Google Nest gets Matter support
The other way around, Android users will also be able to use HomeKit accessories in the future. This applies, for example, to Eve's smart home products, which currently only work with HomeKit. Matter is a smart home protocol supported by Apple, Google and Amazon that aims to make everything mutually compatible. It can be confusing to buy smart home devices because there are so many standards and smart assistants. The group around Matter wants to make this simpler with one protocol, which allows any device to work with any assistant, on any platform that supports Matter. The time has come by the end of 2021.
Google made the announcement in a blog post from Michele Turner, senior director for Google Smart Home. & ldquo; All Nest displays and speakers, such as the Nest Hub and Nest Mini, will automatically receive an update to power Matter devices, & rdquo; said Google. You can then control your HomeKit devices from your Google Nest Hub, as soon as they are suitable for Matter.
But & hellip; Google doesn't list all Nest products
Google also promises that the latest entry-level Nest Thermostat will be Matter-ready. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of uncertainty. Google says nothing at all about many other Nest products, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Cam security camera, Nest Protect smoke detector and Nest Hello doorbell. It is unclear whether these will also be updated. You may need to purchase an updated version of these products to get Matter support.
The Nest Thermostat has never had native support for HomeKit and other smart home standards, so the arrival of Matter is a good development. Even though it is currently only the entry-level model, which can be seen in the photo below and is not yet sold in the Netherlands.
Google is also going to create a smart home directory that will make it easier for customers to find products that work with the Google Assistant. You can filter which product you want and immediately see which software and protocols are suitable. In addition, Google will provide support for WebRTC for the smart home products. Smart doorbells can then use a low bandwidth video format to stream video without delay. Companies such as Arlo, Logitech, Netatmo and Wyze are participating and will be providing their doorbells with WebRTC support in the coming weeks.
No official word from Apple yet
We still have to wait for HomeKit to adapt for Matter, but that is expected later this year when the first products are released. Apple is one of the initiators, but has not yet made any concrete announcements. This is likely to happen in early June, when new features for HomeKit are announced during WWDC. Apple could include support for Matter in iOS 14 or limit it to iOS 15 and newer.
The announcement around Android gives an impression of how it will soon also work with iOS. Google has confirmed that Android will get built-in support for Matter. You can then easily set up new accessories and pair them with your favorite Android apps, with just a few taps on the screen. Then you have all kinds of ways to control, such as Android apps that are Matter-enabled, the Google Assistant, the Google Home app, Android Power Controls and suitable Google devices such as the Nest Hub.
Matter will also work seamlessly with Thread so that devices connect better and are more responsive. Thread support is already in Nest Wifi, Nest Hub Max and the second generation Nest Hub. It is also included in the HomePod mini and the renewed Apple TV 4K. These devices become connection points for your smart home network. This way, everything is seamlessly connected to each other, regardless of whether it uses WiFi, Thread or Ethernet.