Browsing Tag
Matter
4 posts
Matter smart home standard coverage, interoperability updates, compatible devices, and platform support.
Apple HomeView Costs $299, but Its Best Features Need More Apple Hardware
Apple’s $299 HomeView ships November 13 with Siri AI, Face ID-style personalization and nine-camera viewing. Here’s what requires an iPhone, iCloud+ or extra hardware.
Samsung’s SmartThings API Fees Put Smart Home Integrations on Notice
Samsung plans to introduce paid SmartThings API tiers in October 2026, including a $4.99 monthly personal plan for non-commercial developers. The change will not affect ordinary SmartThings app users, but Home Assistant and advanced smart-home integrations now have a deadline to review their cloud dependencies.
Google Home Speaker Makes Gemini a Smart Home Product
Google’s $99.99 Home Speaker is available for preorder and ships June 25, bringing Gemini for Home, Matter and Thread support, Google TV Streamer pairing, and subscription-gated Gemini Live features into the smart home.
Matter 1.6 Tries to Fix the Smart Home’s Setup Problem
Matter 1.6 adds NFC-based setup, Joint Fabric for shared multi-platform control, smarter thermostat suggestions, and better device status reporting. The update could make smart homes less fragmented, but only after device makers and platform owners actually ship support.