Quick correction on the Lutron Caséta blinds - they are available up to 96” x 104” but cost more than the starting price of $399. To get the shades for $399 they need to be within the 48” x 80” size.
About Nanoleaf, they continue to create new devices which only works with Matter Over Wifi (and not Matter over Thread). it seems they definitely abandon the Matter over Thread protocol ... Sad news
I was just looking at their website and they have quite a few matter over thread lightbulbs, which, if you think about it is awesome because they naturally create a mesh network. At my house, the outdoor lightbulbs are too far to get a good Wi-Fi signal so that is a great solution for me I think
@RyGuyVidz unreliable. Regularly unsync from Apple home . Take along time to load up in app Sometimes. Could be tolerable for 1 lamp but I have like 5 or 6.
As a GE Cync fan, that new switch definitely caught my attention. I would love to be able to control my Cync lights with Apple HomeKit via Matter, if I understood correctly. Aqara looks to be further stepping up their game...I like that too.
Thanks Eric. I could use a video on prepping a new construction home to be a smart home. In my case, it is a steel side/roof ranch w a walkout bsmt. Wiring for WiFi7 and 10gb in a Unifi network. 😁
As far as I can tell GE Sync is still the only brand that is making wall switches and dimmers that will control their smart bulbs. That needs to be the next thing that happens in this space… Smart switches and smart bulbs need to work together.
I’ve outfitted most of my house with GE Cync switches and bulbs, but they are not making their older switches matter compatible, which is a shame- now I gotta buy and install 12 new switches. We’re trying to move from Alexa to Apple home.
@@Grubinator100 I have a couple of these hopefully arriving soon. I'm testing one of my rooms with removing the GE bulbs, replacing with Philips Hue and replacing the switch with Inovelli white series. I've been told it will not work as flawlessly as the GE Cync combination, but I'm willing to see how much it actually affects our usage. I'm starting a series on this sort of thing soon. Posting first episode in the coming week
Did you get any info on the g100 outdoor cam that was on display? Also the new door bell.. the verge have stated it’s 4:3 aspect ratio which will be most welcome over the 16:9 of the g4. Did they tell you the new one is the same as the g4?
What features are ecobee thermostats missing by not supporting Matter? I just installed the ecobee premium, and I can’t think of anything I wish it had
As I understand it the lack of Matter support basically comes downs to lack of third party integration and by extension vendor lock in. For example with no common information protocol you can not natively use third party or custom Temperature sensors, or unsupported smart vents (for central HVAC). If you are content with the functionality and interoperability currently provided by Ecobee and not interested in further integration with third party hardware/software the lack of Matter support will not be an issue for you.
A couple things: 1. Lack of flexibility for future home users 2. Lack of flexibility for you to add it not only to Apple Home, but smaller platforms like an Aqara, Flic, or Home Assistant controller for an automation. Yes I think there are open source work arounds for Home Assistant and maybe others but Matter would be official and implemented by ecobee in this case.
Eh… they already support all of the smart home platforms and you can integrate into HA using the HomeKit bridge although you’ll lose the AirPlay functionality (who uses that tho?). Also, I can’t think of another device that has Siri built in. I think you’ll be fine without Matter support.
@@Sah-dd1zhno. Ecobee doesn't support Matter/Thread because then they won't be able to farm all of your data and send it off to energy providers. Horrible advice from a misinformed person. Although they "support" most platforms like HomeKit, automations hardly ever work, and I mean almost NEVER!! Also, their App is infestation of Ads/Marketing. They've been promising Thread support for almost three years, have yet to activate or use the Thread Radio. And, my guess is they won't because their data harvesting and micro-managing will be lost. I own the Ecobee premium, and it was an actual downgrade from the Nest I had that was almost 7yrs old. I can't even get simple automations to work with this Ecobee trash.
The matter development is good, but it just feels like Apple is developing in slow motion. Apple home is glacial in its pace of improvement and whilst we are hearing rumours of an Apple doorbell that’s likely two years out. Apple CarPlay has stalled and yet there are huge possibilities to improve the current version. Dictation is Still wildly inaccurate, especially when you’re in a hurry and as I look back to WWDC 2024 and the huge excitement of things to come, looking back from January 2025 it all feels rather underwhelming.
No excuse for ecobee not supporting Matter. You would think they would want to, simply to crack down on having to support Alexa, Google and Homekit separately and individually...and lessen their development burden going forward.
They had a booth at some of the smaller shows and a meeting room during CES but I never saw their new Sense Pro lock. I don’t think they had any at CES.
