Yale's new Smart Lock with Matter is the perfect smart home upgrade for people with app fatigue
TL;DR Yale is releasing its new Smart Lock with Matter support.
The lock can be set up and operated entirely within Google Home.
Operation requires the use of a Matter hub with a Thread border router.
How many times have you considered a new addition to your smart home, but stopped yourself at the last moment? Do I really need another app in my life? Another account I'll have to create? App fatigue is a real thing, and with as many as we need to interact with on a daily basis, sometimes adding one more feels like just too much. Earlier this year, Yale introduced its Smart Lock with Matter, and unlike plenty of other smart locks, this one's Matter support means you won't need to download a separate app just to use it.
Smart home fans have been hearing about Matter for years, and while the standard has made big promises about streamlining interconnectivity, the actual Matter experience has proved a bit frustrating at times. Thankfully, that's really starting to get better, and Yale's new Smart Lock sounds like a perfect example of what doing Matter right looks like.
Even with smart home devices that you ultimately control through Google Home, initial setup often requires the manufacturer's app. But with this new solution from Yale, you really can do it all straight through Google Home, from configuration to ultimate usage.
If you want to, you always have the option to connect over Bluetooth with the official Yale Access app, but consider that more an invitation than a requirement. And because everyone's using Matter, you're not stuck with Google Home, either, and can control the lock just as well with Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, or even Apple Home.
Like you'd only expect from a modern smart lock, Yale's new entry supports features like creating guest passcodes, letting you enforce limits on how and when those can be used.
The one big asterisk here is that in order to tap into all this Matter-enabled smart home fun, you're going to need the right hardware, and beyond the Yale lock itself, that means a Matter hub with a Thread border router. The good news is that there's a fair chance you already have one: If you've got a Google TV Streamer, Nest Hub, or Nest Wi-Fi Pro router, you should be all set.
You can pick up the Yale Smart Lock beginning today. It is available in Snow or Matte Black and priced at just under $190. Later this year, a third 'Ash' option will be added.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
The only Bluetooth speaker you need for pool parties costs less than $40 — no, I'm not joking
There's nothing like cooling off by the swimming pool with your friends and a drink in hand, especially during a heatwave. I'm not a swimmer so I never really go into a pool, but I do enjoy sitting poolside with my feet in the water — simple yet effective. And because I'm usually the only one not in the water, I get to be in-charge of the music, which I'm more than happy to do because my music taste is elite. But of course, I can't take just any old speaker to a pool party. It needs to be waterproof enough that it should survive if it falls into the water. It's great that I get to test the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers then, huh? Having recently tested the Tribit StormBox Mini+, I think I've found my go-to speaker not just for parties by the water or at the beach, but for everyday use too. Retailing for just $39, this speaker boasts fantastic and powerful bass response, plus detailed vocals. It also sports reactive LED lighting that's fun to watch, and IPX7 waterproofing which means it can be used poolside or in the shower. For the money, I recommend buying two so you can take advantage of the dreamy stereo sound. I never thought a speaker that costs less than $40 could actually sound good. It's difficult to find great, detailed sound at such a low price, especially in a small, portable speaker — but the StormBox Mini+ has proved me wrong and in doing so, it has set a very high bar for future budget speakers I will test. This is the only Bluetooth speaker you need for pool parties, trust me. Let me tell you why. I don't usually enjoy RGB lighting but when I do, it needs to be tasteful and not garish — and that's exactly what the Tribit StormBox Mini+ has. Running along the length of the speaker's passive radiator is an LED lighting strip which reacts to and dances with the beat of the song playing. It works like a charm, dancing along to the bass and sub-bass in tracks like Pink Floyd's 'Money' and the harp in Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games.' It can even keep up with the high tempo in Charli XCX's Brat album, which is saying a lot. It's the perfect speaker to show off at a pool party, thanks to the dazzling light show (very bright in the dark, by the way) and its waterproofing. The StormBox Mini+ is IPX7-rated, which means it can be submerged in 1 meter (about 6 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes, and it works fine if water splashes on it too. No condensation in the shower had a negative impact on the speaker. I also washed a spoon and accidentally let the powerful stream of tap water hit it at just the right angle that the water flew right at the speaker — and it was fine! One of the Tribit StormBox Mini+'s biggest selling points is that its very cheap, retailing for just $39 / £29. That makes it one of the cheapest speakers we've tested here at Tom's Guide, and definitely the most affordable one I've personally reviewed. So why get just one when you can get two, sync them up and get stereo sound? Stereo basically uses two channels (left and right) to produce sound, creating a more immersive and realistic listening experience compared to mono sound. When two StormBox Mini+ speakers are synchronized by holding down the Bluetooth button on each speaker, they sound incredible, making you feel like you're engulfed in the audio or like you're at the movies. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Tribit sent me two speakers so I could test the stereo mode, and I'm pleased to report that it's fantastic. Audio travels between the two speakers really well too, so one moment you'll be hearing Lana Del Rey serenading you in one speaker and then her vocals will travel to the other, and then both speakers will burst with her ethereal voice. Also, some music streaming services, like Spotify, allow you to play the same music from both speakers, so my partner and I could enjoy the same tunes while I showered and she worked on her laptop in the living room. The Tribit StormBox Mini+ is a take-anywhere-able speaker, as it measures just 4.68 x 3.58 x 3.58 inches and weighs 19.2 ounces, so you can easily carry it around in your backpack without feeling weighed down. There's also a handy strap located on the top of the speaker in case you want to hook it up to a carabiner, or carry it around your finger to look super cool. Having used the speaker in the shower, while cooking, while having a nice dinner in my balcony, and while chilling by my friend's pool, it didn't take long for the StormBox Mini+ to become my go-to speaker for everyday use. In the end, no one sums it up better than my partner: "This speaker sounds like a Bose, it has to be at least $100."
