The Vergecast Matter Holiday Spec-Tacular | The Vergecast

Discussion on Matter, a smart home standard

• The Vergecast is discussing Matter, an open-source standard for the smart home, created by over 200 companies, including Apple, Google, Samsung, and Amazon, designed to make smart connected devices communicate locally and with smart home platforms 1m11s.
• Matter aims to make the smart home simpler, more reliable, more secure, and more interoperable, allowing devices to work with any smart home platform without needing individual partnerships 2m28s.
• The standard is designed to enable devices to talk to each other locally and communicate with smart home platforms like Apple Home, Home Assistant, and Google Home 1m49s.
• Matter is a relatively new standard, launched in 2019, but it took a couple of years to get all the necessary components in place 3m46s.
• The hosts, including Nei and Jen, are discussing their personal experiences with smart home devices, including Nei's new oven and dishwasher, which use different apps and are not yet part of the Matter standard 10s.
• The conversation touches on the challenges of integrating different smart home devices and platforms, including smart plugs, Lutron light switch systems, and Philips Hue Lights, which are not yet part of Matter 3m1s.
• The hosts acknowledge that while Matter is a promising standard, it still has a long way to go in terms of adoption and compatibility with various devices and platforms 3m37s.
• Matter, a connectivity layer for smart homes, was launched after 2019 and has been adding more device types and features since then, aiming to enable users to control their smart homes seamlessly 3m57s.
• The idea of Matter is to provide the plumbing or Wi-Fi for smart homes, allowing users to control devices like smart lights, locks, and thermostats with ease 4m28s.
• Matter aims to enable features like whole-home energy management, which involves connecting energy devices, including home battery storage systems, solar panels, and HVAC systems, to a home energy management platform 5m22s.
• The potential benefits of Matter include saving energy and money, but it is still a long-term goal, and progress has been slow in the first two years 5m54s.
• A report card has been prepared to evaluate what is real and what is not in terms of Matter's progress, which is a common question when discussing the topic 6m3s.

Matter's progress report and challenges

• The report card is a way to assess Matter's progress and identify areas that need improvement, with the goal of providing a realistic view of what Matter can achieve 6m24s.
• Matter's progress in 2024 has been somewhat disappointing, with fewer new products released, especially in new categories like home energy management and appliances, despite the infrastructure being in place 7m19s.
• The biggest issue is not with Matter itself, but with the platforms, specifically Apple and Google, which have been slow to support new device types, affecting interoperability 8m52s.
• Matter's goal is to enable seamless interoperability between different smart home ecosystems, allowing consumers to buy devices without worrying about compatibility with their chosen platform 9m14s.
• However, this vision is not yet fully realized, as platforms like Apple Home still lack support for certain device types, such as smart fridges, despite being Matter-compatible 9m52s.
• The ecosystems are still catching up with support for new device types and specs released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the group behind Matter 10m5s.
• The process of adding devices to multiple platforms is often difficult and frustrating, with some cases not working as intended 11m0s.
• The lack of platform support and interoperability issues have earned the ecosystems a "C-minus" grade, indicating some effort but still significant room for improvement 10m21s.
• The current state of interoperability in smart home devices is lacking, with different platforms not being able to seamlessly work together, earning a grade of "D" for their efforts 11m11s.
• Setting up a smart home system in one platform, such as Apple Home, requires redoing the setup in another platform, like Google Home or Samsung SmartThings, which is a major inconvenience 11m28s.
• Although some progress has been made, with the introduction of Matter multi-admin, which allows for local communication between devices and fewer steps to set up, it is still not perfect 12m1s.
• The ideal scenario, where setting up a device in one platform automatically makes it available in another, is not yet available but is promised to be coming soon 12m48s.
• The concept of "effort grades" is discussed, where the speaker jokingly gives Matter a "C" for effort, implying that while progress is being made, it is not enough 13m14s.
• The idea of effort grades is further explained, where it is compared to a school grading system, where a student's effort is graded separately from their actual performance 13m36s.

