Lighting is one area that has become the foundation of smart homes for many people. The reason is simple because it is quick to start and everyone needs a light in the house.
Smart lighting is something that pretty much exists All smart homes and the range of products is huge. In principle, there is something for everyone here, but it is not always that all lighting products speak the same ‘language’. This means that it is not always possible to run all products together, which is a frequently asked question in many forums. The reason is usually because the products use different communication protocols, which could be Zigbee but also, for example, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
When the new standard was introduced There were many companies involved, even if it took some time before the products arrived. Matter should be that the same product should work regardless of the platform used in one’s smart home. Canadian company Nanoleaf was the first company to come out with Matter-compatible products right out of the box, without the need to download any firmware update. We’ve been testing a couple of their products for a while now and have mixed feelings…
These are Nanoleaf’s Matter supported products
The Nanoleaf Essentials Light Series has been dispatched Matter Smart Lightstrip Starter Kit and Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Smart Bulb A60 E27 for testing. They both support Matter over Thread, which means that Thread is the communication protocol, and it’s one of the protocols that Matter supports in particular. What is worth noting here is that these products can also be used carelessly, so they only work with Apple Home. If you work across Matter, it can also be used across other platforms that support the new standard; Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.
Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Smart Lightstrip Starter Kit It is an RGB light ring 2 meters long and in the package, in addition to the ring itself, there is an associated control, power cable with EU plug and documentation. Here we also see the unique Matter code that is used during installation, like products installed via HomeKit. While HomeKit uses 8 digits, Matter uses 11 digits.
The light ring can be dimmed from 1-100 percent and has brightness Up to 2,000 lumens and a color temperature of 6,500K has a lifespan of 25,000 hours, which should suffice for a while. It can also be trimmed if needed.
The supplied control can be used to operate Turn off the light ring and dim it up or down. It is also possible to browse between different scenes if you have the control that is easily accessible.
The back of the control has a unique code Matter has a print not a sticker on it, which has been seen many times when it comes to Apple Home products. Two pieces of double-sided tape ensure that it can be attached to most flat surfaces.
Nanoleaf Essentials Matter A60 E27 Smart Bulb It’s like an older version of their light source which also supports threading. Same angular form factor at the top, which in itself looks a little nicer than the usual spherical elements, but then it has to be used without a lampshade and is visual to take advantage of that.
The material symbol is also printed on the side of the light source So there is no risk of it straying, which could be a problem. Base is the thicker alternative, so check E27 well before buying. This shines with 806 lumens and can also be dimmed between 1-100 percent. The color temperature can be selected between 2700-6500K.
By the way, this model is called a rhombic And try to pronounce this without tripping over the letters…
Nanoleaf Matter product installation
To be able to install these light sources And getting the most out of it requires some kind of thread boundary router which could be the Apple HomePod mini or Nest Hub 2nd Gen to name a few examples. In the first stage I chose to start the installation via the Nanoleaf app as the products are quickly discovered. What will become more common is the matter of the material code, which is eleven digits long – filled in one way or another depending on how you choose to install the products.
The code is scanned via the app and the device is paired with your system. Name the device in a clever way so that it can be distinguished, which is good if several devices are installed at the same time.
If you choose to add it to an ecosystem Then this option is available in the app. Since most of my smart home is based on the Apple Home, this was an obvious choice. The product is selected in the Apple Home app and the next process is the same as installing something directly in HomeKit.
In the Nanoleaf app, it is then shown that the device Connected via Matter to Apple Home. It also appears that Thread is the communication protocol, which means that Matter over Thread applies. Otherwise, most things are the same in the Nanoleaf app in terms of setting light source options.
The one thing Nanoleaf is really good at Various colorful scenes add color to the home. Just to experiment and see which ones are approved by the rest of the family before it’s time to set the mood for the evening. When the product is connected in the Nanoleaf app, it is also possible to connect directly from this to Matter if the conditions are right – that is, there is some kind of thread boundary router in the house.
