Report

Earlier this year, SmartThings announced a new program called Certification by Similarity (CbS) within our Works with Samsung SmartThings (WWST) partner program. This program is designed for Smart Home OEM’s to be able to certify portfolios of products, rather than certifying each product one by one.

Additionally, we released a new developer feature called Product Cloning, which allows partners to input the details of one product and copy for all the similar products.

Many of our device manufacturing partners have a portfolio of devices that have the same smart technology on the inside but come in many different shapes, colors, and other variations. We are making it easier and more cost efficient than ever to certify the entire portfolio.

After releasing this new certification option, we have heard excellent reviews from our partners. Read on to discover how to take advantage of this new offering.



Product Cloning
SmartThings Product Cloning allows you to enter information for one product and clone it to generate multiple entries for all similar products. The similar products include all the critical information — all you need to do is update the unique identifiers, like the Matter Product ID and Model Number.

Easily copy product details and enter whole product lines
Save time and get certified faster

Get Started
How to clone a product:

Visit the SmartThings Certification Console. Navigate to the Products page (second icon from the top on the left). Enter your product details for one product and save it. Navigate back to the Products page. Under the Actions menu on the product, you have an option to create multiple products at once with Product Cloning.


You can add up to 10 clones with the option to enter the unique identifiers. Once created, the clones appear in your Products list; you can open them up and modify any of the details before submitting for WWST Certification.




WWST Certification by Similarity
Certification by Similarity (CbS) allows you to reduce your WWST certification time and cost by identifying related products with similar core functionality but with different model numbers and minor differences like colors, shapes, or regional variations.

Example Certification by Similarity use case with a portfolio of RGBW, RGB, and white balance light bulbs:

Start by submitting a primary product for certification that is a superset of all the portfolio features — such as one of the RGBW light bulbs. Once the primary product testing is complete, the similar devices — such as the RGB and white balance light bulbs — can get fast-tracked through certification, for free. Additional devices can be either submitted at the same time as the primary product or at a later date. All you need to do is submit the product information and link it with the primary product. We then verify that the features are the same as your primary product and grant you certification.

Devices that Can Be Considered for CbS
The following criteria must be met for the devices to be considered for CbS:



Note: Cloud Connected Devices may have different Device Profiles and still be considered for Certification by Similarity. This is possible only if the Capabilities for similar products are a subset of the primary product. If a similar device has additional Capabilities, partial testing is required.

Learn more about CbS in the Developer Documentation and Certification Console.


Get Started
How to submit similar products for WWST:


Visit the SmartThings Certification Console. Navigate to the Certifications page. Submit your primary product for certification. Navigate back to the Certifications page and select the target similar product to certify. You now have the option to link this submission with the primary product. Select the associated primary product and submit your product for certification.



Certification by Similarity FAQs
How is the primary product determined?
→ The primary product has all the Capabilities of other devices in the group. In this example, Product 4 or Product 5 could be the primary.


How can we guarantee CbS will be approved before submitting for WWST certification?
→ We recommend following the guidelines in the Developer Documentation. The WWST team makes the final decision after reviewing your submission.

Should I submit the primary product and wait for it to be fully certified before submitting secondary devices to be considered for CbS, or can all of the products be submitted together?
→ When submitting products, you do not need to wait. You can submit the primary product and similar products at the same time.

I have multiple brands, including some that have the same hardware and firmware. Can CbS be extended to these multiple brands?
→ In order to be considered for CbS, products must contain the same brand. View our documentation to review the CbS program requirements.

How does the publication / timing work for CbS devices compared to the primary product?
→ See our Publish Your Device guide on publication/timing.


Want to integrate your device(s) with SmartThings? Visit our Developer Center to get started and access Product Cloning and Certification by Similarity tools.
View the full blog at its source

Engagement Data to Guide Product Development
What is SmartThings Analytics?
With our recent update, once you become Works with SmartThings certified, you can use SmartThings Analytics to gather useful data about how your products are being used in the field with PII-safe engagement data. The best part: you can see information like the number of registered and active devices, where your customers are located, and the SmartThings Capabilities that are most commonly used — which helps inform how customers interact with your products.

Leverage these insights to optimize your products and product roadmap.







Why Should Developers and Product Teams Use SmartThings Analytics?
We are always looking for ways to better connect partners with our millions of users.

We know that it can be difficult to collect user engagement data — especially for partners who manufacture Hub Connected devices.

