Gear news of the week: Matter 1.5 adds support for Smart Home cameras and Gemini comes to Android Auto

The promise of The interoperability for your smart home gadgets that Matter was supposed to bring has been a slow process, but it’s starting to pay off, and the addition of cameras in version 1.5 could be its biggest victory yet. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) says the latest version supports all camera types. So we’re talking about indoor security cameras, outdoor security cameras, video doorbells, baby monitors, and pet cameras.

This could significantly improve a very fractured landscape, allowing you to easily add and access your cameras on the platform of your choice. This is also something that can potentially come in a software update, so some of the cameras you already own could benefit from Matter support.

You may be worried about limitations, but the list of supported features is impressive, including video and audio streaming, two-way communication, local and remote access, multiple streams, pan-tilt-zoom controls, and detection and privacy zones. There is also support for continuous or event-based recording, either locally or in the cloud. What it won’t handle is how that storage is managed, meaning some camera makers will still require you to use their cloud-based subscription models.

Fortunately, there are no resolution limitations, unlike Apple HomeKit Secure Video, nor restrictions on the AI ​​detection features. Matter uses WebRTC technology, with remote access managed via STUN and TURN protocols, meaning manufacturers can choose to implement end-to-end encryption for images. TCP transport support is designed to enable more efficient and reliable transmission of many data, such as that produced by video cameras, which should reduce the load on your Wi-Fi and the impact on the camera’s battery life.

While this is very exciting news and the potential backwards compatibility is commendable, there’s no telling when you’ll see it in a camera in your home. The big trio: Apple, Amazon and Google have not yet announced their intention to adopt Matter in their cameras.

However, Matter 1.5 isn’t just about cameras: it also revamps support for closures, from garage doors to smart blinds, allowing for different types and configurations of movements. There is also a soil sensor to measure humidity and temperature and potentially trigger water valves and irrigation systems based on matter.

Improved power management features are the latest addition. Matter 1.5 allows devices to exchange data on energy prices, tariffs and network operation, allowing you to potentially get an idea of ​​how much your gadgets really cost in terms of energy consumption, cost and carbon impact. Electric vehicle charging has also been boosted, with state-of-charge reporting and bi-directional charging that could enable vehicle-to-grid projects in the future.

Although the Matter 1.5 specification is now available, it will take some time for developers to adopt it and get their devices certified by the CSA. Expect some announcements at CES 2026. —Simon Hill

Google’s Gemini rolls out to Android Auto

Google has been gradually replacing its long-running Google Assistant with the improved Gemini AI chatbot across all of its platforms over the past year. After rolling it out to its Wear OS smartwatches and, more recently, adding it directly to Google Maps, the company is bringing it to Android Auto. Google says the rollout will happen over the next few months to all Android Auto users who have switched from Google Assistant to Gemini on their phone.