Apple HomeKit devices are popping up! So wait, what’s HomeKit again?

By Joshua Smith August 27, 2015

We’ve dreamed of smart homes that predict our needs and adapt to them for decades — just think of The Jetsons. But only recently has true, consumer-friendly home automation become reality, with platforms like Apple’s HomeKit. Apple announced HomeKit more than a year ago, and throughout 2015, manufacturers have embraced it and started selling the building blocks of a HomeKit home.

While other platforms like Zigbee and Z-Wave have a considerable head start, new HomeKit-compatible devices are being announced on a regular basis. With the increasing number of compatible devices and Apple’s loyal following, it’s only a matter of time before HomeKit claims its place in the home-automation landscape.

In this video, find out what exactly Apple’s HomeKit is, the many uses for it, and how it can control your lights, thermostat, garage door, and more, with your iPhone or iPad as its central controller.

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Smart Home

Eve Cam is a HomeKit indoor security camera that saves your recordings in iCloud

The Eve Cam on a wall.

Apple fans have reason to be excited. There is now an indoor security camera just for you. Eve Systems has released its newest product, the Eve Cam, which is the first indoor camera made exclusively for Apple HomeKit Secure Video, according to the company. When combined with HomeKit Secure Video, any activity detected by the camera is analyzed by your home hub (Apple TV or HomePod) to determine if a threat may be present. You can then view any activity from your iPhone's lock screen.

“Home security footage is highly personal -- that’s why choosing the right indoor camera is so important,” says Jerome Gackel, CEO of Eve Systems. “Eve Cam is the first camera designed exclusively for Apple HomeKit Secure Video, enabling you to keep a close eye on your home while protecting the privacy of your personal space at any time.”

Smart Home

Ikea’s smart blinds won’t work with Apple’s HomeKit until ‘early’ in 2020

ikeas smart blinds probably wont work with homekit until sometime in 2020 fyrtur block out roller blind 0746146 ph158185 s5

If you invest in smart blinds, you'd expect them to work with the home hubs they were supposed to work with. Unfortunately, if you were planning on buying Fyrtur Smart Blinds from Ikea, or you've already installed them in your home, we have some bad news if you have Apple's HomeKit. It looks like these smart blackout roller-style blinds won't be compatible with HomeKit until some time in early 2020. This information comes from a tweet made by Ikea U.K. Support on Twitter.

The Fyrtur blinds have the ability to be operated remotely and can be put on a timer to open and close automatically. They are currently available in various sizes on the Ikea website and start at $129 each. The blind will work remotely with Ikea's Smart Home App and the remote they come with, but they were supposed to be compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit right out of the box.

News

The Adobe Iota all-in-one home security system gains Apple HomeKit support

apple homekit support comes adobe iota home security systems abode image 2

Apple HomeKit often gets the short end of the stick in terms of compatibility. The system lags behind Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant in the number of devices it works with, as well as the number of features it offers. However, HomeKit has its own group of die-hard fans who would rather use it than any other system. Adobe Systems has now announced Apple HomeKit compatibility for its Iota all-in-one home security system. Adobe says users can download the update through the Apple Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The company’s more traditional Gen 1 and Gen 2 systems are scheduled to add HomeKit compatibility sometime in the near future, too.

The HomeKit compatibility allows users to arm and disarm their system, receive alerts, and check a live feed of their security camera, all through the HomeKit app. Users can also access the information by asking Siri to perform any of these tasks. Remote access is possible provided the user has a 4th-generation Apple TV, a HomePod, or an iPad running iOS 10 or later in the home -- a requirement for remote access to any HomeKit system, not just Adobe's.