There are several smart home platforms these days, which is not surprising considering every manufacturer getting into the space is creating its own. While there are devices that work with multiple platforms, an alliance called Project Connected Home over IP (Project CHIP) was formed in 2019 to create an open-source standard. That alliance has now been renamed Matter, and its logo and branding, which will appear on products, have been unveiled.

Matter is a unified system that will allow you to use your smart home devices with any assistant of your choice. Unlike most products that work with only one of either the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Homekit, Matter-branded products can be configured to work with any one of them.

The alliance which was formed in 2019 has Google, Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Ikea, and Philips Hue as board members and will cover light bulbs, smart plugs, door locks, sensors, detectors, TVs, window blinds, thermostats, air conditioners, and a whole lot more. The unified platform will work with Bluetooth Low Energy, Ethernet Wi-Fi, and Thread.

While buyers will do well to look out for the logo when purchasing smart home devices in the future, it has been reported that some manufacturers such as Philips Hue will release an update that makes all of its past and present products compatible with Matter once it is official. This means you will also be able to purchase devices that don’t have the Matter logo but that support it. The first Matter-branded devices are expected to ship by the end of the year.

The Zigbee Alliance which owns the Zigbee protocol used by several IoT devices has also announced that it is changing its name to the Connectivity Standards Alliance as its focus expands to projects similar to Matter.

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Xiaomi is gradually turning its releases under the crowdfunding platform into a daily affair. Just a day after going official with its 80th crowdfunding project, which is the Qicycle children bicycle, the company has announced a new smart product. The company’s 81st MIJIA product it is, and it’s the Aqara Smart curtain controller. The product is a  motorized window shades and blinds which can be controlled wirelessly. The gadget works on Zigbee curtains and blinds.

The Aqara Smart Curtain motor/controller utilizes low-power ZigBee communication protocol via the Mi multi-functional Smart home gateway or Aqara air-conditioning pathway to connect to the smart home network. Thus, the home curtains can be controlled via the Mi App. Also, the Smart gadget allows the homeowner to also set the timer in the Mi app to when the blinds are expected to open and close and the blinds respond automatically when it gets to the set time.

In addition, there is a wireless switch which can alternatively be used to open and close the blinds with just a gentle tap. The gadget also connects with the Mi home sensor such that when the user goes to the window, the home sensor will automatically trigger the opening of the blinds and as soon as the user leaves, the blinds close. How else can we describe a connected smart home gadget.

Further, the Aqara Smart curtain motor has a touch start function, such that with just a light pull, the motor starts opening the blinds automatically. It also stops when it encounters a resistance or obstruction while opening or closing. It is also a noiseless device with its operating noise ess than 30dB. The product also comes with other support services like door and window measurement, customised window rails and others.

Read Also: Xiaomi Launches New 599 Yuan ($87) Qicycle Children Bike

The Aqara Smart Silent curtain motor / controller carries a price tag of 999 Yuan and is currently available on the Mi Home crowdfunding platform for funding.

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