Tech Trends

All-In-One Home Smart Hub Includes Wireless Charging and Button for Custom Routines

Many smart home devices are compatible with the popular SmartThings ecosystem, which brings together a wide range of products for the smart home. With the arrival of the Matter standard, platform interconnectivity among smart home devices is now within reach. Welcoming these new possibilities for the connected home, Samsung has developed the SmartThings Station, an all-in-one hub that includes wireless charging and a button for custom routines.

SmartThings Station is a central hub that connects smart home devices from different manufacturers that support the Zigbee protocol and the Matter standard through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Thread. With this latest hub, Samsung has dropped support for devices that use the Z-Wave protocol. The hub is small, square and is powered by USB-C through a 25W adapter. The top surface supports wireless charging up to 15W and is also where the button is located. To setup, users simply add the device to their home in the SmartThings app and connect it to their Wi-Fi network. Through the app, users can check the status of the wireless charger and program custom routines for the button. The button supports up to three custom routines from being pressed, held or double pressed. Even though the button is on the far-right corner of the top surface, users will have difficulty pressing the button if a large smartphone is being wirelessly charged simultaneously. Otherwise, users can follow the instructions provided in the app to add their specific SmartThings ecosystem devices to the hub to build their connected home.

For those interested in interoperability between platforms for Matter devices, the experience is far from easy. SmartThings Station is a Matter-enabled Thread border router, which is required to connect Thread smart home devices to the SmartThings platform. To add the same devices to Apple HomeKit, users need a separate Thread border router for the platform, such as an Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet model), on the same network and share the accessories from the SmartThings app, which generates custom QR codes for Apple Home to scan and connect. Because Matter is a new standard, there is a lack of clear support documentation for users to follow so a great deal of trial and error is needed to take advantage of platform interoperability.

With support for wireless charging, custom routines and the latest standards and protocols, SmartThings Station reimagines the smart home hub for the SmartThings ecosystem through its increased versatility. Instead of being located next to their home network setup, users can place this hub where it is most practical and remain connected to their smart home.

—Hubert Chan, DDS

Matter-Enabled Smart Plug with Thread Technology Brings Latest in Smart Home Networking

Smart home plugs are widely available for about any connected home setup and price range. While they all have the same functionality of switching the power for outlets, they may not use the same standards and protocols to communicate with each other and to the connected home. Many smart plugs typically join an existing Wi-Fi network to connect to the cloud or a local controller on the same network. Eve Energy is a Matter-enabled smart plug with Thread technology, bringing the latest in networking and platform interoperability to the smart home.

Eve Energy requires a Matter-enabled Thread border router for each platform owners want to connect their smart home accessory to. For example, if owners want to connect the accessory to Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings, an Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet model) and Samsung SmartThings Station, Manuscript – anonymous respectively, must be on the same home network. The smart plug accessory itself utilizes Thread to communicate with border routers and other Thread-enabled devices in the connected home and does not require Wi-Fi or the cloud to control. Owners simply plug the device into an outlet, open their preferred platform smart home app and add the device through the QR code located on the accessory. Because the Matter standard is new, connecting the smart plug to additional platforms is very confusing. The initial QR code can no longer be used to add the device to a subsequent platform. Instead, owners must share the device from the smart home app of the initial platform, which generates a new QR code that the smart home app of the subsequent platform can scan to add the device to its setup. This process must be repeated for each additional platform owners want to add the accessory to. Once the arduous process is complete, owners should be able to view and control the smart plug from the smart home apps of the various platforms. For Apple Home users only, owners can use the Eve app to monitor energy use, create automation schedules and customize features on their smart plug.

Many manufacturers have committed to adopting Matter with their next generation of smart home devices. Eve Energy is among the first wave of smart plugs to embrace the new interoperability standard in addition to Thread technology. While it may be difficult to set up with multiple platforms, it is a reliable and future-proof accessory for the smart home.

—Hubert Chan, DDS