I've been following the development of Matter for a while now as I've been developing a smart home device, and the final release has been a kick in the teeth to say the least. Matter was hugely interesting as it would be a universal application layer protocol that would simplify the development for devices by a lot by defining clusters, attributes and commands. My expectation was that they would supply a model and default specifications for common devices (for example: any smart light should at least have the functionality to turn on and off, so the OnOff-attribute and the toggle commands should be mandated), but I did not expect that they would make it impossible for developers to define their own device types. The product I'm developing is not in one of the first few categories, therefore, I will not be able to make my devices Matter-compatible. This is a big limitation on the freedom of the developer. Yes, I could use a different device definition that provides more or less the same functionality, but then my device would show up as being a 'dimmer switch', even when it's not. Additionally, it seems like a dimmer switch is only allowed to be coupled with a dimmable light, which is another (unnecessary) limiting factor that wasn't ultimately necessary. Imagine that I would like to use a folding curtain in combination with a dimmer switch to define exactly how far I'd like to close the curtains. The way the standard currently defines default device types and cluster interaction, this is not possible. I hope that they're going to open up the standard a little more, because they're making Matter 'just another Zigbee but slightly different' this way.
Hey, only reading this now, sorry I haven’t caught up on this earlier. I’m not sure if I’m the right person to interview on this subject, but I’m definitely open to chat about it and elaborate why it’s not the perfect standard we’ve all been hoping for in some situations. You can PM me to get in touch and we’ll see what we can do!
Matter is a protocol, bluetooth wifi and thread are communication standards, and apps like Apple's Home app or assistants like Alexa are user interfaces. My analogy of choice: protocols (matter) -> Twitter/Facebook communication standards (wifi, thread) -> wifi/cellular user interfaces (alexa) -> web browser (e.g. google chrome)
Thank you for the video. It seems to me, that you are very excited about this Matter. I am afraid that it could be “too little too late” case. Unfortunately there are no real Matter devices yet. All displays and speakers are Matter Controllers, but not a Matter Devices - they could control Matter Devices but, they will not be controlled. All Google Nest and Amazon products will remain cloud based solutions and there will be no Multi Admin Feature for them. Do not expect local execution of any automations from Google devices. Those fancy switches from Brilliant probably will be Matter Controllers as well. There are many sensors packed inside of all those devices, but none of them is available outside of the native APP. Yes, Tuya is certifying a lot of new products (mostly bulbs and plugs), but what about our old products? There is a CSA certification for Smart Wired Gateway Pro from Tuya, but I have not seen any announcements specifying which ZigBee Devices will be supported. And what about old WiFi based Tuya products? Philips HUE has Matter certified hub, so HUE products will be exposed to Matter, but none of Philips HUE products will be true Matter device (no direct device to device communications). They will stay in their silo forever. The same applies to Aqara products. Hubs will be certified, but not the old sensors. However, they are committed to change it with new P2 Thread based Motion and Contact sensors. Unfortunately I am not aware about expected availability and prices. Yeelight will support their Pro line of products (Bluetooth based) via hub OTA update + we are getting som new Matter certified products - timeline and prices yet to be seen. Again, what about existing WiFi based (ESP 32) products? Those lamps are not cheap they are capable of local integrations, but does it Matter? EVE have Matter certification for EVE Energy (plug), EVE Motion, EVE Door & Window, but all other Thread enabled devices from EVE (Aqua, Light Switch, Room, Thermo, Water Guard and Weather) are supposed to wait for now. Nanoleaf, have found an excuse to sell new products instead of supporting existing customers. TP-Link is not going to update any of existing Wi-Fi based devices, instead they are introducing new Matter compliant products. We will probably see new Tapo & Kasa products at CES 2023. No thermostats so far. I would not expect any updates from ecobee. Their contact sensors are useless without payed subscription. You can not pause your thermostat when door or window is open unless you are paying for subscription more money than it is possible to save. Why would they update software when they could fallow Nanoleaf’s path? Am I missing something?
Just cause it'd take me an hour to explain everything...here's one hole already. Google has Multi Admin already, with Samsung. And I've already experienced local routines.
