Ikea already had a surprisingly robust smart home catalog, offering smart blinds, light switches, air purifiers, and a handful of other popular gadgets. It’s now grown even more enticing, as the Dirigera Hub that drives most of the action now offers full Matter support.
As of September 11, all products connected to the Dirigera Hub will work with the interoperability standard. That’s a big win for Ikea, allowing its gadgets to interact with those from other platforms like Apple Home and Google Home. To achieve this, Dirigera is being updated to become a Matter Bridge, allowing it to work with all other Matter products.
According to Ikea, “products within lighting, sound, air purification, remote controllers, and sensors” will work with the new Matter update.
“With the introduction of Matter support on Dirigera, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more seamless and interoperable smart home experience,” said Damir Smrkovic, Platform and Technology leader at Ikea of Sweden. “Users no longer need to worry about compatibility — everything will just work together, easily and efficiently.”
Ikea is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance — the organization responsible for Matter. It’s great to see the system now supported by Dirigera, as this gives users a quick and easy way to sync them up with the rest of their homes. Connected devices can be controlled by the Ikea mobile app, remote controls, a shortcut button, or via voice and motion.
Matter continues to push its way into the market, gaining a larger foothold every year. Along with rollouts from companies like Ikea, Matter itself has gained additional functionality over time, offering support for new types of gadgets and making it easier for homes to implement Matter into their daily lives. Expect to see it keep growing in the future, as several upcoming products shown off at IFA 2024 make full use of the technology.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.