Matter 1.4 adds enhanced interoperability features for smart home ecosystems like Apple's HomeKit, including multi-platform device support and expanded energy management. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the organization responsible for Matter, has now finalized version 1.4 of the specification (via The Verge), introducing a range of new device types and enhanced functionalities that promise to improve interoperability between smart home ecosystems, including ‌HomeKit‌. Matter 1.4 introduces support for home routers and access points (HRAPs) that are certified to operate as both Wi-Fi access points and Thread border routers. This means that any Matter-certified HRAP device will be able to enhance network stability and simplify smart home connectivity. Thread border routers allow Matter-enabled devices to connect across a home, regardless of…

Unveiled at CES and now available at 20% off, the new Aqara Smart Lock U300 could help out a lot of HomeKit and Home Key users. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Aqara today announced the launch of the Aqara Smart Lock U300, which is a smart lock that's designed for doors that have a lever or knob but no deadbolt. Many homes have non-deadbolt doors for side entries, garage doors, home offices, basements, and storage rooms, and these kind of door setups do not work with traditional smart locks that require a deadbolt. The U300 lever lock is one of the first smart locks created for these types of doors. The U300 replaces a traditional lever or knob, offering smart functionality and the ability to keep an eye on who is coming or going. The U300 is built with the latest Thread protocol and it is Matter-enabled, so it can be…

The new Aqara Presence Sensor FP1E know when you're there and can adjust smart-home automations accordingly. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

iOS 18 expands Adaptive Lighting support to Matter-compatible smart lights, The Verge reports. Adaptive Lighting was introduced in iOS 14, providing a way to automatically adjust the color temperature of smart lights throughout the day. The feature currently only works with HomeKit-enabled devices, but it will be extended to smart lights that are compatible with the Matter standard with ‌iOS 18‌. Matter, a smart home interoperability protocol developed collaboratively by Apple, Google, Amazon, and other smart home brands, seeks to create a unified, platform-agnostic ecosystem for smart devices. Adaptive Lighting is an exclusive feature of the Apple Home ecosystem, meaning it is not included in the Matter specification itself. The expansion of Adaptive Lighting to Matter devices was discovered in…

iOS 18 expands Adaptive Lighting support to Matter-compatible smart lights, The Verge reports. Adaptive Lighting was introduced in iOS 14, providing a way to automatically adjust the color temperature of smart lights throughout the day. The feature currently only works with HomeKit-enabled devices, but it will be extended to smart lights that are compatible with the Matter standard with ‌iOS 18‌. Matter, a smart home interoperability protocol developed collaboratively by Apple, Google, Amazon, and other smart home brands, seeks to create a unified, platform-agnostic ecosystem for smart devices. Adaptive Lighting is an exclusive feature of the Apple Home ecosystem, meaning it is not included in the Matter specification itself. The expansion of Adaptive Lighting to Matter devices was discovered in…