GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) released Matter 1.5.1 today, building upon the camera and video doorbell support added as part of the Matter 1.5 update last November. Although 1.5.1 is a minor update, it brings several improvements that will benefit both end users and companies making these types of devices.
The most notable update is more efficient camera streaming that will help reduce bandwidth demands when multiple people or systems are accessing the same feed. With Matter 1.5.1, cameras can simultaneously deliver multiple video streams with quality settings tailored to what it’s being used for. A video recorder would get a high-resolution stream for archival purposes, while a lower resolution stream optimized for mobile devices would be provided to phones and tablets.
Other improvements include added support for HEIC images that offer better quality and smaller file sizes than JPEGs, as well as the HLS and DASH streaming formats for “greater compatibility with the streaming technologies widely used by modern cloud and media platforms.” Matter 1.5.1 will also introduce improved positioning and movement for pan-tilt-zoom cameras, while doorbell devices will be able to play more than the default chime when the button is pressed – including fun seasonal alternatives – and trigger automations when the chime starts playing.