Connect with us

Smart home

Google Nest, Android Devices Gain Improved Smart Home Interoperability

Published

on

Google Nest, Android Devices Gain Improved Smart Home 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.



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Smart home

Moto Tag Bluetooth Tracker With Find My Device Network Support Launched

Published

on

By

Moto Tag Bluetooth Tracker With Find My Device Network Support Launched


Moto Tag was launched on Tuesday as a Bluetooth tracker for Android devices with an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. Location trackers have been around for years, enabling people to locate lost or stolen items through their smartphones and other devices. While Tile and Apple are one of the biggest names in this market, the latter’s AirTag is only compatible with Apple devices. On Android, Tile offers multiple location-tracking solutions, which Motorola’s new Moto Tag is set to compete with.

Moto Tag price

Moto Tag is priced at $29 (roughly Rs. 2,423) while a pack of four will be available for $99 (roughly Rs. 8,273) in the US starting on August 2, according to The Verge. The company is yet to update its website with the price of the tracker, and it is currently unclear whether it will be introduced in other markets, including India. 

Moto Tag specifications, features

The newly announced Moto Tag offers support for Google’s Find My Device network, which was recently launched by the search giant. Motorola claims that the tracker will provide precise location-tracking capabilities when paired with a UWB-supported smartphone such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Google Pixel 8.

The device also features a dedicated multi-function button, which Motorola says can ping the smartphone to locate it. Furthermore, it can also be used as a remote capture button when taking photos on any Android smartphone. It also supports Google Fast Pair to simplify the setup process. With the standalone Moto Tag app, users can also change the name of the tag, adjust the alert volume, and check battery life.

The company says its Bluetooth tracker protects the user’s privacy by offering end-to-end encryption of their location. This means only the owner of the Moto Tag as well as those its location is shared with, can locate it.

Motorola says the device supports automatic unknown tracker alerts on both Android and iOS platforms, meaning users will be alerted if an unknown party attempts to track their location. Additionally, they can also run a manual scan to check for unwanted trackers following them.

Moto Tag is claimed to be compatible with third-party accessories and can be attached to valuables. For durability, it is IP67-rated, allowing it to withstand immersion in water for up to 1 metre for up to 30 minutes. It is equipped with a CR2032 battery which is said to last a year on a single charge.


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



Source link

Continue Reading

Smart home

Wakefit Brings Temperature-Control Mattress, Contactless Sleep Tracker

Published

on

By

Wakefit Brings Temperature-Control Mattress, Contactless Sleep Tracker


Wakefit unveiled its AI-powered sleep solution suite dubbed Wakefit Zense on Wednesday. The Zense range features Regul8, a temperature-adjustable mattress, and Track8, an artificial intelligence (AI) contactless sleep-tracking device. With these, the company said it aims to integrate technology into the sleep environment to help users optimise sleep quality and improve sleep health. Both devices come with dual-zone sensors to create a custom sleep environment on each side of the bed. The Wakefit Zense range of sleep solutions is currently available for pre-booking.

Wakefit Zense Regul8, Track8 price and availability

Regul8, under the Wakefit Zense range, can be purchased at the price of Rs. 44,999. The mattress is available in Queen (78×60 inch) and King (78×72 inch) sizes. Track8, the sleep tracking sheet, is priced at Rs. 10,499. Both devices can currently be pre-booked on the official website for Rs. 499 each, or Rs. 899 combined.

Wakefit Zense Regul8 features

According to the company, the Regul8 mattress features a water-based system to control the temperature of the mattress surface. The mattress’ temperature can be set between 15-degree and 40-degree Celsius using the companion app. Regul8 has a dual-zone temperature controller, which allows the user to set different temperatures for each side of the bed.

Regul8 also comes with integrated temperature sensors that can monitor the temperature of the mattress surface and make real-time adjustments to keep it consistent throughout the night. It also features five different presets — Neutral, Cold, Warm, Ice, and Fire — to easily set the desired temperature. Wakefit claims that the Regul8 mattress consumes 60 percent less energy than a 1.5-ton AC.

Wakefit Zense Tack8 features

Track8 is a sleep solution under the Wakefit Zense range, which can track users’ sleeping patterns and other metrics without any contact. The device, which is a thin rectangular sheet of fabric with two sheet sensors, is placed under the mattress. It has dual-zone sensors, one for each side of the bed, and can track two users at the same time. The device directly sends the collected data to the companion app, which then processes the information to present a detailed sleep report.

The company claims the device uses AI and machine learning algorithms to capture data around sleep stages, respiratory rate, movement, sleep and wake up time, on and off bed time, and snoring. Once analysed, it also offers an aggregated sleep score.



Source link

Continue Reading

Smart home

Apple’s tvOS 18 Gets InSight, Automatic Subtitles and Other New Features

Published

on

By

Apple’s tvOS 18 Gets InSight, Automatic Subtitles and Other New Features


Apple announced several new features for tvOS 18 – the latest operating system for Apple TV devices, at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on Monday. One of the key highlights is a new feature known as InSight, which provides the user with information about the content that is currently being played. In addition to InSight, Apple announced improvements to existing Apple TV features such as a smarter Enhanced Dialogue, automatic subtitles and support for a new aspect ratio. Apple said that new screensavers will also be available to users soon.

tvOS 18 Updates

At its developer conference, Apple announced InSight – a feature which displays real-time information about the currently playing content, such as the characters, cast and the music playing. To get further information, users can select a specific actor and bring up their background and filmography page, the iPhone maker revealed.

Moreover, tvOS 18 is also said to offer the ability to add the currently playing music to the user’s Apple Music library. The Cupertino-based tech giant also announced that the InSight information can now be accessed on the iPhone while using it as an Apple TV remote.

Stan Ng, Vice President of Apple Watch, Audio, Health, and Home Product Marketing, said, “This fall, tvOS 18 and our services take entertainment in the home to the next level by bringing timely information to fans about their favourite characters and scenes.”

With tvOS, the Enhanced Dialogue feature is claimed to have become smarter, leveraging machine learning (ML) and computational audio to provide better vocal clarity. This feature can now be taken advantage of when playing supported content through the TV’s in-built speakers, Bluetooth-connected audio devices and AirPods, Apple said.

Subtitles are also said to receive improvements, with Apple claiming they now automatically appear in places where the audio does not match the device language. In addition to new screensavers such as films, TV shows, portraits and even Snoopy, Apple is also introducing support for a wider 21:9 aspect ratio for video playback on projectors.

Apple also announced updates to the Home interface, with users now able to share control when playing music through HomePod and HomePod mini using SharePlay and Apple Music. Furthermore, Live Captions will be coming to the US and Canada to read what others say during FaceTime calls when using the iPhone as a Continuity Camera on Apple TV.

The iPhone maker claims to have also introduced a new look for the Apple Fitness+ app to “help users make the most of its robust library, stay motivated, and keep consistent with their fitness routine.”


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



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.