Apple Opens Up HomeKit Platform To Make Smart Product Development Easier

Thursday June 8, 2017 2:31 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has taken steps to make its HomeKit smart home platform more accessible to third parties in order to encourage faster adoption, the company announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Wednesday (via Forbes).

Apple told developers in session that they no longer need an MFi (Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad) license to test out HomeKit smart products before bringing them to market, and are even free to experiment with the platform using popular custom-fit boards like Arduino and Raspberry Pi.


The looser licensing should make it easier for developers to test out prototypes of smart home gadgets, although certification must still be obtained before the products are ready for commercial sale, Apple noted.

In addition to the licensing change, Apple has updated its HomeKit specification so that compatible smart products no longer have to include a hardware authentication chip. The update means authentication will go through software instead, with a firmware update allowing existing or future products to go through the same software-based authorization. Despite the change, Apple said the authentication process would use the same hardened encryption as it always has.

HomeKit has enjoyed reasonably wide support among smart gadget manufacturers, although users have sometimes had to wait for products to add the standard well after they have come to market. With a little luck, yesterday's announcement should minimize the time it takes for third parties to integrate HomeKit into their smart gadgets.

Tag: HomeKit Guide
42 comments


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robinp
27 months ago
Sounds like good news as long as the security is maintained.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Recognition
27 months ago

Another good move from Apple! I'm beginning to lust after more homekit accessories!

The coolest product would be a little chip to put between a powerline and a ceiling mounted hanging light. These bulb Adapters, or the smart bulb themselves don't work for my use case, as I have these cool vintage lightbulbs in golden lamp sockets.. why is there nothing to attach to the cable directly?


Just get a smart wall switch, and swap with your existing wall switches for those light fittings.

This is interesting news, I use homebridge on my Raspberry Pi to control non HomeKit and ‘dumb’ devices with Siri and the iPhone. I wonder what effect this will have on these workarounds?
Rating: 5 Votes
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chfilm
27 months ago
Another good move from Apple! I'm beginning to lust after more homekit accessories!

The coolest product would be a little chip to put between a powerline and a ceiling mounted hanging light. These bulb Adapters, or the smart bulb themselves don't work for my use case, as I have these cool vintage lightbulbs in golden lamp sockets.. why is there nothing to attach to the cable directly?
Rating: 4 Votes
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FlyersPh9
27 months ago

Hopefully this won't make Homekit vulnerable like all the garbage like Smart Things and Weemo.

Go ahead and list the reasons why SmartThings is vulnerable. Before you start, "Because I can't figure out how to use it properly" isn't a reason.
Rating: 3 Votes
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spazzcat
27 months ago

Did you read the article?


Yes, I realized they are removing the requirement. I don't think it's necessary a good move, hardware chip in theory should be harder to hack.
Rating: 2 Votes
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robjulo
27 months ago
I'd venture to guess that 99% of home break ins are from drug seekers and common petty thugs, neither of which are hacking your ring cameras. The security paranoia on this site is comical.

More like monitoring my porch and driveway with my Ring camera's. The latter would tell them when I am not at home. Not that we don't have and use an alarm system, but still.

Rating: 2 Votes
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Carlanga
27 months ago

Sounds like good news as long as the security is maintained.

It won't be as secure that is for sure. Their whole shtick was the hardware security chip that makes it really secure and now it seems they are throwing that out the window to play catch up. I'm excited because that might mean my wemo switches/plugs could work w Siri.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Corrode
27 months ago

You know the chip is there for security and the reason they require it.

Did you read the article?


In addition to the licensing change, Apple has updated its HomeKit specification so that compatible smart products no longer have to include a hardware authentication chip. The update means authentication will go through software instead, with a firmware update allowing existing or future products to go through the same software-based authorization. Despite the change, Apple said the authentication process would use the same hardened encryption as it always has.

Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Dr Kevorkian94
27 months ago
I also use homebridge for my dumb devices. As of now I have it set up to run AppleScripts on my Mac that control playback and airplay on my speakers throughout the house. It’s nice to be able to say “hey Siri turn on instide speakers” and have it work. Although it’s as stable and easy as something made to actually work with HomeKit.
Rating: 1 Votes
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elvisimprsntr
27 months ago
Finally! Now Homebridge (https://github.com/nfarina/homebridge) and HAP-NodeJS (https://github.com/KhaosT/HAP-NodeJS) are legal.
Rating: 1 Votes
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