@@AutomateYourLife ,Do not start any smart home projects unless you have at least an hour at your disposal. What do you mean by Multi Admin? For years if certain product had multiple integrations it would propagate itself automatically to most platforms after initial setup. For example, I have purchased new Kasa power strip. I have connected it to my Wi-Fi using Kasa APP. Since my Kasa account already linked to both my SmartThings and Google Home accounts, this power strip will automatically appear in SmartThings and Google Home. But what will happened when I link my SmartThings and Google Home accounts? For now, it will double the number of devices in Google Home. The same problem occurs with Brilliant control panel, because it has direct integration with Kasa and SmartThings. So, those systems could not figure out that those are the same devices. How is that Multi Admin? I am sure this problem will be resolved sooner or later, but there will be no control for Google Nest displays and speakers within the SmartThings APP (I would be really surprised to see it one day). Those displays and speakers are Matter Controllers but aren’t Matter Devices. Could you please tell us more about your experience of local routines. Was it Product from Google? Was it single or Multi device routine? I have multiple Goggle Nest hubs (2nd Gen) around my house, and they are absolutely useless without the internet connection, no Matter what.
Hi Brian, another great video... I caught your comment about BRILLIANT and costing too much..LOL.. I have 2 single control panels one up stairs and one down stairs. Then I have 16 switches. Each switch has dim, motion built right in!! Their system works flawlessly all the time and is super responsive. You can also control your sonos speakers in. your home from any control panels. I know you like to check numbers so take a look at their system and let me know your thoughts! Switches prices and plug prices are the same as Lutron and can do more functions. You can even control a scene with a double tap on the switch. You do not need to use a control panel for every location. I do recommend you taking a look at them closely and I think you will fond that they are not much more than a Lutron system with a lot more functionality. Oh also they have Alexa built in.
As somewhat of a long time novice as far back as before 8088's I am perplexed that so many devices require their own hubs or bridges or apps. It is ridiculous that with cheap security cameras using IoT platforms I have to use a different app for different brands then I have to use Amcrest app for their cameras and Reolink for one camera. I have broadlink rm4, lutton bridge, and a blink doorbell. Let's go back to the simple cellphone charger cable. In the beginning there were many proprietary plugs. Eventually all got intelligent and went to mini-usb except apple with their lightning apparatus. Hopefully one day soon all these remote control devices will be connected and controlled by one simple app. From what I am hearing on this video that is the goal of Matter. With some luck the app will even be backwards compatible. If these companies do not follow suit many will be out of business. This is what has made Lenux a governing force in computers. Otherwise apple or Microsoft would absolutely rule the world. It's all about domination and greed.
Another nice job, Brian! I actually don't see Matter being very important in the near term for those of us with functional smart home setups, regardless of the platform, but I'm already using Aqara and Eve products so it's a nice-to-have kind of thing. The real issue for folks like me is what will the support of my hardwired Z-Wave devices look like? I'm talking about wall switches, dimmers, hardwired outlets, ceiling fan controllers, etc. You mentioned Z-Wave at the top and as happens when anyone discusses Matter there is little additional information. These things are handled by SmartThings now and brought into Homekit via Homebridge. It works quite well, too. I like Thread, though, and already have a handful of Eve, Wemo, and Apple (Homepod Mini/ATV) showing up on my Thread network that is displayed nicely using the Eve app. Keep 'em coming, Brian! Thank you.
As a Home Assistant user, I'm just concerned about whether I'll be able to get firmware updates for my devices to use Thread. I wouldn't be surprised if many devices require their brand's hub to push the firmware to them.
@@AutomateYourLife I hope you're right. It would be really annoying having to buy various hubs just to update my devices. I do already own the Hue bridge (although I don't use it) though, so I guess I'd only really need the Aqara and Sonoff hubs if that ends up being necessary.
