Tag: matter

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) Launched in India, Priced at Rs. 32,900

Apple has announced the launch of its second-gen HomePod smart speaker, nearly two years after discontinuing its predecessor. The new HomePod has a slightly refined design and promises incredible audio quality. It can reproduce tracks encoded with spatial audio as well as integrate with compatible smart home products thanks to Apple’s Siri voice-based personal assistant and S7 processor. It is available in White and a new Midnight colour option. The second-gen HomePod is priced at Rs. 32,900 in India and is available to pre order right away through official Apple retailers. It will go on sale from February 3.

In terms of sound quality, Apple says it has engineered the HomePod’s custom high-excursion woofer to deliver remarkable bass. An array of five tweeters around the circumference of the device allows for immersive audio. Built-in sensors and an EQ microphone, plus Apple’s in-house S7 processor, make it possible for the HomePod to perform its own computational operations to maximise its potential, according to Apple. The device can recognise sound reflections and adjust itself based on how it is positioned in a room. Beamforming is used to direct ambient audio and deliver spatial audio experiences.  

Like its predecessor and the smaller HomePod mini (Review), the new HomePod has a mesh exterior which Apple says is made of 100 percent recycled fabric. The backlit touch surface on the top of its cylindrical body can be used to activate the Siri voice assistant. The HomePod can also be used as an in-home intercom system to broadcast messages. Two HomePods can be set up as a stereo pair, or multiple units throughout a home can be synchronised, and users can hand off whatever’s playing on an iPhone to the nearest speaker. When set up with an Apple TV, one or more HomePod speakers can take over all audio output and also let users control what’s playing with voice commands. 

The second-gen HomePod is capable of listening for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and can notify users on their iPhones when they are away. Integrated temperature and humidity sensors allow for smart home routine integrations such as toggling appliances based on environmental conditions. The Matter standard for smart home integration should allow for better interoperability with a wide range of IoT products and accessories.  

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


WhatsApp Rolling Out Feature to Share Voice Messages as Status Updates to Android Beta Testers: Report


Microsoft Announces Up to 10,000 Job Cuts, to Invest in Strategic Areas to Remain Competitive

Featured video of the day

iQoo 11: The All-Rounder



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Google Brings Matter Support to Android Devices, Nest Home Products for Smart Device Interoperability

Google has announced that its Android, Google Nest, and Google Home devices will, starting today, be interoperable with smart ecosystems from other brands. This has been made possible by the search giant through support for the Matter protocol on the aforementioned devices. Matter is an open-source, royalty-free, next-generation unifying protocol for smart home device connectivity developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The alliance, first conceived in 2019 has around 300 companies onboard including major players Apple, Samsung, Amazon, and Huawei.

According to an official blog post from the search giant, Google Nest and Android devices, have been automatically updated to with support for the Matter protocol. The list of devices that are already Matter-enabled, as of today, include Google Home devices like the Google Home Smart Speaker, Google Home Mini Smart Speaker. Google Nest devices like the Google Nest Mini, Google Nest Audio, Google Nest Hub, Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, and the Nest Wifi Pro also get support for Matter, as per the company.

Google has also added Matter support for Fast Pair on Android which will allow users to quickly connect to Matter-enabled devices to their home network, Google Home and other smart devices.

Matter utilises a wireless technology based on a combination of internet protocol (IP), and the Thread protocol. Smart devices from different brands have been utilising different technologies or protocols to build their smart devices which resulted in the smart devices being incompatible with each other.

The Matter smart home standard also allows devices that were previously heavily dependent on internet connectivity and the cloud for functioning, to work even when offline. The decrease in reliance on internet and cloud connectivity also reduces the latency between human action and smart device reaction. This is probably one of the most significant advantages that Matter brings into the smart home ecosystem and one that could truly revolutionise smart device adoptability and ease of use at large.

Google also announced that it is continuously working with industry partners in improving the smart device operating protocol.

The search giant also confirmed that it is working with South Korean conglomerate Samsung to develop a built-in Multi Admin feature that will allow users to have cross-platform control over their smart devices and smart home ecosystem. The multi-admin feature will arrive sometime in 2023, confirmed the company.

Meanwhile, Google also announced that it will bring Matter support on iOS through the Google Home app. However, the search giant shied away from mentioning a timeline for the same.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version