AppleInsider Staff
Apple introduced a dedicated "Home" iOS app at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, finally introducing a manual control interface for HomeKit accessories to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Announced by Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, Home collects control functions for devices like lights, door locks and other connected devices into a standalone app interface. Previously, users were forced to access HomeKit-enabled hardware via Siri commands.
Like other automated home apps, Home can trigger devices individually or as group macros called Scenes. Available in the app's main view, a Scene like "I'm home" might open the garage door, unlock the front door and turn on house lights, for example. Another "Featured Scene" titled "Good night" might be customized to lock all house doors, lower window shades and dim or turn off lights.
Aside from macro Scene control, users have easy access to individual devices from the "Favorite Accessories" menu. Users can access devices by room or create and choose from automation schedules. Included in Home's automated services offering is rough proximity awareness via Apple TV, which detects when a user connects to a shared network.
The streaming device pulls double duty as a secure smart home hub, interfacing with and feeding commands to HomeKit devices.
Home sports Lock Screen integration for viewing alerts and device status without having to unlock an iPhone and open the app. Users with appropriate hardware, such as a front door camera doorbell, can interact directly with hardware through the Lock Screen.
Along with iPhone and iPad, owners of Apple Watch also have access to Home via watchOS 3.
Christine McKee
Stephen Silver
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
20 Comments
I knew that would eventually happen. It was just too kludgy having to create scenes in third party apps. Now Home kit seems like a proper platform.
Yes!!! The delicious cherry on top of an excellent keynote sundae. I can't wait to start loading up my new place with home kit devices and finally step into the future!
this looks awesome. it will help the HK hardware providers focus on the gear and APIs for their functionality, and leave the software to Apple.
Is d-link going to enable its products to work with home kit?
Yes and 99.9999999999% of the world will never use Home Kit, but for the few lofts and wealthy of the future this will make them feel like Total Recall.