Nabu Casa (the company kind of behind Home Assistant) is selling a 30 dollar ZigBee 3.0/thread/matter (with an update)r USB dongle (HA SkyConnect). Just plug it in and you have matter/thread in HA.You can do firmware updates in HA now using MQTT. You're covered and it's not like your current devices are just going to stop working. In fact, as a Home Assistant user I kind of find it redundant at the moment. They are already breaking some promises like a universal app regarding matter/thread. Google has shown off Yaml being used on Android, wonder where they got that idea. I have a feeling Apple is going to be the worse due to how they operate. I hope to be proven wrong but as of now, some companies are working with some while others arent. I think Amazon and Samsung have been working together but not sure who else is. Aqara has said they will allow other devices in their app. They have probably been the best about adopting thread/matter. HA held their first matter/thread workshop/demos last may. Below is from Wikipedia. They currently support over 2000 integrations not counting HACs. It's also gotten way more user friendly GUI wise for creating script, scenes, and automations. In 2020, with 8,162 contributors, it was listed second place in the list of Python packages with the most unique contributors.
@@loganfisher3138 I just wanted to add that Matter is now available in Home Assistant already with the release of 2022.12. I just noticed 2022.12.1 was released today. If you are on either of these releases and go to settings, add on's, then add on store it's there already. At the time of this writing I believe there is currently only one Matter/thread device available and it's an overpriced (IMO) air filter that seems to be mainly targeted at Apples HomeKit. So Matter is already available in HA granted it's pretty useless until probably early next year due to lack of Matter/Thread devices available. Second, if you Google "Matter, The Great Universal Smart Home Standard, Is Already Fragmented" there is a good article that shows that individual hubs aren't going away anytime soon and one of the main promises of Matter, which is a universal admin app isn't going to happen. At least not right away due to certain standards in Matter not being enforced. HA is already a multi admin app, and that's before Matter was even released. Below is a cut and paste from that article. Hubs Will Stick Around The one initial promise it backtracked on is hubs. Matter 1.0 supports ethernet hubs, which means the Philips Hue hub, SmartThings hubs, and Aqara hub continues to be a thing. There are some advantages there-as Philips Hue hubs gain Matter support, so do all of its bulbs, strips, and other products. But you’ll still find yourself plugging in multiple hubs and trying to find space for them all. If you wanted to use a better app, the only option was to limit yourself to one device manufacturer and hope that would cover all your needs. Multi-admin control, in theory, lets you use your favorite to control all your devices, regardless of manufacturer. But there’s a catch: first, a device manufacturer has to allow its gadgets to be controlled by other apps. And it has to update its app to control devices from other manufacturers. But Matter makes few requirements when it comes to Multi-Admin control. While mutli-admin control is technically a requirement for certification, actually turning on the feature is optional. A manufacturer can choose to allow its devices to be controlled by other apps, or allow its app to control other devices. Or both. Or neither at all. So, what commitments do we have so far? I asked a few different manufacturers at the Matter Launch. Here’s what I found out: Philips Hue: Philips Hue will not allow any form of multi-admin control at all. You’ll have to control Philips Hue (and only Philips Hue) devices in the Hue app. Update: Since publishing this article, a Philips Hue PR rep reached out to clarify that Hue Devices will be open for control in other apps. Other devices can not be controlled in the Hue app. That’s a shame, as the Hue app is easily one of the best smart home apps available. But still an improvement over what we were originally told. WiZ: WiZ, which shares the same parent company as Philips Hue, will also allow its devices to be controlled by other apps. But it won’t update its app to control other devices. Nanoleaf: Nanoleaf will also allow its devices to be controlled by other apps, but it’s unclear if you’ll get to control other devices in the Nanoleaf app. Aqara: Aqara will allow both control of its devices through other apps, and controlling other devices through its apps. However, you’ll need an updated hub, and the current one isn’t Thread capable. Aqara plans to release an updated multi-protocol hub later. Eve: Eve is, simply put, the gold standard of Matter. The company will update its app to control other Matter devices and allow its existing devices to work in other Matter-compatible apps. Eve is far ahead of nearly every company, having long supported the Thread protocol. note: Eve only makes an iOS app, not an Android app. While they have promised to release an Android app there is no telling when it will be released.
As someone new to smart homes I'm still so confused. Have a bunch of Hue lights and looking to expand into other stuff but I think I'll wait for things to settle down a bit.
Now I'm using, for example IKEA devices (or Aqara, not Smart Things) paired to their hub and controlled in Alexa through the IKEA skill. When the hub and the Alexa Echo, or whatever, are Matter enabled it will then no longer be necessary the skill to be able to control the devices in Alexa?
