If you are using Samsung SmartThings on your Nvidia Shield, your home will stop working from July 2021. Samsung is also discontinuing support for the V1 SmartThings Hub.
SmartThings, not so smart
Three years ago, Nvidia and Samsung announced Nvidia Shield support for SmartThings, which is Samsung's platform for the connected home. To get started you had to purchase the SmartThings Link dongle.
Effective June 30, 2021, the SmartThings Link dongle for Nvidia Shield will stop working, effectively bricking your "smart home" unless you purchase a new hub or transition to another home automation platform. Samsung will also discontinue support for the V1 SmartThings Hub.
SmartThings Link for Nvidia Shield will stop working from July 2021
- "As SmartThings continues to evolve our product and technology portfolio, we have decided to discontinue the SmartThings Link product effective June 30, 2021," Samsung wrote in an email to its customers (via Janko Roettgers).
That is four months' notice for a system meant to control your home, and it is not looking for Samsung's ambitions to participate in the smart home area. The company also abandoned plans to bring SmartThings on 2016 Smart TVs for "security reasons", which led to a bizarre twist involving the very same SmartThings Link dongle for Nvidia Shield.
Alternatives to Samsung SmartThings? Check out Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Home.