The current state of smart home interoperability and its challenges

• The ultimate goal of smart home interoperability is for devices from different manufacturers to work seamlessly together, with minimal setup required, and for the user to be able to easily switch between different platforms 14m27s.
• The smart home industry has a negative incentive to make devices cross-compatible, as companies like Apple, Google, and others focus on making their own products work seamlessly, rather than collaborating with other companies to create a universal standard 14m48s.
• Despite this, companies are working together to create a universal standard through the Matter protocol, with Apple essentially giving HomeKit to Matter, allowing other companies to use it 15m27s.
• However, there is still a lack of effort in making devices truly interoperable, with companies focusing on adding features that may not be useful to consumers, rather than making devices work seamlessly together 15m40s.
• The lack of multi-admin support, which would allow multiple users to control devices in a smart home, is a major issue, with companies not having an incentive to implement it 16m13s.
• If Matter does not work at its basic foundational level, it will take away the incentive for companies to use it, creating a flywheel effect that makes it harder for the smart home industry to simplify and become more mainstream 16m34s.
• The goal of Matter is to make the smart home simpler and easier to use, but it is still too complicated for average homeowners and renters, requiring users to know too much about the underlying technology 16m50s.
• The industry is pushing for a future where users do not need to know about technical terms like "border router" and can simply use devices without knowing how they work, but this goal has not yet been achieved 17m22s.
• Some argue that users should not need to know about the underlying technology, just like they do not need to know about Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but others disagree, saying that many people are already aware of these technologies and that it is not possible to make them completely invisible 17m32s.
• Many people experience issues with their smart home devices, such as Bluetooth connectivity problems and Wi-Fi password confusion, which can be frustrating and make them less likely to adopt smart home technology 18m10s.
• The Matter protocol aims to simplify smart home technology and make it more user-friendly, but it may not be effective if people don't understand how it works 18m22s.
• The goal of smart home technology should be to make it invisible and seamless, but this requires users to have a basic understanding of how it works 18m49s.
• Currently, smart home devices are often used for simple tasks like turning on lights, but there needs to be more compelling use cases to make smart home technology more appealing to the average user 19m32s.
• Emerging use cases, such as energy management, may help bring smart home technology into sharper focus and drive mass adoption 20m5s.

Matter's adoption, cost, and complexity

• The Matter protocol is helping to make smart home devices more accessible and affordable, with more devices available at lower price points, such as a $20 smart switch that works with Apple Home 21m2s.
• Despite some complaints from manufacturers, the Matter protocol is making it easier for companies to enter the smart home market and for users to adopt smart home technology 21m20s.
• Matter is a protocol that aims to simplify smart home devices, but it's expensive and complicated to implement, which is a roadblock to its adoption, and it needs to reach critical mass to be successful 21m30s.
• For Matter to work, it cannot be a niche protocol like Zigbee or Z-Wave, and it needs to be more general and mass-market, and it should not cost more than regular devices 21m40s.
• The cost of smart home devices, such as Lutron light switches, is a significant factor, and while some people may be willing to pay a little more for additional features, a 5-10 times higher price point is not acceptable 22m17s.
• Some companies, like Lutron, are not investing in Matter because they already work with all platforms and have their own local solutions, but this means they still require a bridge or hub 22m50s.
• One of the promises of Matter was to eliminate bridges and hubs, but this has not been achieved, and many devices still require a hub or bridge to function 23m2s.
• The use of different wireless protocols, such as Z-Wave and Thread, can cause issues with connectivity and range, and some devices, like Ring, require extenders to cover the whole house 23m52s.
• Thread is a lower-power protocol that Matter should run on, but it requires Thread border routers, which are not yet widely available and do not all talk to each other 24m17s.
• The high cost and complexity of some smart home devices, like Lutron switches, are due to the use of proprietary wireless protocols and the need for a reliable connection throughout the house 24m35s.
• Matter was created to simplify smart home devices, but it faces significant challenges in achieving this goal, and it's competing with established companies like Lutron that have their own solutions 24m52s.
• Matter is a protocol that combines different sub-protocols and standards, including those donated by companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google, to create a unified smart home system 24m56s.
• Lutron's custom Spectrum protocol was not used in Matter, instead, Thread was chosen, which has had issues, particularly with lighting, and companies like Nano Leaf have had to create their own protocols 25m17s.
• Thread is not required for Matter to work, and Matter can be used over Wi-Fi or other protocols, but Thread does need a software layer, such as Matter or HomeKit 25m47s.
• Thread was developed specifically for IoT and smart home use, with low power and low bandwidth mesh networking, but its launch with Matter has caused significant problems 26m14s.
• Thread released its 1.4 Pro spec this year, which aims to fix issues with the protocol, but the combination of Thread and Matter has caused problems due to the two standards working together 27m5s.
• Despite issues, some people are interested in using Thread in their homes, citing its reliability, but the lack of devices and compatibility issues have hindered its adoption 27m18s.
• The development of Thread and Matter is driven by member-driven organizations, with Apple, Google, and Samsung being part of the Thread group, but Apple and Google are pushing Thread more than other platforms 27m45s.
• Apple's usual strategy of driving adoption by including new technology in their products, such as Thread radios in their phones, is not working as well as expected 28m13s.
• Matter, a smart home standard, is moving slowly due to politics and the involvement of many companies, making it difficult to achieve its goals 28m33s.
• The development of Matter feels like a camel designed by committee, with many people involved and a lack of a single driving force 28m42s.
• The standard's progress is hindered by the need for companies to work together and agree on its implementation 28m56s.

