Smart home technology has matured a lot in the last couple of years, going from a novelty product to something that can be effectively and powerfully integrated into modern life. However, a process like this raises many difficult questions, many of which have to be answered by developers on behalf of their users.
A recent update to the SmartThings app shows that the California-based company may be abandoning the course that has made it one of the most notable smart home makers in the industry. This type of technology is certainly changing, but whether the change is for the better or worse remains to be seen.
Part of the appeal of the previous SmartThings experience was that it offered a surprising amount of flexibility. For one thing, the system is compatible with a wide range of third-party devices, including Philips Hue bulbs. 8 Fabulous Apps for Philips Hue Lights. 8 Fabulous Apps for Philips Hue Lights. The Philips Hue system has its own app, but why settle for the default when there are so many? cooler options out there? These 8 apps give you fabulous options for some really cool effects. Wi-Fi Read More and D-Link cameras:functionality that remains present after the update. However, the easy app used to set up their SmartThings devices was another big plus.
A simple yet deep system of controls allowed users to create custom programs for their own use. You would specify the device you were looking to use, then the app would offer its controls to dictate the desired input and output for the scenario, as well as settings regarding when it would be in effect and how the user would be notified.
It wasn't a perfect system, but it did allow for a lot of flexibility, especially when combined with the excellent resources of IFTTT. The Ultimate IFTTT Guide:Use the Web's Most Powerful Tool Like a Pro The Ultimate IFTTT Guide:Use the Web's Most Powerful Tool Like a Pro This This That That, also known as IFTTT, is a free service based on on the web so your apps and devices work together. Not sure how to build your applet? Follow along with this guide. Read more . Unfortunately, the new update has changed things in general, and nowadays it's hard to ignore the fact that the app just isn't as robust as it once was.
The new app streamlines much of the functionality that made the SmartThings ecosystem as good as it was. One of the standout features is the new Smart Home Monitor, which seems to have informed much of the product's new direction. Instead of creating your own programs to monitor your home 3 ways to protect your family and your home with the presence of SmartThings 3 ways to protect your family and your home with the presence of SmartThings Do you want to use technology to keep your loved ones closest and safest loved ones? See what a SmartThings Presence can do to keep an eye on your home. Read More
In theory, there is nothing wrong, especially since both parts of the app work very well. However, there simply isn't the scope for customization that once was, and that might favor a new user, but it looks set to leave SmartThings users out in the cold for a long time.
The above functions have been superseded by routines, which seem to do a good job of making it easy to set up smart home devices, like lighting and door locks, in a variety of circumstances. However, it is less suitable for notifying users about triggers like Open/Close sensor or Presence device.
One of the biggest disappointments is the fact that SmartThings and IFTTT no longer play nice with each other. A comment from SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson on the blog post announcing the app update suggests this issue should be fixed soon, but whether the IFTTT implementation will change at all remains to be seen.
It's also worth noting that the new version of the app doesn't offer many improvements in terms of basic usability. The dashboard is a good method of delivering a lot of information at a glance, but in other ways the app is now more difficult to navigate.
The pop-up info screens do a good job of updating users on the new layout, but it can be quite difficult to get your bearings, especially if you've gotten used to the way things were. The icons at the bottom of the screen are particularly useless, as they don't illustrate what content is contained in a particular section. Overall, the update feels like a step backwards in many ways.
Despite the fact that the current version of the app seems like a step backwards compared to the previous version, it's too early to say that SmartThings is going the wrong way. The update only went live three weeks ago, and this kind of software is perennially in a state of ongoing development. How to turn off automatic app updates in Windows 10 How to turn off automatic app updates in Windows 10 Turning off system updates is not recommended. But if you have to, here's how you do it in Windows 10. Read More .
Once the SmartThings app and IFTTT are working fine again, it will be much easier to tell if the system as a whole is as robust as it once was. With proper implementation, it could even improve on how things were set up in the past, but it's an important question at the time of writing.
There is also the possibility that the SmartThings development team is targeting a different type of usage. If your devices are pitched as home monitors, rather than technology that offers a fully flexible smart home setup, then it's easy to see why these changes have been made. However, it is likely to disappoint users who have adopted the system due to its flexibility.
The SmartThings system is a very promising platform, but it's clearly at a crossroads right now, thanks in no small part to the fact that smart home technology is about to hit the mainstream. 5 YouTube Videos To Get Really Excited About Smart Homes 5 YouTube Videos To Get Really Excited About Smart Homes tell us you're not excited yet! Read more . To be successful in that environment, the development team needs to take into account the influx of novice users, but hopefully that won't be to the detriment of early adopters.
Have you downloaded the latest update of the SmartThings app? Do you prefer it to the previous version? Or, are you of the opinion that it is a step backwards instead of forwards? Join the discussion in the comments section below.
