For the version you are using (1.0.8), you would have to resolve the object using a loop:
$scope.selected = {
name:"Something"
}
$scope.setSelected = function() {
angular.forEach($scope.list, function(item) {
if (item.name == $scope.selected.name) {
$scope.selected = item;
}
})
}
$scope.setSelected();
More recent versions, have track by
syntax supported in the ng-options
. So you could write:
ng-options="m.name for m in list track by m.name"
And this would set the object that matches the predicate.