The Vergecast's "Matter Holiday Spec-Tacular" game

• The annual tradition of playing games around the spec has begun, with the first game being the Match Game, where players match matter-specific things with their definitions 33m46s.
• The Match Game cards have seven different matter-specific things on the left and their definitions on the right, and players have 2 minutes to complete the game 34m42s.
• Some of the words on the Match Game cards, such as "matter fabric," may be fake, and the definitions were pulled from the CSA website 35m11s.
• The game is hosted by Liam James, the producer and MC, who encourages players to play the game with their family and warns that it may make them look silly in front of everyone 33m54s.
• A two-minute timer was set to define various terms related to Matter, a smart home standard, with the goal of determining if the definitions provided by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) are clear and easy to follow 35m49s.
• The first term to be defined was "Matter device," with Nei, Jen, and David all choosing the same definition: a smart home hardware product that supports Matter and can be connected to and controlled by a Matter controller 36m44s.
• The group found the CSA's definitions to be somewhat circular, with terms often being defined as themselves, which can be confusing and lead to a false sense of security 37m33s.
• The next term to be defined was "Smart Home Hub," with Nei, Jen, and David again choosing the same definition: typically a connection point in the home for multiple smart home devices, usually specific to the vendor that provided it 37m54s.
• The group noted that this definition is not ideal, as it implies that a smart home hub is typically specific to a single vendor, which is not always the case 38m14s.
• The final term to be defined was "Matter Administrator," with Nei choosing a definition that describes an entity that can control Matter devices, while Jen and David chose a different definition that describes a device or application that creates, maintains, and manages Matter devices 38m45s.
• A matter fabric refers to a virtual private network over which matter devices, admins, and controllers communicate with each other, essentially a virtual network within a home where matter devices are connected together 40m52s.
• A matter administrator is described as a bureaucrat, while a matter controller is said to control the "spice," with the controller being compared to a higher-ranking figure, such as Palpatine 40m28s.
• The difference between a matter administrator and a matter controller lies in their definitions, with a matter controller being a device or application that manages security and privileges for all devices on the fabric, and a matter administrator being an entity that can control matter devices 41m48s.
• The matter controller is defined as a device or application that creates, maintains, and manages security and privileges for all devices on the fabric, which is different from the definition of a matter administrator 41m41s.
• A matter administrator is an entity that can control matter devices, with functionality that can be built into various types of hardware devices or mobile apps 41m58s.
• The matter controller is compared to a figure with higher rank in a sci-fi fantasy world, such as in Dune, where the controller has more power than the administrator 42m19s.
• The difference in definitions between a matter controller and a matter administrator is noted, with a matter controller being a device or application and a matter administrator being an entity 42m55s.
• Matter entity is in charge, and an administrator is the spirit of Matter, which can be a physical device or an application, but apps can't be controllers on their own, they can only be administrators 43m9s.
• The definitions of administrators and controllers are essentially the same, but a controller is like a device that can turn lights on and off, while an administrator can kick people out of the fabric 44m34s.