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Android 16's support for external keyboards blew my mind
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority It's been years since I last tried to pair a Bluetooth or USB keyboard with my Android phone. After being a physical QWERTY proponent for years and hating on touchscreen typing, I wholly but slowly embraced pecking on a glass surface. There were a few times I wished I had a keyboard for my Android tablets, but it wasn't frequent enough to make me pay for one. That changed a few weeks ago when I started testing the Clicks Keyboard with my Pixel 9 Pro, which is running Android 16's latest QPR3 beta. I'd seen my colleague Mishaal Rahman cover Google's work on keyboard support for years, but I honestly didn't expect it to be this good. So here's my rundown of all the excellent things I enjoy about using an external keyboard with Android 16. Have you used an external keyboard with your Android phone or tablet? 0 votes Yes, all the time. NaN % I use one from time to time. NaN % I tried it a long time ago, but don't use one anymore. NaN % I never tried that. NaN % It starts from the moment I plug the keyboard in Rita El Khoury / Android Authority When I plug the Clicks Keyboard into my Pixel 9 Pro and tap a text field, a small floating button instantly appears on the display with the currently selected language. In the image above, you can see the floating 'US' in the middle left of the screen, but the screenshots below show it more clearly. Physical keyboard language pop-up ...or emoji picker That floating toolbar was added to Gboard a couple of Android versions ago, but it remains a highlight feature today. Instead of CTRL + Space'ing through languages and hoping you land on the one you want to use, you can select the exact one you want. It brings so much more than language selection, too. I don't have to choose between using Gboard or plugging an external keyboard to get all of Gboard's features. There are menus to show Gboard's most useful features, so that I don't miss out on those perks by opting to use a physical keyboard. Emojis, GIFs, clipboard history, quick translations, voice typing; they're all there with a reminder of the shortcut that triggers them. ...with clipboard ...or translate box. Better yet, I can switch that floating button to a sticky full-width bottom toolbar that provides autocorrect suggestions, the next predicted words, and a voice input key. This also makes it faster to use Gboard's excellent suggestions for pasting things I just copied, using autofill from 1Password (or any other password manager), or adding an automatically-detected 2FA code I just received via text. I'm so glad I don't have to choose between using Gboard or plugging an external keyboard to get all of these features. I get the best of both worlds. Autocorrect in the toolbar Password autofill suggestions in the toolbar Clipboard pasting suggestion in the toolbar There are more time-saving keyboard shortcuts than I can remember Using a physical keyboard with an Android phone or tablet, whether it's via Bluetooth or USB, is an exercise in frustration and steep learning curves. Android is built to be a finger-navigated interface with swipes, gestures, and on-screen buttons to tap. I didn't realize how often I need to reach out to the screen to do something that had no corresponding key on my keyboard before I started using one. But Android 14 introduced an expanded list of keyboard shortcuts with many system-level actions available via a combination of keys. Instead of changing my grip to press the power and volume button and take a screenshot, I can type Search + S. Search + N drops down the notifications, Search + H goes to the home screen, Search + Tab opens the recent apps list, and of course, I can always Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste. I thought I had to reach up to the screen to scroll through long lists, but the Space bar does it. There are over 20 system-level shortcuts, four accessibility shortcuts, and nine Gboard shortcuts, all browsable in a quick list from the toolbar or by typing Search + /. A few extra hidden shortcuts are also there, like tapping the space bar to scroll down through any app, which is especially handy when reading an article in Chrome. I love that I can open the app list from any app, no matter what I'm doing, with the Search button. I can quickly resize windows in split-screen with Search + Ctrl + Right or Left. I also appreciate that Google has allowed several of its most important apps to be accessible via shortcuts. My most-used ones are the following five, and the fact that I can open them from any app without having to pass by the home screen or app launcher is a big time-saver. Search + C = Google Calendar Search + B = Chrome Search + E = Gmail Search + M = Google Maps Search + Y = YouTube Google The entire shortcut menu is searchable, was made more tablet-friendly with Android 15, and has now become customizable with Android 16. You can only choose your custom shortcuts on tablets, but Google says that the functionality will also come to phones soon. I just wish Google would add a built-in functionality to assign shortcuts to any app we want, not just its own. I'd love to go to WhatsApp, Spotify, Slack, or Asana with my own shortcuts. I didn't know I needed all these extra options Beyond all these