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

Explainer

How to Add a Matter Device to the Google Home app

If you are going with Google for all your smart home needs, you'll spend the bulk of your time managing devices in the Google Home app either on Android or iOS. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about adding your device to Google's smart home platform.

Christopher Close Thursday, April 18, 2024

Review

AiDot WELOV P200 Pro Air Purifier Review

It's the world's first Matter air purifier, but that doesn't mean much at the moment when the major players don't support the device type. Even so, it's a superb appliance that can operate completely autonomously until it's time to change the filter.

James Bruce Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Explainer

How to Add a Matter Device to the Apple Home App

For iPhone users, Apple's Home app serves as a one-stop destination for controlling and managing your Matter devices. We'll show you how easy it is to add your Matter devices so you can be up and running with Siri voice and Apple Home app controls in minutes.

Christopher Close Monday, April 15, 2024

Explainer

The best Matter-compatible door and window sensors

If you want to enhance your home's security or add an extra touch of automation, consider installing one of the best smart door sensors or window sensors with Matter.

Christopher Close Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Review

Govee Neon Rope Light 2 Review: Stunning Light Display, Limited Only by Your Imagination

It has never been easier to create your own incredible-looking custom neon-style wall lighting fixtures.

James Bruce Friday, April 5, 2024

Explainer

Does Matter Share my Wi-Fi Credentials With the Smart Home Device?

When you add a new Matter device to your smart home setup, it requires access to your network. But does Matter share the Wi-Fi credentials with the device? If so, is this secure?

Christian Cawley Thursday, April 4, 2024