• The disagreement is about whether an administrator is a higher rank than a controller, with some arguing that the Connectivity Standards Association got it wrong 44m30s.
• A Thread Border Router enables Thread devices to connect to the local network, allowing them to communicate with other IP-based devices built on technology such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet 45m23s.
• A Matter Bridge translates from one protocol to another, allowing non-Matter smart devices to connect to a Matter fabric 45m49s.
• The CSA's website has outdated information, and the definitions of administrators and controllers are the same, with some arguing that the CSA needs to fix their website 43m54s.
• The argument is about the ranking of administrators and controllers, with some referencing the Dune Universe, where a controller is a heavy word, and an administrator is not 46m46s.
• The discussion revolves around the concept of Matter, a unified connectivity standard, and its complexities, with a mention that it is more complicated than it initially seems 47m16s.
• The current scores in the game are: David is leading with 18 points, and Nei Patel and Jen Tuille are tied with 12 points each 47m32s.
• The next game is Matter Mad Libs, where participants have to fill in the blanks in a pre-written sentence with given word choices to make it complete and make sense 48m13s.
• The sentence for Matter Mad Libs is: "Formerly known as _ is a unified connectivity standard developed by the , the protocol aims to ensure reliable, secure, and seamless communication between smart home devices regardless of brand or platform, it works through , , and , so it can be added to devices that support any of these protocols, Matter's key Advantage is that it uses a standardized , Matter lets you and use its devices across _ for more choice and control, so you don't end up stuck on one platform" 48m34s.
• The word choices for the Mad Libs are: ecosystem, ecosystems, Bluetooth, Matter, IP protocol, Wi-Fi, chip, thread, CSA, and pair 49m7s.
• Jen Tuille's completed sentence for the Mad Libs is: "Formerly known as chip Matter is a unified connectivity standard developed by the CSA, the protocol aims to ensure reliable, secure, and seamless communication between smart home devices regardless of the brand or platform, it works through Wi-Fi, red, and Bluetooth, so it can be added to devices that support any of these protocols, Matter's key Advantage is that it uses a standardized IP protocol, Matter lets you pair and use its devices across ecosystems for more choice and control, so you don't end up stuck on one platform" 50m7s.
• The Matter protocol, developed by the CSA, aims to ensure reliable, secure, and seamless communication between smart home devices, regardless of the brand or platform, and works through Thread, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 50m56s.
• Matter's key advantage is that it uses a standardized ecosystem, allowing users to pair and use devices across different platforms for more choice and control 51m21s.
• The protocol lets users pair and use devices across IP protocols, providing more choice and control, and preventing users from being stuck on one platform 51m26s.
• Matter can be added to devices that support Thread, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, making it a versatile protocol 51m20s.
• The protocol was formerly known as CHIP, or the Unified Connectivity Standard, developed by the CSA 51m43s.
• Bluetooth is not a protocol of Matter, but rather an onboarding protocol, with Ethernet being the other protocol 52m21s.
• The winner of the round is a three-way tie between Jen, Eli, and David, with 39 points each, but Jen is declared the winner for being the first to show up with a Matter device 53m56s.
• Jen has won the "Matter Holiday Spec-Tacular" game and is now referred to as the "fabric master" 55m6s.

