HomeKit

HomeKit has about 100 certified devices more than two years since inception

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 27, 2017

HomeKit, Apple's software framework for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user's home, currently works with about a hundred certified devices, Reuters said Friday.

By contrast, there are currently about 250 devices that are certified to work with Alexa, thanks to Amazon's open-systems approach and even financial incentives for some partners.

But HomeKit, which debuted alongside iOS 8 in September 2014, now has an agile competitor in Amazon's Alexa voice-controlled digital assistant which can also control smart accessories in the home with a few spoken words. The Reuters report outlines some of the requirements Apple imposes on device makers who wish to become HomeKit-certified.

The best HomeKit products announced at CES 2017

Andrew O'Hara ∙ January 9, 2017

CES has finished up and just like last year, we saw a barrage of new HomeKit items that will be soon coming to market. Last year we saw the additions of a bunch of new products like ceiling fans from Hunter, several new iDevices products, FirstAlert's HomeKit safe, a whole range of switches and sensors from Elgato (that we reviewed), and much more.

This year there are even more new products, which is very promising. Admittedly while there are lots of new entrants, not everything is as original as a ceiling fan or safe. Instead we are seeing a lot of products that are making the HomeKit ecosystem more seamless, and giving you options when you look for something like a lock, thermostat, or wall switch.

Withings products removed from Apple Stores following Nokia patent row

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 26, 2016

iOS-compatible smart bathroom scales, thermometers, fitness watches and other HomeKit-enabled smart accessories by French health tracking company Withings have been removed from both online and brick-and-mortar Apple Stores following the latest legal spat with Nokia.

Wait, what do Withings products have to do with the Nokia patent row, you ask. Well, Nokia bought Withings in April 2016 for a reported $192 million, integrating their products into its Digital Health unit led by former Withings CEO Cedric Hutchings. The removal was first reported by MacRumors.

Apple teams up with homebuilders on integrating HomeKit devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 19, 2016

Apple is reportedly teaming up with homebuilders to inch its way into the market for Internet-connected home furnishings in an effort to “bring home automation to the mainstream,” according to Greg Joswiak, who is Apple's Vice President of Product Marketing. Bloomberg quoted Joswiak as saying that “the best place to start is at the beginning, when a house is just being created.”

How to retrieve custom scenes from Philips Hue’s first generation app

Timothy Reavis ∙ October 8, 2016

Ever since Philips released version two of their Hue app with a complete redesign, one of the most prominent complaints I've heard is that custom scenes can't be transferred from the original Hue app to the new one, which has prevented many users from deleting the version one app.

Fortunately, Netherlands-based blog appletips has published a solution for users of Apple's Home app in iOS 10. It's worth noting that this method still doesn't enable importing scenes into Philips Hue's second generation app, but rather, the scenes from the old Hue app can be saved in iOS 10's Home app. While this may not be ideal for everyone, it's a solid workaround that allows users to easily retrieve custom scenes from the first generation Hue app.

Philips Hue White Ambience lightbulbs include HomeKit functionality for a lower price

Timothy Reavis ∙ September 1, 2016

I'm a huge fan of Philips Hue lights, as the smart technology behind them often proves itself to be an immense convenience. Perhaps I'm better off walking across the room to flip a light switch, but I'm perfectly fine with telling Siri to do it or swiping up Control Center in iOS 10 and tapping a light in the HomeKit pane. Dimming the lights down to a warm glow in the evenings while browsing Twitter with my phone on NightShift is one scenario that, for me, makes Philips Hue an incredible experience.

The underlying issue with smart lightbulbs in general and Philips Hue in particular that has kept many people from fully adopting them is the price. Philips' colored bulbs come in around $50 apiece, with the Starter Kit providing three bulbs and the connecting hub for $180. At first glance, those seem like fairly hefty prices for lightbulbs, of all things. However, a cheaper option is available for those who love home automation but don't need the RGB colors of Philips Hue's white and color ambiance bulbs, as the company is now selling a white ambience-only variant of their Hue line.

Say hello to a brand new iOS 10 stock app: Home

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

There's a new stock app in iOS 10 that most people will probably want to get rid of: Home. Home is the missing link in Apple's strategy for the connected home, which now supports even more categories of HomeKit-compatible devices like smart cameras and door locks. It's not just a new Home screen app: Home is built right into Control Center and it also works from the Lock screen of your iPhone.

Dedicated HomeKit app is reportedly in the works for iOS 10 launch this fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 7, 2016

In addition to an overhauled Apple Music app, the forthcoming iOS 10 software update is likely going to bring out a brand new stock app for your Home screen: HomeKit.

First spotted by MacRumors, an Amazon reviewer who works in the marketing department at Apple apparently made the claim that the next version of iOS due this fall will have a standalone HomeKit app.

A look at the brand new Philips Hue app

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

For decades it was a thing of science fiction. Books and movies have long depicted their protagonists speaking commands to inanimate objects and having orders carried out instantly. I think it's safe to say that most everyone, including myself, used to daydream of being able to control lights simply by giving a voice command from anywhere in the room, no longer having to get up and walk over to flip a light switch on or off.

Then Philips introduced their Hue lightbulbs and companion API, moving traditional light switches a step closer to obsoleteness by introducing the ability to turn lights on and off with a smartphone app, bringing us one step closer to making voice controlled lights a reality. When the second generation Hue bridge was introduced with HomeKit support, Siri gained the ability to control Hue peripherals, creating the ultimate ease-of-use scenario.

There's almost a magical property surrounding Philips Hue lights. A room can be lit or darkened by a spoken word, its walls repainted in an instant, or the atmosphere changed to anything from a tropical sunset to an Arctic aurora. There's really no limit to what one can do with a few Hue lights and some creative inspiration.

New Philips Hue smart bulbs: fall asleep more peacefully with every shade of white light

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 6, 2017

Philips today announced it's expanded its Hue smart lighting system with a brand new light bulb that focuses on the many shades of white light in order to encourage better sleep cycles, helping you wake up naturally and drift to sleep more peacefully.

The Apple HomeKit-compatible, color-tunable bulb gives you 800 lumens at the color temperature range from 2,200k to 6,500k, imitating the changing daily brightness and color temperature of natural sunlight. Philips also offers a starter kit that includes a pair of white ambiance bulbs, a bridge and a dimmer switch.

Elgato Eve Energy review: a HomeKit-enabled wireless sensor & switch

Andrew O'Hara ∙ February 23, 2016

Apple’s HomeKit has had a bit of a rocky start. The home automation platform that was meant to tie all of your smart home devices together was plagued by delays from Apple, as well as manufacturers. Devices started to hit the market in the middle of last year, and this year at CES, we saw many new options that are slowly starting to trickle out. Today, we are going to take a look at one of those devices, Eve Energy from Elgato. It is a simple solutions for those who want to start or grow their smart home, without breaking the bank.

How to control the Nest using HomeKit and Siri

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

The Nest is one of the most popular home automation devices in existence right now, but due to incompatibility with HomeKit, iOS users can't control their Nest Learning Thermostats using Siri.

Fortunately, a workaround has been found. It's called Homebridge, and it's a NodeJS server that runs on your Mac. Homebridge allows iOS devices to interface with incompatible home automation devices like the Nest using HomeKit.

This means that it is now possible to control the Nest with Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad using Siri. No jailbreak required.