Apple HomeKit and Home App in iOS 10

According to recent surveys, smart home devices are becoming quite popular with modern homeowners. Until recently, however, it was all but impossible to sync these devices using a single unifying platform. Thanks to Apple Homekit, iOS 10 appears to have solved this problem, allowing people to create smarter, more efficient home experiences.

What it Does

Viewed as a long overdue upgrade, iOS 10 includes a new standalone app that makes it easier to control HomeKit accessories from every Apple device. Integrated into the lockscreen, Control Center and 3D Touch portions of the iPad and iPhone, this intuitive control platform allows you to easily launch and control an individual or multiple smart home devices. This means you can ditch many of the controller apps that hog your homescreen space. It also means new, innovative features that help you “smartify” your home.

• Coordination: As part of Home, Apple has introduced a Scene mode that allows users to coordinate devices to work together at certain times of the day. For instance, using Siri, you can choose a good night scene that will turn down the heat, lower lighting and even lock your doors.

• Security: The Home App also allows users to access HomeKit devices from the lockscreen. This means near-effortless control that lets you view a smart home camera by your doorbell or remotely unlock a door for invited guests.

• Siri: Designed for conversational commands, Home finally makes Siri a compelling and effective smart home tool. With a simple voice command, such as “Lockdown,” Siri can lock every door, turn off every light and close a dozen shades. Best of all, you can personalize device groupings by room, by preference or by time.

• TV Controls: Using Siri via your Apple TV remote, you can now activate specific scenes that control smart home functions. This can be especially convenient in households that – for better or worse – treat the television as the hub of the home.

By successfully unifying the fractured HomeKit platform, Apple has finally streamlined home automation. The new features make it much easier for smart accessories to communicate. They also allow you to efficiently manage a bundle of smart devices from various manufacturers. Whether it’s a speaker, detector, thermostat, blind, plug, lock, sensor or light, it should be accessible via Apple’s framework.

Without HomeKit, you must manually control each accessory using a unique third-party app. With HomeKit, you can hook everything together and control it all with a single interface. Say “good morning” to unleash a bundle of commands that cause your blinds to open while your coffee brews. Say “I’m leaving” to shut down appliances, lighting and prompt relevant security functions. Thanks to endless customizable options, you can coordinate virtually any group of functions depending on your unique needs and preferences.

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