I don’t get ur hunger for matter when matter products are not local as touted in the years leading up to matter 1.0 and since. Still seeing data phone homes that if blocked render products non-op / without all or most of their functionality without IP blocks put in-place. HomeKit products, over thread or zigbee are still my pref, Eric/somebody tell me why/how I’m wrong. (IKEA’s phone homes being blocked don’t effect it’s operation, blocking hue only kill their app and updates not everyday function, u can block over half of the Aqara and Switchbot IPs but not all, b4 their products all become non-op.) Wish u spoke more to security and devices that truly work locally, haven’t found any channels that seem to prioritize these. Also when u say dimming, u need to clarify if ur talking about only w/ their own branded products or what u mean since homekit still doesn’t have / support dimming [as far as i know]. Maybe u have a great shortcut to share for this apple failure, otherwise ur misleading some of us.
I don’t get ur hunger for matter when matter products are not local as touted in the years leading up to matter 1.0 and since. Still seeing data phone homes that if blocked render products non-op / without all or most of their functionality without IP blocks put in-place. HomeKit products, over thread or zigbee are still my pref, Eric/somebody tell me why/how I’m wrong. (IKEA’s phone homes being blocked don’t effect it’s operation, blocking hue only kill their app and updates not everyday function, u can block over half of the Aqara and Switchbot IPs but not all, b4 their products all become non-op.) Wish u spoke more to security and devices that truly work locally, haven’t found any channels that seem to prioritize these. Also when u say dimming, u need to clarify if ur talking about only w/ their own branded products or what u mean since homekit still doesn’t have / support dimming [as far as i know]. Maybe u have a great shortcut to share for this apple failure, otherwise ur misleading some of us.
Quick correction on the Lutron Caséta blinds - they are available up to 96” x 104” but cost more than the starting price of $399. To get the shades for $399 they need to be within the 48” x 80” size.
About Nanoleaf, they continue to create new devices which only works with Matter Over Wifi (and not Matter over Thread). it seems they definitely abandon the Matter over Thread protocol ... Sad news
I was just looking at their website and they have quite a few matter over thread lightbulbs, which, if you think about it is awesome because they naturally create a mesh network. At my house, the outdoor lightbulbs are too far to get a good Wi-Fi signal so that is a great solution for me I think
Regret buying their bulbs.
@ Why?
@RyGuyVidz unreliable. Regularly unsync from Apple home . Take along time to load up in app Sometimes. Could be tolerable for 1 lamp but I have like 5 or 6.
@ and are these the matter over thread enabled ones or just Wi-Fi?
Thank you, have been looking for this coverage
4:04 This is SICK!
As a GE Cync fan, that new switch definitely caught my attention. I would love to be able to control my Cync lights with Apple HomeKit via Matter, if I understood correctly. Aqara looks to be further stepping up their game...I like that too.
Yes and yes! Should be a good year
Thanks Eric. I could use a video on prepping a new construction home to be a smart home. In my case, it is a steel side/roof ranch w a walkout bsmt. Wiring for WiFi7 and 10gb in a Unifi network. 😁
As far as I can tell GE Sync is still the only brand that is making wall switches and dimmers that will control their smart bulbs. That needs to be the next thing that happens in this space… Smart switches and smart bulbs need to work together.
I’ve outfitted most of my house with GE Cync switches and bulbs, but they are not making their older switches matter compatible, which is a shame- now I gotta buy and install 12 new switches. We’re trying to move from Alexa to Apple home.
Inovelli white series is a matter over thread light switch that controls smart bulbs
@@Grubinator100 I have a couple of these hopefully arriving soon. I'm testing one of my rooms with removing the GE bulbs, replacing with Philips Hue and replacing the switch with Inovelli white series. I've been told it will not work as flawlessly as the GE Cync combination, but I'm willing to see how much it actually affects our usage. I'm starting a series on this sort of thing soon. Posting first episode in the coming week
Did you get any info on the g100 outdoor cam that was on display?
Also the new door bell.. the verge have stated it’s 4:3 aspect ratio which will be most welcome over the 16:9 of the g4. Did they tell you the new one is the same as the g4?
Aqara display sounds like an awesome product. Will it control dimmable light loads connected to it?
Will it expose buttons to homekit?
Hi Eric, any info at the new Aqara G100 Camera? Looks like it was released for the very first this week at CES.
