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HomeKit Weekly

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework. 

HomeKit Weekly: eufyCam 2C is the most affordable (and easiest) way to use HomeKit Secure Video outdoors

eufycam 2c

I’ve been a big proponent of HomeKit cameras built into flood lights as they eliminate the need to get an additional wire or rely on batteries. Sometimes, you want to put a camera somewhere that isn’t easy to wire. HomeKit battery cameras have come a long way in terms of reliability, though. I recently picked up the eufyCam 2C 2 Cam Kit to augment a few areas outside my home that I wanted coverage of but didn’t want to fool with running wires.

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HomeKit Weekly: Logitech Circle View continues to be one of the best outdoor HomeKit cameras

Logitech Circle View

I recently took a fresh look at Eve’s indoor HomeKit camera, and it inspired me to get my trusty Logitech Circle View camera and see how it continues to stack up against the competition. Circle View offers a straightforward, motion-triggered home security camera solution, avoiding constant video recording. It boasts a robust, weather-resistant design with an IP64 rating.

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HomeKit Weekly: It’s time for Apple to address the shortcomings of HomeKit Secure Video

Eve Cam

HomeKit Secure Video was launched by Apple in 2019. It was introduced as part of the iOS 13 update, enhancing HomeKit with secure video capabilities designed for better privacy and security in home surveillance. Although a few updates have been seen since then, not much has changed. It’s time for Apple to double down on its commitment to secure smart home camera storage to work with cameras the Eve Outdoor Cam and Logitech Circle View.

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HomeKit Weekly: TP-Link Tapo 2K proves to be a top-tier indoor HomeKit camera

TP-Link Tapo 2K

It’s been a while since I’ve found a fantastic new indoor HomeKit camera, but the TP-Link Tapo 2K is proving to be an excellent option. With support for local recording over an SD card, HomeKit Secure Video, and TP-Link’s cloud service, there are plenty of options to choose this camera for indoor recording needs. One thing I especially want to call out: it supports Wi-Fi 6!

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HomeKit Weekly: Onvis Smart Motion Sensor automates your house based on motion with temperature tracking

Onvis Smart Motion Sensor

Onvis is up there as one of the most reliable HomeKit vendors around. They make quality products and are typically among the first to use new technology like Thread. I recently picked up the new Onvis Smart Motion Sensor to automate some of our living room lights while tracking the temperature.

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HomeKit Weekly: SwitchBot curtains gain Matter support and now work with HomeKit

SwitchBot Curtain Opener

SwitchBot is a unique smart home vendor that has made various pretty amazing products over the years. The SwitchBot Button pusher is a prime example of a relatively uncommon item with no alternative from another vendor. What powers the SwitchBot experience is the SwitchBot Hub 2. With Matter support, it comes to HomeKit, and you can now use the Switch Curtain Opener with HomeKit.

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HomeKit Weekly: CozyLife smart plugs bridge the gap with ‘dumb devices’

CozyLife homeKit

HomeKit smart plugs are generally the first step new users take on their smart home journey. Nearly everyone has a lamp, coffee maker, or other home appliance they want to “HomeKitify” (yes, I just created a new word), and a smart plug is the easiest, fastest, and least expensive way to do that. I’ve had the CozyLife HomeKit plug in my box of items to test for a while now, but frankly, it’s so small, that it was hidden under another box.

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HomeKit Weekly: Homey Pro now works with Matter-over-Thread devices, including Eve, Nanoleaf, and more

Homey Pro

Last week, I ran through the Homey Pro, and I think it’s a fantastic device and ecosystem. Suppose you’ve gotten into where you want HomeKit to do more than it can functionally. In that case, I think it’s a great ecosystem to invest in as you can continue using all of your HomeKit devices, but now you can start to build an ecosystem outside of it. Today, Homey is announcing that the Homey Pro can now download a free software update that enables its built-in Thread radio. Through the update, Matter-over-Thread devices can be directly connected to Homey Pro without needing a secondary Thread Border Router.

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HomeKit Weekly: Yeelight Cube Clock Kit lets you build your own retro display with Matter support

Yeelight Cube Clock

I have become a massive fan of all things retro in recent years. I love the Tidbyt clock. I am ready for Apple to bring the iPod back. Old stuff is back. I’ve recently been testing a really fun Tidbyt alternative with HomeKit support. It doesn’t have nearly the same amount of third-party app options, but it’s still a great desk accessory. I am looking at the Yeelight Cube Clock Kit this week.

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HomeKit Weekly: THIRDREALITY Smart Color Night Light is the perfect HomeKit accessory for a child’s room

THIRDREALITY smart night light

The ideal HomeKit accessories are ones that run themselves. Turning off and on lights from an app is a nice feature, but it’s a similar level of effort to using a light switch. The real magic is when you can “set it and forget it.” The THIRDREALITY Smart Color Night Light is the perfect example of this reality when you need a night light for a kid’s room or to light up a hallway/stairwell at night. Once installed, you can turn on an automation and never think about it again.

