Explainer

The 5 Funniest Smart Home YouTube Videos

The promise of a slick, functional smart home is tantalizingly within reach, and failure is frustrating. But just sometimes, it’s a good idea to sit back, take a more holistic view of the situation, and let yourself have a bit of a chuckle. After all, we managed okay before the smart home came along. With this in mind, here are five funny smart home videos guaranteed to lighten the mood.

Christian Cawley Friday, November 22, 2024

News

Amazon Debuts 21-Inch Echo Show: A Game-Changer for Matter, Thread, and Zigbee Smart Homes

Amazon has taken smart home displays to a new level with the announcement of the Echo Show 21, featuring a massive 21-inch screen - the largest yet for the Echo lineup. Beyond its size, this flagship device integrates cutting-edge smart home technology, including Matter Controller, Thread Border Router, and Zigbee hub capabilities, making it a compelling option for connected homes.

David Drager Friday, November 22, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Candelabra Light Bulbs

If you are on a quest to make all of your home's lighting smart, you've likely experienced the pain of trying to track down candelabra-style bulbs. To help make the process quicker and easier, we've rounded up all of the best available candelabra options so you can spend more time enjoying your smart home and less time searching.

Christopher Close Thursday, November 21, 2024

News

The Best Matter Black Friday Deals: Aqara, Govee, SwitchBot and More!

Smart home upgrades can be pricey, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring unbeatable deals! Score up to a third off top-rated Matter-compatible devices from leading brands—perfect for starting or expanding your setup.

James Bruce Thursday, November 21, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Flood Light Bulbs

While standard-sized smart light bulbs may be great for lamps, they aren't quite the perfect fit for recessed and outdoor lighting fixtures. For these, you'll need larger flood light bulbs for a seamless look and Matter smart home convenience.

Christopher Close Wednesday, November 20, 2024

News

Aqara Adds Matter-Compatible Smoke Detector and Valve Controller to the Smart Home

Aqara has been spoiling smart home users with its increasingly common inclusion of Matter compatibility over the past few months. Two new products, previously announced but unavailable until now, underline the company’s commitment to Matter.

Christian Cawley Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Industry News

Leadership Insights Provides a Look at How Matter Is Developing

The CEOs of the Connectivity Standards Alliance and the Wi-Fi Alliance recently put their heads together to discuss the impact of both bodies on the development of the smart home. It’s an interesting chat, but what are the takeaways that Matter from this discussion?

Christian Cawley Friday, November 15, 2024

Explainer

The Matter Wishlist: 5 Devices We Need in Our Smart Home

Matter is expanding its reach across the smart home space, but we've spotted a few common household items that could really do with some improved smart integration.

Christian Cawley Thursday, November 14, 2024

Review

arre Temperature Sensor Review: New Name, Same Sensor

While arre may be unfamiliar to most, the company has been on the Matter scene for quite some time—albeit under the TUO name. A recent re-branding of the company hasn't changed much when it comes to hardware, as it continues to offer Matter-over-Thread essentials like smart buttons, and the device we'll be looking at today, the arre Temperature Sensor.

Christopher Close Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Fans

With their ability to circulate the air and provide comfort on-demand, fans are an excellent way to beat the heat without firing up the AC. However, fans are only effective if you actually remember to turn them on, so why not let Matter take care of it for you?

Christopher Close Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Explainer

Why Doesn't Matter Work With the Ring Doorbell, and Will it Ever?

The Matter smart home standard promises interoperability, compatibility, and an easier experience with your smart tech. But one area where there is still work to be done is with doorbells, particularly Amazon’s smart Ring doorbell. Does Matter work with Ring? If not, why doesn’t it? And will you ever be able to use a Ring doorbell on your Matter smart home?

Christian Cawley Monday, November 11, 2024

News

Matter 1.4 Is Here, But What Does It Add to Your Smart Home?

Sticking to its Spring/Fall release cycle, the Connectivity Standards Alliance has today announced Matter 1.4. This brings a collection of overall improvements, including new features, revised functionality on existing features, and support for new device types.

David Drager Thursday, November 7, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Curtain Openers

We've explored how Matter-compatible window blinds offer an excellent mix of style and convenience with tons of materials, patterns, and colors to choose from previously. Now, it's time to turn to another window-covering option: curtain openers. In this guide, we'll cover the basics of Matter-compatible smart curtains openers, and how they integrate into your smart home.

Christopher Close Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Explainer

What Matter Smart Home Devices Should a Beginner Start With?

If your smart home is just getting started, and Matter is something completely new to you, you'll need to get familiar with it without breaking the bank. Below, we’ve got five Matter devices you should get hold of if you’re new to smart homes.

Christian Cawley Monday, November 4, 2024

Explainer

Are Smart Home Devices AI?

It's easy to think the modern smart home must be full of AI—from lights that turn on automatically to voice assistants that know everything! But is it really AI?

James Bruce Friday, November 1, 2024

Explainer

Best Matter-Compatible Smart Light Bulbs: Illuminating Your Smart Home

Smart bulbs are the cornerstone of any self-respecting smart home owner. But, with so many bulbs to choose from how do you know which ones are the best?

Christopher Close Thursday, October 31, 2024

Explainer

Can a Smart Home Function with No Internet?

One of the key elements of the growth of the smart home is the presence of wireless networking. Almost every home has some form of Wi-Fi router installed, and this makes it easier to manage and run smart tech and Internet of Things devices. But does your smart home need a permanent internet connection? Can your smart home function reliably without the internet?

Christian Cawley Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Explainer

The best Matter-compatible smart window blinds

Smart blinds used to mean ecosystem lock-in. Matter changes that, unifying your windows across Apple, Google, and Alexa via fast, local Thread mesh.

Christopher Close Monday, October 28, 2024

News

Big Ass Fans Are Now Matter-Compatible Thanks to a New Firmware Update

Matter finally has its first ceiling fans with the release of a new update for Big Ass Fans.

Christopher Close Thursday, October 24, 2024

Review

Govee Icicles Review: The Holidays Just Got a Whole Lot Smarter

Transform your holiday display with Govee’s stunning Matter-compatible icicle lights—whether it’s festive rainbows or sleek year-round lighting, these smart lights are a bright, bold upgrade for any outdoor setup.

James Bruce Thursday, October 24, 2024