Ikea is preparing to market the Dirigera, its new gateway to control all connected objects in the home. At the start of 2023, it will be compatible with the new Matter standard, the standard that is supposed to revolutionize home automation.
Connected objects are taking up more and more space in homes, and not just among technology enthusiasts. Blinds, speakers, light bulbs, thermostats, coffee makers and other appliances offer the promise of making life easier. However, in reality, home automation can be quite a headache. Already, all the objects do not “speak” the same language and they are most often piloted through different applications. In addition, home automation gateways are not all very accessible and sometimes have a rather laborious handling. This is why the Matter standard should greatly simplify things. Announced in early October, this is a standard that allows all certified devices to communicate with any platform, which should make it easier to buy, install and use them within a connected ecosystem. (see our practical sheet). The major players in home automation are therefore making efforts to make their devices compatible. And Ikea is no exception!
In 2017, the Swedish giant launched into the incredible world of home automation with its Trådfri range – which means “wireless” in Swedish –, in particular with many connected lights. Little by little, it enriched its offer until it became a key player in the market. At the end of May 2022, Ikea announced a new version of its IKEA Home Smart application and the release of a home automation hub integrating Matter, named Dirigera, which should simplify the integration of the brand’s connected objects and replace the Tådfri hub. These new products will arrive by the end of the year, since the gateway is now available on the Swedish site of Ikea and that the journalists of The Verge were even able to test them.
Will lead Ikea: a new home automation gateway and a revised application
Dirigera – which means “driver” or “manager” in Swedish – is a home automation gateway integrated into a small round, flat and white box – other colors may come later – it couldn’t be more sober. Go-anywhere and compact, it has a USB-C port to connect it via a cable of almost two meters. It can connect via an Ethernet port and the Thread protocol, but Ikea promises that it will also support Wi-Fi in early 2023, thus becoming compatible with the Matter standard. We can then connect it with competing devices – Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc. – and no longer exclusively with Ikea products, which will greatly simplify the life of consumers, for the purchase of connected objects, their installation and their use within an ecosystem – in particular to create complex scenarios, such as switching on the lamp when the sun goes down, put on soft music to wake up in the morning, etc.
The release of this new connected hub comes with a complete overhaul of the Ikea Home Smart app – and that’s for the better. Now, as The Verge shows, it organizes devices by the rooms they’re in via a kind of simple but effective dashboard. Each room is represented by a colored square, inside which there are interactive icons that allow the user to quickly control smart devices. Simply press the square to access more precise control of the connected objects therein. The battery level of each of them is indicated. Ikea here seems to be targeting an audience new to home automation who is looking for a simple interface and guided use. Note, however, that Ikea does not offer a migration tool to transfer existing devices and scenarios from the Trådfri gateway to the new Dirigera hub. Ikea also promises a function to remotely access its devices by 2023.
For the moment, the Dirigera is not available on the French site of Ikea, but it can be found on the Swedish version. However, even if the hub is presented, it is not yet possible to order it or collect it in store. But it’s only a matter of time, since the site indicates that it will be available by November – without Matter compatibility. It will be sold for 60 euros, double Trådfri: the price of progress and universal compatibility!