Discussion on the future of smart home devices with Paul Shotton from Home Assistant

• Amazon Q is a generative AI assistant from AWS that helps streamline work and tasks, such as summarizing monthly results 57m47s.
• Paul Shotton, a guest on the show, is wearing a Christmas sweater that is being discussed by the hosts 58m17s.
• The GitHub Christmas sweater is described as having big GitHub letters on it, along with various icons spread out over the sleeves, chest, and shoulders, and is considered both "on brand" and "very good" 58m29s.
• The guest works on and created a home assistant and is the president of the Open Home Foundation, which owns the Home Assistant and ESPHome open-source projects, aiming to build a smart home around privacy, choice, and sustainability 59m9s.
• The Open Home Foundation's goal is to influence and steer the IoT market by building technology, similar to how Mozilla builds Firefox, and by existing, they are influencing and steering the market 59m35s.
• The guest believes that Google and Apple look at what they are doing and take it into consideration, and their product managers talk to people in their community, giving them a lot of influence in the market 59m45s.
• Home Assistant is considered the biggest open-source smart home platform in the world, and people often start with a Google or Amazon smart home platform before switching to Home Assistant for more integrations, privacy, or history 1h0m22s.
• The guest believes that Home Assistant will never be defeated, even if Matter shows up and works perfectly, because there will always be devices that don't work on Matter, making it easier to bridge them into a common platform 1h1m33s.
• Matter will help Home Assistant by making it easier for the platform to exist, as it will provide a common standard for devices to communicate with each other 1h1m56s.
• Matter is a local standard that allows devices to communicate with a smart home hub without relying on the cloud, and it works over IP, making it compatible with Wi-Fi and allowing devices to talk locally to the hub 1h2m17s.
• This means that devices can function even when the internet is down, and users can control them directly through their phones or home assistants without needing to go through the cloud 1h2m39s.
• Matter is not a direct competitor to other smart home protocols, but rather a standard that can help grow the smart home ecosystem and make it more accessible to users 1h2m5s.
• The fact that Matter works over IP and is compatible with Wi-Fi means that it can be used with a wide range of devices, including Android and iPhone smartphones, without requiring extra radios 1h3m6s.
• This makes it an attractive option for businesses and developers, as it provides a large potential market and a pre-installed user base through the Google Home and Apple Home apps 1h3m21s.
• However, other smart home protocols like Z-Wave still have a space in the market, particularly in situations where Wi-Fi is not pre-installed, such as in new homes or during the setup process 1h4m27s.
• The Z-Wave alliance, which is a separate protocol, uses QR codes for setup and does not work over IP, highlighting the need for multiple smart home standards to accommodate different use cases and scenarios 1h4m21s.
• While Matter has the potential to eventually become the dominant standard, it will likely take a long time, and in the meantime, other protocols will continue to play a role in the smart home ecosystem 1h4m58s.
• Home Assistant is a central platform that can work with Matter and other protocols, and its focus on local control and avoiding cloud reliance is seen as a positive development in the smart home space 1h5m6s.
• The idea of having a server in the home to manage smart home devices seems powerful, but it's often met with skepticism about its feasibility, with many people opting for cloud-based solutions instead 1h5m30s.
• Standardizing smart home devices can lead to commoditization, making it difficult to innovate, and many companies are pushing for cloud-based solutions to get around this issue 1h6m7s.
• However, having a local server in the home, similar to a router or cable modem, could be the future of smart home management, with devices like the Home Assistant server being small and low-power 1h6m29s.
• The concept of Matter, a local protocol, implies that there will be a device in the home that runs everything, and some companies like Google and Samsung are pushing for local processing instead of cloud-based solutions 1h7m8s.
• Matter seems to promise a lower barrier to entry for smart home adoption, making it easier for people to build a smart home from scratch, which is valuable for getting people into the market 1h8m16s.
• As a product guy working on Home Assistant, which is geared towards people willing to do some work to make their smart home devices work, the idea of Matter is appealing, but it's unclear how it will affect the market and the need for local servers 1h7m45s.
• Matter is relevant to smart home assistants, mainly due to its IP-based and Wi-Fi-based features, which allow for cameras and other devices to be connected, unlike other standards such as Z-Wave or Zigbee 1h8m46s.
• Matter is skipping some sensors, which has caused annoyance in the smart home industry, but it is slowly adding features like energy monitoring 1h9m10s.
• Cameras and vacuums are being launched as part of the Matter specification, with some products already available, but more are expected to come 1h9m20s.
• Matter allows devices to be connected differently due to its increased bandwidth, making it a promising technology for smart home devices 1h9m40s.
• Thread, a part of Matter, has a complex setup process, which was intended to simplify network configuration but has led to issues with multiple Thread networks in homes 1h10m7s.
• The Thread setup process involves automatically creating a network name and key, which is then sent to devices, but this has caused problems with device connectivity 1h10m23s.
• The Thread standard requires border routers from different companies, such as Apple, Google, and Samsung, to share network keys, but this has not been implemented smoothly 1h10m38s.
