Summary
- Matter update 1.4.1 introduces NFC, multi-device QR codes, and an Enhanced Setup Flow for easier setup.
- Users can tap their phone to their device for quick configuration.
- Ability to set up multiple devices with a single QR code and access terms and conditions directly in the commissioner app.
The latest Matter update is here. You might notice a few new features if you are setting up a new Matter-compatible
smart home
device. The first thing you’ll notice is how much easier it is to set up.
Matter version 1.4.1 brings tap-to-set-up NFC support, multi-device QR codes, and a new flow for handling terms and conditions (via 9to5Google). These changes remove some of the common roadblocks you might face when trying to configure devices. No more needing to download brand-specific apps or setting up multiple devices one at a time.
A closer look at these new onboarding features
The standout feature here is the new NFC-based onboarding. Manufacturers of smart home products can now embed onboarding data into an NFC tag. Users can then tap their phone to their new light bulb or wall switch for a quick, pain-free setup. This is useful for devices with QR codes stuck in hard-to-access places.
Talking about QR codes, the update brings the ability to set up multiple devices with a single QR code. This means a group of devices (with compatible commissioners support) can be setup from a single scan. Take a pack of smart light bulbs, for example. Previously, you would have to scan each light bulb’s code individually. Now you can scan one code and activate all the bulbs in the pack.
Finally, there’s an Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF) to help with terms and conditions during the commissioning process. You will be able to review terms and conditions directly in your ecosystem’s commissioner app (Google Home or Apple Home, for example) without needing to download an app from each device manufacturer. No more bouncing between apps just to get your smart plug to turn on.
Matter is making the smart promise real
The goal of the Connectivity Standards Alliance has always been to reduce fragmentation in the smart home ecosystem. Matter makes it so it doesn’t matter which manufacturer made the smart home device. It will work with whichever ecosystem you use. This latest update is a great step forward to making our
smart homes
actually smart.