Last year, we announced our first version of Analytics, which included Registered and Active devices. After obtaining Works with SmartThings certification, partners can easily access SmartThings Analytics from the Console.

Since receiving positive feedback on the first version of Analytics, we’ve continued to improve performance and expand the type of data partners can access. New this year, we are providing both country-level data and Capability level use. With Capability data, you can answer questions about the most commonly used features of your product, like “Are users actually changing the color of their lights?”

Leverage these insights to drive better outcomes for your products and users, and optimize your products based on real user interactions.


Key Features of SmartThings Analytics
Real-world Usage Data: SmartThings Analytics makes it easy to know if your users are engaged with your products by providing real-world usage data, which we’ve built in a way that gives you actionable data while still protecting the privacy of users’ data.
User-friendly Interface: With an intuitive and user-friendly interface, the Analytics tool ensures a seamless experience for product owners and developers of all levels.
Multiple Ways to Gain Insights: Easily search by an individual product or your entire catalog, within one country or within a region. Or choose to go back as far as 7, 30, 90 days, or with a custom date range. Lastly, see which SmartThings "Capabilities" are being used — there are plenty of ways to get actionable engagement data to drive product decisions.

Product Questions that SmartThings Analytics Answers

Where am I getting most of my product sales? In which countries do I have the most active user base? What features / SmartThings Capabilities do my customers use the most? Which are used the least? How many active devices do I have compared to registered devices? How are the active devices and registered devices trending over time? Did device registrations go up after our recent marketing campaign? Or after the event where we showcased our brand?

How to Get Started with SmartThings Analytics?
Ready to view Analytics for your device(s)? Here's a quick resource guide to help you get started and show you the features:


1. Begin by Accessing Analytics
Analytics is only available to partners who have Works with SmartThings (WWST) certified products.
Visit the SmartThings Developer Console and navigate to the Analytics section, accessible at SmartThings Developer Console.


Keep reading for a screen-by-screen walkthrough, or check out this video.


If you have a WWST certified product(s) , but do not have access to the Console, email us at [email protected].









2. Set Up Your Search Parameters

With Analytics you can search by:

Product(s): Search by one product or all to see a portfolio view of how your products are being used.



Date: See the last 7, 30, or 90 days of data, or choose a custom data range.



Location: View data by county or region.





3. View Data for Insights
Registered Devices: View devices that are registered with SmartThings.



Active Devices: View devices with an event or an online status in the last 24 hours. Devices may go from the inactive state to the active state and vice versa.



Capabilities: See SmartThings Capabilities that are being used for your product or products. Get a glimpse of which capabilities are the most used.



Geo Location: View by country or region.


See where your products are being used by country or by region.

Any of these fields can be made full screen or zoomed in on. The data can be also exported as a CSV.



Our latest update with Analytics represents another avenue for providing more value for WWST Certified partners. Access to this variety of usage data is critical to understanding how your products are being used.
Ready to gain more product insights? Navigate to Analytics in the Certification Console to see these insights and apply them to your product strategy.
Want to integrate your device with SmartThings? Visit https://developer.smartthings.com to access tools like Edge Builder and Test Suite, and then leverage our Certification Console to get your device(s) certified.
View the full blog at its source

Engagement Data to Guide Product Development
What is SmartThings Analytics?
With our recent update, once you become Works with SmartThings certified, you can use SmartThings Analytics to gather useful data about how your products are being used in the field with PII-safe engagement data. The best part: you can see information like the number of registered and active devices, where your customers are located, and the SmartThings Capabilities that are most commonly used — which helps inform how customers interact with your products.

Leverage these insights to optimize your products and product roadmap.







Why Should Developers and Product Teams Use SmartThings Analytics?
We are always looking for ways to better connect partners with our millions of users.

We know that it can be difficult to collect user engagement data — especially for partners who manufacture Hub Connected devices.

Last year, we announced our first version of Analytics, which included Registered and Active devices. After obtaining Works with SmartThings certification, partners can easily access SmartThings Analytics from the Console.

Since receiving positive feedback on the first version of Analytics, we’ve continued to improve performance and expand the type of data partners can access. New this year, we are providing both country-level data and Capability level use. With Capability data, you can answer questions about the most commonly used features of your product, like “Are users actually changing the color of their lights?”

Leverage these insights to drive better outcomes for your products and users, and optimize your products based on real user interactions.