• The lack of seamless network key sharing has resulted in multiple Thread networks in homes, causing connectivity issues 1h11m4s.
• Efforts are being made to fix the Thread network key sharing issue, including a new credential sharing system, but it is still in its early stages 1h11m33s.
• The Matter protocol aims to enable seamless communication between different smart home devices, but it's not yet successful in achieving this goal, and users may still experience issues when trying to integrate devices from different ecosystems 1h11m48s.
• The smart home industry is fragmented, with users often having a mix of devices from different manufacturers, making it difficult to achieve a unified and functional smart home system 1h13m8s.
• The Matter Alliance, which includes companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon, is working to create an open standard for sharing devices, but finding a balance between this goal and protecting individual ecosystems is challenging 1h13m40s.
• Some companies are aware of bugs in their border routers that affect interoperability with other platforms, but they may not prioritize fixing these issues if they don't affect their own ecosystem 1h13m49s.
• The Matter protocol is considered a good technical protocol, built on the knowledge and expertise of its member companies, including Zigbee, HomeKit, Google, and Amazon 1h14m37s.
• Matter devices can be connected to up to five different smart home hubs at the same time, and users can share devices between different platforms, such as Google Home and Home Assistant 1h15m2s.
• Despite its potential, the Matter protocol still has limitations and issues, and it's not yet a fully functional solution for achieving a unified smart home system 1h14m29s.
• Matter has its own encrypted secure connection, but adding multiple features requires bigger chips in devices like light bulbs, increasing their cost and memory requirements 1h15m13s.
• Setting up a Meta device with a QR code is only for the first time, and users must go to a home assistant to share it with other platforms, but many people don't know this and use the QR code repeatedly, compromising security 1h15m36s.
• The foundational level of authentication and onboarding in Matter is good, but energy monitoring and other features will take time for people to agree on 1h15m57s.
• Matter gets overhyped with the release of new specifications, but it takes time for device manufacturers and controllers to support new features, creating a chicken-and-egg problem 1h16m11s.
• The dream of smart home control is to be able to control devices from anywhere without complicated setup, but currently, a central platform is still needed, and Matter is not yet close to achieving this 1h17m19s.
• Home Assistant has smarter automations, and Google and Amazon want to use AI for automation, but Matter is supposed to show all devices everywhere without complicated setup 1h17m49s.
• The central platform will never fully go away, as the moment something is part of Matter, it becomes standardized, but it will evolve over time 1h18m26s.
• Companies that drive innovation will not be fully captured in Matter, leading to extra systems with their own APIs that integrate with Google and Home Assistant, but may not be compatible with Apple 1h18m32s.
• Default smart home devices like light bulbs will likely switch to Matter, but more complicated devices like media players will not be fully integrated with Matter in the next 5 years 1h19m0s.
• When Matter comes to TVs, it may be a turning point for the technology, but it's unclear how much innovation will be allowed on top of the protocol 1h19m25s.
• There are two possible versions of Matter: one where it handles the basics and allows for competition and innovation on top, and another where everything is pushed down into the protocol 1h19m36s.
• The balance between what is an interesting innovation and what should be baked into Matter by default is a difficult question to answer 1h19m55s.
• The CSA Alliance, which makes Matter, wants to put everything in the protocol, including wireless routers and electronics in the home 1h20m11s.
• The vision for Matter is to have a base layer for smart home devices, with the possibility of expanding to other areas like wireless routers and cars 1h20m30s.
• The foundation of Matter is solid and works as intended, but there may be friction and difficult user experiences when it comes to interoperability and different manufacturers implementing things in different ways 1h21m4s.
• Matter is helping push Home Assistant to become a more mainstream platform, rather than just a way to connect devices that couldn't connect to HomeKit 1h21m36s.
• The goal of Matter is to provide a simple foundation for smart home devices, allowing companies to innovate and build experiences on top of it 1h21m50s.
• A smart home is a product that everyone is trying to build, but the problem of where the home fits in the computing landscape remains unsolved 1h22m20s.
• The big unlock of the smart home is the ability to have seamless interactions between devices, such as lights turning on when motion is detected in the hallway 1h22m30s.
• Currently, achieving this requires a lot of setup and programming, such as using a Phillips Hue Hub with adaptive lighting and figuring out the logic for sensor-activated lighting 1h22m42s.
• Matter doesn't solve this problem, but rather puts devices in a place where someone else can solve it, which may not create demand for Matter devices unless the value of having smart devices is articulated 1h22m56s.
• Google and Apple want to compete on making smart home platforms, not individual devices like light bulbs, which have low margins 1h23m16s.
• They aim to commoditize smart devices, making them plug-and-play, and then build innovative user-facing experiences on top of that 1h24m7s.
• The ultimate goal is to create a seamless experience where devices work together, such as a motion sensor on a thermostat triggering lights to turn on 1h24m30s.
• However, this can lead to complex and emergent behaviors, making it difficult to understand how the system works 1h24m49s.
