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iOS 9 Could Feature 'Home' App For Controlling HomeKit Accessories

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HomeKit-iconApple is planning a new "Home" app that would enable users to wirelessly discover, securely manage and control HomeKit-based accessories using an iOS device, according to 9to5Mac. The report also reiterates that the Apple TV would serve as a hub for all HomeKit connected devices.

The report claims that Home could be introduced alongside iOS 9 at Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco next month, although the app may not be finalized in time and could remain limited to internal usage by employees only.

HomeKit was announced at WWDC last year as a software framework for communicating with and controlling connected devices in the home, but the home automation platform has experienced delays since then and has yet to officially launch. Fortune reported last week that HomeKit was pushed back until August or September, but Apple has since confirmed that accessory announcements will begin in June.

The rumored Home app would be the front-end platform for HomeKit, akin to the Health app and HealthKit on iOS 8, and reportedly has "fairly basic" functionality centered upon virtual rooms, the Apple TV and other features:

  • Wirelessly discovering and setting up compatible HomeKit devices

  • Creating a virtual representation of rooms in the home to easily organize and connect HomeKit devices

  • Utilizing the Apple TV as a hub connecting all of the HomeKit devices

  • Offering a series of screens to help users find new HomeKit devices and apps

    • If the Home app is not released, the report claims that Apple may elect for customers to control their HomeKit connected devices using Siri and accompanying App Store apps from accessory makers and developers. HomeKit partners confirmed to date, among others, include Belkin, Elgato, Schlage, iDevices and GE.

    Tags: Apple Home, HomeKit Guide
    Related Forum: iOS 9

    Top Rated Comments

    Pupi Avatar
    Pupi
    142 months ago
    Waiting for "great, more bloatware I can't remove" posts :cool:
    Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
    AppleGuesser Avatar
    AppleGuesser
    142 months ago
    One day, I'll have HomeKit-compatible devices, but until then, this will just be another app for the "junk" folder.

    More apps. Like the Apple TV, we are at that stage we seriously need a hide option. I do not and never will use compass, home app, etc. Atleast, not in the next year. If things change I could always bring it back, but why not let me hide it? Seems fair. Otherwise, it is bloat ware as bad as AT&T's crap on Android phones. :eek:
    Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
    BeSweeet Avatar
    BeSweeet
    142 months ago
    One day, I'll have HomeKit-compatible devices, but until then, this will just be another app for the "junk" folder.

    Forgot that I was jailbroken for a moment. Can easily hide those things!
    Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
    A
    arybaryba
    142 months ago
    More apps. Like the Apple TV, we are at that stage we seriously need a hide option. I do not and never will use compass, home app, etc. Atleast, not in the next year. If things change I could always bring it back, but why not let me hide it? Seems fair. Otherwise, it is bloat ware as bad as AT&T's crap on Android phones. :eek:

    You know, I was wondering if Apple might use the same process for hiding apps in iOS as they're using on the Apple Watch? Go into settings and just turn off the apps you don't want to see on your device??? Seems like it would be a really simple way to handle it.
    Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
    D
    DustinLH00
    142 months ago
    More apps. Like the Apple TV, we are at that stage we seriously need a hide option. I do not and never will use compass, home app, etc. Atleast, not in the next year. If things change I could always bring it back, but why not let me hide it? Seems fair. Otherwise, it is bloat ware as bad as AT&T's crap on Android phones. :eek:

    You can hide them on the Apple TV though...
    Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
    Y
    yozh
    142 months ago
    Right now my home automation folder has apps for the following:

    Honeywell Stats
    Wink
    Nest
    Wemo
    Harmony
    netatmo
    Yamaha receiver
    RainMachine
    LiftMaster
    IF
    and others....
    I would love to get control over those and use from the same app.
    Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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