In our weekly roundup, we have news from the world of smarthome products. A blogger offers insights into the certification process for Matter, and a manufacturer pauses development of Matter. There’s also a new TV lineup from Coocaa and Roku, Apple is testing a new voice generation, and there’s a new Hue Tap Dial switch with mini mount.
Reading tip: Matter certification in detail
If you want to get more information about the certification process of Matter devices, we recommend you to have a look at the article of our very appreciated blogger colleague Frank-Oliver Grün.
The article “Matter certification – how it works” describes step-by-step how manufacturers of smarthome products can obtain certification for the Matter standard and what fees are involved.
Now on sale: Coocaa Roku TV with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
Coocaa and Roku have developed a new line of HD and Ultra HD TVs packed with smart features and functions. The R3G and R5G range is available in sizes from 32 to 55 inches and is offered at an RRP starting at 229 euros at MediaMarkt, Saturn or Otto. Thanks to HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support, the TVs get even more smart features and an HDR10 and HLG experience.
If you don’t want to buy a new TV, you can also get the Roku Express 4K streaming stick with HomeKit and AirPlay 2 for a special price of 20.00 instead of 39.99 euros at Otto. In summary, Coocaa offers a good alternative to conventional smart TVs with the R3G and R5G series.
Belkin Wemo pauses Matter development
Belkin’s Wemo smarthome brand is pausing development of Matter devices, although the company believes Matter will have a significant impact on the smarthome industry.
The company wants to differentiate itself from other manufacturers before developing its own Matter devices. Competing in a space full of cheap IoT products that offer the same features at a lower price makes it difficult for Belkin Wemo to compete.
Several smarthome devices receive Matter certification
Last week, several smarthome devices received successfully the Matter certificate. This included 31 lamps, a smart plug and a Nest thermostat.
The new certifications enable future compatibility with Matter. However, it is up to the manufacturers to decide when the firmware updates are distributed.
SwitchBot Hub 2 launches with discount
The SwitchBot Hub 2, a Matter device that acts as a bridge to connect SwitchBot Bluetooth devices to the home network, became available for pre-order yesterday.
The bridge simultaneously has a temperature and humidity sensor and two buttons that can trigger preset scenes or control other SwitchBot products. The Hub 2 is available for 79.99€. With the discount code “SmartApfel25LoveBot” the price drops to 59,99€. We took a look at the Hub 2 for you in advance.
Apple tests AI for natural language generation
Apple is currently testing new natural language generation technologies for Siri called “Bobcat,” our colleagues at 9to5mac report. This is currently only done on the Apple TV with the tvOS 16.4 beta. The company is testing how this technology can be used to improve the voice assistant.
Currently, the technology is only used for telling jokes and creating timers. Apple is quietly testing these features and could later integrate them into its other operating systems.
Hue Tap Dial switch with new mini mount launches
The new Hue Tap Dial switch with mini mount is available now for €49.99 and can be ordered from the Hue online store.
The new variant does not differ technically from the previous wall mount version, which is currently available at a lower price on Amazon.
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