This week there was again some news in the Apple Home and Matter world. Among other things, homee becomes Matter Birdge, while Flic and Eve have released new devices. In addition, the release of iOS 17 is imminent.
homee becomes a Matter Bridge
homee has released a beta update to version 2.40.0, turning its small cubes into Matter bridges. This allows the integration of devices connected to homee via Matter.
The Matter integration is currently available as a beta version and initially focuses on lamps, sockets, and temperature sensors. To use this feature, the homee Brain Cube is required, which can be expanded with various cubes, including Z-Wave, Zigbee, and EnOcean.
Flic Introduces the Latest Generation of Smarthome Controllers
Flic, a well-known name in the smarthome industry, is launching the third generation of its Smart Buttons. The Flic Twist is a versatile smarthome controller with impressive features, including smart dimming and a scene blender mode.
The Flic Twist requires the use of a hub, such as the Flic Hub LR or Flic Hub Mini. The latter will also support Matter in the future. Both products are currently available for pre-order.
Matter 1.2 Brings Support for Household Appliances and Vacuum Robots
The new version 1.2 of the Matter smarthome standard is expected to be released at the end of September or the beginning of October. This version will enable support for household appliances and vacuum robots.
Manufacturers like Samsung, BSH Group, Midea, and Roborock are already preparing corresponding appliances. While details are still scarce, the first Matter-compatible devices are expected to arrive later this year, which could be exciting news for Apple Home users.
Activity History in Apple Home with iOS 17: How It Works
With iOS 17, Apple introduces an activity history feature for certain devices in the Home app. This feature allows you to view activities from garage doors, door locks, security systems, and contact sensors.
However, activity history must be enabled in settings and is currently limited to security-related devices. Find out how it works in this post.
The New Eve Cam: Improved Technology, Same Look
Eve Systems has released a new version of the Eve Cam, which remains unchanged in appearance but has been upgraded internally. The camera remains a HomeKit Secure Video camera and now supports the 5GHz Wi-Fi band and features a modern USB-C port instead of Micro-USB.
To use HomeKit Secure Video, you’ll need an iCloud+ storage plan with at least 50GB and a home hub like Apple TV (4th generation) or HomePod (mini). Pre-orders are available for €149.95 with pre-order price guarantee on Amazon, and the release is scheduled for September 18th.
Apple Home Key Supports Matter Door Locks
In the context of the Matter smarthome standard, questions arise regarding the fate of Apple’s proprietary features. The seamless transfer of these features to Matter is not straightforward.
However, Apple has announced that Matter-compatible door locks can also be unlocked using Home Key, provided the necessary hardware is available. This clarifies the situation for at least one feature.
New Feature in Apple Home App: Grid Forecast Displays Clean Energy Sources
With iOS 17, Apple introduces a new feature in the Home app called Grid Forecast. This tool indicates when the power grid is using relatively clean or less clean energy sources. The new feature aims to help make energy consumption in your home more environmentally friendly. The idea is that by paying attention, users can charge power-hungry devices like clothes dryers or electric cars when “clean” energy sources are available.
Grid Forecast is initially available only in the United States. Integration into automations to automatically control devices based on available energy sources is not yet available.
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