Google's Fast Pair service aims to speed up the pairing process, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to discover nearby devices without using a large phone battery. In theory, everything appears on your screen, if it supports the correct protocol, of course. Historically, that's been the problem with smart home things, and Google says Matter will solve the problem.
At Google I/O 2022, Google touted the "magical" power of Fast Pair and the Matter connectivity standard for linking devices and services from a wide range of manufacturers, solving one of the key problems for anyone trying to set up a smart light bulb. . or smart hub will surely recognize it. Matter is a new connectivity standard supported by Samsung, Google, Amazon, Apple, and others that promises much easier setup, much greater interoperability, faster speeds, and more.
Last year at Google I/O, the company said Google plans to roll out Matter support, formerly called Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP), first to its Nest thermostats, speakers and displays, after which it will become part of Android. as well as. A year later, we are still waiting. Despite the brief mention in the I/O event, the standard is still not there. The case has been postponed until early 2022 and then postponed again until this fall, Google told The Verge earlier this year.
Google also promises that Matter will be the foundation of the proactive home, something I've been waiting years for. When Google announced its entry into home security, it was a key feature: Instead of passively pointing to an open door or window, Google Assistant actively prompted you to close it. Or remember that you normally turn off the lights downstairs before going upstairs. Sure, he's a bit nosy. I don't need to be reminded that Google knows what room I'm in in my own house. But I have to remember to turn off the outside lights.
And while Google did mention Matter, it was very light on features and substance. There was no mention of "proactive home," and along with a quick demo using an Eve smart plug, a device that actually only uses Apple's HomeKit.
So what exactly is it?
Any smart home device that adheres to the protocol, which currently covers Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread smart home technologies for connecting to the Internet, will also be easier to set up. Matter-enabled devices can be added to a smart home using a simple code instead of requiring multiple steps that differ by device manufacturer.
Slow smart home automation is definitely one of the biggest challenges in smart homes, and with fast pairing and seamless, smarter technology, Matter says it will enable smart home devices to work together faster and more seamlessly. .
Apple, Amazon, Google, and SmartThings are just a few of the 180 brands that support Matter, an IP-based connectivity protocol originally launched in 2019 as Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP) and designed to standardize home device communication. smart. and work together.
If Matter can do what Google says it will be awesome. We can't wait to try it.