Denmark here 🇩🇰 I love your videos, and your advices 👍👍. I do think, you are missing one super Hub.. Homey Pro 2023 Please look into the new Homey , it is pretty awesome 👍👍 thanks again for your videos 👍👍. Jim
Presently I’m using my Google Home Hub, Google Nest Hub Max, and my Echo 8 and 10 to display my Wyze Cameras v2 and v3. Strangely enough, (as an example), if I am viewing one of camera one Google Display, I can’t view that camera on the other and vice-a-versa. multiple can not access the same Wyze camera at the same time. I’m looking to upgrade my cameras to Wyze Cam 3 Pro in the coming year, and hopefully Wyze will take steps to embrace Matter.
2:15 it will just work? Kinda like what apple is doing with its products? That would be amazing! I hate using all these different apps for my smart stuff
If they're wifi today, they'd be wifi tomorrow. They might get matter over wifi, which would change it to local control for sure...but wouldn't change much on wifi traffic on the network
I looking to get new BR30 RGB lights to replace Wiz lights that go into unknown states and need to be reset up. I can’t find and that say they are Matter or Matter ready. Do you know if any or can you suggest what to look for? I want to buy them for the Christmas season but don’t want to buy something obsolete. I need 11 so it is a substantial purchase.
There's really nothing guaranteed right now in lighting as Matter ready. I like Hue, and their hub will be a Matter bridge for their lights, so that's a good option as of now. Highly reliable too. Br30 RGB is a little tougher sorry!
I am itching to get my smart apartment working, have a ST hub at the ready, but I am holding back on buying devices until much later this year because of matter. I want to see what devices will have the standard around july/juli. It's agonizing.
Does any one have more details on "energy management" aspects of Matter. Is this for home energy monitoring or can we pair distributed energy (DERs) devices. Its a huge miss for Matter to exclude new products which consumers are buying lately- Eg; EV Chargers, Solar Inverters and Battery Storage systems.
This is great news moving forward, though I can see some... difficulties that hopefully will be sorted out. With that all said, at this stage, I have got everything working all together right now in my home and I am not looking to get anything new in the near future, so Matter doesn't affect the way my current setup works. That said, it will in the future. The trouble right now is the limitied number of hubs. As far as I know only Apple, Amazon and Smartthings have hubs currently. I know Home Assistant have plans, but there is no date on that yet, like Aqara / Xiaomi are not giving a date yet. Hopefully a lot upgrades will start filtering through. If manufacturers drag their feet on upgrades, then Matter will struggle.. Nanoleaf is one company I am kind of glad I avoided. They seem to just not care about their existing products.....
Yeah! Some of it is great news but you're right. Lots has to be worked out. You're right on the lagging/dragging of feet on upgrades causing struggle. There's not a ton of trust left in the market, so they kinda can't.
Brian, good explanation but still confused. I’m using a SmartThings V2 hub. I don’t think it will support thread/matter!?, but will my z wave & Zigbee devices continue to work as long as they get the Edge driver update? Thanks
Hey Dan, yep. You got 99% of that right. So you're not too confused! The V2 will support Matter over Wifi. If you have another Matter over Thread controller in your home, it will work for you with Thread too. So basically...it does! And yeah don't worry about ZigBee and Z-Wave! That's the edge driver program and yeah most stuff should be good
Great video Brian! I've always been very interested in sensors, but I never been motivated enough to make my simple Google Home ecosystem more complex by introducing one of the many hubs out there. So it sounds like I have to wait another quarter for sensors to finally enter my ecosystem. Any word from Flic? It's the only product I own that is not directly controlled by Google and I had to use IFTTT.
I’m a little confused. If I’m running smartthings hub, is there something I need to actively do to upgrade to matter connections? Will smartthings be able to recognize all matter things natively?
Multi-admin is a requirement to get Matter certified but actually having the feature turned on in the product is not! Most endpoint devices seem to allow others to control them but apps like Hue are not going to support controlling every device type.
So with this being a Bluetooth connected product, it can't physically be a Matter device. However, they could sell a hub that's a Matter bridge. It's on their radar, but I haven't seen them join the CSA nor have I been told about upcoming Matter plans yet. Still, they did talk to me about Matter here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QX6HU3KKjgY.html
@@AutomateYourLife thanks Brian! I had seen that video but forgotten. Also, your comment re: Bluetooth makes me change where I was going to put the hub for the blinds.
