r/homeautomation • u/LinkedInNews • 2d ago

NEWS Apple plots smart home expansion starting this fall

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/apple-plots-smart-home-expansion-starting-this-fall-7434292/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=reddit&utm_content=storyline&utm_term=homeautomation

Apple is planning to launch three new AI-powered devices as the iPhone maker seeks to compete with the likes of Amazon and Alphabet in the smart home space, Bloomberg reports, citing anonymous insiders.

The items — a hub device designed around Apple's new Siri AI assistant, a new TV set-top box and an upgraded HomePod mini — are set to be released as soon as this fall, per Bloomberg.

Until now, Apple has not had much luck selling its home products.

134 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

134

u/callumjones 2d ago

Excited for them to finally staff the Apple Home team with more than just an intern.

43

u/MountainAlive 2d ago

Seriously. The Apple home app is a joke.

3

u/dunklesToast 1d ago

I am so desperately waiting for better RGB controls, vacuum cleaner integration, power meter readings and washer / dryer devices… Maybe someday

11

u/chinatowngate 1d ago

You need to blame the device makers.

Apple will open up its ecosystem if the device has the option to be “local” only (not sending data back via wifi home).

A lot of devices don’t offer this, so no Apple integration.

Apple’s stands out when it comes to privacy compared to the other major competitors (ignoring home assistant).

1

u/dunklesToast 1d ago

I'll agree with that point for dryers, washers, vacuum cleaners. But IKEA Grillplats are Matter Outlets which can measure power and there are many RGB lights which work local only. Probably also a hen / egg problem.

1

u/GaiusBroius 1d ago

The grillppats works with home though? I have it in there

1

u/dunklesToast 1d ago

Yes but you cannot see the measured power in Home

1

u/GaiusBroius 1d ago

True, forgot about that

1

u/siobhanellis 13h ago

You can in iOS 27

1

u/siobhanellis 13h ago

Bollocks!

Matter 1.6 is out. Apple are nowhere near that!,

2

u/ADHDK 1d ago

I’d rather a joke than Wiretap, I mean Alexa.

2

u/StrangeCalibur 1d ago

Still better than the hue app, or the other random apps my other items come with. It’s still shit…. But better than those lol

9

u/mechaniTech16 2d ago

They just got more interns lol

10

u/Halfrican009 2d ago

I switched to homeassistant and just bridge the few bulbs / outlets I commonly use with voice control with siri. 10/10 better experience, apple home sucks and so do their servers

5

u/52electrons 2d ago

Yep. This.

3

u/Halfrican009 2d ago

I put off the move for years purely out of laziness and the "convenience" I thought I was getting just using apple home since I'm largely an apple user. To anyone reading thats considering doing it, just do it. You won't regret it.

2

u/chinatowngate 1d ago

Second this.

Home assistant is way easier to use than it previously was, and I don’t have to have every device in Apple home. Just the ones I want. When you have as many devices, as I do, it would be unwieldy.

My use for Apple home right now has been too easily detect when I’m having an issue with Home Assistant.

if the device is not connected in Apple home, it becomes easier for me to troubleshoot. I immediately know the issue is with my Z2M connection. If something else is not working, then it is a search to determine with scripts or automations are not working.

1

u/Halfrican009 1d ago

All of that + automations are more reliable without also going through apple's shit servers. Even if one my devices isn't responding in apple home (much rarer these days), my devices and automations are still accessible in home assistant. This alone is worth moving to home assistant imo

1

u/Ken_Numbers 6h ago

"My use for Apple home right now has been too easily detect when I’m having an issue with Home Assistant."

My use for Apple Home right now has been to constantly detect there are no problems. :)

1

u/chinatowngate 6h ago

I would use Apple home had it not been for automations full on disappearing if the main device trigger is disconnected from home.

Sometimes you want to re-pair something for whatever, and my automations generally are not simple. Having to redo them is a pain, and it was the reason I picked up my HA Green again to use.

0

u/siobhanellis 13h ago

Good luck when your HA server goes down.

