CES 2022: Shapes, Elements and Lines all tweaked with Matter in mind
Nanoleaf was one of the earliest embracers of Thread, with the launch of the Essentials bulb last year.
When that Thread enabled smart light went live though, you needed an Apple HomePod Mini to make use of its Thread capabilities, as that was the only border router available.
Then, back in August, Nanoleaf switched on Thread border routers in its Shapes and Elements Controllers via a software update. However, the Thread gateway was reserved for just Nanoleaf products.
The good news now is that over in Vegas at CES 2022, Nanoleaf used the tech expo to announce that it is opening up its Thread capabilities.
Explained: What is Thread and why does it matter for your smart home
An update will go live in the first quarter of this year that will see the the Nanoleaf Shapes, Elements and Lines controllers beefed up to become Thread border routers for all Thread over HomeKit devices, not just Nanoleaf’s own stuff.
That means the likes of Eve, and its line-up of Thread-enabled HomeKit smart home devices such as the new Eve Room, Eve Weather and the 2nd-gen Eve Aqua can all access a Thread network via the Nanoleaf border routers.
For now, it’s all limited to HomeKit over Thread devices but Nanoleaf has stated that the update will also pave the way for Matter over Thread devices from any manufacturer as they come to market.
Explainer: What is Matter smart home
You’ll be hearing more and more about Thread in the coming months as it’s a major player in the Matter smart home ecosystem.
Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, Thread provides more instant results when it comes to things like smart lighting.
Thread compatibility can actually be added to a bunch of existing devices with through a software update. As long a device support the 802.15.4 protocol (which is very common) then they can be upgraded to support Thread.
