HomeKit

Regular readers will know that my enthusiasm for smart home technology dates back to the days of clunky X10 devices. Though there were standalone systems available, it was obvious even then that it made sense to adopt a common standard, and in the 1980s, X10 was that standard.

Fast-forward to a few years ago and what we gained in app support, we lost in standardization. Most manufacturers did their own thing, using their own protocols. There were one or two exceptions, like the Philips Hue system that was really just a rebadged form of Zigbee, but most devices didn’t talk to each other. You ended up with a whole slew of separate apps on your iPhone to control everything.

Apple’s HomeKit platform was designed to unify everything, but that came with its own dilemma for early adopters …

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Logitech today has officially announced the release of its new Circle 2 home security camera. The latest version is an upgrade from the original Logi Circle camera, introducing more flexible hardware options for customers. Users of the Circle 2 will be able to install the camera indoors or outdoors, and add additional accessories as they see fit.

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During the third day of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the company shared the latest updates coming to its HomeKit home automation platform. Among the updates, Apple is introducing new product type categories, a much easier setup process for accessories, improved latency, software authentication to allow older accessories to add support, and more.

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One of my complaints about HomeKit devices is that too many of them look like what father-of-the-iPod Tony Fadell once described as ‘ugly white plastic crap.’ My Philips Hue switches and motion sensors, for example, work well, but they are undoubtedly both white and plastic – and while I wouldn’t go so far as to call them ugly, they are certainly not beautiful.

This is an issue Elgato’s latest HomeKit offering aims to address. The Eve Degree is a standalone room thermometer capable of measuring both temperature and humidity, reporting it back to your iPhone.

With an anodized aluminum surround and black front, it aims to look rather more Apple-like than your average HomeKit accessory …

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Elgato is expanding its lineup of HomeKit sensors with its new, Bluetooth-connected Eve Degree temperature and humidity monitor. Eve Degree is a miniature, wall-mountable sensor with a built-in display for showing the current room temperature right on the device.

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When you spend your life writing about technology, and have a lot of techy friends, you can fairly easily find yourself living inside a hi-tech bubble. Things like smart home technology can start to feel relatively mainstream, especially when companies like Ikea are getting in on the action.

Prices have started to fall, with several commenters on a recent piece noting that even the market leading Philips Hue system has bulbs from $15, often discounted below that level.

We’re starting to see new homes being sold with HomeKit technology included as standard, companies are making the technology easier to adopt with complete table lamps – and installers are setting up shop ready to do the hard work for you if it all seems a bit much for DIY.

But planning to move home has shown me just how far it all is from mainstream as far as the world at large is concerned …

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After a change of heart, Belkin has now officially announced that it will bring HomeKit support to its ecosystem of Wemo smart home accessories later this year with the unveiling of a new HomeKit Wemo Bridge.

The bridge will enable all Wemo devices currently on the market to interact with an Apple user’s HomeKit setup. This will allow voice control of Wemo lights, plugs and switches via Siri as well as manual control through the iOS 10 Apple Home app.

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Notaa is launching this week in Australia and marketing itself as the first HomeKit installer in the country, specializing in installation and set up of products that use Apple’s Siri and iPhone-controlled home automation platform.

We’ve seen a few homebuilders offering HomeKit products preinstalled or through upgrade packages, but this is the first company we’ve seen specifically specializing in HomeKit installations.

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The ability to use Siri and a single app to control your smart home technology makes HomeKit compatibility almost a must these days, but so far that has not come cheap – as both Zac and myself discovered. Smart bulbs from the market leader Philips mostly cost $30 per bulb for white and $50 for color, a price that soon adds up if you’re looking to fit out your entire home (though there is a $15 option).

But all that is set to change in the summer as Ikea has announced that its smart lighting system will be HomeKit-compatible as of the summer. Ikea’s smart bulbs start at just $11.99 …

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Emerson has officially announced HomeKit support for its Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat lineup, which includes a budget-friendly option and a fancier version with a color shifting touch screen. Apple’s HomeKit feature allows you to control heating and cooling settings with Siri, automation, and Apple’s Home app.

