Like most other manufacturers, Samsung will increase its focus on the connected home in 2016. The company imagines that one of the hubs in the home will be the TV. Therefore, some 2016 models will come with Samsung’s SmartThings system built-in. Here is a video of how it will work.
Based on Samsung SmartThings
In 2014, Samsung acquired a company called SmartThings and turned it into its platform for IoT (Internet of Things) with a plan to connect every device in your home.
Several 2016 TVs will incorporate support for SmartThings. By using the bottom menu you can select from pre-defined and customizable scenarios such as ”Away mode” that turns off all devices in your home. In the video demonstration below, Samsung also talks about its ”Cinema mood” that turns on a soundbar and dims the lights in the living room. Samsung had also hooked up a wireless baby camera to its TVs.
Like Sony, Samsung imagines that the TV will be just one of the hubs in the home, and not the exclusive control center. You can control IoT devices on the SmartThings network from your phone or tablet, too.
In the video you also see how Samsung’s TV is capable of unlocking the front door.
All 2016 ”SUHD” TVs will have the SmartThings hub built-in. The other 2016 TVs will be ”IoT Ready”, meaning that you have to buy and connect a USB dongle. Samsung did not say whether its 2015 TVs will be compatible with SmartThings.
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