A unified, Apple-designed
HomeKit app has been desired by
HomeKit users since
HomeKit first debuted, and it appears
Apple is planning to introduce such an app in the near future, perhaps in
iOS 10.
The hint on Apple's
HomeKit plans comes from an Amazon reviewer who works in the marketing department at Apple. The name of the reviewer coincides with the LinkedIn profile of a marketing employee at Apple, and we have confirmed that the Amazon review was indeed created by the
Apple employee.
As I work in marketing for Apple, we test many Smart Home devices, especially for iOS HomeKit integration. [...]
Some advice, there are many third party applications, most free, that offer more control and customization(s) with many Smart Home devices. "Yo**mi" is a free app that I often use, "Home" is a**ther which cost $14.99. Both offer support for many devices with more added daily (including Amazon "Echo"). The next version of iOS due this fall will have a Standalone "HomeKit" app as well.
While we verified the source of the information, there's always a chance that Apple's plans could change ahead of the release of iOS 10. There have been several past rumors suggesting
Apple would debut a public
HomeKit app, but such an app has **t materialized even though
Apple has long used a
HomeKit app internally.
Apple has previously
trademarked a HomeKit app icon (pictured above) that could potentially be used for a
Standalone HomeKit app and rumors have suggested it
could be called "Home."
A cohesive, Apple-branded
HomeKit app would go a long way towards improving the
HomeKit experience. At the current time,
HomeKit users with multiple products must use several different product apps, many of which offer different features, or rely on third-party apps.
Related Roundup:
iOS 10
Tag:
HomeKit
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