In Apple Home, most things are the same in terms of settings and product information. From within the Apple Home app, the device can then be put into pairing mode, which means it will be ready to be added to another ecosystem, say Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Samsung SmartThings to name a few. Then this happens via matter!
In association mode, the setup code is generated and used In the app for the specific platform you wish to add the product to. If you then go to the Google Home app, the installation takes place in almost the same way as other products in it.
But this is not always a children’s game I had to try several times before it worked as intended. After searching for the device, it must be configured and then select the option “Material compatible device”.
After further examination, the product is bonded to your Google account, which then requests access to your network.
Copy the generated code into your Apple Home Keep waiting while the installation is in progress. What I’ve found a few times is that there was a problem scanning the code on the Google home page for some reason.
Finally the product has been found and added in your system and additional dialog boxes appear on the screen. It takes a while if I say so…
Finally, the Nanoleaf Matter Lightstrip is here Google Home app over Apple Home and can be controlled.
What I noticed immediately was that if it lit up Lighting in one color in Google Home, the correct color is not displayed in Apple Home where I can turn the lights off. So, there seem to be some small bugs in the multi-admin solutions.
I tested during installation with install Both cross iPhone 13 Pro and Xiaomi 12T Pro without much difference. It also reset several times but every time I tried to scan a code via Google Home it failed.
Nanoleaf material use and substance in everyday life
Where to install light source No. 50-11 In a smart home where there are already a large number of smart lighting? After taking an inventory of the various surfaces in the house, I decided to attach them in the laundry room under the cabinets and sink so that they shine down, which usually gives a nice effect. The length was a good bit, but I had to twist it in a spot where the high cabinetry is shallower than the rest of the interior, which works well despite the strong angle of the light ring.
This is what it looks like in the evening when the string of lights are on And surely blue light is a must in a smart home? Well, no matter what, I love when you play around a bit with the lighting and dare to take turns a little bit. It becomes an indirect light that does not irritate or otherwise irritate the eyes.
However, it is necessary to be a little flexible when crawling Around the floor to tie the light string as much as possible. However, the downside is that you see crap on the floor that you usually miss, but it kills two birds with one stone if you say so…
The smaller E27 light source ended up in the office where I was next Previously, the older version that glows red when the postman leaves mail in the mailbox (this is via HomeKit and the Philips Hue motion sensor). In the corner of the desk where are several different tools, I thought it would light up a bit. However, I like the form factor because it has an angular design. But what I don’t appreciate is all the text printed on the bottom of the light source. I understand this has to be somewhere but unfortunately it detracts somewhat when it sits in a base that exposes the bottom.
I think the color reproduction in the light sources from Nanoleaf Good, especially on colors that often look threadbare when choosing a cheaper light source. The blue turns blue and above all the red becomes a bright red rather than a bright orange which I appreciated.
The issue – is it the solution to all our problems? No, not as it is now, I think. I’m still running into issues with the multi-admin control solution, where, for example, you have to be able to turn the lights on in the Apple Home and then off in the Google Home, which eventually works even if the color settings aren’t the same. Unfortunately, I feel like the light source says “no response” or something like that. Then the solution was a hard restart of the product where the power goes out and after a short wait it plugs back in.
Another problem I’m running into as well is that Thread Creates separate networks at home. The idea with Thread is that multiple products should be able to use it to create a more stable network as the products mix with each other. If you search the Eve Home app, for example, a variety of Thread’s home products are listed there. The disadvantage of these is that they are not part of the same network but are located parallel to each other. Essentially, this means that Apple’s thread-enabled gadgets have a network, while compatible Google gadgets create their own.
This is apparently something from the manufacturers You’re trying to solve it for now but while you’re waiting it’s going to be – well, just a little flat state where the network won’t be as stable as you’d like it to be. This is not something Nanoleaf should be blamed for, but it is the manufacturers who should finally come to an agreement – otherwise it will be the same as before…
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