The first “smart” home gadgets that can be controlled by Apple’s voice-activated digital assistant are going on sale this week, just days after rival tech giant Google announced it’s building its own software for Internet-connected home appliances and other gadgets.
The new products could be an important step forward for the emerging industry of “smart” or “connected” homes, where appliances, thermostats and even door locks contain computer chips that communicate wirelessly. While a number of companies are working on similar products, analysts say Apple could persuade more consumers to try them by making it easy to control different products from a familiar device, such as the iPhone.
Among smart home products is the iHome SmartPlug. Announced Tuesday, it goes on sale June 15.
With the HomeKit-enabled iHome iSP5 SmartPlug “consumers can use Siri or the iHome Control app to control lamps, fans and other home devices from anywhere with their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch,” notes iHome.
“Users can also group several iHome SmartPlugs into individual “scenes” to control multiple connected devices within a home. Additionally the iHome Control app allows for the creation of custom scenes to control multiple SmartPlugs with a single command, or to create schedules for complete home automation.”
The SmartPlug fits into a standard wall socket and does not block anther socket, the company says.
Apple announced its “HomeKit” software project a year ago, but isn’t making the new products. Instead, other companies have been working to make devices that meet Apple’s criteria for compatibility and security. Two manufacturers are now selling products and three more are accepting online “pre-orders” or plan to begin selling in coming weeks.
HomeKit-certified products hitting the market Tuesday include wireless hubs from two companies, Insteon and Lutron Electronics. The hubs, about the size of a small home router or cable TV box, act as the central controller for lights and other gadgets. The hubs in turn can be managed with a smartphone app.
Lutron Electronics, for example, is selling a $230 starter kit that includes its “Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge” hub and two dimmer units — either wall switches or plug-in units for lamps — controlled by the hub. Insteon says its hub will work with compatible lights, power switches and thermostats. Three other companies say they expect to start selling HomeKit thermostats, power plugs and climate sensors in coming weeks.
You can already buy similar products from these companies, which have their own smartphone apps to control them. The tie-in with Apple means a user can control those apps with Siri, the voice-activated digital assistant on Apple’s iPhones and iPads. Users must link with an Apple TV box to control from outside the home.
Apple also says products using HomeKit software must meet standards for compatibility, so they work with HomeKit products made by other manufacturers, and for encryption, which keeps hackers from taking over a system or stealing user information.
While Apple wants Siri to play a leading role in “smart” homes, its biggest rivals want in, too. Google announced last week that it’s creating software called Brillo as a common platform for Internet-connected gadgets in the home or in commercial settings. Microsoft and Samsung are also promoting software to control home systems.