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Back in March 2016, users of Belkin’s popular line of Wemo connected accessories were disappointed to learn that the company was canceling its previously announced plans to support Apple’s HomeKit platform. The company has now changed its tune, however, and today told me it’s committed to bringing HomeKit to Wemo and will have “more details soon.”

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Philips has announced new additions to its Hue White Ambiance lineup of HomeKit compatible lighting including new fixtures and table lamps. Pre-orders for the new table lamps start at $99.99 today with products shipping next month.

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We reported last week that developer and homebuilder Brookfield Residential announced that it will begin including HomeKit accessories in new homes it’s building as a standard feature, starting in Southern California.

Now we’ve taken a tour of Brookfield’s Apple-based connected home at Delano at Eastwood Village in Irvine and were able to meet up with Brookfield’s COO, Adrian Foley. Keep reading after the break for a look inside and to learn more about this forward-thinking homebuilder.

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Apple’s interest in cars dates back to at least 2008, when Steve Jobs and ‘father of the iPod’ Tony Fadell discussed the idea. Project Titan appeared to be the company gearing up to finally create an Apple Car, but things seem to have changed since the first reports.

Apple has acknowledged it is exploring the area, but of course declined to say anything specific about its plans. Tim Cook joked about dodging the question back in the spring of 2015, hinted a year later that the company was at an early stage in its deliberations, stating that ‘it’s going to be Christmas Eve for a while.’

The company’s enthusiasm appeared to wane later in the year when it ramped down recruitment before reportedly halting development of a car altogether. But that doesn’t mean Apple has lost interest in cars, and there have been some pointers to the company approaching it from a different angle …

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New houses being built with HomeKit-enabled appliances are becoming more accessible to consumers thanks to homebuilders incorporating Apple’s home automation technology, and HomeKit isn’t just a convenience or neat demo. NBC News shares the incredible story of how Todd Stabelfeldt who is a “complete quadriplegic with no movement below his shoulders” has been empowered by HomeKit.

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As regular readers may recall, I’m a long-time user of home automation technology who made the decision to go all-in on HomeKit in the new year. I only waited that long because it takes a bit of time to get UK-compatible versions of quite a lot of devices.

I’ve been documenting the process in my Smart Home Diary series. For me, as a gadget lover, it’s been a no-brainer.

But even for a techie, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. There have been some irritations, and there is definite scope for improvement. Having had time to reflect on the transition and the experience, I’m concluding that while HomeKit is great fun for techies, it’s not quite ready for the mass-market …

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GE announced today that its C by GE light bulbs will soon support Apple’s HomeKit platform alongside an update that will also bring Amazon Alexa integration sometime this summer.

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There have been a few homebuilders that have announced and started offering HomeKit upgrade packages for new home buyers, but this is the first time a builder has announced it will make Apple’s Siri-controlled home automation accessory platform standard in its new developments.

Brookfield Residential announced today that it will begin installing a handful of HomeKit accessories in new homes it’s building starting with a few neighborhoods in California.

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The Ecobee4 smart thermostat is officially available for pre-order for $249 starting today. The new Wi-Fi thermostat model works with Apple’s HomeKit feature for Siri control from Apple devices and now features built-in Alexa integration for standalone voice control. Ecobee has also unveiled its first-ever smart light switch for new features.

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As HomeKit continues to expand in popularity, a pair of new smart locks have been introduced that both embrace the platform. Friday Labs has introduced the new Friday Lock, while Danalock has unveiled a new V3 smart lock.

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Ecobee appears to be planning to show off its new Ecobee4 smart thermostat next week. The company teased out the date today on a new sign-up page that says ‘something big is in the works’ under what is likely a preview of the new smart thermostat hardware.

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