Apple-Backed 'Matter' Smart Home Standard Again Delayed Until Fall 2022

[MacRumors]

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which includes Apple, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and others, today announced the launch of the "Matter" smart home standard has been delayed until the fall of 2022 (via The Verge).

Matter seeks to unify and simplify the smart home ecosystem with a new interoperable standard. Announced in 2019 as "Project CHiP," Matter is a unified IP-based connectivity that aims to offer a standard universal protocol for developers to build Internet of Things devices. The Alliance previously sought to release the standard in late 2020. This was then delayed to the second half of 2021, before again being delayed until summer 2022. Now, it has been delayed until the fall of 2022.

The delay is needed to finalize the software development kit (SDK) that device manufacturers will use to incorporate their products into the Matter ecosystem. The CSA is working to improve the SDK so that it works smoothly across the large number of platforms that are adopting Matter, ensuring that there is long-term confidence in the standard.

The updated timeline suggests that Matter-certified devices could still go on sale this year, with 130 devices in 15 categories from 50 companies set to be part of the first roll-out. Companies that are not yet enrolled into the initial phase may need to wait until the end of 2022 or early 2023 to begin testing.

A multitude of smart home accessory makers have signed up to adopt Matter, including Amazon, ASSA ABLOY, Comcast, Espressif Systems, Eve Systems, Grundfos Holding A/S, Huawei, Infineon Technologies, LEEDARSON, Legrand, Nanoleaf, and others.

Article Link: Apple-Backed 'Matter' Smart Home Standard Again Delayed Until Fall 2022

 

[fwmireault]

More and more, I think it’s pretty clear this standard doesn’t matter to Apple.




























I’ll see myself out

 

[Macintosh TV]

Hopefully we see investment here. Would love to see expansion in this category. Love my HomeKit devices and integration.

 

[Vado]

It's a massive project so there is no point in rushing the SDK release. Take the time to get the tools and software right before rolling it out to the hands of developers.

 

[Razorpit]

I'm sure there are a lot of "battles" involving security and privacy going on in the background. Take your time and get this one right.

 

[kemal]

Will it work with Alexa?

Edit: To be clear, existing products from Amazon.

 

[nuckinfutz]

More time for the big companies to figure out how to co-opt Matter and and their own "flavor" to it.

 

[PhoenixDown]

It's a massive project so there is no point in rushing the SDK release. Take the time to get the tools and software right before rolling it out to the hands of developers.

I agree - making this easy to use and roll out will be key to its success.

 

[Yr Blues]

As above, so below. ?

 

[DoogH]

Seems like they will align it with iOS 16.

 

[Psychicbob]

Proof of anti-matter?

 

[ikjadoon]

More and more, I think it’s pretty clear this standard doesn’t matter to Apple.

Might need to tell Apple: they already integrated Matter into iOS 15. ?

Apple has moved faster than Google, Amazon, and Samsung in OS-native integration.

 

[Macative]

All that "matters" is that it gets adopted by everyone. Literally everyone. If any smart home maker is incentivized to opt out of it for any reason, then this is a fail.

 

[FSMBP]

All that "matters" is that it gets adopted by everyone. Literally everyone. If any smart home maker is incentivized to opt out of it for any reason, then this is a fail.

With the list of companies already involved with this (from software to smart-home manufacturers), I feel like companies that don't participant will be the ones that fail.

 

[ikjadoon]

I'm sure there are a lot of "battles" involving security and privacy going on in the background. Take your time and get this one right.

The Nanoleaf CEO did an interview on Matter last month (published this week) and seemed to allude to ongoing changes—though I haven’t the slightest idea what is a “Thread credential” nor why it hasn’t been decided yet:

“One of the things with Thread border routers, for example, the vision is for it is to be shared across all the different platforms, meaning any product could connect to any border router, and it'll all work the same way. The challenge is because the Matter spec is still being written, that keeps evolving and changing.”

“And also, companies like Google and Apple still haven't decided on how they're actually going to share those Thread credentials.”

Source.

 

[jmh600cbr]

I currently have over 109 HomeKit devices working well. I’m open to matter but not open to quality drop.

 

[ikjadoon]

Will it work with Alexa?

Edit: To be clear, existing products from Amazon.

Almost all, yes.

Now, Amazon has revealed the scope of its initial commitment: it will be upgrading almost every plug-in Echo smart speaker to support Matter, including most Echo and Echo Dot speakers and every Echo Studio, Echo Show, Echo Plus, and Echo Flex.
In fact, the only Echo smart speakers that won’t get upgraded to Matter are the first-gen Echo, first-gen Echo Dot and Echo Tap, a rep tells The Verge.

 

[stocklen]

perhaps with all the delays they should rename it Anti-Matter.

Or Doesn't-Matter.

 

[ikjadoon]

It's a massive project so there is no point in rushing the SDK release. Take the time to get the tools and software right before rolling it out to the hands of developers.

It is genuinely massive. I think CSA likens it to “the next WiFi”.

Rarely can we see Apple working in third-party open-source projects, but here’s an issue with three Apple software engineers in the public Matter GitHub project:

iOS chiptool app continues to resubcribe for reporting after fabric/accessory removed · Issue #15478 · project-chip/connectedhomeip

Problem chiptool continue to resubcribe for reporting after fabric/accessory removed SHA: 9f09e52 Steps: Pair M5 board (all clusters app) using iOS chiptool Verify able to control/toggle light Go t...

github.com

 

[Macative]

With the list of companies already involved with this (from software to smart-home manufacturers), I feel like companies that don't participant will be the ones that fail.

What list of companies?

 

[scuac]

What's the matter?

 

[Macative]

Will this put an end to HomeKit? Or will matter simply be another SDK layer that handles the generic parts, and HomeKit will remain frustrating as ever for the parts that are essential to Apple integration?

The end result of this should be that Apple and Amazon products use the same smart home technology. If not, it's a waste of effort.

 

[Macative]

I currently have over 109 HomeKit devices working well. I’m open to matter but not open to quality drop.

No you don't. No one does.

You regularly open the Home app to find 20% of them showing No Response.

 

[ikjadoon]

What list of companies?

The earlier Matter one has been updated, so probably this one.

All the usual suspects and then like 500 more. It’s the most ambitious cross-industry project I’ve seen in tech. From silicon to IP to integration to networking to consumer tech to social to industrial.

It’s old money and new money, cutting across a lot of divides.

I think once Apple + Google + Amazon + Samsung decided to unite, nobody wanted to be left out of the “next WiFi”.

Still can’t explain why Kroger is involved, though.

 

[ikjadoon]

Will this put an end to HomeKit? Or will matter simply be another SDK layer that handles the generic parts, and HomeKit will remain frustrating as ever for the parts that are essential to Apple integration?

The end result of this should be that Apple and Amazon products use the same smart home technology. If not, it's a waste of effort.

The end result is meant to be that—but how many old devices get updated or how easily bridges can be used (the official Matter method to bring non-Matter devices in). Wish we could get some answers on these questions.

Apple has shared that Matter support can be accessed via HomeKit APIs to allow integration (see linked video above)

The enhanced and new APIs in HomeKit enable smart home developers to integrate with the new Matter protocol in the most convenient way. Tour the Matter protocol, and discover how to set up and manage Matter accessories on our platforms and within your smart home apps.

I think HomeKit as a program does need to stick around for all the commitments it has (e.g., video storage).

How much this fixes … a great question. I just want more stability for the garage door, Apple.