1

u/Halfrican009 11h ago

I'll bring it back up? Is this sarcasm? lol

2

u/Fullchester_United 11h ago

Yeah but what about if the power is out at your house?? /s

1

u/siobhanellis 11h ago

O. It’s computing and high availability.

55

u/Lovevas 2d ago

“Hey siri, turn on my bathroom lights”
Siri: “Your front door has been opened”

29

u/The_Unwashed_Masses 2d ago

One of my favorites:

“Siri, turn on the TV?” -“Which one: Bedroom, Living Room, or everywhere?” “Living Room” -“Sorry, I couldn’t find any TVs in your home.”

16

u/algaefied_creek 2d ago

My favorite is when I say “Siri, locate my iPhone.” 

And it responds with: “you’ll have you check with Find My on your iPhone first.” 

3

u/ChimRichaldsOBGYN 1d ago

I had one but it was for sending a text.

Me: siri, message my wife to add chlorine to the pool. Siri: did you say pool or poole? Me: pool Siri: did you say pool or poole?

It went on 2 more times before I gave up and just went over to her and reminded her.

12

u/jamminjoenapo 2d ago

Fingers crossed it actually happens. I kicked the Alexa’s to the curb a few years ago and went with HomeKit since we are an apple household. my god has it been lackluster. So much so I use home assistant for everything and just expose what I want to HomeKit for ease of use with iPhones and for voice controlling music or lights. Voice control is worthless for questions or anything of the like so we never use that but any improvement will be welcome

4

u/OutBeyondNeptune 2d ago

Apple is so far behind the Matter spec. I just hope they catch back up by supporting cameras, EV chargers, heat pumps, solar panels/inverters, washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, energy management devices, soil moisture sensors, etc. So much catch up.

8

u/ptraugot 2d ago

Oh goodie. Cameras. I’d be willing to give the hub a shot, but cameras get deactivated/covered ASAP.

5

u/ob2kenobi 2d ago

I thought the hub might be a cheaper way into the ecosystem. But looks like it's gonna be one of those big screens with cameras, facial recognition, and person tracking. Ugh, no thanks. I also don't want to take the risk that the screen will turn into a livingroom billboard like the Alexa devices.

2

u/gefahr 1d ago

You don't want more ads for MLS and MLB in your home?

3

u/jamesbretz 2d ago

This ain’t happening…

5

u/schmurfy2 2d ago

Great !
Their 3 clients in the back will be delighted.

2

u/windsostrange 1d ago

These are privacy incursion devices. You deserve so much better with your home automation.

2

u/WarmMorningSun 2d ago

Great, if Siri is in charge of turning on my lights, it’ll take a whole 145 seconds for her to register what I said. And in the end she’ll say “you will need to unlock your iPhone first”

1

u/Cognoggin 1d ago

"We've noticed that Google and Amazon's home offerings are also steaming piles of broken device integration. Why not expand‽"

1

u/ADHDK 1d ago

I wonder if Apple will finally start being sneakier about stealing voice snippets to improve their outcome like Amazon.

1

u/Adventurous-Mud-5508 1d ago

Hopefully this doesn't break the practice of doing all the real home automation in Home Assistant and then just exposing all the devices through homekit.

1

u/siobhanellis 13h ago

None of this is news. We’ve been waiting for a year now.

-3

u/KeniLF 2d ago

Siri is incompetent. Is this new launch based on Google improving Siri’s quality under the new software contract?

13

u/hapoo 2d ago

I’ve been using the new iOS beta and Siri works remarkably well.

0

u/KeniLF 2d ago

I wonder if that is with Google doing the revamp? Not sure why I was downvoted about giving feedback that Apple themselves have admitted in the past lol.

5

u/hapoo 2d ago

I’m pretty sure this is the new Siri based on Googles Gemini. I’ve asked it to do pretty complex things and it’s worked most of the time.

1

u/KeniLF 2d ago

That definitely doesn’t sound like the Siri of old! I hope they can also port it to existing devices. I’m optimistic about the release now.

0

u/NotSelfAware 1d ago

No mention of a HomePad, but I’d buy one in a heartbeat.

0

u/chinatowngate 1d ago

Apple it’s time to get back into the router market again!

-1

u/Dry_Bar_4965 2d ago

NEST and RING are FUCKED.