TECH NEWS

Samsung Will Start Charging For SmartThings API Access

https://www.engadget.com/img/gallery/samsung-will-start-charging-for-smartthings-api-access/l-intro-1782488126.jpg

This will impact Home Assistant users and those who rely on similar third-party tools.

Samsung just announced it's going to start charging for SmartThings API access, which is the company's smart home automation platform. Most of these changes impact software developers and other commercial partners, but there is a way this could hit regular users in their wallets.

Starting in October, there's going to be a $5 monthly plan for "non-commercial individual developers." This won't impact people using the traditional SmartThings app to control any of the thousands of gadgets that automatically work with the platform. It does, however, apply to those who use third-party tools like Home Assistant to control their Samsung-connected devices.

It'll also likely impact those with custom smart home controls, adding yet another monthly subscription fee to the pile. This seems like a real kick in the pants to the smart home open-source community.

"We're all...

Copyright of this story solely belongs to engadget.com. To see the full text click HERE

Read more

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U8FDQjAxYmygvFzXAoLXzK-1920-80.jpg

'The next generation won’t replace this one so much as sit on top of it' — Industry analysts say Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo's 'relentless push for higher-end performance will need to be moderated' to avoid $1000 launch consoles

* Several industry analysts say Sony and Microsoft may need to scale back their "relentless push for higher-end performance" to avoid $1000 consoles * Piers Harding-Rolls at Ampere Analysis says ambitions will need to be "moderated" to avoid breaching the hefty price point * Rhys Elliott at Alinea Analytics