What Is Apple Home Automation And How Does It Work?
Do you wonder what Apple home automation is, and how it works? Do you have lingering questions about the technology? Don’t worry as Noobie has got you covered. In this blog post, we’ll explore the complex Apple network in your home and how you can maximize it along with the other Apple products you have.
Apple Home Automation | The Basics
Home Automation Defined
Before we get into the details of Apple home automation, let’s talk a bit about the technology. For a lot of people, home automation means being able to control devices and tasks like turning the lights on and off with an app or a hub. That, however, is just partly right.
Home automation means making tasks more efficient, quick, and controllable. You can use switches, electronics, hubs, and, yes, the Internet. This technology has come a long way since the 1970s, and today most objects are now called the Internet of Things. This means they can be controlled via a WiFi network, and the devices can now communicate with one another.
Proprietary Apple Home Automation
Truth be told, Apple home automation is new – it started in 2014 – so don’t expect this to be a perfect or smooth technology. However, it is efficient, secure, and quick.
Like most of its existing products like iPhones, iPods, and iPads, this system uses a proprietary technology, which can be both a good and a bad thing. It is a positive since it makes it more secure. No device or app can run without going through the rigorous standards and tests of Apple. However, it also limits the number of devices you can integrate for automation.
What Is Apple HomeKit?
To create an Apple smart home, you have two options: Apple HomeKit and Apple Homepod.
Let’s begin with the HomeKit. This one is not hardware or a device. Rather, it’s a framework. This is significant for a reason: your Apple home won’t be using a hub.
Most of the home automation systems use hubs, which act as the intermediary between you and the devices. Just imagine it as your dashboard for controlling. Some devices can have their hub or a bridge. Philips Hue has one that can manage up to 50 LED bulbs.
Apple has proven me wrong about HomeKit – The Verge – My HomeKit house installation is pretty solid…. https://t.co/YdaQhn75zg
— eudamon (@eudamon) August 7, 2017
With the Apple HomeKit, there’s none. Instead, you can control all the Apple home automation products using an app, which you can download on your iOS device. Here’s a tutorial on how to do that. You can also use the Apple TV for control and, of course, Siri, the voice assistant.
Note that many automation devices also have their own apps. The big advantage of using a HomeKit is you can skip updating each of these apps manually, which makes the system safer. Moreover, you can integrate third-party devices together and let them communicate with one another.
Introducing The HomePod
HomePod Firmware Contains Possible References to 4K HDR Apple TV and Apple Watch With LTE https://t.co/OoD6qhyVsB by @rsgnl pic.twitter.com/Mym18uAQIr
— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) August 5, 2017
Come December 2017, Apple will release the HomePod. It is a speaker that lets you stream music from your Apple devices, but it also functions like Amazon’s Echo Dot. How? It listens to you. Above it is where you can see the Siri wave, which means you can activate it and let it perform home automation tasks with your voice. It comes with more than five microphones around its streamlined body to capture your sound.
While some may find the HomePod redundant, others will view it as a supplement to the Home app in case you don’t have access to your devices at a given time.
Apple HomeKit Products
In Apple home automation, the HomeKit is just a framework. To maximize its technology, you need to have accessories or products. When building an Apple smart home, look for those that carry the “Works with Apple HomeKit” logo.
Currently, you can integrate lights, switches, outlets, thermostats, windows, fans, air conditioners, humidifiers, air purifiers, sensors, locks, cameras, doorbells, garage doors, and bridges. Some of the products and brands you can buy are the following:
• Kwikset
• Cree
• Honeywell
• Netatmo
• Schlage
• Philips
• Haier
• Broadcom
My first Apple HomeKit device has arrived! Lock for my front door. pic.twitter.com/yMMjXY16WG
— Betts (@jaybetts) August 9, 2017
Here’s a question: What if you already own a home automation product from these brands? Can you add them directly to your Apple home automation setup? The answer is no. It needs to have the HomeKit framework. Some manufacturers have updated devices while others don’t.
What You Can Do With The Home Automation Products
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTO3vtFgeN4/?hl=en&taken-by=thehomekit
For an accessory to be compatible with your Apple home automation system, you need the HomeKit. It is not an app. So, how do you control them? You can use the Home app, which lets you do the following:
1. Group tasks per room
For example, in the bedroom, you can adjust the lights, air-conditioner, or the thermostat. In the living room, you can run your security camera or lift or roll the shades. When you press each task, you can then adjust the settings such as the temperature, brightness, etc.
2. Group tasks per scene
This is probably one of the best features of the Apple home automation system. With this, you can organize tasks per event. For example, when you wake up in the morning, you can simultaneously turn off the lights, turn on your coffee maker, or open the blinds. When you’re about to go home, you can already start turning on the A/C or the thermostat or light up the kitchen pendant.
3. Do these tasks remotely
Unlike a hub, which is in your home, the Apple home automation app is with you everywhere, so you can trigger, manage, and control them remotely.
4. Work with Siri
You can tap each of these accessories to let them work or use Siri to do the job. For example, you can say “Good night!” to turn off all the lights in your house.
Want to see Apple home automation technology in action? Take a tour of this house!
Apple home automation still has a long way to go, and its success is dependent on many factors such as how fast or eager these smart home device manufacturers and brands are in adopting or integrating the framework. The future looks bright, and that should get you excited to start investing in Apple smart home products.
What do you think of Apple home automation? Is it something you’d like to have in your home? Let us know in the comments below.
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