Smart Home

Connected devices for the home.

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Smart Home

Matter 1.6 Explained: Joint Fabric, NFC Commissioning, and Thermostats That Know Better

The CSA's Matter 1.6 release adds no new device types. Instead it rebuilds the plumbing: a Joint Fabric that lets Apple, Google, Amazon and SmartThings co-administer one network, NFC setup that works before a device has power, and thermostats that treat commands as suggestions.

Administrator·8 min read

Photo by William Bradshaw on Pexels

Google

Google Home Speaker (2026) Review

Google's first speaker in six years is a handsome, punchy $100 smart speaker let down by a half-baked Gemini assistant and the quiet disappearance of Google's cheaper options.

Editorial team

3.5