Samsung just announced that its entire lineup of smart TVs will be SmartThings-ready in 2016. Better yet, every one of its premium SUHD TVs will also feature IoT hub technology that Samsung developed with SmartThings after its purchase in 2014.
Samsung builds SmartThings control into every 2016 smart TV
is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
In other words, every Samsung SUHD TV will be able to control SmartThings-compatible devices like lights, locks, and cameras without the need for a separate $99 SmartThings hub on the home network. A free SmartThings Extend USB adapter is required, however, in order to add the ZigBee and Z-Wave home automation protocols to the Wi-Fi already built into Samsung’s smart TVs.
The SmartThings application will feature routines like Cinema Mood that will allow owners to adjust lighting and sound from the TV in order to create a tailored movie experience. But Samsung’s also taking steps to make SmartThings integration seamless with the TV viewing experience so you don’t have to go in and out of the app all the time. Alerts from motion sensors, for example, can pop up directly on the TV to alert viewers of visitors or potential intruders. You can check the video from the camera and even open the door directly from the TV or smartphone app if you own a compatible camera and door lock.
We’ll see just how seamless the integration is when Samsung demonstrates the new SmartThings-compatible TVs for the first time at the big CES event in early January.
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