house environment. You can pick out up the Smart Home Starter Kit for best $199. It features a hub and one presence sensor, movement sensor, and open/closed sensor. Samsung additionally gives different get started kits adapted to person wishes, just like the Smart Home Security Kit for $389 or the Smart Home Water Detection Kit for $189.

Alternately you'll be able to purchase a lone SmartThings Hub for $99 after which upload sensors ala carte. Sensors vary from electric shops to water and proximity sensors. Most vary in worth from $45-55. Finally, you'll be able to get started shopping for person 3rd-birthday party SmartThings-suitable units. We’ve indexed a few above, however the complete listing of SmartThings-suitable units can be found here.

Michael Grothaus 15:49, 2 Jul 2015
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