Matthias Hochgatterer’s Home app has received a major update to version 3.0 alongside the release of iOS 11. It includes an updated UI and drag and drop support, but the biggest news with Home’s update is the way it unlocks a world of new automation possibilities thanks to iOS 11’s HomeKit updates.
Posts tagged with "HomeKit"
Home 3.0 Offers Powerful HomeKit Automation in an iOS 11-Optimized Package
Logitech Circle 2 Camera Now Supports HomeKit
Earlier this summer Logitech released a new home security camera called the Circle 2. The camera is sleek and can be adapted to work well in different areas of the home thanks to a variety of accessories like a window mount or plug mount. Today, thanks to loosened restrictions for HomeKit devices Apple introduced alongside iOS 11, the Circle 2 is receiving HomeKit support through a software update.
At the time of its release, Logitech announced that HomeKit support would be added in a future update, but there were conflicting reports on exactly how that would work. Today in the press release where Logitech confirmed that HomeKit support has now arrived, they clarify that it is only available on the wired model of the camera. According to a Logitech PR rep who spoke with 9to5Mac, the wired requirement is one imposed by Apple, so it is unlikely to change anytime soon for owners of the wireless model. Instructions for setting up the wired Circle 2 with HomeKit are available in a support document.
The wired Circle 2 camera is available now from many retailers for $179.95, and Logitech notes that Apple stores will begin selling the product in October.
HomeKitty: A Crowdsourced HomeKit Database Written in Swift
Recent days have seen an increasing number of HomeKit accessories released, making it more difficult to keep up with all the products currently on the market. Enter HomeKitty.
HomeKitty is a new site created single-handedly by developer Patrick Balestra as a hub for all things HomeKit. It was written entirely in Swift, and contains basic information about every currently available HomeKit accessory. Thanks to the site’s categorical listings, you simply select a category of device – such as lights, outlets, or thermostats – to view all available products of that type.
Alongside a product’s image, HomeKitty displays its name, price, maker, and a link to either the product’s official manufacturer site or its listing in the Apple Store – that’s it. Rather than include detailed listings and ratings/reviews for HomeKit products, HomeKitty keeps things clutter-free and serves as a sleek, easy-to-navigate database that can help point prospective shoppers in the right direction.
HomeKitty was designed to serve as a crowdsourced site, so anyone can submit a product for inclusion in its database. Once approved, the product will be displayed alongside existing entries; currently over 80 products are listed. For now, every listing is restricted to products currently available for purchase, but in the future Balestra plans to add announced-but-unreleased products as well.
Elgato Introduces Five New Eve HomeKit Devices
Adding to its collection of HomeKit-supported devices, Elgato today introduced five new devices that are coming soon, each of which serves different areas of the home.
- Eve Thermo is a second-generation connected radiator valve that brings the typical benefits of a smart thermostat to the world of radiators. It includes capacitive touch control on-device, doesn’t require a connected bridge, and starts shipping September 26.
- Eve Smoke is a smart smoke detector that can not only set off an alarm, but also trigger different HomeKit notifications and scenes. One of the benefits is that in addition to offering a ten-year battery life, you can also check the device’s state using Siri or your iPhone to ensure it’s working properly.
- Eve Lock enables control of locking and unlocking a door via HomeKit, even if you’re away from home. It can also automatically lock the door every time it shuts. It’s powered by an internal battery and uses Bluetooth.
- Eve Window Guard monitors the state of a window, so you can easily see if it’s open or closed from your iPhone. It also can sense when the window is being tampered with and will send a notification to let you know.
- Eve Aqua makes watering the lawn or plants easy by allowing you to set up and manage irrigation schedules from your phone. You can also activate and monitor irrigation on-demand.
Besides the Eve Thermo, every other new Eve device is currently without a shipping date.
It’s always good to see more devices enter the HomeKit ecosystem, especially now that Apple will soon have HomePod, a voice-powered HomeKit hub, on the market. Hopefully the combination of HomePod’s launch and the changes Apple has in store for HomeKit in iOS 11 will lead to a renewed enthusiasm for Apple’s ecosystem among smart device makers.
IKEA Smart Lighting System Adds HomeKit Support→
MacRumors reports that IKEA has updated its Trådfri smart lighting system to support Apple’s HomeKit API. The product includes a gateway that requires an Ethernet network connection, remote controls, and LED lightbulbs that can be mixed and matched in different configurations at prices that are lower than many competing systems. Each gateway can control up to 10 lightbulbs with one of IKEA’s remotes or a free app available on the App Store.
In May, IKEA promised HomeKit support would be added to Trådfri later in the year. In a response to a customer inquiry on Facebook, IKEA confirmed that HomeKit support has been added to the latest version of the Trådfri gateway firmware. HomeKit support is also now listed on the Trådfri product page along with Amazon Echo and Google Home support. Existing Trådfri owners can take advantage of HomeKit support by upgrading their gateways to the latest firmware version.
