Smart blinds used to mean ecosystem lock-in. Matter changes that, unifying your windows across Apple, Google, and Alexa via fast, local Thread mesh.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
In theory, Matter smart home devices should work fine without the internet—the specification says so. But theory and reality don't always match up.
A collection of big name companies are members of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the group that publishes the Matter smart home standard. Among them are Google, Apple, Amazon, IKEA… and Samsung SmartThings. You’ve heard of Samsung, but what on earth is SmartThings? And how can it help to encourage the use of Matter as a smart home technology?
While it may seem that Matter smart plugs are just like any other, they are not. With a Matter smart switch, the possibilities of remotely controlling and scheduling the activity of devices is enhanced. These 10 examples of useful ways to use a Matter smart plug illustrate this.