The Apple-backed group that oversees the Matter smart device standard has launched its latest big update. Matter 1.4 debuts today with a variety of improvements that further advance smart home capabilities. Here’s what’s new.
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iOS 18 is a big release with a ton of new features. Some enhancements to the Home app, like support for robot vacuum cleaners, aren’t coming until later. But there’s one update available now that could save you time and frustration. Building your smart home of the future just got easier than ever in iOS 18’s Home app.
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It was May 2022 when Ikea proudly announced its Diregera hub, bringing Matter support to the company’s smart home line-up. Some two years later, and rather later than scheduled, that upgrade is finally available.
But better late than never, as Matter support means that you can now control any compatible Ikea smart home product via Apple’s Home app …
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iOS 18 will bring a huge variety of new features when it arrives this fall, including for pre-installed system apps. One such feature that was never formally announced: the Home app will enable Adaptive Lighting for Matter lights.
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A number of people have reported their Philips Hue bulbs suddenly switching to 100% brightness, seemingly randomly.
Update: While the problem was reported to relate to Matter compatibility, it’s now been confirmed that the issue is with Hue code – see statement at the end …
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Smart home company Brilliant has announced that it has run out of money, after failing to raise more capital in an attempted funding round.
While its smart home controllers and light switches continue to work for now, there’s no guarantee that will remain the case for long given the lack of either HomeKit or Matter compatibility …
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Today Matter, the Internet of Things (IoT) standard developed by major players like Apple, Google, and Amazon, has been updated to version 1.3.
This release introduces support for a host of new device types, such as EV chargers and kitchen and laundry appliances, while also adding enhancements like energy tracking, upgraded TV features, and more.
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After announcing its Matter LED Outdoor String Lights at CES, smart light pioneer Nanoleaf has officially launched the product. Here are all the details on these slick outdoor lights that offer IP65 weather resistance, color control, support across smart home platforms, and more.
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Popular smart home device maker Aqara has unveiled three new Matter and Thread accessories at CES today. The incoming devices include the new U300 smart handset lock, the Border Router Plug, and the Hub M3.
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Just as HomeKit led to the development of the broader smart home standard Matter, so Apple’s Home Key is spurring the adoption of a new industry standard for smart locks and digital keys: Aliro.
The new standard is being championed by Apple, Google, and Samsung – along with a number of smart lock companies …
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Matter support for home appliances is on the way, through the latest version of the smart home connectivity standard backed by Apple and more than 600 other companies.
Previous versions of Matter have been limited to smaller smart home devices, like lights, door locks, blinds, and security sensors – while Matter 1.2 will add support for household appliances, robot cleaners, and more …
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Philips Hue Matter support was first promised by March of this year, before quietly admitting to a delay just a few days ahead of the deadline.
Whatever caused that delay has now been addressed, and Matter integration is now available within the Hue app …
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Ever wish you could AirPlay audio from your iPhone to your amp or powered speakers? Smart home solutions firm Eve is launching a new audio streaming interface that lets you hook up Hi-Fi components to Apple’s Home app and AirPlay 2.
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The Matter and Thread standards are supposed to ensure that a huge range of smart home devices can work seamlessly together, mirroring the benefits offered by HomeKit compatibility. But this isn’t the case, say multiple manufacturers.
The main benefit of Thread is that smart home devices can not only talk to each other, but one can pass on commands to another, boosting reliability. There is, however, a problem …
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Leviton is out with a free firmware update that brings Matter to four of its smart home devices which will be welcome for both existing and new users. Included are the Decora Smart Switch, Dimmer, Mini Plug-In Dimmer, and Mini Plug-In Switch. Here are all the details.
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Back at CES in January, Nanoleaf announced a range of new smart light devices. Today one of those has arrived with the 4D Screen Mirror Camera and Lightstrip Kit. Aiming to make your entertainment experience more immersive than ever, read on for all the details on Nanoleaf’s latest smart light product.
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Smart home company Eve Systems – one of the leaders in HomeKit-compatible and now Matter-compatible devices – has been bought by the automation and electrification giant ABB.
Eve will, with immediate effect, become part of the Building and Home Automation Solutions division of ABB. The two parties naturally hope the partnership will be good news, but some will be watching events with some degree of nervousness …
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Matter officially arrived last fall to improve the smart home device experience across platforms. Now the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) – which includes Apple – has launched the first Matter update. The release comes with changes and improvements to make it easier for developers to get started with Matter and complete certification while end-users should have a better experience with battery-powered devices.
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Matter has the promise of finally uniting the smart home under one standard, and slowly, that promise is coming to reality. Currently, Google is rolling out an update to its Nest Thermostat that adds support for Matter and allows the thermostat to be linked with Apple HomeKit. Here’s how it works.
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Amazon is joining in on the latest smart home protocol with support for Thread coming to its fourth-gen Echo smart speaker, bringing it in-line with Apple’s HomePod mini and more. The latest update also debuts iOS setup compatibility and Matter support for older Echo devices. And in more smart home news, the previously HomeKit-focused company Eve has made a big deal with Amazon.
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The rollout of Matter across Google’s ecosystem has been relatively quick, and now the company is bringing support to another device. The 2020 Nest Thermostat is adding Matter support, with the rollout starting today.
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Late last year, Philips Hue Matter support was said to be coming “by March 2023.” With just a few days left before that deadline, the company has now said that the release date has been put back to an unspecified time.
It’s the latest delay to hit the industry-wide Matter standard, which was itself pushed back from a planned 2020 launch to late 2022 …
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Eve has been at the forefront of the Matter upgrades for its products, and today, it has announced the release of its latest line of out-of-the-box Matter-enabled devices. Customers can now purchase the Eve Energy smart plug for North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, while the Eve Motion and Eve Door & Window sensors will be available on April 17. Existing users of the latest HomeKit and Thread-enabled models of Eve Energy, Eve Motion, and Eve Door & Window can also upgrade their devices to Matter for free via the Eve app for iPhone and iPad starting April 17.
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Last fall Nanoleaf announced that it would be bringing Matter to its Essentials smart lighting lineup along with launching some new bulb types. Now the latest products have arrived with Thread/Matter for the smart A19 and Lightstrip with the GU10, BR30 bulbs, and Recessed Downlight in the wings.
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