Apple will make a rare official appearance at next week's annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where its HomeKit smart home system will take the limelight, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
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With Amazon and Google expected to roll out new software capabilities for their internet-connected products and voice-activated smart platforms, Apple's own smart home system will also be on show.
Apple's HomeKit, a system for controlling devices in the home, will also be on display. Some companies will show off new gadgets for the home that work with Siri, Apple's digital assistant.
According to the report, the company isn't expected to release any new hardware at the trade show, but Apple executive Jane Horvath is scheduled to speak on a consumer privacy panel on January 7.
Ahead of last year's CES, Apple put up a giant sign in Las Vegas touting the security of its devices, and in 2018 some Apple employees reportedly met with potential augmented-reality glasses suppliers there, but otherwise it has traditionally chosen to stay away. Apple's presence at CES 2020 is the first time in decades that the company has attended in an official capacity.
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No, CES is the bigger show and Apple is trying to push HomeKit more since making a version of it open source for developers. Also interfacing with IoT electronics in the home is exactly what CES is about.Wouldn't it be more appropriate if Apple to Promote Homekit at MacWorld 2020?
Devices randomly “not responding” even though I can control them fine in their official apps. Controlling certain devices in the Home app actually affecting completely separate devices in a different room. The “status” of lights being the opposite of what they actually are (shows ON when it’s actually OFF and vice versa).
So many little things that just cause a headache, and yet I don’t have these issues when controlling from Alexa or Google.
Lutron switches, Hue bulbs, multiple Homepods, Apple TV, Hunter ceiling fan, LiftMaster MyQ for the garage, Ecobee thermostat and remote sensors...all work pretty flawlessly together through the Home app. Even had the Christmas tree and lights on HomeKit this year.
My 4 year old controls scenes through the HomePod on her own. It’s still pretty cool to hear/see.
Looking forward HomeKit in 2020 but really don’t know what I’d need to add at this point.
How does this example demonstrate that “Homekit is terrible”? HomeKit is not a digital assistant; it is a unifying protocol. It’s strength is having devices talk to each other — so, for example, activity sensed by a Hue motion sensor can control Lutron lights. It doesn’t in any way affect the functionality you’re talking about, which works just fine alongside HomeKit.Having purchased an Echo Dot (£22.50) and 4 smart plugs (£25) all I can say is Homekit is terrible.
The echo dot can understand my three year old (which is more than I can do most days)
I am excited to see what innovations Apple has for the HomeKit ecosystem in 2020.