Home-automation standard Matter finally launches

October 05, 2022

Matter is a new home-automation standard that will (theoretically) allow smart home devices and ecosystems to play nicely together.

Right now, devices from different manufacturers tend not to interoperate. If you're planning to make your home smart, you can't currently use Alexa devices with Apple's HomeKit, for instance.

Matter is intended to change that, with an open-source protocol that will make devices compatible with all the big home-automation platforms.

I've been planning to automate my home for some time -- lights and blinds, mainly -- and Matter may be the thing that gives me the impetus to finally do it -- if it works as advertised!

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

The wait is over for Matter 1.0. The Connectivity Standards Alliance has introduced the cross-platform home-automation standard after lengthy delays. It is intended to break through the walled silos of Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing accessories from a wide range of companies to communicate. It might finally make smart homes more common ... potentially even mainstream.

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One more thing ...

"I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what's next." -- Steve Jobs.

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