I’ll cut to the chase: Aqara’s G5 Pro is the best HomeKit-compatible camera I’ve ever used. The device’s capabilities go far beyond its HomeKit integration, and I’ll touch on those below. However, given how hard it can be to find high-quality hardware like the G5 Pro that works with HomeKit Secure Video, that’s been my primary focus while testing this camera.
Posts tagged with "HomeKit"
Rugged, Reliable, and HomeKit-Ready: A Review of Aqara’s G5 Pro Outdoor Camera Hub
A Firmware Update that Promises to Turn Smart Lights into Motion Sensors→
Jennifer Pattison Touhy has a story on The Verge today about a technology debuting soon that turns existing smart lights into motion sensors:
Sensify is a proprietary technology based on wireless network sensing (WNS) that works with Zigbee-based smart devices, like Hue smart lights. According to Pattison Touhy:
WNS works by detecting disturbances in radio frequencies and can also be applied to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread technologies. McKinney says Sensify requires three or more devices positioned around a detection area to detect motion and occupancy in the space. The tech also allows for precise detection zones based on where the devices are situated. “The devices send messages to each other, look at underlying network diagnostic information, and process it to provide occupancy sensing decisions,” says McKinney.
The story goes on to explain the performance of the technology:
Performance-wise, McKinney says Sensify is “equivalent or superior” to passive infrared sensing (PIR) tech, which is traditionally used for motion sensing. It also doesn’t need line of sight, as PIR does. However, it’s not as precise as technologies like mmWave sensing, which can determine if someone is in a room through as slight a movement as breathing. “The lights will still likely turn off if you’re still, even if you’re in the space,” he says.
That’s great to hear and something I hope is enabled by manufacturers without charging an additional fee or subscription. I know that may be wishful thinking, but even if there is a fee, it may be worth it to not litter your home with less accurate motion sensors everywhere and could give Hue and other Zigbee-based device makers an advantage over other companies.
HomePass 2 Brings a New Design, Maintenance Features, and a Freemium Model
Back in 2020, John opened his review of HomePass 1.7 in this way:
My HomeKit setup started out simple enough with a few Hue bulbs, but over time, it has grown to include security cameras, door sensors, electrical outlets, and more. As the number of accessories connected to my network grew, so did the hassle of managing them.
I know this is the case for many people, myself included. There seems to be an ever-growing selection of third-party apps for HomeKit, and developer Aaron Pearce has released some of the best. Where other apps add more functionality and, thus, complexity, Pearce has focused on simplicity and pure utility. The best example of that approach has always been HomePass.
Federico’s Updated Setup Is Designed for Modular Simplicity→
Federico has been on quite a journey with his gear setup over the past few months. If you’ve been following along on NPC: Next Portable Console, MacStories Unwind, and AppStories, you know that he’s been assembling a modular system that lets him switch effortlessly from work to play. He’s working on a story that pulls the threads of his experience together for readers, but in the meantime, Federico has updated our dedicated Setups page with what’s changed.
If you start with Federico’s latest entry in our Setups changelog, you’ll notice right away that the updates he’s made to his setup are all about simplifying his tech life. But, while many things have been taken away, several have been strategically added too. Let’s take a look.
The additions to Federico’ desk include:
- 13” M4 iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular with nano-texture glass)
- Gigabyte M27U monitor for his iPad Pro and gaming
Like me, Federico has also been experimenting with video and has added the Elgato FaceCam Pro and Elgato Key Light with Mini Mount to his setup.
As for gaming, Federico is still using the Lenovo Legion Go, but he upgraded to a new Steam Deck OLED with an etched glass display and added a bunch of Legion Go accessories, along with a custom-built eGPU:
- Custom-built eGPU with NVIDIA 4090 Founders Edition (more details on NPC)
- ROG Loki SFX-L 1000W PSU
- ADT-Link UT3G USB4 board
- 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 Dummy Plug and USB-C to HDMI Adapter Cable for Moonlight streaming
- King Kable 10m USB4 fiber optic cable
- Legion Go Accessories
- Comfort grips
- Controller Connector
- Mechanism Universal 7-in-1 mounting system
On the home automation front, Federico has added Aqara E1 cameras and an Aqara Camera Hub G3 to his setup along with a variety of Philips Hue lights, a smart plug, and more.
For the complete list of gear in Federico’s setup, along with mine, be sure to check out our dedicated Setups page.
Audio and Home: The MacStories Overview
During the WWDC keynote earlier today, Apple devoted an entire section to home and audio updates coming this fall. These updates include features for tvOS, AirPods, and the Home app. We’ll have a full tvOS overview later, but first, let’s dive into what’s coming for AirPods and Home.
AirPods
Siri Interactions offer a new, hands-free way of responding to Siri announcements for AirPods Pro users. With a simple nod or shake of the head, users can answer phone calls, dismiss messages, and more. This new interaction method is helpful in scenarios where speaking aloud or pulling out your phone isn’t an option.
Voice Isolation, a feature previously available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is coming to AirPods Pro themselves. When you’re on a call, the H2 chip will use machine learning to automatically filter out background noise and wind to make it easy for the person on the other end to hear what you’re saying.
Apple is also improving the experience of gaming with AirPods. Personalized Spatial Audio is expanding to games, using head tracking and the device’s understanding of your ear shape to deliver an immersive audio experience. AirPods Pro will offer lower audio latency when gaming on iPhone in Game Mode and higher voice quality for audio chats with 16-bit, 48kHz audio. Finally, an API for immersive gaming audio will be available to developers.
