Must be something at the OS level since its limited to Android and Galaxy devices?
I think it’s a corporate decision, not an engineering one. They have quite a few features now that are only available to galaxy phone users. And it’s easy to put that gatekeeper in the app itself.
But maybe they are using that home automation shortcuts feature that’s now built into android. That wouldn’t limit it to galaxy phones, though.
I think we all know smartthings is free as it makes money from promoting the sale of it’s own devices (fridges, tvs etc) - I am guilty of favouring a Samsung tv over competition for the added integration. I don’t think these new Samsung phone only features are all surprising- how many of us would favour a Samsung phone if it had more smartthings features
The only counter is if they go too far with features limited to samsung phones, how many would be put off smartthings all together (? HA)
2 Likes
I didn’t see anything to particularly suggest that. The bloke’s a top dog in Samsung Electronics, he is going to say ‘Samsung Galaxy users’ and let the other brands do their own marketing.
1 Like
We’ll see.
If you missed this, @BlackRose67 shared it in another topic
As expected, the matter compatibility is only one way in. You will be able to add most devices with a Matter logo to your smartthings account, but you will not be able to add your smartthings/Aeotec hub to the Matter-compatible apps from other companies like Apple or IKEA.
3 Likes
The wait for the first major update to iOS 16 is almost over. Apple revealed Thursday in a backwards sort of way that iOS 16.1 will reach iPhones everywhere on October 24.
And one of the new features in iOS 16.1 is support for matter accessories.
Doesn’t mean matter will instantly work, it’s just another piece being moved into place.
2 Likes
Have anyone tried the Matter devices yet?
Today I have run the virtual matter device from Google example and the experiment failed.
In the Smartthings app, the device is found but the handshake failed with a “not supported” message. The Google Home app fails even earlier - on the discovery step.
Also, the list of supported device types is rather short. I haven’t even found a basic button (remote) device type.
So I don’t understand if it is possible to link a controller from one manufacturer to devices from another provider. Will there be Matter protocol scene controllers?
Sadly, the first rule of home automation still applies: “The model number matters.” So it all comes down to the details.
There are several possible scenarios.
A. A Matter Controller from one brand controls Matter devices from another brand.
Absolutely possible when the end devices are themselves individually Matter-certified (right now, WiFi or Thread).
So for example once Matter is fully supported, you will be able to add an Eve brand sensor (Thread) to your SmartThings account, something you could not do before. But you will need at least one “Thread Border Router” to collect the messages. That could be a SmartThings/Aeotec V3 hub. But not a V2 hub.
If you have a V2 hub or no hub, you can use the Thread Border Router inside some Amazon Echo or some Google Home devices. Or an Apple HomePod Mini. Or any other Thread Border Router from any other company. You only need one.
- A Matter Controller from one brand controls devices from another brand, but the end devices (probably zigbee or Bluetooth) from the other brand are not individually Matter-certified.
This is possible if and only if those end devices are connected to a “Matter Bridge.”
This will work similarly to how the SmartThings/Philips Hue LAN integration works today. You add the bridge to your account, and it brings many of its devices with it.
This will allow for several integrations which are not possible today.
For example, several Aqara hubs will be certified Matter bridges. You will be able to connect Aqara sensors to one of these Aqara hubs and then Add that Aqara hub to your SmartThings account and it will bring most of its devices along with it. Fast, easy, no custom code required and the integration will run locally. And you won’t need a SmartThings/Aeotec hub for the integration.
Unfortunately, the SmartThings/Aeotec hub will NOT be a Matter bridge. So you cannot add it to, say, the Apple HomeKit app or the Ikea Dirigera app. (This is probably because zwave is going to be way harder to use with Matter than zigbee due to differences in address protocols.)
——————
So…it depends what you mean by “link a controller.”
If you mean add individual devices from one brand to another brand’s Matter-supporting app, yes if those devices are individually matter-certified.
