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

Review

SmartWings Matter Shades Review: Pricey, But Worth It

SmartWings is the leading manufacturer of customized blinds and shades with built-in automated motors. While you'll find retrofit options elsewhere, SmartWings offers a huge range of styles anyone can install. Today, I put them to the test.

James Bruce Thursday, September 19, 2024

Explainer

Why Europe’s "OpenTherm" is the gold standard for smart heating efficiency

Want a truly efficient smart home? If you live in the UK or Europe, OpenTherm is the key to unlocking precise, money-saving control over your heating.

Christian Cawley Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Explainer

iOS 18 is Now Available. Here’s What’s New in the Apple Home App

iOS 18 is officially here and with it come some small, but significant changes to the Apple Home app. This year, Apple has introduced new ways for managing your smart home, expanded the capabilities of the Energy tab, and opened its doors to a whole new category of devices.

Christopher Close Monday, September 16, 2024

Explainer

Nest Thermostat vs Nest Learning Thermostat

Even though Matter has been around for a while now, Nest is still the only game in town when it comes to thermostats that support the smart home standard. However, with two options to choose from, how do you know which is the best Matter-compatible thermostat for your home?

Christopher Close Monday, September 16, 2024

Thread

Thread 1.4 Released: Finally the One Home Network to Rule Them All?

Thread 1.4 simplifies smart home networking by unifying devices into a single, more reliable mesh network, addressing past setup issues and enhancing overall interoperability and performance.

David Drager Friday, September 13, 2024

Industry News

A Look at the New Matter Smart Home Products Announced at IFA Berlin 2024

IFA Berlin 2024 showcased a wealth of new tech, much of which you can expect to see in shops over the coming months. Along with the usual audio gear, mobile phones, and laptops, IFA Berlin 2024 was the launchpad for a collection of new smart home technology, much of which has been built with support for Matter.

David Drager Thursday, September 12, 2024

How To

How to Use the IKEA Dirigera with Matter

IKEA has joined the Matter revolution, adding support for the new smart home standard to its Dirigera hub. But how do you set up the Dirigera to work with Matter? We lay out all you need to know to get it operating without a hitch.

Christian Cawley Wednesday, September 11, 2024

News

New Aqara Smart Home Products with Matter Announced at IFA 2024

Smart home tech producer Aqara has made a collection of product reveals at IFA 2024, with a heavy element of Matter compatibility. These new products include new wall dimmers, bulbs, and a garage door controller. In addition, Aqara’s Thread support is extending, which should help to solidify its commitment to Matter as the smart home platform evolves.

Christian Cawley Tuesday, September 10, 2024

News

Tado X Range Launches in UK, But What About the USA?

Back in May 2024, German smart home company Tado announced a new range of smart home energy devices, Tado X – and the news from IFA 2024 is that they’re being released in the UK in time for winter. But how exactly will connecting a Matter-enabled smart home energy management system save money? And when will Tado X be available to US smart home owners?

Christian Cawley Monday, September 9, 2024

Manufacturer News

Why Doesn’t Nanoleaf Support Matter Yet?

While Nanoleaf offers some Matter-compatible lighting fixtures, their most exciting products still don't support Matter. Why is that? In a word: scenes.

James Bruce Friday, September 6, 2024

Review

Tapo TL135E Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb Review: Cheap, Colorful, and Consistent

The lack of color and ambiance in my household has always been on my mind so I recently branched out a bit by deploying a pair of Tapo Tl135E Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulbs in a few bedside lamps. At just under $15 each and with full multicolor capabilities, the price was simply too hard to pass up. After spending a few weeks with Tapo's bulb, am I regretting my decision?

Christopher Close Thursday, September 5, 2024

News

IKEA DIRIGERA Hub Update Brings Matter to Smart Plugs, Blinds and More

After rolling out a limited beta for lighting earlier this year, IKEA has finally expanded its Workshop program to include Matter support for even more device types. Starting today, users can download a new firmware update (version 2.615.8) for the DIRIGERA smart hub that brings Matter support to seven devices.

Christopher Close Monday, September 2, 2024

FAQ

A complete list of Thread Border Routers on the market today

Although Thread doesn't need a "hub" in the traditional sense, you will still need another piece of hardware called a Thread Border Router—to take advantage of its benefits. So, if you are just starting a smart home or making the move to Matter, you'll need to know which devices act as Thread Border Routers. Here's our complete list of all the Thread Border Routers on the market today.

Christopher Close Sunday, September 1, 2024

News

The LG ThinQ ON AI Brings “Affectionate Intelligence” into Matter Home Hubs

The unveiling of the LG ThinQ ON AI home hub has been teased by the South Korean electronics manufacturer ahead of the IFA 2024 tech show in Berlin, Germany. LG’s exposure to Matter has been limited to date, with just a handful of webOS-loaded smart TVs capable of acting as hubs via the ThinQ mobile app. However, the ThinQ ON AI home hub might change this.

Christian Cawley Friday, August 30, 2024