Samsung Enhances Smart Home Experience with Innovative SmartThings Platform Features

At the CES 2024 event in Las Vegas, Samsung unveiled a series of updates to its SmartThings home automation ecosystem, indicating a push towards a more cohesive and interactive smart home environment for users of Samsung devices.

As part of its announcements, Samsung introduced Now Plus, a new feature destined for a selection of Samsung television sets. Designed with convenience in mind, the Now Plus dashboard activates as users approach, presenting information about the status and readings of smart home gadgets, including details like the ambient temperature inside.

Adding to the user-friendly appeal is a new "quick panel" that provides easy access to managing connected devices. This panel isn’t just for adjusting your home's smart devices; it also comes with handy functions like helping you locate misplaced smartphones and other portable electronics.

A significant advancement is Samsung's launch of a new "map view" in SmartThings, which echoes a similar feature recently rolled out by Amazon. Samsung's version offers an interactive floorplan of the user's home and keeps track of the whereabouts of smart devices like washing machines, fridges, and the like. Homeowners can create these maps by manually plotting them out, snapping a photo of a pre-existing floor plan, or using a lidar-capable Samsung gadget, such as their upcoming Ballie robot or the newly introduced JetBot robot vacuum.

Injecting a touch of whimsy – or unease for some – these SmartThings maps also feature "AI characters" that represent the occupants and pets of the home. These animated figures are programmed to mirror real-life conditions; for example, they may appear to be overheated if the home's temperature rises too much.

Setting up these maps initially requires the SmartThings app on a smartphone or tablet. Once configured, users will be able to view them on compatible Samsung smart TVs, the interactive display on the Samsung Family Hub smart fridge, and Samsung’s series of M8 monitors.