What features are ecobee thermostats missing by not supporting Matter? I just installed the ecobee premium, and I can’t think of anything I wish it had
As I understand it the lack of Matter support basically comes downs to lack of third party integration and by extension vendor lock in. For example with no common information protocol you can not natively use third party or custom Temperature sensors, or unsupported smart vents (for central HVAC). If you are content with the functionality and interoperability currently provided by Ecobee and not interested in further integration with third party hardware/software the lack of Matter support will not be an issue for you.
A couple things:
1. Lack of flexibility for future home users
2. Lack of flexibility for you to add it not only to Apple Home, but smaller platforms like an Aqara, Flic, or Home Assistant controller for an automation. Yes I think there are open source work arounds for Home Assistant and maybe others but Matter would be official and implemented by ecobee in this case.
@@EricWelander ahh, that makes sense. I appreciate you replying and informing me
Eh… they already support all of the smart home platforms and you can integrate into HA using the HomeKit bridge although you’ll lose the AirPlay functionality (who uses that tho?). Also, I can’t think of another device that has Siri built in. I think you’ll be fine without Matter support.
@@Sah-dd1zhno. Ecobee doesn't support Matter/Thread because then they won't be able to farm all of your data and send it off to energy providers. Horrible advice from a misinformed person. Although they "support" most platforms like HomeKit, automations hardly ever work, and I mean almost NEVER!! Also, their App is infestation of Ads/Marketing. They've been promising Thread support for almost three years, have yet to activate or use the Thread Radio. And, my guess is they won't because their data harvesting and micro-managing will be lost. I own the Ecobee premium, and it was an actual downgrade from the Nest I had that was almost 7yrs old. I can't even get simple automations to work with this Ecobee trash.
The matter development is good, but it just feels like Apple is developing in slow motion. Apple home is glacial in its pace of improvement and whilst we are hearing rumours of an Apple doorbell that’s likely two years out. Apple CarPlay has stalled and yet there are huge possibilities to improve the current version. Dictation is Still wildly inaccurate, especially when you’re in a hurry and as I look back to WWDC 2024 and the huge excitement of things to come, looking back from January 2025 it all feels rather underwhelming.
No excuse for ecobee not supporting Matter. You would think they would want to, simply to crack down on having to support Alexa, Google and Homekit separately and individually...and lessen their development burden going forward.
As an old broad, I’m excited about the led mask…the price is excellent compared to a lot of the other ones on the market.
Any update on the release of the long anticipated Aqara G5?
Not that I’m aware of
but did you see the Flic ranger extender?
Oh! No I didn’t. That sounds great for a Bluetooth button
Does Schlage have a booth? I really want to see close ups of that new Sense Pro UWB smart lock.
They had a booth at some of the smaller shows and a meeting room during CES but I never saw their new Sense Pro lock. I don’t think they had any at CES.
Begging for smart home kit that has any style.
I don’t get ur hunger for matter when matter products are not local as touted in the years leading up to matter 1.0 and since. Still seeing data phone homes that if blocked render products non-op / without all or most of their functionality without IP blocks put in-place. HomeKit products, over thread or zigbee are still my pref, Eric/somebody tell me why/how I’m wrong. (IKEA’s phone homes being blocked don’t effect it’s operation, blocking hue only kill their app and updates not everyday function, u can block over half of the Aqara and Switchbot IPs but not all, b4 their products all become non-op.)
Wish u spoke more to security and devices that truly work locally, haven’t found any channels that seem to prioritize these.
Also when u say dimming, u need to clarify if ur talking about only w/ their own branded products or what u mean since homekit still doesn’t have / support dimming [as far as i know]. Maybe u have a great shortcut to share for this apple failure, otherwise ur misleading some of us.
I don’t get ur hunger for matter when matter products are not local as touted in the years leading up to matter 1.0 and since. Still seeing data phone homes that if blocked render products non-op / without all or most of their functionality without IP blocks put in-place. HomeKit products, over thread or zigbee are still my pref, Eric/somebody tell me why/how I’m wrong. (IKEA’s phone homes being blocked don’t effect it’s operation, blocking hue only kill their app and updates not everyday function, u can block over half of the Aqara and Switchbot IPs but not all, b4 their products all become non-op.)
Wish u spoke more to security and devices that truly work locally, haven’t found any channels that seem to prioritize these.
Also when u say dimming, u need to clarify if ur talking about only w/ their own branded products or what u mean since homekit still doesn’t have / support dimming [as far as i know]. Maybe u have a great shortcut to share for this apple failure, otherwise ur misleading some of us.