Brian Great video again. I have a question we have a Eufy video doorbell would it be able to connect to my Google nest hubs with the matter standard. So that when somebody rings it we see them on the screen?
Hi Brian, At some point didn't you have a video where you used a door/window sensor with a pressure mat under your madras? I have been browsing your videos, and can't seem to find it.
Hey Lars, yep! Now IFTTT I did with the Withings Sleep pad here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_zVLWz66OSg.html and my couch, I did with an Aeotec door sensor here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tIjc7PaJi1I.html The Aeotec one now...we probably gotta wait for the edge drivers to see how it performs with Edge.
@@AutomateYourLife Thank you very much. Do you think it will still be possible to use the dry contacts on the Aeotec sensor, now that Smartthings are rolling out the new Edge drivers?
SmartThings's Matter services not available yet on their IOS app. My Hue Bridge with Matter firmware works great with Apple Home, removed the Hue Homekit connection and paired it again with the Matter Setup code from Hue app. Viola I had a dozen extra Non-Hue devices show up finally in Apple Home. Still waiting for any news on Sengled's plans.
As a Atom Homey hub user, i have allready most of those protocols like Z-wave, 868 Mhz, WiFi, Bleutooth, 433 Mhz and Zigbee running, so for me Matter is only interesting if my older Google devices like in- and outdoor camera's, and my Google smoke detectors are running on Matter. My Atom device will be updated to Matter and Thread next year. I don't want to buy new gadgets again and again, so I'am wondering if that Matter thing is not just forcing people to buy new stuff.
When they say "bi-annually", do they really mean "every two years" (which is what it usually means) or do they mean "semi-annually" (i.e. every 6 months)?
@@AutomateYourLife I've heard confusion over this in various comment sections on RU-vid, but I hope you're right about the six months - regardless of what term they use!
Concern. Company builds awesome matter app to let you control house. This company is not necessarily one of the companies that make devices. They don’t charge much for the app. How do they make money? By either legally or illegally obtaining your home data. Current fragmentation limits this . But when almost anyone can make an app that can act as your software hub, I am concerned.
So Apple is applying Apple rules to the what you can do. If that is true Matter may be a connectivity standard like Wifi/Bluetooth etc. But far from a universal usability standard.
Very thorough video. Seems like we will have to wait for January's CES for actual MATTER devices to be announced with hopefully release before February? Hopefully Google would have enabled Thread by then?
I am sure we will see a lot of matter product releases at CES in January but I doubt a lot of them will come out until later in 2023. As for Google who knows when they do anything anymore! 😂😂😂
@@AutomateYourLife I have a Tv back light (WiFi) connected to a light strip (Bluetooth) via Dreamview. Any idea how that will work? Great video btw. And thanks for replying quickly.
@@neverman3398 I think it'll just keep working the same way! Nothing changes with your old stuff as far as I've heard. Could change in 3-4 years but no one is talking about that
@@AutomateYourLife I think that you are right, the Dreamview setup should work as intended. I have already set up Alexa as a controller. Hopefully it will integrate into the home app perfectly.
ZIGBEE, ZEWAVE, BLUETOOTH, THREAD, MATTER, WIFI 6.. The industry is so fragmented, because everyone wants their standard to be the universal standard. Then again, that also breeds competition which gives way to advancements in tech and lower costs.
I don't like this it smacks of the bigger tech companies getting together to create a standard to push out smaller ones, we've seen things like this play out time and time again. Pretty soon we won't have the capability to pick and choose from as many products because this matters standard will become so regulatory it will push out competition. I don't like it I think smart home devices need to stay separated to a degree, having autonomy. You have to take the good with the bad, because if you take what you think is all good it can turn out to be all bad.
@@AutomateYourLife yeah but it still makes me worried that that standard will be ran by the top companies and it will morph into some sort of commercial regulatory thing. IFTTT did a whole lot already to solve many communication issues across providers and Google removed compatibility. Seems like now they're trying to create their own club to shore up market share. I don't want to be a Negative Nancy but it's important that we consider possible implications of this headed into the future. I very much appreciate your reply