Filip Novotny It's been eight months since Apple introduced a new platform called HomeKit at the WWDC conference. He promised an ecosystem full of smart devices from various manufacturers and their simple cooperation with Siri. In those eight months, however, we have not seen any dizzying developments. Why is this so and what can we actually expect from HomeKit?
In addition to the introduction of iOS 2014, OS X Yosemite and the new Swift programming language, June 8 also saw two new ecosystems: HealthKit and HomeKit. Both of these innovations have since been somewhat forgotten. Although HealthKit has already acquired certain outlines in the form of the iOS application Zdraví, its practical use is still limited. It's quite logical - the platform is open to various products, but it's primarily waiting for cooperation with the Apple Watch.
However, we cannot come up with a similar explanation for HomeKit. Apple itself excludes that it is going to present any device that would function as a central hub for HomeKit. There is an idea that Apple TV could be at the core of the new ecosystem, but the Californian company rules that out as well. It will be used for remote control of home accessories, but apart from that, all HomeKit elements should be connected exclusively to Siri on the iPhone or iPad.
So why are we still not seeing any results more than six months after the show? To be honest, that's not quite the right question - this year's CES saw quite a few HomeKit devices. However, as noted by the editors of the server, for example The Verge, few of which you would want to use in their current state.
Most of the light bulbs, sockets, fans and other introduced products encounter hardware and software problems. "It's not quite finished yet, Apple still has a lot of work to do," said one of the developers. One of the demonstrations of the new accessories even had to take place only as part of a picture presentation. The featured device could not be put into operation.
How is it possible for Apple to have products in such a condition on display at one of the biggest trade shows? Perhaps we could argue that the Californian company doesn't take CES too seriously, but it's still a public display of products designed for its platform. And in this regard, he would definitely not like to see the products presented this year on public display, even with an ordinary iHome employee at home in the garage.
He has not yet officially approved any of the products for sale. The MFI (Made for i...) program, which was previously intended for accessories for iPods and later iPhones and iPads, will soon include the HomeKit platform and requires certification. Apple finalized the conditions for their issuance only last October, and a month later it officially launched this part of the program.
None of the products introduced so far are certified, so we should take them with a grain of salt. That is, as a mere example of how it could work in the second half of this year at the earliest (but really well, probably even later).
In addition, there are currently reportedly problems with the production of chips that would allow proper cooperation with the HomeKit system. According to the Re/code server, it is reason quite simple - Apple's notoriously picky or perfectionist approach.
Broadcom already supplies manufacturers with chips that allow iPhones to control connected devices via Bluetooth Smart and Wi-Fi, but it has problems on the software side. There was thus a certain delay, and for eager manufacturers who wanted to show their prototypes of accessories for HomeKit to the public, she had to prepare a temporary solution using an older, already existing chip.
Apparently, Apple won't give them the green light. "As with AirPlay, Apple has set very strict rules to maintain the best possible user experience," says analyst Patrick Moorhead. "The longer delay between introduction and launch is annoying on the one hand, but given that AirPlay works great and everyone knows it, it makes sense." In addition, the analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy rightly points out that Apple is trying to enter in a field where no company has been very successful so far (although there have been many attempts).
Nevertheless, we can expect a number of manufacturers to wait and send a few devices for HomeKit to the market. "We're excited to see the number of partners committed to selling HomeKit products continue to grow," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said.
The date when we could first have a conversation with Siri about the current state of the kitchen sink has not yet been announced by the Californian company. Given the problems that come with rushing products (now you can cough up iOS 8 and Yosemite under your breath), there's nothing to be surprised about.
That's right, there's no need to hurry and it's better to debug it well, I would like to inform the manufacturers that in addition to the USA there is also Europe and when I go to Paris to take pictures, let me note what kind of sockets are in the hotels :-))
And what about car play :-( when I found out how car companies are doing last fall, I didn't have any (https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/), I really didn't call everyone, she wasn't able to tell how it would be with support...
Carplay is written about on foreign websites from time to time, usually in the context that Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and others will start deploying it this year. The VW concern is a bit late in this regard.
As for HealthKit, just today it was on Macrumors.com that 14 large hospitals with allegedly thousands of patients are testing it...
Apple is not keeping up now, all the forces are focused on the watch. Then they will hopefully start trying to have something to show at WWDC in June.
They told me at Kia that they don't support Apple, that they will go with the Android solution, unfortunately only after that I read the list of supported car manufacturers. I didn't learn anything at all about Honda, which is supposed to be directly supported in the first wave.
The VW concern, or at least the Czech branch, wants to go another way, viz. http://superapple.cz/2014/07/skodovky-se-budou-kamaradit-s-androidem-proc-jim-nevoni-apple-rozhovor/
In any case, it should be noted that although I don't really need the Škoda, iPhone support was great even before the introduction of CarPlay, only the connection to the radio screen was missing.
I understand that Apple has a lot going on and I don't blame them, but maybe it would be better to present things a little closer to the final solution and not to overtake the competition at all costs.
I think it will come... for example: https://www.elgato.com/en/eve