Streaming Smart Speakers Set to Join the Matter Revolution

Introducing Matter's New Smart Speaker Standard

Matter, the upcoming smart home standard designed to enhance connectivity and control across various smart devices, is making strides toward supporting audio speakers. Chris LaPré, CTO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), shared insights with The Verge about the exciting developments in this area, including the introduction of a "streaming speaker device type" and associated controls.

Seamless Communication for Smart Homes

With the integration of Matter, speakers could soon provide alerts for various activities around the home. Imagine receiving notifications when someone rings your doorbell or being notified when your laundry is complete. Fiede Schillmoeller, CEO of Legato— the leading company in this development—has ambitious plans for speakers as part of the smart home ecosystem.

Limitations of Current Speaker Standards

While speakers have technically existed within Matter since its inception, they are classified under Media Device Types, mainly catering to TVs and video streaming devices rather than dedicated audio speakers. Currently, the controls for speakers are limited to power on/off and volume adjustments—far from the desired functionalities.

A Focus on Ambient Information and Notifications

The new developments aim to facilitate an ambient notification system through smart speakers. According to LaPré, the vision is to create an ambient information stream that alerts users to significant events or actions within their smart home. This aligns with the aim of bringing deeper integration between sound systems and smart devices.

Bridging the Gap with Matter Casting

Currently, Matter Casting allows for control over media and can send messages from various Matter devices, but adapting this technology for speakers presents unique challenges. Chris DeCenzo from Amazon emphasizes the need to address these challenges, particularly the absence of an app framework for smart speakers compared to smart TVs.

The Role of Legato in Speaker Development

Legato is committed to spearheading advancements in Matter speaker technology, leveraging expertise from founders with backgrounds at Sonos and Apple. Schillmoeller anticipates a robust development process collaborating with a range of CSA member companies involved in software, hardware, and content.

Configuring Your Smart Home for Speaker Control

The team's objective is to offer comprehensive audio control, enabling functionalities such as:

• Selecting audio sources
• Volume control
• Transport controls like play, pause, skip

This will empower users to customize their experience across different Matter-supported ecosystems like Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and more, creating a cohesive smart home experience.

Limitations in Multiroom Music Functionality

Despite the expansive possibilities, multiroom music functionality will likely remain within individual ecosystems. Users should not expect seamless cross-ecosystem control just yet. While collaborations exist, significant barriers remain with giants like Apple and Google.

LegatoXP: A New Software Framework

Legato has introduced the LegatoXP platform, designed to empower various speakers across different brands. This innovation aims to unlock multiroom music capabilities without relying on proprietary systems.

Innovating Device Architecture

LegatoXP's advantage lies in its real-time operating system (RTOS) architecture, which is less power-intensive and cost-effective compared to traditional Linux systems used in current smart speakers. This allows for higher efficiency in audio streaming and could pave the way for affordable smart speakers priced as low as $25.

Empowering Diverse Smart Speaker Options

By enabling speaker manufacturers to harness the potential of Matter, Legato is optimistic about democratizing smart audio technology. Schillmoeller believes that this can shift the market dynamics, facilitating consumer access to innovative audio devices priced competitively with Bluetooth speakers.

Conclusion: The Future of Smart Speakers with Matter

As development continues, we anticipate an exciting future for smart speakers within the Matter ecosystem. With the collaboration of key industry players and a commitment to user experience, the next generation of smart speakers could redefine how we interact with audio devices in our homes.

Stay tuned for more updates on how Matter is transforming smart home technology, and consider exploring the possibilities of smart speakers tailored to your lifestyle needs!