Tag: Home Assistant

  • Home Assistant Now Matter Certified for Smart Home Automation

    Home Assistant Now Matter Certified for Smart Home Automation

    Key Takeaways

    1. Home Assistant is now officially certified for Matter by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).
    2. Two certifications were achieved: one for the Home Assistant user interface and one for the Open Home Foundation Matter Server.
    3. The Open Home Foundation Matter Server is the first open-source project to receive CSA certification.
    4. Existing users of Home Assistant will see no immediate changes due to the Matter certification.
    5. The certification aims to build trust with new users and encourage more brands to join the Works With Home Assistant program.

    Home Assistant is now officially certified for Matter. This open-source software for smart home automation has long been compatible with Matter as well as other protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave. Recently, it received certification from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which oversees the Matter standard.

    Two Certifications Achieved

    Home Assistant has actually achieved two different certifications. The software itself is recognized as a certified user interface component, while the Open Home Foundation Matter Server is acknowledged as a certified software component. The latter is the very first open-source project to receive CSA certification. The company mentioned that having these two distinct certifications means there’s no need for recertification whenever Home Assistant is updated. Therefore, the Open Home Foundation Matter Server will continue to function as an add-on, instead of being directly incorporated into the Home Assistant Core.

    No Immediate Changes for Users

    Currently, this Matter certification does not affect existing users of Home Assistant. The company has promised to keep updating the Matter Server and its integration in the same way as before. What Home Assistant aims to achieve with this certification is to build trust with potential new users and to motivate more brands to participate in the Works With Home Assistant program. This program already features several Matter devices, including the Aqara Smart Lock U200, priced at $229.49 on Amazon.

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    Home Assistant Now Matter Certified for Smart Home Automation

     

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  • Apollo Automation Devices Now Compatible with Home Assistant

    Apollo Automation Devices Now Compatible with Home Assistant

    Key Takeaways

    1. Three Apollo Automation devices have received certification to work with Home Assistant, indicating they meet integration standards.
    2. The Apollo Automation MTR-1 Multisensor detects motion, UV, LUX, and optionally monitors CO2 levels, priced at $36.99.
    3. The MSR-2 Multisensor offers similar features as the MTR-1 but includes humidity measurement and is priced at $34.99.
    4. The AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor detects dust, pollen, and air particles, with an optional CO2 sensor, retailing at $92.99.
    5. These are the first devices based on ESPHome to achieve Home Assistant certification, with potential for more Apollo Automation devices in the future.

    Home Assistant has shared exciting news: three devices from Apollo Automation are now certified to work with its open-source smart home automation platform. This certification indicates that these products have fulfilled specific integration standards and have undergone testing by the partner organization, Nabu Casa.

    Apollo Automation MTR-1 Multisensor

    The Apollo Automation MTR-1 Multi-Target Radar Multisensor For Home Assistant (LD2450) has received the Works with Home Assistant certification. This mmWave sensor is capable of detecting motion or presence, as well as measuring UV and LUX levels. Additionally, there’s an option to monitor CO2 levels. It comes with an RGB LED and a piezo buzzer, and is priced at $36.99.

    MSR-2 Multisensor Details

    Another certified device is the MSR-2 mmWave Multisensor For Home Assistant (LD2410B). It’s very much alike the MTR-1, but it includes a few enhancements, such as humidity measurement. It’s also priced a bit lower at $34.99, making it a nice alternative for those looking for essential features.

    AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor

    The third device that has gained Home Assistant certification is the AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor. This sensor can identify dust, pollen, and various other air particles in your home, and it also includes an optional CO2 sensor. It can be utilized to activate an HVAC fan or to open a smart window. The retail price for this product is $92.99.

    Home Assistant points out that these are the inaugural devices based on ESPHome to achieve this certification. There’s anticipation that additional Apollo Automation devices will soon be included in the Works with Home Assistant program, although it remains uncertain when this will occur.

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  • Home Assistant Voice Chapter 9 Introduces Speech-to-Phrase Tool

    Home Assistant Voice Chapter 9 Introduces Speech-to-Phrase Tool

    Key Takeaways

    1. Increased Accessibility: Voice chapter 9 aims to make a fully local voice assistant more accessible, now recommending Speech-to-Phrase for better performance.

