Samsung Gives SmartThings A Refresh With New Features, Faster Local Controls
Outside of developing end-user devices and mass-producing SoCs, Samsung has also been working on improving its software and apps. The South Korean tech giant has announced a refreshed SmartThings app, which sits at the centre of its smart home platform. The main highlight of the refresh is SmartThings Now, which appears as cards at the […] The post Samsung Gives SmartThings A Refresh With New…
Samsung has updated its SmartThings app, enhancing its smart home platform with new features. The main addition is SmartThings Now, which presents cards at the top of the Home tab within the app. These cards display personalized information and actions depending on the user's circumstances, such as location, usage history, and habits.
For instance, SmartThings Now might recommend turning on lights and air purifiers when a user arrives home. Upon completing this action, the app could then propose creating a new routine. Samsung claims this feature aims to guide users to relevant features based on their choices and context. Additionally, SmartThings can offer personalized suggestions based on usage patterns.
For example, as temperatures drop, the app could suggest removing the air conditioning card from the Home tab to make space for other relevant cards. The update extends beyond home devices, with SmartThings suggesting to check in on family members who haven't used any devices for a while. Other enhancements include a redesigned Home tab for a more streamlined view of connected devices and services, a Floating Bar for easier one-handed use on larger smartphones, and changes to Live Wallpaper for a more personalized appearance.
A key practical addition in the latest SmartThings update is local device control, enabling users to manage compatible devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network even without an internet connection. Samsung asserts that this can boost response times by approximately 30% compared to cloud-based control. The app automatically switches between local and cloud-based control based on whether the user's smartphone is at home or away.
The update also includes Offline Device Diagnostics, making it easier to update network information across registered devices when they go offline. Furthermore, the update supports the latest version of the smart home connectivity standard, Matter 1.6, adding support for four new device categories, including "Energy Meters" for monitoring power usage and "Closures" for certain types of devices.
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