Review

Eve Energy Smart Plug Review: Privacy at a Premium

To stand out in today's smart plug market, vendors will need to look for new ways to differentiate themselves from the plethora of low-cost alternatives. One company, Eve Systems, hopes to do so by offering their Eve Energy Smart Plug that focuses on user privacy while utilizing cutting-edge technology.

Christopher Close Monday, June 3, 2024

Explainer

How Smart Home Devices Will Change With The Matter Standard

The chances are, your smart home isn’t as smart as you would like it to be.  Incompatibility, a lack of interoperability, and perhaps a simple tiff between brands and ecosystems are taking their toll. Multiple apps, dependence on specific hubs, and a collision of ecosystems in an attempt to make things simply work.

Christian Cawley Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Explainer

Matter vs Z-Wave: What's the Difference?

Arguably the biggest problem with smart homes is the lack of compatibility between devices and hubs. Even where compatibility is used as a selling point, problems can occur down the line. Two possible solutions are the Matter protocol and the Z-Wave mesh networking system. But both are slightly different.

Christian Cawley Monday, May 27, 2024

Review

Aqara Hub M3 Review: Is There Anything This Little Box Can't Do?

It does so much besides, but the main reason to buy the Aqara Hub M3 is to add Matter control to existing Aqara products.

James Bruce Friday, May 24, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Lamps To Light Up Your Life

No smart home is complete without proper lighting that you can control from the couch or from across the world. And while you may think to look for a smart bulb, plug, or switch when building the connected home of your dreams, you may benefit more from an all-in-one solution like a Matter-compatible lamp.

Christopher Close Thursday, May 23, 2024

News

Tado Does Matter: New X Range Heats Up Smart Homes

German smart heating manufacturer Tado has launched Tado X, a collection of Matter-compatible devices in the European Union. Aiming to make smart heating more accessible, the Tado X devices are Matter and Thread compatible.

Christian Cawley Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Explainer

What Is Zigbee? Is Matter Better?

Smart homes cannot work if the smart devices cannot communicate. Having Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support isn’t enough – devices need a way to message each other, a shared language, or protocol. Two prominent protocols are Zigbee and Matter. Current smart home devices and hubs support both protocols, but eventually one of them will be dropped. So which one will it be?

Christian Cawley Wednesday, May 22, 2024

How To

How to Add a Matter Device to the Amazon Alexa app

Matter, the smart home standard that aims to unify the connected home is here, and with it comes significant changes—especially for Amazon Alexa users. Now, instead of trying to figure out whether a device integrates directly with Alexa or through a Skill, you'll only need to scan a QR code to set up compatible hardware.

Christopher Close Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Industry News

Matter Unlocks Google Home APIs

Google Home has been revived, and undergone a transformation. While the name was largely retired in favor of Google Nest, it has been re-envisioned as a new element in smart home development.

Christian Cawley Monday, May 20, 2024

Review

Aqara P2 Motion and Light Sensor: Reliable Matter over-Thread Occupancy Sensing

A solid Matter over Thread occupancy sensor for your security needs, though it currently lacks deeper configuration options.

James Bruce Friday, May 17, 2024

Explainer

See Who's There, From Anywhere: The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Home Video Doorbells

The plain humdrum doorbell has undergone a high-tech transformation. Smart video doorbells combine the familiar chime with a built-in camera, letting you see who's at your door – even when you're not home. Now Matter has jumped into the ding-dong industry.

Mark O'Neill Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Industry News

Matter 1.3 Levels Up Your Smart Home with EVs, Water Management, and More

Matter 1.3 was released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) on May 8, 2024. It adds new device type support for kitchen appliances, EV chargers, and more.  It also introduces enhanced features for existing hardware. However, there is one expected device type for which support has not yet been introduced.

Christian Cawley Monday, May 13, 2024

How To

Can I Customize Any Device to Work with Matter?

Don't want to buy all-new devices just so they work with Matter? Don't worry, there's a few ways to retrofit old appliances.

James Bruce Friday, May 10, 2024

Explainer

Can IKEA Become a Serious Smart-Home Player? An Analysis of Their Matter-Compatible Products

Matter is becoming the most significant smart home standard. But take a trip to IKEA, and things are a little different. Not only does the Swedish retailer have a wide selection of smart lamps and LEDs, it also has a hub. Can the Matter-compatible Dirigera hub and the rest of the Tradfri line turn IKEA into a player in the smart home?

Christian Cawley Friday, May 10, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Buttons and Remotes

Instead of wading through potential distractions on your phone, or shouting to a voice assistant the next time you need to toggle the lights, consider a Matter-compatible button or remote. With just a click, Matter-compatible buttons and remotes can turn on the lights, close the blinds, or fire up a movie night scene with ease.

Christopher Close Thursday, May 9, 2024

Explainer

What is Matter Casting and Which Devices Support It?

You’ve probably used Chromecast or AirPlay, or any of the other wireless video casting systems. They’re useful for sharing media on your mobile device to a TV, whether video or photos. Smart home protocol Matter has its own casting technology, Matter Casting.

Christian Cawley Thursday, May 2, 2024

Review

Govee Floor Lamp 2 Review: The Immersive, Smart Lighting Tower

The Floor Lamp 2 is a freestanding smart light tower that offers bright, dynamic scenes and immersive DreamView compatibility

James Bruce Friday, April 26, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Strip Lights

LED strip lights are truly a smart home staple - and for good reason. These flexible wonders of light can bring color and ambiance to pretty much anywhere. Whether you are looking for a strip light for underneath the cabinets, or you want to amp up your holiday displays, you've come to the right place.

Christopher Close Wednesday, April 24, 2024

News

Home Assistant Joins The Open Home Foundation

Home Assistant has announced that it is undergoing a significant shift in its management structure. It will now be overseen by a new non-profit organization, the Open Home Foundation. How will this shift affect Home Assistant's future?

Christian Cawley Monday, April 22, 2024

Explainer

Matter 1.3 is Coming Out Spring 2024. Here's What to Expect

Spring 2024 is the expected timeframe for the release of Matter 1.3. This revision to the standard is likely to build upon the previous version, adding further interoperability, support for new device categories, and security enhancements.

Christian Cawley Thursday, April 18, 2024