features, Android has gone above and beyond to make the keyboard experience more adaptable and accessible. The keyboard you're using might not have a dedicated Caps Lock key or Action/Search key, but you can assign that in the Modifier keys menu under Physical keyboard settings. Android's external keyboard settings ...with customizable modifier keys If you change the selected language, you can preview what the keyboard layout is supposed to be like, just in case it's different from your physical keyboard. No one wants to tap Q and get A, oh ye, AZERTY people… Repeat Key settings ...and accessibility settings And then there are the more obscure features, like customizing when a long-press on a key causes the letter to be repeatedly entered, and a bunch of accessibility improvements from Android 15 that shorten the time it takes to register a press or remove the silly requirement to press all shortcut keys at the same time to trigger something. On a physical keyboard as small as the Clicks Keyboard that I'm using right now, this makes sense even if you don't have motor issues — it's just easier to press Search then Ctrl instead of trying to hit both tiny adjacent keys together. Slow keys settings ... and bounce key delay ...as well as a mouse feature. Android also has an option to emulate a mouse on a physical keyboard, letting anyone move the cursor left, right, up, down, and in all directions, as well as use it to select a field. This makes more sense on a full keyboard, though; I tried using it on Clicks, but the unconventional lack of a number row made it more complicated. This has made me want a keyboard for my Pixel Tablet Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Every feature I thought I needed when using a physical keyboard on my Pixel 9 Pro is already there in Android 16. And the few that I missed or didn't work as intended were due to the slightly limited layout of the Clicks keyboard and its lack of dedicated arrows and a number row. Other physical keyboards with these would be even more of a joy to use. It baffles me that it's all progressed so much at a time when using an external keyboard with Android isn't, technically, the hottest thing. Yes, there are a few Android tablets out there that offer a keyboard attachment, but they're not the norm and Google's own Pixel Tablet doesn't have one (even if rumors suggested it so many times). All the pieces are there to build a great computing experience on top of Android. This is proof of Google's commitment to improving the entire Android experience on tablets. Handwriting and mouse support have also taken leaps ahead, and all of it has made me itch for a full-on mobile computing experience based on Android. With Google's plans to merge Android and Chrome OS, extension support coming to Chrome on Android, Android's new desktop mode, and all the work happening on the Linux Terminal, having a usable desktop experience on Android isn't a pipe dream anymore. Physical keyboard support will play a huge role in that, obviously, and I just can't wait to see whatever Google decides to launch as a successor to the Pixel Tablet when all the elements are ready. With a keyboard attachment, of course. Follow
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Alexa Got an A.I. Brain Transplant. How Smart Is It Now?
For the last few years, I've been waiting for Alexa's A.I. glow-up. I've been a loyal user of Alexa, the voice assistant that powers Amazon's home devices and smart speakers, for more than a decade. I have five Alexa-enabled speakers scattered throughout my house, and while I don't use them for anything complicated — playing music, setting timers and getting the weather forecast are basically it — they're good at what they do. But since 2023, when ChatGPT added an A.I. voice mode that could answer questions in a fluid, conversational way, it has been obvious that Alexa would need a brain transplant — a new A.I. system built around the same large language models, or L.L.M.s, that power ChatGPT and other products. L.L.M.-based systems are smarter and more versatile than older systems. They can handle more complex requests, making them an obvious pick for a next-generation voice assistant. Amazon agrees. For the last few years, the company has been working feverishly to upgrade the A.I. inside Alexa. It has been a slog. Replacing the A.I. technology inside a voice assistant isn't as easy as swapping in a new model, and the Alexa remodel was reportedly delayed by internal struggles and technical challenges along the way. L.L.M.s also aren't a perfect match for this kind of product, which not only needs to work with tons of pre-existing services and millions of Alexa-enabled devices, but also needs to reliably perform basic tasks. But finally, the new Alexa — known as Alexa+ — is here. It's a big, ambitious remodel that is trying to marry the conversational skills of generative A.I. chatbots with the daily tasks that the old Alexa did well. Alexa+, which has been available to testers through an early-access program for a few months, is now being rolled out more widely. I got it last week after I bought a compatible device (the Echo Show 8, which has an eight-inch screen) and enrolled in the upgraded version. (Prime members will get Alexa+ at no cost, while non-Prime members will have to pay $19.99 per month.) Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