• The ideal solution would be to have a simple way to access and use existing devices and their capabilities, rather than having redundant capabilities in multiple devices 1h24m57s.
• Smart home platforms can learn a user's habits and automatically perform tasks, such as turning on lights in the morning, which can be an incredible signal for other tasks to happen, and Home Assistant is working on making this possible 1h25m9s.
• Matter allows users to bring more devices directly into Home Assistant, instead of just serving as a bridge, and this can make the smart home platform more powerful and capable 1h25m18s.
• Home Assistant is an open platform that allows third-party dashboards, automation engines, and AI to plug in, making it a more comprehensive solution for smart home management 1h25m49s.
• Apple's approach to smart home management is different, with a focus on making it easy for users to control their devices through a simple UI, and their apps are installed on a billion phones, making it a major entry point for the smart home world 1h26m19s.
• Home Assistant, on the other hand, is geared towards users who have a specific problem to solve and need a more extensive toolkit to customize their smart home setup 1h26m46s.
• However, this can be overwhelming for some users, and there is a gap in smart home platforms that needs to be solved, which is to make it easier for users to discover and apply automation solutions 1h27m15s.
• Matter can help solve this problem by providing device-to-device communication, making it easier for users to find devices that can trigger specific actions, such as turning on lights 1h27m35s.
• With Matter, devices can be bound together, making it easier for users to set up their smart home devices without needing to go through a complicated setup process in an app 1h27m54s.
• This can be combined with a smart home platform to add an extra layer of automation, such as adaptive lighting, which can turn on lights at the right time of day or temperature 1h28m11s.
• Matter allows manufacturers to create devices that can work with multiple platforms, such as Apple Home and Google, without requiring significant resources and time, making it easier for small startups and open-source home platforms to develop better products 1h28m26s.
• The concept of binding devices together has never been successful in the past, with technologies like Zigbee and Z-Wave being difficult to explain to users and often resulting in complex setup processes 1h29m1s.
• The success of Matter is being compared to the development of Bluetooth, which took 20 years to reach its full potential with the release of Apple's AirPods in 2016 1h29m37s.
• However, it's unlikely that Matter will have an "AirPods moment" due to the complexity of working with multiple devices and ecosystems 1h30m2s.
• Apple's control over its entire ecosystem gives it an advantage in creating seamless experiences, but this is not possible in the Matter world where devices from different manufacturers need to work together 1h30m20s.
• The biggest challenge for Matter is getting different devices and systems to work together, making it difficult to achieve a unified smart home experience 1h30m39s.
• Some companies, such as big appliance manufacturers, have a strong incentive to use Matter as it can help them reduce cloud costs and avoid subscription fees for their apps 1h31m3s.
• Matter may be more successful with commodity devices like light bulbs and smart plug outlets, but it's unclear if it will be adopted by more complex devices like robot vacuums 1h31m27s.
• The future of Matter may involve a base layer of commodity connectivity, with more advanced features and devices layered on top, similar to how USB and Bluetooth work 1h31m44s.
• The trend of commoditization will continue, with more devices adding features, but some features may not be part of the Matter protocol, such as AI-powered pet galleries in robot vacuums 1h32m1s.
• Some companies, like garage door opener manufacturers, may not want to work with Matter due to business cases and competition with their own products 1h32m33s.
• The adoption of Matter may take time, potentially a year or more, and its success will depend on various factors, including the development of new devices and the expansion of its ecosystem 1h33m0s.
• Over the next 12 months, Matter will likely continue to evolve, with new specs and devices being released, while Home Assistant will focus on making smart home devices more accessible to users 1h33m37s.
• Energy Management in the home is an area where Matter can shine, with potential applications such as smart home controllers that can manage energy usage and optimize charging for electric cars 1h33m55s.
• Home Assistant is working on energy management solutions, but it's a long-term effort that requires collaboration with universities and other partners 1h34m46s.
• Home Assistant is willing to be a power user platform for a while, but the goal is to make smart home technology more accessible to a wider audience, with ready-made hubs like the Home Assistant Green available for purchase 1h35m13s.
• The journey of creating a smart home typically starts with using a few smart apps, then moving to Google or Apple, and eventually to Home Assistant due to limitations, and this journey is expected to remain the same as people come to Home Assistant with some knowledge and a problem to solve 1h35m32s.
• Home Assistant aims to make the smart home easier to control for the rest of the household, not just the person who set it up, by providing an easy interface, as the smart home is not personal and often involves multiple people interacting with it 1h35m56s.
• The idea of a "spousal approval factor" is being worked on, making the smart home more accessible and user-friendly for everyone in the household 1h35m54s.
• A potential feature being considered is a survey button that allows non-admin users to give feedback to the admin on what they like on the dashboard 1h36m33s.
• The goal is to make the smart home more stable and secure, addressing concerns about companies going out of business and cloud servers going down, which can impact the functionality of smart home devices 1h38m1s.

