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Powerful and simple automation complete the system and, for Apple users with the right kit, Home and HomeKit prove to be a winner. The lack of support outside of Apple smartphones and iPads, and some big smart home device names not being supported reduces the appeal a little. Apple Home and HomeKit – Compatible devices Apple used to have very strict hardware requirements for Home and HomeKit compatibility and wanted every company to include an encryption co-processor. This meant that existing manufacturers often had to release versions of hardware: HomeKit support was a big reason behind the launch of the er Philips Hue bridge. Apple has since relaxed its rules a little and now HomeKit and Home will work with devices that have had a software upgrade. For example, the excellent Netatmo Presence outdoor security camera now works with Apple Home.
Even though Apple has relaxed its requirements, the range of supported devices lags behind the likes of those for the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. There are some notable big exceptions, such as the lack of support for the Nest Learning Thermostat (or any other Nest product), and the majority of smart appliances, such as the Dyson 360 Eye robot vacuum cleaner. Support is better than with Samsung SmartThings, however, with more big names supporting Apple’s system.
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Apple has a full list of supported devices, but it includes the likes of Philips Hue, LIFX, Tado and many Netatmo products. As with all systems it pays to check which devices are supported before you buy anything. Apple Home and HomeKit – Setup Apple has improved its setup procedure to the point, where devices can now be added via the manufacturer’s app and included in Home. That’s an improvement over times of old, where you had to set up devices through the Home app only. Installation requires scanning the unique HomeKit code, which is usually printed in a device’s manual and on a device itself.
Without this code, you can’t add any devices, so don’t lose it. For devices that have been software upgraded, you’ll usually generate a software code. Save this as an image file for safety, as it’s a one-time process to do and your device will never be compatible with HomeKit without this. For devices that connect through a hub, such as the Philips Hue lights, you need only add that single device to the Apple Home app; all devices that connect through the bridge will be discovered automatically.
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For smart devices that don’t use a bridge, such as LIFX bulbs, each device has to be added independently, which is a bit of a pain. Once devices have been discovered, they can be grouped into rooms and your Favourite devices appear both on the Home screen of the Home App and in iOS Control Centre. If you’d like to remote control your devices, you need a compatible fixed product at home that remains connected to your home network. This can be an Apple TV, an iPad that’s left plugged in or, more recently, a HomePod. Cleverly, any hub can be used to remote control any compatible Bluetooth devices.
If you’ve got a Bluetooth smart lock, for example, you can control it from anywhere in the world, provided the device is within range of one of your HomeKit hubs. Apple Home and HomeKit – Device control Both iOS and macOS Home apps are laid out in a similar way, so it’s easy to jump between the two. All devices fit into uniform icons in the Home app, with little icons to let you know what the type of device is, such as a light bulb. The icons aren’t quite up to the usual standard of Apple products and are a little basic.
If you have room names that are too long, Home can truncate them on the icon, which looks a little ugly: ‘Default Ro…’ for example, rather than ‘Default Room’. Some devices appear in the app that you can’t do anything with, such as the Apple TV and the Philips Hue Hub.
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