Explainer

When Did Smart Home Technology First Appear? An In-Depth History

Having lights that switch on when you enter, or a robot cleaner that detects mess as soon as it hits the floor, and voice-controlled living room environmental settings, were once the stuff of fiction. But smart home technologies in the real world have been with us longer than you might imagine. How did we get from basic electronic appliances to voice controlled robot cleaners?

Christian Cawley Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Outdoor Smart Plugs

With the prices of indoor Matter-compatible smart plugs falling rapidly, you may be tempted to place one outside for tasks like holiday lighting. And, although it may get by for a while, chances are, it won't last more than a few seasons—especially if it gets hit by rain or snow. To get the job done safely, you'll want to invest in a Matter-enabled outdoor smart plug.

Christopher Close Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Explainer

The 5 Best Matter-Compatible Plugs

Today, we're going to look at Matter-compatible smart plugs, showcasing the top 5 picks that stand out for their ease of use, feature set, and compatibility with multiple smart home platforms.

Christopher Close Monday, October 21, 2024

Explainer

Does Matter Require mDNS?

As with most smart home protocols, Matter relies on wireless networking. But there is an aspect of Matter’s Wi-Fi requirement that might just impact its implementation on your network: multicast DNS (mDNS), a stand-alone protocol intended for small networks. Does Matter demand mDNS, or can you use Matter without it?

Christian Cawley Friday, October 18, 2024

Industry News

HomeAssistant and SmartThings Embrace Matter 1.3

Samsung SmartThings and the open source Home Assistant have become the first platforms to support Matter 1.3. But hold on: wasn’t Matter 1.3 released in May 2024? It’s taken five months for adoption, so why is Matter adoption so slow?

Christian Cawley Thursday, October 17, 2024

Review

Eve Energy Outlet Review: Automation You Can't See

As much as we love the original Eve Energy smart plug, it certainly isn't the prettiest of devices. Thankfully, Eve has a smart solution for this design/functionality dilemma: the Eve Energy Outlet. We go in-depth with this clever in-wall solution.

Christopher Close Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Review

Tapo S505 Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch review: A solid switch that won't break the bank

For just under $25 MSRP—and often much lower on sale—the Tapo S505 Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch is without a doubt one of the most attractive Matter devices on the market. But with such a low price tag, there are bound to be a few dealbreakers that hold it back from being one of the best Matter-compatible light switches, right?

Christopher Close Monday, October 14, 2024

Review

Govee Christmas String Lights 2 Review: Multicolored Twinkly Happiness

The Govee Christmas String Lights 2 offer smart, customizable holiday lighting with Matter support, dynamic scene mapping, and a host of festive features to brighten up any display.

James Bruce Thursday, October 10, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Under Cabinet Lights

We've previously discussed how Matter-compatible strip lights with their flexibility and easy installation are an excellent fit for kitchen lighting—especially for cabinets. However, they aren't the best choice for those with existing under cabinet lighting or for those that want a clean integrated look. For these situations, consider a Matter-compatible under cabinet light.

Christopher Close Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Explainer

What Can We Expect to See in Matter 1.4?

The release of the Matter 1.3 specification in Spring 2024 saw a range of new device types and features supported in the breakout smart home platform. Matter has a bi-annual release cycle, with a new specification released every Spring and Autumn. Matter 1.4 is imminent, therefore, promising new features and functionalities. But what new device support can we expect from Matter 1.4?

Christian Cawley Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Explainer

6 Smart-Home Device Types That Would Not Benefit From Matter Integration

Smart home tech has been around for a while, but Matter is relatively new. The Matter specification aims to unify smart home development into a single standard. But while embracing Matter seems likely to move us closer to the smart home of our dreams, there are devices that don’t really need to be integrated with the smart home protocol – they work just as well without it.

Christian Cawley Friday, October 4, 2024

Explainer

Will Matter Make Smart Home Devices More Energy-Efficient and More Environmentally Friendly?

Energy management is being added to Matter, the smart home protocol supported by an increasing number of manufacturers. Matter 1.3 adds various smart home energy management features, but does this support for smart thermostats and smart radiator valves make the standard more energy efficient and environmentally friendly?

Christian Cawley Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Air Purifiers

Whether it is VOCs, allergens, or smoke, there are a lot of things in the air that can make an impact on your health. To make managing your home's air a breeze, consider a Matter-compatible air purifier.

Christopher Close Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible Radiator Valves

Radiators are great for keeping costs down by heating just the rooms or areas around them. However, they are not so great when it comes to convenience and controls, as most require making a trip over to the unit to make a simple adjustment. To reduce the number of trips, consider installing a Matter-compatible radiator valve.

Christopher Close Friday, September 27, 2024

News

The Google TV Streamer 4K is Also a Matter Hub

Google’s long-awaited upgrade to the awkwardly named Chromecast with Google TV is the more straightforward Google TV Streamer 4K, a direct competitor to Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Released to some fanfare, the device is more akin to those devices, rather than being a compact dongle that hands from your TV’s HDMI port. But most significantly, the Google TV Streamer 4K is also a Matter hub and Thread border router.

Christian Cawley Thursday, September 26, 2024

Explainer

Can Matter be Used with Smart Ceiling Fans?

One of the ways a smart home can make life easier is to ensure the devices that make you feel good are interconnected. Take ceiling fans, for example, particularly important in warmer months and often found where air conditioning is unsuitable or impractical. As smart home technology becomes more popular, devices like smart ceiling fans become more enticing.

Christian Cawley Thursday, September 26, 2024

Review

IKEA SOMRIG Shortcut Button Review: Affordable Automation With a Click

At just $9.99, IKEA's SOMRIG Shortcut Button is an incredibly enticing solution for adding physical controls to Matter devices. However, there are some requirements and limitations that you'll want to know about before making the trip to your local IKEA.

Christopher Close Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Explainer

The Best Matter-Compatible In-Wall Smart Outlets

Even though the best smart plugs have decreased in size over the years, they can still be an eyesore. If you are tired of seeing unsightly boxes hanging from your walls, consider installing a Matter-compatible in-wall smart outlet.

Christopher Close Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Explainer

What is a Smart Lighting Controller and is it Matter Compatible?

One of the main benefits of a smart home system is the ability to control lighting. Whether standard lamps or LED strips and panels, smart lighting can be used as a welcoming glow, an ambient theme, or even a security measure.

Christian Cawley Monday, September 23, 2024

News

Apple Finally Supports Air Purifiers: AiDot WELOV P200 Pro Is The First

The P200 Pro offers manual air purifier controls and exposes the air quality sensor data to your Matter network.

James Bruce Saturday, September 21, 2024