On the surface, the SmartThings hub looks a lot like a Mac Mini. Inside, the SmartThings Hub is all Samsung. The $99.99 device has been called the “heart of your smart home.”
Installed, it connects wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control and protect your home from anywhere in the world.
First introduced in 2012, the SmartThings Hub got its start through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Less than two years later, Samsung bought parent company SmartThings, Inc. for $200 million.
For 2015, the next generation of Samsung SmartThings Hub arrived, along with a new line of products, and a new SmartThings app. Here's How The New SmartThings App Is A Major Step Back Here's How The New SmartThings App Is A Major Step Back A recent update to the SmartThings app shows that the company might be changing course. This type of technology is certainly changing, but it remains to be seen if it is for better or worse. Read More experience for mobile devices, including Android and iOS.
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SmartThings is compatible with hundreds of connected products thanks to its Smart Home platform. Not surprisingly, many of these are made by Samsung and SmartThings. Many, however, come from third parties. We will divide them into three categories:monitoring, security and control.
$249 SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit includes SmartThings Hub, two multipurpose sensors, one motion sensor 4 Really Cool Uses for SmartThings Open Close Sensors 4 Really Cool Uses for SmartThings Open Close Sensors The Open/Close sensor is designed to control doors and gates , but with a little creativity you can do much more. Here are ideas for using the device to make your home a little smarter. Read More Which smart plug is the best for you? Even if you're not into the whole smart home automation trend, you should still get some smart plugs. They are one of the easiest smart home products to use. Read more . With these, you can control whether doors, windows, cabinets or your garage are open or closed; monitor movement in your home; and have the ability to control lights, electronics, and small appliances. You can add additional sensors and outputs to your setup at any time.
Having the SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit is useless without having connected devices. For monitoring, think of smart cameras placed in your home. Compatible devices include the Samsung SmartCam HDP Pro and the D-Link Wi-Fi Pan &Tilt Camera.
With these types of cameras, you can see what is happening in and around your home from anywhere, 24/7, using your smart device or via the web. Available features include live video notifications and video clips when an activity occurs in your home.
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A phrase that first became popular during the Middle Ages says it all; your home is your castle. For almost as long, we have protected our homes with door locks. Today, we have smart locks and deadbolts, which we can operate remotely.
Other Smart Security-Based Products Creepy But Fun Surveillance Ideas With SmartThings Creepy But Fun Surveillance Ideas With SmartThings With a suite of Smart Home devices like the SmartThings suite, you can spy to your heart's content. Here are some ways to use SmartThings devices to keep an eye on your surroundings. Read more now on the market includes window sensors, garage door openers 4 ways a smart garage door opener will simplify your life 4 ways a smart garage door opener will simplify your life Garages are great, garage doors are frustrating. Smart garage door openers can help. Read more, smoke detectors, and alarms..
The lights were one of the first smart devices on the market. Thanks to products like Philips Hue, Lifx, Osram and Cree, you can control, automate and monitor your lights inside or outside your home. Did you forget to turn off the lights? Want to add a little color to your next party? There is nothing to worry about thanks to SmartThings..
Lighting isn't the only type of product you can control with the SmartThings Hub. You can also add coffeemakers, wireless music systems, water monitors, and thermostats to your system.
When you shop for smart devices, you'll likely see the words Z-Wave or ZigBee on the packaging. In layman's terms, this is the secret sauce behind many of the smart devices on the market. From a technical point of view, these are best described as high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios.
These rules are considered simpler and less expensive than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
For this discussion, it doesn't matter if a product works with Z-Wave or ZigBee, as long as it's compatible with SmartThings.
The Cree Connected LED bulb produces a high quality soft white light. Best of all, it's one of the least expensive smart bulbs on the market. Once installed, these bulbs are easy to dim or brighten. With SmartThings, you can schedule lights to turn on automatically or at any time.
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Similar products include the LIFX White 800 A19 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb and the Belkin WeMo LED Light Bulb.
The Massachusetts-based audio company has a host of SmartThings-compatible products on the market, including wireless music players, amplifiers, and home theater systems. For those looking for a starter package, check out the $199.99 Bose SoundTouch 10 wireless music system.
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Similar products include the Samsung M3 Wireless Audio Speaker and the Samsung 360 Wireless Audio Radiant.
The Samsung SmartCam HD Pro can be placed anywhere in your home. It has live broadcasts and automatic notifications based on events and video clip recording.
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Similar products include the D-Link Outdoor HD PoE Day/Night Cloud Camera and the D-Link HD Wi-Fi Camera.
Maybe “cool” isn't the best word to describe a wall switch, but we're still adding the GE Smart Wall Switch. With this switch, you can turn the lights on/off from your smart devices, and also activate the lights when certain events occur. For example, when someone opens a door or leaves a room. The switch also works well with ceiling fans, which can turn on/off depending on the room temperature.
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Similar products include the Aeon Labs Micro Smart Energy Switch and the Enerwave On/Off Switch.
This device emits a loud siren and a bright strobe light when unexpected movement, tampering, or entry occurs. The SmartThings app adds the ability to customize which actions trigger the alarm and send a notification. The lights are available for indoor and outdoor use. FortrezZ is currently the only SmartThings compatible strobe alarm on the market.
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Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms haven't changed much. 6 Smart Detectors That Protect Your Family And Property From Damage 6 Smart Detectors That Protect Your Family And Property From Damage A truly smart home does more than save money—it helps protect your family and your home. These smart detectors will keep an eye on things so you feel safe when you're home or away. Read More However, they still play an important role in households. First Alert's latest product offers 24/7 protection and sends notifications when there's a problem. When paired with a SmartPower outlet, the early warning smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm can automatically trigger lights, giving family members an easier way out.
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Security researchers at the University of Michigan recently discovered design flaws Samsung SmartThings Security breach:What you need to know Samsung SmartThings Security breach:What you need to know Security researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a number of design flaws on the Samsung SmartThings platform. The flaws potentially undermine the security of any smart home setup that uses the SmartThings ecosystem. Read More These flaws could allow malicious apps to open doors, falsely trigger alarms, or wake devices from vacation mode, among other attack vectors.
For its part, Samsung has released a carefully worded statement on this subject, which reads, in part:
Security will always be a concern for wireless products. It is something to take into account when making new purchases. The key is to make sure that the software associated with these products is regularly updated to address these vulnerabilities.
There are many SmartThings compatible products on the market to monitor, control and secure your home. New products arrive every month. For an up-to-date list of compatible products, check the SmartThings website.
