On this week's episode of the Smart Home Insider podcast, we cover the launch of Matter 1.5.1 and all the changes that are coming to Apple Home users after the update.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has committed to at least two updates to the Matter spec each year. While sometimes we see a larger milestone update, other times it's smaller — as with 1.5.1.

This update primarily focuses on improving the experience for cameras, which were added with version 1.5 in the fall of 2025. Even though Apple Home still lacks support, Apple has committed to doing so in the future.

One of the big changes is multiple streams of video, in different qualities, for different uses. For example, Matter will be able to stream a lower resolution video to your phone but record it at a high resolution.

It also can break out a separate stream that is dedicated to video analysis and AI. Apple currently processes video using a local Home Hub while others offer cloud-based video analysis that can describe what's happening in natural language.

Matter 1.5.1 also brings support for different codecs. The update uses HEIC for images and thumbnails that are higher quality with a smaller file size, paired with HLS which helps deliver variable resolution video that adjusts to internet bandwidth.

There are other changes in Matter 1.5.1 as well, including the ability to use different chimes for different video doorbells, better pan-tilt-zoom support for cameras, and better intercom performance.

Other than the Matter release, it was a busy week for smart home news.

IKEA finally released the new versions of its donut and pendant lights that were first shown off at CES 2026. The Varmblixt lights support Matter-over-Thread and can change colors.

A new remote app has launched for the Apple TV. ITSYTV is a slick app that works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac and adds rich episode or movie data and a customizable quick launch grid to the remote interface.

Smart watering system Oto has added a new feature called Oto Play. Toggle on from the Oto app and your watering system turns into a fun sprinkler for your kids or dogs to play in.

Finally, Home Assistant 2026.4 has been released with a ton of new features. Headlining the list is support for IR devices.

With IR repeaters, you can control any legacy devices that used IR remotes. That could include TVs, fans, HVAC units, humidifiers, and more, which is technically already supported via Apple Home.

There are new cross-domain triggers and conditions, which would be wonderful to have supported in a more native way in Apple Home. You could do automations such as "when the projector screen is opened, and the shades are open more than 10%, set them to 90% closed."

To do this now in Apple Home, you need to use third-party apps, such as Home+. Home Assistant added new triggers, too, like when a humidifier target value is above or below a certain threshold.

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