The promise of interoperability for your smart home gadgets that Matter was supposed to bring has been a slow process, but it is starting to deliver, and the addition of cameras in the 1.5 release may be its biggest win yet. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) says the latest release supports all kinds of cameras, so we’re talking indoor security cameras, outdoor security cameras, video doorbells, baby monitors, and pet cameras.
This could vastly improve a seriously fractured landscape, enabling you to easily add and access your cameras on whatever platform you choose. It’s also something that can potentially be delivered in a software update, so some of the cameras you already own might get Matter support.
You may be worrying about limitations, but the supported feature list is impressive, including video and audio streaming, two-way communication, local and remote access, multiple streams, pan-tilt-zoom controls, and both detection and privacy zones. There’s also support for continuous or event-based recording, either locally or to the cloud. What it won’t handle is how that storage is managed, meaning some camera manufacturers will still require you to use their cloud-based subscription models.
Pleasingly, there are no limitations on resolution, unlike Apple HomeKit Secure Video, or restrictions on AI detection features. Matter is using WebRTC technology, with remote access handled via the STUN and TURN protocols, meaning that manufacturers can choose to implement end-to-end encryption for footage. TCP transport support is designed to allow more efficient and reliable transmission of lots of data, like video cameras produce, which should reduce the load on your Wi-Fi and the impact on camera battery life.
While this is very exciting news and the potential backwards compatibility is laudable, there’s no telling when you’ll see it in a camera in your home. The big trio: Apple, Amazon, and Google have yet to announce any plans to adopt Matter in their cameras.
Matter 1.5 isn’t just about cameras, though—it also revamps support for closures, from garage doors to smart window shades, allowing for different motion types and configurations. There’s soil sensor support, too, to measure moisture and temperature and potentially trigger Matter-based water valves and irrigation systems.
Enhanced energy management features are the final addition. Matter 1.5 enables devices to exchange data on energy pricing, tariffs, and grid operation, enabling you to potentially get a picture of the true cost of your gadgets in energy usage, cost, and carbon impact. EV charging has also been bolstered, with state-of-charge reporting and bi-directional charging that could enable vehicle-to-grid schemes in the future.
While the Matter 1.5 spec is now available, it will take developers a while to adopt it and get their devices certified by the CSA. Expect some announcements at CES 2026. —Simon Hill
Google’s Gemini Rolls Out on Android Auto
Google has been gradually replacing its long-lived Google Assistant with the souped-up Gemini AI chatbot on all its platforms for the past year. After deploying it on 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 take place over the coming months for any Android Auto users who have upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini on their phones.
The main highlight is that you can speak with Gemini naturally, whereas Google Assistant often relied on more rigid commands. With Gemini in control, you can say you’re craving BBQ and ask for recommendations along your route (you can even ask if it’s dog-friendly). Sending messages is much more of a conversational process, with the option to translate the message before it’s sent, and you can easily ask to share your ETA with a spouse without fiddling with the screen.
The implementation also includes Gemini Live, which enables a back-and-forth conversational mode that lets you dig deeper into any topic. For example, you can chat with Gemini about historical facts about a town you’re driving to, or practice a speech and have it give you tips. You can still control the assistant with the “Hey Google” command.
Omega Revamps Its Planet Ocean Watch
Courtesy of Omega
It’s 20 years since the first Planet Ocean was released, amazingly, so against the backdrop this week of the watch world descending on Dubai for its annual gathering, Omega is attempting to steal some limelight with the launch of a completely overhauled model. This 4th generation, 42-mm 2025 version is flatter (thanks to the level sapphire crystal on the front) and slimmer, and, mirroring the current fashion of timepieces right now, more angular.
The matte black dial has rhodium-plated hands and indexes with white Super-LumiNova, while the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8912 self-winding movement boasts 60 hours of power reserve. Being a Planet Ocean, you’d expect water resistance suitable for a proper diver, and here we have a model good for depths of 600 meters. The polished ceramic bezel ring comes in orange, blue, or black, but take our advice and opt for the stainless steel bracelet over the bezel-matching rubber strap. —Jeremy White
DJI’s Action 6 Action Camera Has a Variable Aperture
Courtesy of DJI
DJI has announced a new action camera, the Osmo Action 6. The Action 6 features a new, larger, square, 1/1.1-inch sensor, but perhaps more interesting is its variable aperture, which can stop down from f/2.0 to f/4.0. That means you don’t have to immediately start putting on neutral-density filters just to deal with changes in brightness; just stop down or open up to control exposure as you need to. Two stops of aperture control isn’t going to eliminate the need for ND filters, but it’s nice to have a little more latitude in exposure control. The downside is that you can’t manually control it—you can either set the aperture to fixed (f/2.8) or Auto with the ability to either set f/2.0 to 4.0, or f/2.8 to 4.0.
Other new features in this update include better lowlight performance and the ability to crop to just about any common aspect ratio without dropping below 4K (thanks to the square sensor). There’s also now a reversible magnetic mount system, which solves my only real gripe about the Action 5. As you would expect, the Action 6 integrates well into the DJI ecosystem with good support for the company’s wireless mics, as well as frame rates and codecs to match what you get from the drones.
The DJI Osmo Action 6 can be preordered in the U.S. from B&H Photo or Adorama for $379 for the standard combo, or $479 for the Adventure Combo, which includes two extra batteries, a charger, more mounts, and a selfie stick. —Scott Gilbertson
