The vision of a seamlessly connected smart home, where devices from different manufacturers work together effortlessly, has long been a goal for technology enthusiasts and everyday users alike. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) introduced Matter, a unifying standard aimed at delivering true interoperability among smart home gadgets. While progress has been gradual, the recent release of Matter 1.5 promises to bring significant advancements—most notably, the integration of smart cameras into the Matter ecosystem, which could be its biggest breakthrough yet.
### Matter 1.5 Brings Cameras Into the Fold
The new Matter 1.5 update expands device support to include a wide variety of cameras. This means indoor security cameras, outdoor cameras, video doorbells, baby monitors, and pet cameras can potentially be controlled and accessed through any Matter-compatible platform. This development addresses a major pain point for consumers: the fragmented nature of smart home security devices. Currently, many cameras require proprietary apps or ecosystems, forcing users to juggle multiple platforms. Matter’s promise is that you can add and manage these cameras on your preferred smart home hub or app without worrying about compatibility issues.
An exciting aspect of this update is that Matter support might be delivered via software updates, meaning some existing cameras could become compatible without requiring new hardware. This would be a major win for consumers who want to consolidate their smart home devices without replacing expensive equipment.
### Robust Features Without Restrictions
The feature set supported by Matter 1.5 for cameras is impressively comprehensive. It includes video and audio streaming, two-way communication (allowing you to speak through the camera), local and remote access, multiple video streams simultaneously, and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) controls. It also supports detection zones and privacy zones, which help tailor motion alerts and protect user privacy.
Recording options are flexible as well, with support for continuous or event-based recording, whether stored locally or in the cloud. However, the specification does not dictate how storage is managed, meaning some manufacturers may still insist on their cloud subscription models for video storage.
Unlike Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, which limits resolution and imposes restrictions on AI detection features, Matter does not enforce such constraints. The standard uses WebRTC technology for video streaming, with remote access handled using STUN and TURN protocols. This setup allows manufacturers the option to implement end-to-end encryption for secure video transmission. Additionally, TCP transport support is designed to handle the high data loads typical of video streams efficiently, potentially reducing Wi-Fi congestion and helping preserve camera battery life.
### Industry Adoption and Outlook
Despite these promising technical capabilities, adoption remains a key question. The three major smart home players—Apple, Amazon, and Google—have yet to announce plans to support Matter in their camera products. This means it may take some time before consumers see cameras that fully leverage Matter 1.5’s new features in their homes.
Beyond cameras, Matter 1.5 also improves support for closures such as garage doors and smart window shades, accommodating different motion types and configurations. It introduces soil sensor support to measure conditions like moisture and temperature, which could trigger automated irrigation systems using Matter-compatible water valves—an exciting prospect for smart gardening enthusiasts.
Energy management enhancements are also included. Devices can now exchange data about energy pricing, tariffs, and grid operation, offering users insights into the energy consumption, costs, and carbon footprint of their connected gadgets. Electric vehicle (EV) charging support has been improved with state-of-charge reporting and bi-directional charging capabilities, potentially enabling future vehicle-to-grid schemes where EVs can supply power back to the grid.
While the Matter 1.5 specification is available now, it will take time for developers to adopt it and for certified devices to reach the market. Industry watchers expect announcements and product reveals at major technology events like CES 2026.
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### Google’s Gemini AI Replaces Assistant on Android Auto
In other technology news, Google continues to integrate its advanced Gemini AI chatbot, which has been gradually replacing the traditional Google Assistant over the past year, into various platforms. After debuting on Wear OS smartwatches and more recently in Google Maps, Gemini is now rolling out to Android Auto. This rollout will happen over the coming months for users who have already upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini on their phones.
The key advantage of Gemini is its ability to understand and respond in a more natural, conversational way compared to the sometimes rigid command structure of Google Assistant. For example, you can casually ask Gemini for BBQ restaurant