HomeKit

Last updated
HomeKit
Other namesHome
Developer(s) Apple Inc.
Operating system iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS
Type Home automation

HomeKit, also known as Apple Home, [1] is a software framework and communication protocol developed by Apple Inc. that lets users configure, communicate with and control smart-home appliances using Apple devices. [2] It provides users with a way to automatically discover such devices and configure them. [2] By designing rooms, items and actions in HomeKit, users can enable automations in the home through a voice command to Siri or through the Home app. [3] With HomeKit, developers are able to create complex applications in order to manage accessories at a high level. [2]

Contents

Overview

HomeKit was first introduced on iPhones and iPads on September 17, 2014, with iOS 8. The framework allowed third-party apps to interface with HomeKit devices using Siri and allow remote access through home hubs. [4]

HomeKit was created to make tasks inside the home easier and provide users with methods and tools to change and adapt certain home capabilities to their specific desires. [2] HomeKit manages connected home appliances through the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP). Messages from HomeKit are continuously sent to powered devices, which incorporate fields which recognize the specific accessory and what category it is under. Each category has a code that is used to identify what the device is. It also identifies with the Global State Number (GSN). This number is increased each time that the state of the accessory is altered. Like most Apple devices, Apple Continuity Protocols are used. Continuity protocols consist of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. They can be conducted through device-to-device connection. [5]

HomeKit uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols. [6] On HomePods and some Apple TVs, Thread is also used to connect and communicate with devices. [7] Manufacturers of HomeKit-enabled devices are required to enroll in the MFi Program. [8] Apple also used to provide documentation for creating non-commercial HomeKit accessories to any member of the Apple Developer Programme. [9] Initially, all HomeKit-based products were required to include an encryption co-processor. [10] The latter requirement was later changed in iOS 11, which added support for software-based authentication. [11] Equipment manufactured without HomeKit support can be enabled for use through a "gateway" product, such as a bridge that connects those devices to the HomeKit service. [12]

HomeKit primarily competes with smart home standards from Amazon and Google. As of October 2019, Apple lists 450 devices compatible with HomeKit, compared to 10,000 for Google and 85,000 for Amazon. [13]

Home app

The Home app, which unifies all devices into one app, was introduced on iPhones and iPads on September 13, 2016, with iOS 10, and on Apple Watches with watchOS 3. [14] The app also added support for automations using a home hub, and preprogrammed "scenes", which can set multiple devices using a single command. [15] With iOS 16, Home received a major redesign which aimed to make the app easier to navigate, and the architecture of the program was rebuilt from the ground up to be more efficient for users with multiple HomeKit enabled devices. [16] HomeKit toggles can also be added to the Control Center, allowing control over connected devices without having to use Siri or open the Home app.

The Home app was introduced on Macs with macOS 10.14 Mojave, which was released on September 24, 2018.

Apple TV & HomePod

Fourth-generation and newer Apple TVs can control HomeKit devices using Siri voice commands. tvOS 14, which was released on September 16, 2020, added direct control of HomeKit devices in Control Center and camera feeds and picture-in-picture monitoring for HomeKit-enabled security cameras. [17] Neither the HomePod nor Apple TV can unlock or open secure appliances like locks. [18]

The HomePod supported HomeKit at launch in February 2018, as did the HomePod Mini in 2020. They lack a graphical user interface to control HomeKit devices and instead uses Siri voice commands.

Home hubs

As of iOS 16, Apple TVs (4th generation or newer) and HomePods are fully supported as home hubs to control HomeKit appliances remotely, grant guest access, and set up automations. [19] Support for Thread is included in the HomePod Mini, second generation HomePod and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later). [20] [lower-alpha 1] Automations based on temperature and humidity are supported by the HomePod Mini and second generation HomePod. [21]

iPads supporting iOS 10 or later can be used as a home hub but were deprecated with iPadOS 16; iPads do not support Matter and new architectures that were extended to Apple TV and HomePod, but retain all functionality introduced before iPadOS 16. [22] [23] The third-generation Apple TV only supports remote access and supported automations before iOS 10. [24]

Device categories

HomeKit currently supports the following device categories (an extended list): [25] [5] [26]

Garage doors, locks, security systems, and windows are categorized as secure appliances, and require a device with authentication such as an iPhone or iPad to unlock.

