1: What's the matter with Matter?
What is Matter?
When you plug a gaming console from one company into a TV from another, using a cable from yet another, it’s the HDMI consortium that created standards for that all to work. Each company agrees to build their products to a spec. Those products have to pass certain tests, and then they can say they work with a certain version of the HDMI specification. There have been a variety of standards like this in smart home tech, but none as ambitious as Matter.
Keep in mind that Thread, which you might have heard me talk about in the past, is an underlying technology that can enable a Matter connection, but they are not the same thing. Thread is a standard for wireless connection, whereas Matter is about the communication going over Thread or an IP-based protocol.
Why Matter?
One of the main limiting factors of smart home tech today is compatibility. If you are adding smart devices like a thermostat or light switch to your home, they might not support the smart home platform the next owner wants. Furthermore, builders of new homes are limited in what they can do with smart home tech for the same reason. If you could guarantee some kind of interoperability, it would open the door to more places to use smart home tech, and weaken the moats certain large platforms have.
Today, smart home platforms rule the land, and accessory makers differentiate themselves with good compatibility with specific smart home platforms. In doing so, they increase their value. You are probably willing to pay more for smart home products that work well with your preferred platform, like Apple HomeKit. Matter could remove that advantage. I’m thinking this will put downward pressure on product price, giving us HomeKit fans access to less expensive accessories. With many iPhone users starting to get into smart home tech, I’m hopeful the increased device choices and lower prices will reduce friction for choosing Apple’s HomeKit platform over alternatives like Amazon Alexa.
In many cases with technology, compatibility is an important part of growth. This reminds me of the deal Steve Jobs made with Bill Gates and Microsoft in 1997. One key part of that deal was that Microsoft would make Microsoft Office apps for the Mac. This meant that Macs could finally work with the defacto standard for office documents at the time, giving many more people the option to use a Mac alongside other people using Windows.
What’s the matter?
In short, the members of the Connectivity Standards Alliance who created Matter can’t agree on all the details for the first version of the Matter spec. Initially, it was supposed to be ready earlier this year, with certain Matter products launching by the end of 2021. On August 13th, Tobin Richardson, president, and CEO of the Alliance outlined a new schedule in a press release:
“Our refined plans include ongoing SDK and certification program development in 2H 2021, targeting a “pre-ballot” version of the technical spec available to members at year's end. In the first half of 2022, we expect to see the SDK released, the first devices through certification, and our formal certification program opening.”
So they are going to get companies to make accessories based on a yet-to-be-approved new standard, in hopes to get things ready as quickly as possible? This feels very aggressive to me.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 10 years as a software developer, it’s that software engineering timelines often underestimate the actual time required. Add to that the complexity of getting all of these different engineers from tens of different companies to agree, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the last delay of Matter’s role out.
Regardless of when it actually happens, I’m still bullish on Matter creating a lot of growth and opportunity for smart home tech. The one angle for the media to stir up will be which existing products do or do not get support for Matter. I have no doubt there will be winners and losers there depending on the products you own, but it will work itself out in the years to come. For now, I wouldn’t buy any products assuming they will or won’t have Matter compatibility. Get products for what they can do today, not the promise of future software updates.
My video
There’s no video from me this week. I’ve had a number of personal life things draining my energy and time outside of work. I had the A roll filmed for a last-minute video, but I just couldn’t muster the energy to shoot and edit in all the B roll on Tuesday night for a Wednesday release. I’ll get it ready for next Wednesday…and hopefully, get back to having a little more margin between making and publishing videos.
But related to the article below, check out my thoughts on tvOS Spatial Audio with AirPods if you haven’t already.
Around the web
Are Dolby Atmos and Vision worth the upgrade?
Whether you are upgrading your home equipment or looking for a movie in theaters, Dolby Vision (for video) and Dolby Atmos (for sound) really do make a difference. I’m very impressed with the quality of Dolby Atmos in my AirPods Max when watching Apple TV+ content on my Apple TV. And you don’t just have to take my word for it. Gerald Lynch compares two recent movie experiences he had, one with Dolby standards and one without. Can you guess which was better?
“No Time To Die in Dolby Atmos and Vision has ruined cinemas for me” - Tech Radar
To bring this full circle, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are great common standards for your smart home theater to help ensure your experience of video content is as close to how the creator intended, across a wide variety of products.
IKEA’s new smart air purifier sales start “in October 2021”.
In August IKEA announced a new smart Starkvind air purifier. This will work with IKEA’s Tradfri smart home system which can talk to Apple HomeKit. I’m assuming this air purifier will also be visible to HomeKit. It’s supposed to go on sale sometime this month, so keep an eye out. I haven’t seen a specific date anywhere. IKEA mentioned in August that the air purifier will retail for $99 US and has an option to be integrated into a side table for $149.
HomeKit Authority has more details on the new Starkvind Air Purifier features