If they are not individually matter-certified, they have to be connected to a “Matter bridge.” Then you add that matter bridge device to another brand’s app, and that bridge brings a lot of its connected devices along with it.
So far Philips Hue and Aqara have said they will have at least one model hub that is a Matter bridge.
Tuya’s statements were unclear because they said they would have some Matter support, but they used nonstandard terminology.
SmartThings said they will not offer a Matter Bridge at this time.
IKEA’s new Dirigera hub will definitely be a Matter Controller, but we don’t yet know if it will be a Matter Bridge.
So…the model number matters. 
YOUR SECOND QUESTION
Will there be Matter protocol scene controllers?
I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean by this.
If you are just asking if the Matter standard includes handheld actuators, right now it doesn’t, but some buttons will work. again, it depends on the model.
Flic has announced that its buttons will work with Matter, but only when used with their Flic mini hub. That’s the same way they work with SmartThings and HomeKit. But there’s a trick to it: these buttons look like sensors or webhooks to the other platforms. (That’s why at the time of this writing they are the only third party buttons that can trigger an Alexa routine, for example.)
I have heard that some other device manufacturers plan to bridge their buttons as switches, although the button itself cannot be turned on with an automation. Just a physical press.
So we will just have to wait and see on this one.
3 Likes
basically my questions: If I have TRÅDFRI Shortcut button, white smart - IKEA with the latest and greatest IKEA hub . would it be possible to create a routine in ST app to turn on Samsung dishwasher ?
will be there Matter buttons that doesn’t require a hub in the future?
1 Like
It will be possible IF that Ikea hub is a “Matter Bridge” and IF that Matter Bridge exposes the button to other platforms.
Those are two different questions, and we don’t know the answer to either one yet. Presumably when the Dirigera hub is released next month we will find out.
will be there Matter buttons that doesn’t require a hub in the future?
Someday, yes, using Thread. But when? We don’t know.
For example, WeMo has a 3 button scene controller that uses Thread and works with HomeKit. They have announced Matter support for some of their other devices, but not this one. Once Matter has a button device class, it wouldn’t need a hub: but we’re not there yet.
1 Like
Nice to see but is it necessary to install matter drivers? I thought it would automatically add drivers if we have a matter device?
Yes, they are going to be part of the stock driver set once everything is fully transitioned.
4 Likes
Oh, ah, right! I admit I often accidentally neglect Zigbee Matter bridges. Thank you for the reminder.
On that topic, the Z-Wave Alliance recently congratulated Matter on their 1.0 release, called it an “impressive“ launch, and emphasized the need for Z-Wave Matter bridges.
However, unexpectedly, the Z-Wave Alliance insinuates existing Z-Wave devices are now legacy devices. Perhaps just a funny choice of words.
If Matter succeeds in getting homeowners comfortable purchasing and setting up new products but misses by making it difficult to adapt legacy devices already in market, it wouldn’t really fulfil its promise. With a large existing install base of Zigbee, Z-Wave, and other wireless IoT protocols across the smart home, bridges will play a key role in connecting Matter to legacy devices and becoming interoperable with new Matter networks.
2 Likes
The new Ikea hub will be available on November 1st in the US at IKEA stores.
2 Likes
Good news and bad news.
Good news first:
Ikea has a long-term commitment to Matter and the first step that we are targeting now is for Dirigera to become a Matter bridge in a couple of months,”
Bad news: “a couple of months” could mean anything, including, to be honest, never. You just don’t know With hardware until it’s actually delivered.
So… Dirigera could indeed be the zigbee/Matter hub we’ve been waiting for, but it’s not here yet even if you’ll be able to buy one in a few weeks. Because the one you’ll be able to buy in a few weeks won’t have matter support yet.
2 Likes
iOS 16.1 is now public, which means iOS officially supports Matter. Two Matter Controllers live, but no devices to add…
4 Likes
It’s apparently available at my local store here in the Great White North.
Tempted to go get one just to have one.
Love the idea of a low cost Matter controller AND bridge, unlike the one sitting here now.
1 Like