At the heart of Matter, the new smart home standard co-developed by Apple, lies Thread. Matter utilizes Thread as its foundation, including it in Apple’s HomeKit smart home platform. Designed specifically for internet-connected devices (IoT), Thread boasts advantages over Bluetooth. This low-power, low-bandwidth mesh networking protocol offers faster speeds and extended range, making it perfect for seamlessly connecting smart home devices like lights, locks, thermostats, and sensors. And, nearly all of Apple’s newest Macs and iPads contain an unannounced Thread radio.
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy for The Verge:
When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max last fall, the company surprised everyone by putting a Thread radio in its top-of-the-line smartphones. Now, it turns out Apple also quietly added this important smart home radio to several new Macs and iPads released since September 2023.
While the company doesn’t list Thread on the specs of any of these products, FCC reports indicate that many of Apple’s latest devices have had Thread radios tested for compliance. Generally, you don’t test a radio that’s not there…
Apple has used Thread for several years to connect devices to its smart home platform. The radio has been in the HomePod Mini since it launched in 2020 and is in the HomePod 2 and several Apple TV models. But the company has not yet announced the presence of a Thread radio in any of its Macs or iPads.
So why is it there? The Apple Home app runs on Macs and iPads, and Thread radios could allow them to communicate directly with smart home devices and act as Thread border routers. It’s possible Apple is planning to turn your Mac or iPad into a home hub, but iPads used to be home hubs, and the company discontinued that capability for its new Apple Home architecture. Those iPads didn’t have Thread radios, though.
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MacDailyNews Take: When Apple revealed the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, its September 12, 2023 press release stated, “iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max… introduce the first Thread-enabled smartphones, opening up future opportunities for Home app integrations.”
Stay tuned.
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