V2 hub new features
Local Device Type execution and SmartApp processing
BLE (Future use cases - micro presence and Bluetooth Smart device connectivity)
Backup battery (combined with local processing this enables security use cases during power and internet outages)
Local storage
2 USB ports for expandability (WiFi, other HA radios, etc.)
How local processing works
“How” is a question that I won’t attempt to answer too deeply as I’m not a software engineer or architect. Simply put, we’ve shrunk the cloud stack down so that the necessary parts can run on the hub itself. This means that most SmartApps and Device Types can live on the hub itself. This will reduce the latency with commands and improve stability compared to a cloud connected hub.
Any gotchas for existing users
No Hub 1 → Hub 2 migration tool available at launch
Some integrations in the future may require Hub V2. This may include local streaming of video or improved LAN connectivity.
App changes
Nothing new to announce here. Watch this video for info on the direction we’re headed.
Website changes
Developer portal changes
We launched an updated consumer site this week at http://smartthings.com. It’ll get some more updates around V2 launch. The developer portal (not the IDE, but http://smartthings.com/developers) is being updated as well to reduce the friction to get started on the SmartThings platform.
Device support enhancements
Nothing to announce here related to V2. The processing power and other features of V2 are going to enable us to do a lot - one thing that we’ve already been working on is improvements to existing LAN integrations using local processing on V2.
Overall new features, whether that be ability to control devices from website, groovy changes, etc.
Device control from the site will not be part of our 2015 V2 launch. I can’t speak to Groovy changes.