Matter support

On December 18, 2019, Apple announced that it will be working closely with Samsung, Amazon, and Google to create an open standard for smart home automation called Matter. [27] Matter aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors, and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from different providers. [28] The project was delayed to fall 2022 due to "unprecedented interest" by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). [29] Version 1.0 of Matter was published on the October 4, 2022. [30] Matter has been supported by Apple devices since iOS 16.1 and its forks. [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple TV</span> Home media streaming device made by Apple

Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is a small piece of networking hardware that sends received media data such as video and audio to a TV or external display. Its media services include streaming media, TV Everywhere-based services, local media sources, and sports journalism and broadcasts.

iOS Mobile operating system by Apple

iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its smartphones. It was unveiled in January 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, launched in June 2007.

iTunes Remote iOS app to control iTunes/Apple TV media over WiFi

iTunes Remote is a software application developed by Apple Inc. for iOS devices that allows for remote control of Apple TV or iTunes library in an area with Wi-Fi connectivity using the proprietary Digital Audio Control Protocol (DACP). It is currently available as a free download from the App Store for iOS devices such as iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple Watch.

iPad Line of tablet computers by Apple

The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc., first introduced on January 27, 2010. The iPad range consists of the original iPad lineup and the flagship products iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siri</span> Software-based personal assistant from Apple Inc.

Siri is the digital assistant that is part of Apple Inc.'s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, audioOS, and visionOS operating systems. It uses voice queries, gesture based control, focus-tracking and a natural-language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services. With continued use, it adapts to users' individual language usages, searches, and preferences, returning individualized results.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AirPlay</span> Proprietary wireless streaming protocol developed by Apple Inc.

AirPlay is a proprietary wireless communication protocol stack/suite developed by Apple Inc. that allows streaming between devices of audio, video, device screens, and photos, together with related metadata. Originally implemented only in Apple's software and devices, it was called AirTunes and used for audio only. Apple has since licensed the AirPlay protocol stack as a third-party software component technology to manufacturers that build products compatible with Apple's devices.

The following outline of Apple Inc. is a topical guide to the products, history, retail stores, corporate acquisitions, and personnel under the purview of the American multinational corporation Apple Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MFi Program</span> Licensing program for peripherals for iPod, iPad and iPhone

Apple Inc.'s MFi Program, referring to "Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad", is a licensing program for developers of hardware and software peripherals that work with Apple's iPod, iPad and iPhone. The name is a shortened version of the long-form Made for iPod, the original program that ultimately became MFi.

iPad Mini (1st generation) Tablet computer made by Apple (2012–2015)

The iPad Mini is the first generation, known retrospectively as the iPad Mini 1, of the mini tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012, as the fourth major product in the iPad line and the first of the iPad Mini line. It features a reduced screen size of 7.9 inches (20 cm), compared to the 9.7-inch (25 cm) display on standard iPads at that time. Its internal specifications resemble that of the iPad 2, including its display resolution.

tvOS Operating system for the Apple TV

tvOS is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the Apple TV, a digital media player. In the first-generation Apple TV, Apple TV Software was based on Mac OS X. Starting with the second generation, the software is based on the iOS operating system and has many similar frameworks, technologies, and concepts.

iOS 10 2016 mobile operating system

iOS 10 is the tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13, 2016, and was released on September 13, that year. It was succeeded by iOS 11 on September 19, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philips Hue</span> Smart lightbulb brand

Philips Hue is a line of color-changing LED lamps and white bulbs which can be controlled wirelessly. The Philips Hue line of bulbs was the first smart bulb of its kind on the market. The lamps are currently created and manufactured by Signify N.V., formerly the Philips Lighting division of Royal Philips N.V.

iOS 12 2018 mobile operating system

iOS 12 is the twelfth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. Aesthetically similar to its predecessor, iOS 11, it focuses more on performance than on new features, quality improvements and security updates. Announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 4, 2018, iOS 12 was released to the public on September 17, 2018. It was succeeded for the iPhone and iPod Touch by iOS 13 on September 19, 2019, and for the iPad by iPadOS 13 on September 24, 2019. Security updates for iOS 12 continued for four years after the releases of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 for devices unable to run the newer versions. The last update, 12.5.7, was released on January 23, 2023.

iOS 13 2019 mobile operating system

iOS 13 is the thirteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone, iPod Touch and HomePod. The successor to iOS 12, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 3, 2019, and released on September 19, 2019. It was succeeded by iOS 14, released on September 16, 2020.

iPadOS is a mobile operating system for tablet computers developed by Apple Inc. It was first released as a modification of iOS starting with version 13.1 on September 24, 2019. Before the release of iPadOS, iPads were released with iPhone OS, which was later renamed to iOS. New iPadOS versions are released every year mostly in sync with iOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