Key Features of SmartThings Analytics
Real-world Usage Data: SmartThings Analytics makes it easy to know if your users are engaged with your products by providing real-world usage data, which we’ve built in a way that gives you actionable data while still protecting the privacy of users’ data.
User-friendly Interface: With an intuitive and user-friendly interface, the Analytics tool ensures a seamless experience for product owners and developers of all levels.
Multiple Ways to Gain Insights: Easily search by an individual product or your entire catalog, within one country or within a region. Or choose to go back as far as 7, 30, 90 days, or with a custom date range. Lastly, see which SmartThings "Capabilities" are being used — there are plenty of ways to get actionable engagement data to drive product decisions.

Product Questions that SmartThings Analytics Answers

Where am I getting most of my product sales? In which countries do I have the most active user base? What features / SmartThings Capabilities do my customers use the most? Which are used the least? How many active devices do I have compared to registered devices? How are the active devices and registered devices trending over time? Did device registrations go up after our recent marketing campaign? Or after the event where we showcased our brand?

How to Get Started with SmartThings Analytics?
Ready to view Analytics for your device(s)? Here's a quick resource guide to help you get started and show you the features:


1. Begin by Accessing Analytics
Analytics is only available to partners who have Works with SmartThings (WWST) certified products.
Visit the SmartThings Developer Console and navigate to the Analytics section, accessible at SmartThings Developer Console.


Keep reading for a screen-by-screen walkthrough, or check out this video.


If you have a WWST certified product(s) , but do not have access to the Console, email us at [email protected].









2. Set Up Your Search Parameters

With Analytics you can search by:

Product(s): Search by one product or all to see a portfolio view of how your products are being used.



Date: See the last 7, 30, or 90 days of data, or choose a custom data range.



Location: View data by county or region.





3. View Data for Insights
Registered Devices: View devices that are registered with SmartThings.



Active Devices: View devices with an event or an online status in the last 24 hours. Devices may go from the inactive state to the active state and vice versa.



Capabilities: See SmartThings Capabilities that are being used for your product or products. Get a glimpse of which capabilities are the most used.



Geo Location: View by country or region.


See where your products are being used by country or by region.

Any of these fields can be made full screen or zoomed in on. The data can be also exported as a CSV.



Our latest update with Analytics represents another avenue for providing more value for WWST Certified partners. Access to this variety of usage data is critical to understanding how your products are being used.
Ready to gain more product insights? Navigate to Analytics in the Certification Console to see these insights and apply them to your product strategy.
Want to integrate your device with SmartThings? Visit https://developer.smartthings.com to access tools like Edge Builder and Test Suite, and then leverage our Certification Console to get your device(s) certified.
View the full blog at its source

Samsung Electronics today announced that eight product series1 in its 2024 Neo QLED 4K and 8K, OLED, and The Frame lineups have received the “Product Carbon Reduction” certification from TÜV Rheinland, the international independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization. The certification demonstrates the carbon footprint reduction ratio of these products compared to the previous year’s model, serving as a testament to the company’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions year-over-year.
 

 
“As the world’s leading TV manufacturer, it is our responsibility to create products that both redefine TV capabilities while advancing sustainability efforts,” said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.
 
“Congratulations to Samsung Electronics. The issuance of Product Carbon Reduction certification demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its actual implementation efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change,” said Frank Holzmann, Global Vice President of TÜV Rheinland Business Field Electrical, “This recognition will undoubtedly enhance the brand’s reputation and customer trust, further solidifying its position as a leading player in the global electronics market.”
 
TÜV Rheinland evaluated greenhouse gas emissions for Samsung’s TV products throughout their life cycle- “from Cradle to Grave” — ranging from manufacturing, transportation, use to disposal, in accordance with the internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14067 and ISO 14064-4 as well as TÜV Rheinland’s self-developed standard 2 PfG Q2880/09.23. It verifies and certifies that all of eight TV product series meet the carbon reduction standard requirement set by TÜV Rheinland. The newly certified products include two Neo QLED 8K series, three Neo QLED 4K series, two OLED series and one series of The Frame.
 
In addition to product certification, Samsung’s Visual Display Business obtained the display and consumer electronics industry’s first “Product Carbon Footprint Calculation Method” certification from TÜV Rheinland. This certification measures and manages greenhouse gas emissions throughout the complete life cycle of a product, collecting and analyzing data in accordance with management regulations and stipulated execution manuals to calculate greenhouse gas emissions and ensure transparent and reproducible results.
 