    2. Faster Speech Recognition: Speech-to-Phrase can transcribe speech in under a second on Raspberry Pi 4 and as quickly as 150 ms on Raspberry Pi 5.

    3. Limited Voice Commands: The initial version of Speech-to-Phrase supports a limited set of commands, including controlling smart lights, media players, setting timers, and checking the weather.

    4. New Features: Voice chapter 9 introduces broadcasts for sharing messages across devices and voice commands for adjusting smart thermostats.

    5. Analog Phone Integration: Users can make calls to analog phones and leave voicemails, enhancing functionality with notifications like washing machine cycle completions.

    Home Assistant has unveiled Voice chapter 9. This new version comes after the introduction of the Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition hardware back in December. Additionally, it follows the broader release of Home Assistant 2025.2 from early February.

    Enhanced Voice Assistant Accessibility

    Voice chapter 9 aims to make a fully local voice assistant more available to a wider audience. In the past, the company advised users to utilize the Whisper Speech-to-Text tool. This tool, when utilized on a Raspberry Pi 4, took about five seconds to transcribe speech, yielding mixed outcomes. Due to this, the company suggested using at least an Intel N100. Now, Home Assistant points users toward Speech-to-Phrase, which will be available in English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Italian at launch.

    Improved Performance on Raspberry Pi

    Speech-to-Phrase can turn speech into text in under a second on a Raspberry Pi 4 or Home Assistant Green (currently $120 at Amazon). For those using a Raspberry Pi 5, speeds can be as quick as 150 ms. However, it’s important to note that Speech-to-Phrase has its limitations, supporting a reduced number of voice commands right out of the box. These commands include controlling smart lights and media players, as well as setting timers and checking the weather.

    New Features in Voice Chapter 9

    According to the release notes for 2025.2, Voice chapter 9 introduces support for broadcasts, allowing users to share messages across all connected devices, and the capacity to adjust a smart thermostat’s temperature using voice commands. Additionally, users can now make calls to their analog phones and leave voicemails, such as notifications that the washing machine has completed its cycle. For more detailed information, you can check the full release notes for Voice chapter 9 on the Home Assistant blog.

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  • Four Home Assistant 2025.2 Patch Releases Now Available

    Four Home Assistant 2025.2 Patch Releases Now Available

    Key Takeaways

    1. Home Assistant has released four patch updates since version 2025.2 launched earlier this month.
    2. The latest patch, 2025.2.4, fixes a frontend issue and addresses a problem with the Tuya Smart Thermostat Radiator Valve.
    3. The backup system now includes resumable uploads for Google Drive and individual metadata files for OneDrive.
    4. New features include the “EMERGENCY_HEAT” state for the EcoNet Smart Thermostat and bug fixes for LG webOS TV and Govee products.
    5. Home Assistant plans to continue releasing updates weekly, exceeding initial expectations.

    Home Assistant has rolled out four patch updates since the introduction of version 2025.2 earlier this month. This update enhances the backup system that was refreshed in January, including better integrations with Google Drive and OneDrive.

    Latest Patch Release Details

    The most recent patch, 2025.2.4, was released on February 14th, featuring a small update for the frontend and addressing a problem related to the Tuya Smart Thermostat Radiator Valve (TRV). The prior patch, 2025.2.3, introduced a new state called “EMERGENCY_HEAT” for the EcoNet Smart Thermostat. Earlier updates have also ensured that the current temperature isn’t used for the External Temperature in the Shelly BLU TRV. Furthermore, they have fixed issues that could lead to crashes if a Telegram message fails to generate an ID.

    Backup System Enhancements

    In connection with the broader improvements to the backup system, users can now take advantage of resumable uploads for Google Drive and utilize individual metadata files for OneDrive. Additionally, there are a few fixes for bugs affecting LG webOS TV and updates related to Govee and Google Nest smart home gadgets.

    Update Frequency

    Up to now, the number of patch updates for Home Assistant 2025.2 has exceeded expectations; the company plans to release one per week. You can find the complete release notes for each of these updates on the Home Assistant blog.

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