Home
Guest access is coming to the Home app, enabling residents to grant guests the ability to control locks, garage doors, and security systems for a limited amount of time instead of giving them full home access. Users can also view guests’ Activity History to see what home devices were accessed and when.
Smart locks that support home keys can be unlocked hands-free when a resident is within six feet of the door. The Home app is adding support for robot vacuum cleaners. And Apple is partnering with utility providers, starting with Pacific Gas & Electric Company in California, to allow users to connect their utility accounts to the Home app, track electricity usage, and make more informed decisions about their energy use.
SharePlay is coming to Apple Music on the HomePod and HomePod mini. Users can control playback and add songs to the music queue by bringing their iPhone close to the iPhone connected to the HomePod or by scanning a QR code on the other iPhone’s screen, and even users who aren’t subscribed to Apple Music can take part in SharePlay sessions. Spatial Audio is also coming to AirPlay, allowing immersive audio to be beamed from an iPhone to a HomePod or other compatible AirPlay speaker.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
Controller for HomeKit’s Interactive Floor Plan Is the Best Way to Control Your Home Yet
Controller for HomeKit is an alternative way of controlling and setting up your HomeKit accessories, scenes, and automations from your iPhone. While the app has been around for some time, this month it received a major upgrade with a new feature that turns the app into a fun and powerful control center for your home.
Now, in Controller for HomeKit, you can leverage the iPhone’s LiDAR sensor to scan your entire home and create a 3D floor plan, on top of which you can overlay your lights, scenes, and other HomeKit accessories. The result is a fun, customizable, and interactive UI that works so well and is so intuitive that it almost feels like it belongs in Apple’s own Home app for the iPhone.
Let’s check it out.
Tadoº Announces New Range of Smart Heating Products Supporting Matter Over Thread
Tadoº, the European-based smart heating company, has announced a new line of products called tadoº X. These products feature upgrades from the company’s previous V3+ range, support the new Matter smart home standard, and are built on the Thread protocol for a more reliable connection.
Tadoº also announced a new product, the Heat Pump Optimizer X. This device controls heat pumps, an increasingly popular way to heat homes that is more efficient and not dependent on fossil fuels. Tadoº says the new tadoº X range “has been designed to make Smart Thermostats and the new Heat Pump Optimizer X more accessible for millions more households across Europe to cut both their energy bills and impact on the climate.”
The tadoº X line includes the following products:
- Smart Thermostat X
- Smart Radiator Thermostat X
- Wireless Temperature Sensor X
- Heat Pump Optimizer X
- Bridge X (which serves as a Thread border router)
Amongst the notable upgrades, the Smart Radiator Thermostat X now features a USB-C rechargeable battery that can be detached without removing the whole device from the radiator. The Heat Pump Optimizer X can be used with tadoº’s smart energy tariffs to shift operation times to periods of the day when energy prices are cheaper. Finally, the tadoº Bridge X that serves as a Thread border router, allowing your devices to connect to each other and the Internet, is not necessary if you already have a HomePod mini or the Wi-Fi + Ethernet version of the latest-generation Apple TV 4K, as these also serve as Thread border routers.
As before, the tadoº range is compatible with the Apple Home app, but most features – such as advanced scheduling and checking battery levels – are only available in the tadoº app. The devices also integrate with an optional subscription called ‘Auto-Assist’ that gives access to additional features including Energy IQ, Care & Protect, Geofencing, and Open Window Detection. This service costs €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, but each tadoº X product comes with 12 months free.
I have personally used tadoº products for over three years now (and covered them recently in our home accessories roundup), and I’ve seen genuine savings in my usage. (tadoº claims an average of 22% savings based on internal usage data.) One flaw I’ve sometimes encountered is dropped connections, as the previous V3+ range could only connect to a single bridge that had to also connect via ethernet to my router. The move to Thread should hopefully alleviate these issues.
I will have to wait for the new tadoº range, however, as it is not launching in the UK yet. In response to an inquiry about this, tadoº told me the company has a September target release date in the UK and other European countries. They also confirmed an additional product, the Wireless Smart Thermostat X, which connects to traditional gas boilers like the one I have, will be released at that time. This will enable efficient usage through the ability to remotely turn the boiler off if no radiator thermostats are on.
Another detail provided to me is that the Auto-Assist feature, which was previously complimentary to Apple users, was a limited offer through Apple. As such, after the 12-month trial, the service will now cost the standard €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, even if you are an Apple Home user.
The new tadoº X range is now available in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark.
Outdoor HomeKit Gadgets: The MacStories Team Collection
A couple of weeks ago, the MacStories team shared our favorite indoor HomeKit devices. The HomeKit accessory universe is more limited outdoors, but with spring easing into summer in the Northern Hemisphere, we thought we’d share the devices that we use outside, too.
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HomeKit Gadgets: The MacStories Team Collection
John: Everyone on the MacStories team is deep into HomeKit devices. For me, smart home gadgets tick all the boxes:
- Hardware
- Software
- Automation
It’s really as simple as that.
However, as fun as HomeKit devices can be, they can also be frustrating. The best accessories fit comfortably into your household, making life a little easier but falling back gracefully to a simple solution for anyone in your home who isn’t interested in automation. It sounds easy, but it’s a tough balancing act that few companies get right.
We’ve all tried our share of HomeKit and other smart home devices. Some have worked out, and others have fallen by the wayside as failed experiments. Today, we thought we’d pool our collective experience and share with you the MacStories team’s favorite smart home gadgets.
We have a lot of ground to cover, so this story will focus on indoor gadgets. Soon, we’ll shift our focus to the great outdoors.
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