At the official launch event for Matter this week, I saw a lot of exciting things, including a smart plug from Eve Energy, a smart lock from Yale, and a smart bulb from Apple Home. Before Matter, none of these things could be done. Even in the interference hell of a mini-trade show floor, all of these things worked well in their demos.
Matter has a long way to go before it can fully deliver on its promise of an interoperability and simple smart home. I heard the phrase "Matter is a journey" and "This is just the beginning" many times during the two day event.
Don't expect to be using Matter in your home for a while. Many companies have had a lot of time to prepare, but still haven't implemented Matter support. It will take a long time before you can see the Matter logo on a box and manage it in your home.
The first issue is Matter controllers. Three of them are certified and updated to support Matter. A Matter controller is needed to control devices over Matter.
There is an application layer standard called Matter. The first two protocols are Matter-over-Wi- Fi and Matter-over-Thread. Devices that are attached to a bridge will be brought into Matter.
One, two or all of these can be supported by a matter controller. Right now, Apple's controllers, and some Apple TV models, can do all of the above.
Amazon says it will only be releasing its Matter-over-Wi-fi controllers this year, while Google hasn't said when it will update its Nest speakers, hubs and routers to be Matter controllers.
The current devices that work with Matter don't work with the other ones. They won't be until next year based on the timelines the companies have given. The only way to use Matter this year is via the Apple Home app.
Matter isn't really here yet without the basic controller and app infrastructure. The holdup is what is causing it. When I asked Twan why we have to wait until next year to work with Matter, he said it was because of the Matter certification. He said it was a chicken- and-egg problem. They're waiting for us and we're waiting for them. Devices need controllers to test on in order for platforms to update their controllers.
There are some issues with Thread border routers, the device that links a Thread network to the other networks that work with Matter
Only Apple and Smart Things are Matter certified. There aren't a lot of Thread devices yet, but they are coming.
To use a Thread device, you must have a Thread border routers. The big promise of Matter is that if you buy a device and plug it in, it will work and work with everything in your home.
Apple, Amazon, and other companies need to share their credentials with each other so that you only end up with a single Thread network in your home.
Only AMAZON and SAMSUNG have announced that they are working together on this. We all want Thread to be in the house. When I asked Mark if it would happen, he said it would. It doesn't take a lot of time. There are a lot of things that need to be figured out. The road is a long one.
I feel like cracks are starting to appear in the united front from the big players up to this point. They have to work with each other to improve the experience.
You will be able to use any voice assistant or app of your choice with multi- admin. It will be possible to add all your Matter devices to each platform at the same time, instead of having to individually add them.
The two companies have announced a partnership. Apple doesn't seem to be working with anyone on better multi- admin, and Amazon doesn't seem to be doing this with anyone. When I asked if anyone would speak on the record, Apple wouldn't give me any information.
When using Matter devices, we may have to wait for these types of partnerships. After you pair a device with another, you can show it to a platform. Sometimes it is necessary to cut and paste a code from one app to another. That doesn't feel right in 2022.
The device shows up in the new platform as if it hadn't been set up before. You will be able to set it up all over again if it shows up as Light Bulb 1 in the Amazon app.
Chris LaPré, head of technology at the CSA, said that if you change its name or location in one app, that won't be reflected in the other app.
The CSA wanted to add this type of function but the platform makers did not want it. He asked "Is what the members agreed to?" That doesn't mean it won't happen in a future update or with future cooperation between platforms
The prototype of the Aqara P2 Door & Window Sensor was part of a demo.
There is a light strip with matter over thread. The product is similar to the existing one but will work with Matter.
As we move beyond the simple devices categories of light bulbs, switches, and door locks into more complex categories like cameras, robot vacuums, home appliances, and wi-fi, there will be more issues to contend with.
I didn't hear anything about where audio-streaming from speaker companies like Bose and Sonos fit into the Matter plan. There is a matter casting feature. There isn't a formal working group trying to make it a part of the Matter specification.
We are not giving up on bridges and hubs. If you want to use the products already in your home, a bridge or hub is the way to go.
I don't mind what's happening. We need bridges in Matter to be easy to use. Ikea and Aqara announced that their hubs and bridges will bring existing products into Matter, as well as having a smart bulb from 2012 that worked with Matter. The shiny new thing that will be released next month is just as important as the technology that has been around for ten years.
I was disappointed not to see a lot of new products at the event, but I was encouraged to see a lot of existing products that will get Matter upgrade.
There were demos of how they will work with Matter, including an Eve Energy smart plug, a Schlage Encode Plus lock, and a TV. Many of these devices were used in the demos. Everything worked very well.
Technology is just as important as the shiny new things in Matter.
Within two seconds, a Yale Assure Lock 2 was unlocked. There was a hub over it. Raising the Eve blinds using a smart dimmer switch and an apple tv were both very fast. The Apple Home app could be used to control the three smart lights.
There was a demo of the fourth-gen speaker controlling five different lights across different protocols. Over a few seconds, the lights came on. There was a Matter-over-Thread demo on the fourth-gen. Integration won't be live until next year
There are few examples of a completely new integration enabled by Matter. Most of the things I saw could be done in a similar fashion to what Matter will do.
Signify's smart lighting line is not compatible with Apple Home. Danny Lousberg, head of product management at Signify, said that Matter can be used to add inexpensive, color changing bulbs to Apple Home.
The problems of the smart home will not be solved by Matter. In the next six months, it may not solve any.
It was clear from this event that Matter will make it easier for manufacturers to create better smart home devices and platforms once the underlying infrastructure is in place. That's what will put the industry on the right path to a smart home.
It will be a journey. It would be great if it was not too wild of a ride.
The photos and video were taken by the same person.
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