The Home app on iOS is getting a major overhaul with iOS 16, with Apple saying it's doubling down on reliability and ease of use.
Apple says it has made changes to the "underlying architecture" of the Home app to enable "faster, more reliable performance, especially for homes with many smart accessories."
With the new Home app redesign, all users' rooms are displayed on one single page, with easily glanceable widgets that showcase current accessories and their status. Pressing on a room takes users to a dedicated space with more details and controls.
Along the top of the Home app, users get quick information at categories, such as how many lights are currently on, the temperature range across their house, what doors are unlocked, and more.
Categories are even more helpful, however, when they're tapped. When users tap on a specific category, such as security and cameras, they're shown all the active cameras around their entire home on a single page.
The Home app is also gaining new Lock Screen widgets that provide easy information right on the Lock Screen. iOS 16 is currently available to developers and will be available to all users this fall.
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works.
We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by Joe Rossignol
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more.
Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, ...
The overhaul is useless without a Siri overhaul. I get tired of asking Siri to turn on "all lights" and then she plays The Thermadors song "All Blights" Siri is so stupid.
I'm more excited about this "rearchitected" Home app that's supposed to be more reliable than anything else in iOS 16. Not only is it long overdue, but reliability is probably the single biggest problem holding back HomeKit. I'd love to showcase more HomeKit stuff to friends and family, but it's embarrassing when Siri goes into one of her states where she refuses to execute automations or won't respond to requests.
I am an early tech adopter, built many PCs, have been using an iPhone since the 3G. And still, I struggled to grasp the design of the existing home app. Even at first glance this redesign seems way better. Hopefully it really is. With this and the Matter support, we may see Apple-compatible smart home devices take off