According to MacRumors, Trådfri also works with Philips’ Hue system, though that support is not currently listed on IKEA’s product page.
Update: According to MacRumors, which has updated its post, IKEA has issued a clarification on its Swedish Facebook page that the Trådfri lighting system does not yet support HomeKit, the Amazon Echo, or Google Home.
There has been information going out today about the compatibility of TRÅDFRI. We can now inform you that TRÅDFRI is not yet compatible with Apple, Amazon and Google. The plan is that everything will work as we’d like this fall. We are very sorry for the confusion!
IKEA’s Low-Cost Smart Lights Will Support HomeKit
Earlier this year IKEA announced a collection of low-cost smart lights under the Trådfri name. At the time, it was unknown whether the lineup would be compatible with existing smart home platforms, such as Apple’s HomeKit. Today MacRumors shared new details announced in a Swedish press release:
IKEA said in its press release that HomeKit support is in the works… IKEA plans to retrofit the new functions via a software update to the Trådfri Gateway and Trådfri app. In addition to HomeKit, the update will also make IKEA’s smart products controllable through Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Perhaps the most significant barrier to wider smart home adoption thus far has been cost. While IKEA’s Trådfri offerings will certainly not be able to compete with the prices of traditional lighting, their cost will be easier to swallow than that of competing products.
Additionally, news that the lights will support not only HomeKit, but Alexa and Google Home as well, set IKEA’s products up to be strong contenders in the smart home market when they launch later this year.
Philips Hue Line Expands with Ambiance Lamps, Fixtures, and New Bulbs
Philips Hue has long been one of the premier lines of smart lights on the market, and today that line is expanding with several new products. Philips announced through Business Wire a range of Ambiance offerings, including table lamps, fixtures, and bulbs.
The Ambiance lamps, named Wellner and Wellness, along with the Flushmount fixture, are available for pre-order today with mid-June ship dates. Each of the lamps is listed for $99.99, while the ceiling fixture is $199.99. At a glance, these products appear well designed, and a great fit for placement in anyone’s home. The new Ambiance bulbs will be available for pre-order in June, with July ship dates.
As with other Hue devices, each of these upcoming products feature support for an array of smart home platforms, including Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon’s Alexa, and more. So no matter which platform you may be committed to, you shouldn’t have to worry about compatibility issues here.
Logitech Adds HomeKit Support to Its POP Smart Button
Logitech announced today that it is adding HomeKit support to its POP Smart Button, which debuted last year. The second generation POP button connects to your home WiFi, supports up to three customizable gestures, and acts as a sort of macro to trigger other HomeKit devices. For example, you could put a POP button in your bedroom that when pressed in the morning would change the temperature of your HomeKit thermostat and turn on your lights. You could add another POP button to turn off the lights and lock your doors when you leave home. The POP button also works with some non-HomeKit devices like Sonos music systems and Logitech’s Harmony Hub home entertainment control device.
The adoption of HomeKit support by Logitech greatly expands the utility of POP buttons and may be a sign of the growing popularity of HomeKit devices. With the increasing number of HomeKit-enabled products, the POP button should make it even more convenient to trigger HomeKit’s scene functionality.
Logitech says that the POP Smart Button will be available soon exclusively at Apple Stores and on Apple.com and later this year from other retailers. The base POP Smart Button Kit will retail for $59.95 and includes one button and a bridge to connect it to your home WiFi. Additional Pop buttons will be available for $39.95 each.
Apple Highlights HomeKit’s Potential on New Webpage→
Today Apple’s webpage about HomeKit and the iOS Home app has been completely revamped. It includes a new 45-second video where Siri commands and scenes in the Home app are used to control lights, window shades, door locks, coffee makers, and more. The video highlights how easy and convenient it can be to control smart devices once they’re set up in Home.
Besides the featured video, the new Home-centric page includes sections covering various aspects of the Home platform, such as:
- Every type of home accessory that is available with HomeKit, with a link to the full list of devices that are either on sale now or have been announced for future release.
- An explanation of how the Home app organizes devices by different rooms.
- Short videos showcasing several different scenes that can be set up, like ‘Good Morning’ or ‘I’m Home.’ Each of these features parts of the featured video mentioned above, but with different music.
- Examples of voice commands that can be used with Siri to control HomeKit devices.
- A description of the Apple TV’s role as a home hub.
- Automation’s presence in the Home app as a tool for enabling certain actions automatically.
This past year has seen the first major smart home push from Apple since HomeKit’s announcement nearly three years ago, at WWDC 2014. It comes at a time when Amazon’s Alexa is quickly expanding its reach beyond the Echo and into devices of all kinds. It will be interesting to see if any announcements are made at this year’s WWDC to further bolster HomeKit against increased competition.