The primary Matter ecosystem, Google Home, has announced a series of new features and improvements for its platform, including extended support for Matter door locks.
Google has been working to improve the user experience, gradually adding support for more Matter devices, like new Favorites features, redesigning device cards, as well as widgets.
Matter door lock
With its latest announcement, Google says the platform now expands functionalities for smart locks. This enables useful features like access control, changing passcodes, creating profiles for guests, and sending important notifications about your locks.
Aqara Smart Lock U300
The Aqara Smart Lock U300, compatible with Matter and Thread, offers versatile integration with smart home systems, extended battery life up to 8 months, and improved local control for enhanced responsiveness and security.
To access these features, you’ll need an Android phone with the Google Home app installed, version 3.27 or higher. Since this is still in preview, you need to enroll in the Public Preview Program within your Google Home app before you can enable it.
Once you’re set up, you can find lock notifications and view your lock history by navigating to Settings, Household & access, Notifications. You can also schedule and generate passcodes for guests directly from these settings, making it easier to manage home security for visitors.
Other features benefiting Matter users
Google Home has also introduced more universal features that would empower Matter devices.
Favorites allows pinning essential devices and routines in the Google Home app and syncs them across all your devices for quick access. It now supports temperature and lighting controls, managing them in batches throughout your whole home. Google allows customized Favorites for different clients, such as smartwatches and tablets, so each device can showcase what matters most to you.
Another preview feature is the Home summary widget, which offers a quick glance at your home's essential stats, showing device status and recent events, and providing instant access to key controls when needed.
Finally, Google is enhancing its web console. The upcoming Public Preview update will let you control smart lights, thermostats, door locks, and other devices through a browser, making smart home management more consistent across platforms.
(Source: Google)
