Smart Home Devices Get Thread 1.4 Upgrade
Apple and Google are updating their smart home streaming devices to support Thread 1.4, a connectivity protocol for interoperability standard Matter. This upgrade enables credential sharing between devices, simplifying connections to existing Thread networks. However, a unified Thread network remains elusive.
Key points
- Apple and Google are updating their smart home streaming devices to support Thread 1.4, a connectivity protocol for Matter.
- Thread 1.4 enables credential sharing between devices, allowing for easier connections to existing Thread networks.
- The upgrade is now available on compatible Apple TVs in the tvOS 27 developer beta and the Google TV Streamer through a software update.
- However, a unified Thread network remains a goal, with some users still experiencing difficulties joining existing networks.
- The Google TV Streamer now offers the option to generate a QR code to join a Thread network, but it did not work for one user.
The latest development in the smart home ecosystem is the upgrade of Apple and Google's smart home streaming devices to support Thread 1.4. This update enables credential sharing between devices, simplifying connections to existing Thread networks.
Thread 1.4 is a key component of the interoperability standard Matter, which aims to bring together different smart home devices and systems. The upgrade is now available on compatible Apple TVs in the tvOS 27 developer beta and the Google TV Streamer through a software update.
However, despite this progress, a unified Thread network remains a goal. Some users have reported difficulties joining existing networks, and the Google TV Streamer's QR code feature did not work for one user.
The upgrade is a step towards achieving a seamless smart home experience, where devices can communicate and work together easily. However, it is clear that there is still work to be done to achieve this vision.
Sources
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