Skip to main content

Nest teams up with Samsung to create Thread, a new home automation networking protocol

Early this morning, Google, through its Nest Labs home automation division, announced major step toward the formation of an ecosystem for connected home devices and apps. In a partnership with Samsung, ARM, and four other tech firms, Nest unveiled a new home automation network protocol called Thread, along with a new industry group that will guide adoption of the new protocol.

Put bluntly, Thread is a low-power, mesh-network protocol that also supports IPv6. For those of you who might not be so familiar with all this Internet of Things mumbo jumbo, that essentially means it’s a new language that your connected devices can use to speak to each other. There are already dozens of them out there, so Thread definitely isn’t the first language that’s ever been invented, but showing up late to the party also gave it’s creators a chance to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors, so Thread does have a number of big benefits.

Recommended Videos

First of all, Thread is low power. Network protocols like WiFi and others are meant for bigger data transfers, so they tend to suck up a lot of juice, but Thread keeps things lean, which makes it better-suited for just about anything that’s battery-powered and not connected to an external power source.

Second, it connects your devices together in a mesh network. This means that every device in the network works as a node that can relay data. This gives it a number of advantages over router networks, but the most notable is increased range. With thread, all of your sensors and other connected devices don’t have to be placed within range of a centrally-located access point — so long as they’re close to another node, they can communicate with all other devices in the network.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, the Thread standard is built on the existing radio hardware used by ZigBee devices (802.15.4). This is significant because it means that, instead of spending a bunch of time and resources to build a new kind of radio into a product, companies will be able to update their ZigBee devices to support Thread with software if they choose to. This will likely help speed up the rate of adoption, and help quickly get Thread inside of more devices.

It’s hard to say at this point whether or not Thread will be a success, or be lost among the rising tide of other home automation networking protocols. Google, Samsung, and the other tech firms who make up the Thread Group certainly have the marketing budgets to push adoption, but even so, the standard faces stiff competition moving forward.

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
The Yale Assure Lock 2 has only grown better with age
the yale assure lock 2 has only grown better with age plus

The Yale Assure Lock 2 has long held a spot on our roundup of the best smart locks. Offering a sleek design, robust companion app, and a multitude of customization options, it's a premium choice that's an easy recommendation for most shoppers. And while some smart locks begin to show their age over the years, the Yale Assure Lock 2 has only grown more enticing.

Part of this is due to its impressive durability — the one installed on my front door has seen more than a few Colorado storms yet remains in pristine condition — but the other reason is Yale's commitment to expanding the number of models in the Assure Lock 2 lineup. I recently had a chance to test out a second, newer version of the Assure Lock 2 that works with Apple Home Keys, and it cemented my belief that it's one of the best smart locks money can buy.

Read more
Hue gives users eight new free spring-focused themes
A TV with ambient backlighting from Philips Hue.

The latest Philip Hue app update, version 5.39, is now available from download from both the iOS and Android stores. This update introduces brand-new scenes, each of which has a distinctive springtime-theme. All of the themes are available now in the Hue scene gallery, and you should be able to find them after you update your app.

The eight scenes are Nature's colors, Precious, Narcissa, Baby's breath, Crocus, Blossom, Spring lake, and Spring blossom. Various shades of pink, yellow, and green dominate the scenes, but the most impressive of all is the Nature's colors option.

Read more
This Arlo security camera is 50% off today — down to $50
The Arlo Essential 2nd Gen security camera, installed outdoors.

Protect your entire home with the Arlo Essential 2nd Gen security camera -- you'll be able to afford multiples of this smart home device while Arlo's 50% discount is active. From the 2K model's original price of $100, you'll only have to pay $50, so covering every corner of your house will be easier on the wallet. You'll have to complete your purchases as soon as possible though, as we're not sure how much time is remaining for you to pocket the savings of $50 each for every unit of this security camera.

Why you should buy the Arlo Essential 2nd Gen security camera

Read more