Discussion on recipe apps and smart kitchen devices

• A person is having trouble keeping track of their favorite online recipes due to the ever-changing nature of search engine optimization and referrals, often finding that the links to these recipes are no longer present, and is looking for an app to collect and preserve these recipes 1h41m59s.
• The person hopes to find an app that not only preserves the recipes but also allows them to use their smart devices to help with the cooking process by rendering the recipes in a more readable format 1h42m44s.
• Jen has experienced similar issues and has tried using the Samsung Food app, which pulls recipe data and stores it within the app, but notes that the original link to the recipe is still present and may eventually become inactive 1h43m25s.
• The Samsung Food app can pull ingredients and step-by-step instructions from recipes and works with some smart devices, such as smart fridges, allowing users to view recipes on a larger screen 1h43m45s.
• Jen's preferred recipe app is Paprika, which has been around for a long time and allows users to store their recipes locally, ensuring they never go away 1h45m18s.
• Paprika has been Jen's go-to app for storing recipes over the years, and she has been trying the Samsung Food app as a supplement to her existing setup 1h45m28s.
• Paprika is a popular app for cooking recipes, but the user also mentions an experimental app with interesting features, although Paprika remains their go-to choice 1h45m32s.
• The user notes the difficulty of accessing Paprika on a smart display, such as the 21-inch Echo Show, which they have been testing for cooking recipes in the kitchen 1h45m39s.
• A smart display that doubles as a cutting board is considered a desirable product, and Bosch had showcased a similar concept at CES 2018, featuring a projector that displays recipes onto the countertop 1h46m0s.
• Other recommended apps for cooking recipes include Pestle, which excels at pulling recipes from TikTok and Instagram, and Mela, a beautifully designed app with a plain text interface 1h46m27s.
• Pestle's ability to import recipes from social media platforms is notable, despite the challenges of extracting recipes from non-standard formats 1h47m17s.
• Crouton is another app that has gained popularity for its features, including generating grocery lists and meal planning capabilities 1h47m43s.
• Some apps, such as Crouton and Samsung Food, allow users to meal plan and automatically generate shopping lists, which can be sent to services like Instacart 1h47m54s.
• The user acknowledges the benefits of meal planning but admits to struggling with finding the time to plan meals in advance 1h48m3s.
• The apps' ability to generate shopping lists can sometimes lead to overbuying, as users may opt to purchase items in bulk rather than following the recommended quantities 1h48m39s.
• Samsung has a vision for the kitchen that involves a cohesive system where users can input ingredients or desired meals and receive recipe suggestions, and they are the closest to achieving this goal 1h48m51s.
• Samsung recently announced new screens and devices, including a small screen that can be placed on top of a cooktop to display recipes, and a smaller screen for the fridge 1h49m13s.
• The Family Hub fridge now has a smaller screen option for users who want a more compact display 1h49m39s.
• Some people use iPads or other tablets in the kitchen to display recipes, often with magnetic mounts, but this can be risky due to spills and other accidents 1h49m47s.
• Samsung Food is a recipe organizer app that is based on the original smart recipe app Whisk, and it has many of the same features as other recipe apps 1h50m35s.
• Samsung Food has a lot of ads, but users can pay to remove them, and it is a good option for those looking for a recipe app 1h50m49s.
• The app allows users to add their food list and scan food to add it to their list, and it can suggest recipes based on the ingredients they have at home 1h51m45s.
• However, the feature that suggests recipes based on a picture of the food the user has is not very useful 1h52m1s.
• A feature that allows users to take a picture of a dish and generates a recipe for it is available, which could be useful for recreating favorite restaurant meals at home 1h52m15s.
• The air fryer is a kitchen appliance that can be used to make various dishes, and it is expected to be used more frequently during the holiday season 1h52m31s.
• There are several recipe websites available, including Samsung Food, Paprika, Yummly, Crouton, and Mila, and users can try them out to find the one that works best for them 1h52m43s.
• It is recommended to save recipes from these websites as they may not be available forever, and printing them out can be a good way to preserve them 1h52m52s.
• The holiday season is a time for celebration and trying new things, and it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them 1h53m20s.
• The goal for next year is to improve and do better, with a target grade of at least a C-minus 1h53m25s.

Concluding remarks and sponsors

• The Vergecast is a production of The Verge and Box Media Podcast Network, and the show is produced by Liam James, Will Porough, and Eric Gomez 1h54m11s.