Matter is an open-source connectivity standard for smart home and IoT devices. It aims to improve interoperability and compatibility between different manufacturer and security, and always allowing local control as an option.

iOS 14 2020 mobile operating system

iOS 14 is the fourteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod touch lines. Announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020 as the successor to iOS 13, it was released to the public on September 16, 2020. It was succeeded by iOS 15 on September 20, 2021.

iOS 15 2021 mobile operating system

iOS 15 is the fifteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for its iPhone and iPod Touch lines of products. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, 2021, as the successor to iOS 14 and released to the public on September 20, 2021.

iOS 16 2022 mobile operating system

iOS 16 is the sixteenth major release of Apple's iOS mobile operating system for the iPhone. It is the successor of iOS 15, and was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022, alongside iPadOS 16, and released on September 12, 2022. It was succeeded by iOS 17 on September 18, 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Apple Home". Apple Developer. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Fogli, D.; Peroni, M.; Stefini, C. "Smart Home Control through Unwitting Trigger-Action Programming". 22nd International Conference on Distributed Multimedia Systems: 194–201.
  3. ↑ Ritchie, Rene (August 27, 2014). "HomeKit in iOS 8: Explained". iMore . Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  4. ↑ Rossignol, Joe. "Getting Started With HomeKit: A Beginner's Guide". www.macrumors.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  5. 1 2 Guillaume, Celosia; Mathieu, Cunche (2020). "Discontinued Privacy: Personal Data Leaks in Apple Bluetooth-Low-Energy Continuity Protocols". Proceedings in Privacy Enhancing Technologies. 1: 26–46 – via sciendo.
  6. ↑ Chin, Monica; Chang 2019-09-27T15:27:35Z, Althea. "Apple HomeKit: What Is It, and How Do You Use It?". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2020-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "HomePod mini - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  8. ↑ "Working with HomeKit". Apple Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  9. ↑ Mikah Sargent (2017-06-07). "How to create your own HomeKit-enabled accessories". iMore. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  10. ↑ Higginbotham, Stacey (June 10, 2015). "What one startup CEO learned from handling Apple's HomeKit mess". Fortune . Time Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "How HomeKit's software authentication works". 29 March 2018.
  12. ↑ Ricker, Thomas; Kastrenakes, Jacob (January 8, 2015). "First HomeKit devices confirm Apple TV's limited role in home automation". The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  13. ↑ Porter, Jon (2019-10-28). "HomeKit might be fading, but Apple's not giving up yet". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  14. ↑ "How to add a home to the new Home app in iOS 10". iMore. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  15. ↑ Clover, Juli (23 June 2016). "Here's the New 'Home' App for Controlling HomeKit Devices in iOS 10". www.macrumors.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  16. ↑ Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2022-06-06). "HomeKit gets a new Home app". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  17. ↑ "What's new in tvOS 14 for Apple TV". Apple Support. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  18. ↑ "Other things you can ask Siri on Apple TV". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  19. ↑ "Set up your HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  20. ↑ Writer, Senior. "Nanoleaf puts HomeKit-over-Thread update on back burner". TechHive. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  21. ↑ "How to Use the Temperature and Humidity Sensors on HomePod and HomePod Mini". MacRumors. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  22. ↑ Davies, Chris (2016-06-14). "No Apple TV? Your iPad can be an Apple Home Hub - SlashGear". SlashGear.com. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  23. ↑ Peters, Jay (2022-06-28). "Apple says iPads will keep working as home hubs in iPadOS 16, but there's a catch". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  24. ↑ Hall, Zac (2016-09-16). "HomeKit automation no longer works with third-gen Apple TV after iOS 10 (Updated: Apple clarifies)". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  25. ↑ "iOS - Home". Apple. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  26. ↑ "Multi Device Ecosystems". Library Technology Reports. 52. 2016.
  27. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben. "Apple, Samsung, Amazon, more will agree on open standard for smart home security". 9to5Mac.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  28. ↑ Kastrenakes, Jacob (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google, and Amazon are teaming up to develop an open-source smart home standard". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  29. ↑ Pattison Tuohy, Jennifer (17 March 2022). "Matter smart home standard delayed until fall 2022". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  30. ↑ Grün, Frank-Oliver (4 October 2022). "Here we go: matter in version 1.0 is ready". matter-smarthome.de. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "Matter support in iOS 16 - Apple Home". Apple Developer. Retrieved 2023-06-02.

Notes

  1. ↑ Excluding the 64GB Apple TV (third generation) without an Ethernet port.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.