As Samsung continues its work to reduce the environmental impact of its products, it aims to achieve TÜV Rheinland’s “Product Carbon Footprint” and “Product Carbon Reduction” certifications for over 60 models in 2024, including newly introduced soundbars. With these eight product series’ carbon reduction result and analysis report, Samsung has more confidence and clear direction in the development and design of the next generation decarbonized TV product.
 
This recognition builds on previous acknowledgements of Samsung’s sustainability efforts. It obtained its first “Reducing CO2” certification from the Carbon Trust in 2021 for Neo QLED 4K and higher resolution TVs. In 2022, 11 TV models and five monitor and signage products achieved the “Reducing CO2” certification, and most recently, 24 models across Samsung’s 2023 lineup were certified by the Carbon Trust and TÜV Rheinland.
 
For more information on Samsung’s 2024 TV lineup, please visit www.samsung.com.
 
 
1 Neo QLED 8K (QN900D, QN800D), Neo QLED 4K (QN95D, QN90D, QN85DA), OLED (S95D, S90D), and The Frame (LS03D)
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Samsung Electronics has been shaping the history of television through the development of its technological innovations, from FHD and 4K through to 8K, thanks to its far-sighted strategic vision and an endless passion to bring new technologies to the market.
 
In order to learn more about the achievements made so far in the field of TV technological innovation, as well as the future of display technologies in the age of UHD screens, Samsung Newsroom sat down with TV experts.
 
▲ (From left) Sangmin Lee, Head of the Picture Quality Solution Lab, Hyunchul Song from the Product Development Group and Youngseok Han from H/W Platform Lab of Samsung’s Visual Display Business
 
 
Pioneering the Future of TV Through Endless Innovation
These days, picture quality has become one of the most crucial factors consumers consider when choosing a TV. In 1977, Samsung succeeded in the development and mass production of a color TV, the Color Economy TV, for the first time in Korea, ushering in the era of color television for the country. Samsung earned the title of the first color TV manufacturer in Korea thanks to its steadfast dedication to innovation, and the company was never complacent about the colossal success of its black and white TV model, the Econo TV, which took the lion’s share within the monthly TV market at the time.
 
▲ Samsung’s first LED TV, launched in 2009, wowed the world as a breakthrough in TV technology.
 
Next to be developed was the LCD TV, and, in 2009, Samsung unveiled its breakthrough model — the Samsung LED TV. The LED TV was the culmination of all the innovative technologies available at the time, allowing for unrivalled picture quality brought about by light-emitting diodes. All components of Samsung’s LED TV were designed anew, and the number of patents acquired for this model exceeded 3,000.
 
▲ Samsung’s QLED TV made its global debut at CES in 2017.
 
In 2017, Samsung then went on to introduce the world’s first QLED TV based on cadmium-free quantum dot technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The company’s innovative TV was at the center of attention that year, boasting superb picture quality and 100% color volume.
 
A year later, the company brought to the market a QLED 8K model that incorporated 8K resolution into Samsung’s proprietary quantum dot technology. It featured Direct Full Array, a backlight technology able to precisely control the lighting balance across every part of the picture on-screen, as well as 8K AI Upscaling, an upscaling technology designed to intelligently upgrade lower-quality videos into vivid 8K resolution, for the first time in the industry. Samsung’s innovative QLED 8K technologies are what launched the era of 8K.
 

 
“In 2020, Samsung unveiled the world’s first bezel-less TV that completely removed the bezels from around the display,“ said Hyunchul Song from the Product Development Group. “A year later, we further solidified our position as an industry leader by introducing our Neo QLED technology based on Quantum Mini LED displays. From FHD through to 8K, we have undertaken ceaseless efforts to develop innovative products that offer differentiated experiences based on consumer needs.”
 
 
Striving for Superior Picture Quality Through In-Depth Research Into Human Behavior
Samsung continues to strive to offer the best possible viewer experiences by delivering leading picture quality. However, what does “good picture quality” mean to someone who works on its development?
 

 
“Picture quality is considered good when it delivers a sense of reality to the viewer that feels as if you are witnessing the images on-screen first-hand,” explained Youngseok Han, a developer from the H/W Lab. “To ensure good picture quality, display performance indicators such as high resolution, high luminance and excellent color expression are essential. What also matters is how well-balanced the other cutting-edge technologies of the display are, including the chip design, the picture quality algorithms and the sound.”
 