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HomeKit Weekly: Leviton delivers a Matter-enabled outdoor smart plug in preparation for Christmas decorations

Leviton Outdoor Smart Plug

As summer turns to fall, I am already starting to see retail stores slowly bring out some Christmas items, and there’s one thing that you need to have ready to go ahead of time – an outdoor smart plug. For outdoor Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, etc. – smart plugs that can handle moisture and cold weather are a must-have. Recently, Leviton delivered a new Matter-enabled smart plug that works perfectly with HomeKit.

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HomeKit Weekly: Govee outdoor lights are the perfect way to prepare for holiday decorations

Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro

As families prepare for the Christmas season, outdoor lighting is certainly top of mind for my family, as I am sure it is for many of you. Outdoor lighting is a great way to light up the neighborhood and provide ambiance lightning. For outdoor lighting, it’s a prime way to eliminate the hassle of plugging things up at night and turning them off during the day. Govee recently released the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro, and it’s ideal for Christmas lighting as well as permanent porch installations.

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HomeKit Weekly: Aqara E1 camera delivers HomeKit Secure Video in a compact package

Aqara E1

HomeKit Secure Video is either a great solution or a terrible solution, depending on who you ask and depending on the day. No, it’s not perfect, but I do trust it. It’s the only camera recording solution I’d ever allow inside my home. I’ve recently been testing Aqara’s new E1 camera, which includes HomeKit Secure Video support.

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HomeKit Weekly: The benefits of HomeKit when traveling for an extended period

Back in September, my wife and I spent a few weeks traveling through Scotland and London. It was an amazing time, and I highly recommend both places. Since our home was empty for long periods outside of family visiting to check on the house (I am always paranoid about a random leak, etc.), no one was in the home. With HomeKit, I was able to create automations to simulate the appearance that we were home through lights, shades, and more.

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HomeKit Weekly: The Humelle humidifier brings Thread support and plenty of customization options

humelle humidifier

Last year, we moved into a house we’d built from the ground up. One of the things that was different from my previous house was the type of heat. Instead of a heat pump, we moved over to natural gas. It’s my second time having gas heat, and there’s one thing I had forgotten – how dry it was. Now, gas heat is certainly much warmer; especially when it gets really cold, I just prefer gas heat. Well, I do, but my nose doesn’t. The more it runs, the dryer my nose gets. The Humelle humidifier from Airversa is now my go-to solution for a HomeKit-enabled humidifier for bedrooms.

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HomeKit Weekly: Smart bulbs vs. smart outlet adaptors – which is best for HomeKit?

smart bulbs

Smart lighting is one of the foundational aspects of a smart home. In fact, I would argue it’s likely the most common aspect of almost every smart home. There’s something magical about having lighting turn on and off via your voice, on a schedule, or based on motion. Outside of smart shades, it’s what you’ll see in movies in the richest of mansions as well. Thanks to low-cost items, anyone can have the luxury of smart lightning. The question I often get is which is best for lamps and other types of lightning outside of overheard lights – smart bulbs vs smart outlet adaptors?

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HomeKit Weekly: Onvis Smart Button remote makes HomeKit products easy to use for guests and children

Onvis Smart button

Back in the summer, my family went out of town for a few days. We had a dog sitter come by a few times a day to take our dogs on walks as well as take them to the bathroom. One challenge I had was showing her how to use our smart home. For our Level Lock+, I found it easier just to give her a key because there is no easy way to share a Home Key with someone outside of your iCloud family account. While I can share access to our lights, I find it much easier to use a product like the Onvis Smart Button instead.

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HomeKit Weekly: New Onvis Smart Plug checks all the boxes with Matter and Thread

Onvis Smart Plug

There are two things I want to see in every new smart home product: Matter and Thread. Matter lets me know that I’ll have access to the product regardless of which platform I use in the future. Thread lets me know that it’s going to work extremely well in my home in terms of responsiveness. The new Onvis Smart Plug checks all those boxes, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite smart plugs.

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HomeKit Weekly: HOLOMARQ smart door knob brings the HomeKit experience to interior doors

HOLOMARQ Smart Door Knob

2023 has seen some exciting announcements and releases around HomeKit door locks. With Home Key, Level Lock+, and the Aqara doorbell, it’s been an exciting year. These door locks have been focused around exterior doors, though. The HOLOMARQ Smart Door Knob is a new interior door option for HomeKit that provides some unique use cases.

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HomeKit Weekly: AiDot OREiN emerges as a Matter-focused light bulb vendor for a vendor-neutral smart home

OREiN bulbs

I know some of you aren’t bullish on Matter. Is it perfect? No. Does it need more features to truly become the vendor-neutral smart home specification? Yes. I believe in it, though. I believe in it because every manufacturer wins with Matter. When customers know that your products can work across every platform, like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, they’re more likely to buy your products. I recently picked up the OREiN light bulbs from AiDot to put its Matter certification through the paces to see how easy it is.

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