Apple and Google Now Support Thread 1.4
▼ Summary
– Apple and Google are updating their smart home streaming devices to Thread 1.4, with tvOS 27 beta updates and a Google TV Streamer software update.
– Thread 1.4 allows these Thread Border Routers to implement credential sharing, enabling easier connection to existing Thread networks.
– Thread is a connectivity protocol used by the Matter interoperability standard.
Apple and Google are rolling out support for Thread 1.4, the latest version of the smart home networking protocol, across their flagship streaming devices. The update has been spotted in the tvOS 27 developer beta for compatible Apple TV models, as well as via a software update for the Google TV Streamer, as reported by Matter Alpha and 9to5Google.
This upgrade is a significant step for devices that function as Thread Border Routers, which act as bridges between Thread networks and other smart home systems. With Thread 1.4, these devices can now implement Thread credential sharing, a feature that allows them to join an existing Thread network more easily rather than spinning up a separate one. This addresses a long-standing pain point in smart home interoperability, where multiple Border Routers often created fragmented networks instead of cooperating.
Thread is a low-power, mesh networking protocol that underpins the Matter smart home standard. The original vision was for all Thread Border Routers to work together seamlessly, but early implementations sometimes fell short. The arrival of Thread 1.4 on Apple and Google hardware brings that vision closer to reality, promising a more unified and reliable smart home experience for users who mix devices from both ecosystems.
(Source: The Verge)