Han went on to provide further insight into the importance of balance to the corresponding picture quality. “The factors that impact picture quality the most are how well you organize the various relevant technologies. These include those designed to reduce distortion and any image transmission noise, those that reproduce colors precisely and richly and create sharp contrast for more vivid, clear images and those motion technologies that ensure the movement of objects on-screen appears smooth and fluid.”
 
It would be impossible to develop good picture quality with just one singular technology, no matter how great that technology is. This is why Samsung is committed to developing innovative technologies through all kinds of different approaches without resting on their laurels as a leader in the industry. Recently introduced on the 2023 Neo QLED TV, Real Depth Enhancer is one of the new features that has been developed to the end of further improving picture quality.
 

 
When human eyes are focused on an object, attention is directed onto the object by optimizing sharpness, clarity and texture, all while also maintaining the background scene. Samsung’s Real Depth Enhancer technology was developed based on an understanding of this human behavior, and harnesses AI to automatically separate an object from its background to create a greater sense of depth and make the images truly pop.
 
Furthermore, Neo Quantum Matrix Pro technology improves the playback of fine details through precise control of the quantum mini LEDs across a total of 13,684 levels. This meticulous adjustment further adds dimension and a sense of reality to the images on-screen.
 
“Our Real Depth Enhancer technology is the result of an optimization of all the relevant technologies in a way that takes human psychology into account, instead of focusing only on improving resolution,” noted Han.
 
 
From 8K Games to Artworks on Samsung TVs in the Age of 8K Technology
These days, users are being bombarded by new content. Tens of thousands of new pieces of media and content are being published every day across all manner of platforms — but does the same apply for those contents being made in 8K?
 

 
“Following the recent growth of 8K devices including smartphones, anyone is able to create 8K content and view it in ultra-high resolution,” said Sangmin Lee, Head of the Picture Quality Solution Lab. “High-performance graphics cards also now make it possible for users to play 8K games, meaning that we are already living in the age of 8K UHD.”
 

 
Song further detailed the growth of 8K content in today’s viewing market. “There is a growing amount of 8K content available on social media channels, and artists are creating digital artworks in 8K,” he explained. “We added in ‘YouTube Videos in 8K’ feature to the 2023 Neo QLED TV to allow users to peruse the 8K content available on YouTube and explore digital artworks, such as an image in NFT1 form, at a single glance.”
 
Samsung is also taking the lead in expanding the 8K content ecosystem by being at the helm of the 8K Association, a global non-profit organization established in 2019 with the aim of establishing 8K standards and expanding 8K content. As of February 2023, the association has 33 members, including Samsung, TV panel producers, SoC chip makers and leading content creators. Last year, Samsung released a teaser for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series in 8K developed in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video, another member of the 8K Association.
 
 
Developing Optimal Picture Quality That Takes Viewing Experiences to the Next Level
In order to learn more about the next steps for industry leader Samsung in terms of picture quality in the age of 8K technology, Samsung Newsroom asked the three TV professionals what their goals are.
 
“As a developer, I feel the most accomplished when I hear the feedback that viewers think the images on-screen seem real to them,” said Han. “My goal is to further improve our algorithms by optimizing a range of components in order to deliver picture quality that is ‘more real than real’ to viewers.”
 
For Song, creating technologies that bring real value to users is of the utmost importance. “While the development department works to create the best picture quality through technological innovation, I am more involved in optimizing products to bring high-quality experiences to as many viewers as possible,” said Song. “I will continue to deliberate on what other kinds of user value we can bring to our viewers.”
 
Finally, from Lee’s perspective, the goal is and always has been to provide users with experiences that go beyond simply watching content. “The most important value that a display can provide is to present images that seem more real than reality itself,” explained Lee. “Through the best picture quality algorithms and leading sound performance, the optimal picture quality that is delivered then allows users to enjoy their favorite content without having to worry about adjusting the settings. Our ultimate goal is to offer superb picture quality that enables users to thoroughly enjoy their viewing experiences that go beyond simply watching content.”
 
Stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for the second and final part in this series highlighting the role of the 8K TV and the innovative technologies Samsung has been developing to provide the best possible viewing experiences to its users.
 
 
1 SAVAGE is a high quality NFT marketplace featuring 4K/8K video and photography. With over 50 titles at launch in March 2023, SAVAGE will expand throughout the year with more than 250 new pieces from top creators and brands.
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