Andrew O'Hara
Matter gets upgraded with bug fixes, more new smart home devices are announced, and we test the new Eve Flare on this week's Homekit Insider podcast.
It was an unusually busy week in the smart home space with several new products aiming to hit the market before WWDC announcements take over the news cycle. That also includes the release of an improved version of Matter, the platform that will allow users to mix and match devices between HomeKit and other smart home platforms.
The new Matter 1.1 has been released to manufacturers and fixes a number of known bugs, but contains no new user-facing features. It's still a good time to go into our current experience with Matter, look at how it is working — and what may be coming next.
Speaking of Matter, the Yale Assure SL smart lock now supports it. The lock can be purchased with a Matter-enabled module to allow universal smart home control.
Yeelight now supports Matter, too. Although its "pro" line has been updated first, and its consumer one is yet to follow.
Meanwhile, Meross has a new smart socket thermostat for European users, and Aqara has new switches and curtain controllers.
After the news, we discuss our impressions of Final Cut Pro for iPad, some personal projects, and why Max had a terrible launch.
Links from the show
- Final Cut for iPad - VIDEO!
- Matter 1.1 release — Enhancements for developers and device
- Yale's Assure SL now can come with Matter support
- iOS 17 may turn iPhone Lock Screen into smart home display
- Yeelight Announce Matter Support
- Meross Announces Socket Thermostat with HomeKit
- Aqara Reveal New Strip, Ceiling Light, Curtain Motor and Switches
- Sonoff Prepare for release of First Matter-Enabled Relay
- Max Tweet
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2 Comments
I recently got the Aqara G4 Doorbell. Not entirely happy with it. Very good industrial design, but software-wise, it needs to improve. Seems to only work on 2.4GHz WiFi networks, so mixed networks (2.4 and 5.0GHz) give some grief. On my particular network, I can't get it to bind in the Aquara app. It only works with the Home app, and I can't get an outside connection, so it is only viewable when I'm on the same WiFi network. Been a pain in the ... apple.
Regarding Matter, isn't it a protocol? Curious how there can be "bug fixes" in a protocol. It might have a refined specification that addresses known issues, but any bug fixes would be in the implementing software, not the protocol, right?