SmartThings Smart Apps suggestions and request

[cooperrd (R. Dean Cooper)]

Let me begin by saying that the apps and interface that I want may already exist and I don’t know where to look or how to configure SmartThings properly.

I am a recent convert to smart things. As anyone who has researched “home automation” knows there is an ongoing battle over protocols. No one can predict the ultimate winner (s) but my money is on Z wave, ZigBee, and IP based products. That being said; Smart apps are the doorway to the future of the really smart home and makes Smart things the perfect choice.

I have suggestions for several smart apps that I think would be very beneficial for many people.

The first is a smart app to control smart devices (mostly lights) based on time of day and day(s) of the week. I envision this app having an interface sort of like the iPhone alarm app or an event scheduled in calendar program.

You would select the devices to be include in the “event”, then set start time and end time, select the day or days of the week this would occur. Just as you have the ability to have multiple alarms on the IPhone you would need the ability to set more than one scenario.

For instance for me one scenario would turn on certain indoor and outdoor lights at 8:00 pm and then turn them off at 6:00 am every day of the week. Next scenario would be a vacation type scenario. Living room on from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm then living room off and bedroom on until 11:00 pm. Some of this may already exist in Modes.

I have found one app that will randomly turn lights on and off – but it will not simulate what lights are actually on and off at the proper times.

The second app may be more of an interface than an app. I see that the only camera that SmartThings supports is DropCam. I think that it would be great to have an app/interface to an IP camera app so you could use any IP camera(s) that you choose. I have 4 IP cameras install, all 4 did not cost what one DropCam cost.

Having an IP interface in general would be great!

The third smart app is more of a “hardware/device” issue. Our home watering system consist of 5 orbits timers connected to hose bibs. It was cost prohibitive to install something with a central manifold because of the age and size of our water feed. So It would be great to have an Orbits type device that would talk to SmartThings and allow scheduling. We have to stager the start stop times because of the size of our inflow pipe.

And at last one pet peeve. It would be great if the SmartThings app would rotate to landscape – especially on my IPad.

As I said before all of the things that I want may already exist and I just don’t know where to look or how to configure the SmartThings app.

I own a company that does web application development mostly in .net, so app creation for SmartThings is way outside our wheelhouse. I have no idea what the SmartThings cloud database looks like, so I have no idea if what am proposing/requesting is possible.

[JDRoberts]

One of the things that’s confusing about SmartThings is that there are so many different ways to do the same thing, with no one rules engine.

The light scheduling you requested already exists in several different forms, but none of them are easy to find.

Try starting from the scheduler FAQ: you’ll probably find what you want there:

A Short Intro to Scheduling/Device Control/Rules in SmartThings Classic

(March 2018: All of the following applies only to the SmartThings Classic app. If you purchased your hub after March 1, 2018 and are using the new “SmartThings (Samsung Connect)” app, creating rules works differently.) You’ve got your hub. You’ve got some devices. Now how do you schedule what happens when? SmartThings doesn’t have a rules engine/scheduler, so there’s no one tutorial for how to do this. But it’s an open platform, and there are about 12 different ways to set up various kinds of schedules. Some require custom code, some don’t. A “scheduler” in this context is anything that causes a networked device to perform an action, even if it’s just to toggle on or off immediately. (Network engineering definition, forgive me. ) (Note: as of April 2017, the original author of …

[JDRoberts]

Next, a personal request. I’m an engineer. I document everything. I use my own notes and those of others on a regular basis. Consequently, I also refer others back to existing topics in forums like this.

It’s way easier on everyone searching the archives if each thread is kept to one topc. Or at least one category.

I’m going to create some linked topics for you for each of your separate subjects in the appropriate categories. Please take follow up conversation there–it will make it more useful for everyone doing future forum searches.

Thanks!

[cooperrd (R. Dean Cooper)]

Sorry for the confusion - thank you for doing this

[JDRoberts]

@cooperrd

The second app may be more of an interface than an app. I see that the only camera that SmartThings supports is DropCam. I think that it would be great to have an app/interface to an IP camera app so you could use any IP camera(s) that you choose. I have 4 IP cameras install, all 4 did not cost what one DropCam cost.

Having an IP interface in general would be great!

For camera discussion, see the Cameras FAQ under devices.

FAQ: Using cameras not on the official list? (V1 hub FAQ)

I am shopping for a home security system and i’am hesitating between…" the Nest Cam or Canary or Smarthings Hub v2 If i choose Smarthings…which compatible cameras are the Best…? Tks

You can also suggest a device in the following topic. ST staff read that one:

Suggest a Device

Hi everyone, This page is intended for your suggestions about products and devices that you’d like to be compatible with SmartThings (“Works With SmartThings”). It’s also useful for us to hear about how and why you’re interested in the particular integration. Thanks!

[JDRoberts]

So…

Continue scheduler discussion in one of the scheduler topics. Start from the Scheduler FAQ linked to above and just follow the links.

For Camera discussion, see the Camera FAQ linked to above.

I’ve made a new topic for sprinkler control, please continue that discussion there.

Sprinkler Controllers to Interface with ST?

Continuing the discussion from SmartThings Smart Apps suggestions and request: I don’t have a networked sprinkler system, but many community members do, hopefully they’ll chime in.

I’ve made a new topic for landscape orientation, please continue that discussion there.

Suggestion: Landscape Orientation

Continuing the discussion from SmartThings Smart Apps suggestions and request:

Welcome to the SmartThings 'verse! Organized chaos, without the “organized.” Fortunately both staff and the community are helpful, kind, and frequently just as lost as you are! LOL. It’s a big place: we all find our way through together.