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Sylvania smart light bulb talks to Siri without a hub
If you've set up smart light bulbs like Philips' Hue, you've probably had to link your bulbs to a central hub -- and if you didn't, you may be making-do with only basic control. Sylvania is trying to do better. It's introducing a Smart Multicolor A19 bulb that doesn't require the hassles of setting up a hub, but can still give you advanced control through Apple's HomeKit -- and by extension, Siri voice commands. You only have to sync the Bluetooth lighting through iOS' Home app to illuminate a room.
The best smart hub
By Jon Chase This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here. After researching more than 20 smart hubs—the brains that let all of your smart-home devices work together—and living with a half-dozen of them for a few months while putting them through their paces with an array of smart locks, thermostats, room sensors, switches, lights, and more, we think that the Samsung SmartThings Hub is the best hub for most people who want to buy right now. It's competitively priced, is compatible with a large number of third-party devices, and supports most of the major wireless protocols relied on by smart devices. We think it's important to note, however, that we struggle to fully throw our support behind any one model without substantial reservations. The SmartThings hub is the most evolved among a number of well-rounded products out already. Still, to date, we don't believe that any one smart hub is an unqualified, home-run purchase that would satisfy most people—our baseline standard.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Schlage Sense smart deadbolt!
Your front door may be feeling left out of the smart home scenario, and there's little reason it should. Schlage offers a trio of intelligent door locks, with its Sense smart deadbolt as the top-of-the-line option. These can help you monitor comings and goings, as well as providing friends (or Airbnb guests) access without a key by storing up to 30 access codes. You can also keep potential Kramers at bay during off hours by adjusting code schedules, too. The Sense deadbolt works with Bluetooth and Apple's HomeKit, so Siri can let you in just by asking, plus, you can program it using your Apple TV. Classic key access is still on board for any luddite relatives, too. The company has provided us with three of its top tier Schlage Sense smart deadbolts for a trio of lucky readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this door lock upgrade to round out your smart home. Winners: Congratulations to Travis C. of Unicoi, TN, Benjamin F. of Enola, PA and Jonathan W. of Dallas, TX!
Tado's new thermostat listens to Siri and Alexa
Tado is no doubt celebrating today after its thermostat was selected above all others for O2's new subscription-based smart home offering. That's by no means the only Tado news from this year's IFA, though, as the company today announced its third-generation smart thermostat. Pretty much nothing has changed from a hardware standpoint, with the main improvements being support for both Apple's HomeKit and Amazon's Echo platforms, allowing you to control your heating by talking to Siri or Alexa, respectively. IFTTT integration remains part of the feature set, and the new generation is also said to have improved energy efficiency algorithms.
The best connected home might be one built for you
Outfitting your home with Internet of Things devices can still be a pain. Figuring out which pieces of hardware from different companies work together is a trip down a confusing rabbit hole. But for those in the market for a connected home, is increasingly becoming a ready-to-go option.
Your iPad can double as a smart home hub with iOS 10
No inclination to get the latest Apple TV just to give yourself a hub for your HomeKit devices? If you have a reasonably recent iPad hanging around, you won't have to. Apple tells SlashGear that iOS 10 can use your iPad as a smart home hub as long as the tablet is both plugged in and connected to your network. It seems like an odd move, but Apple says it's all about increasing HomeKit's reach -- you can't buy the new Apple TV in countries like China, so the iPad offers that remote home automation instead. Either way, you probably won't want to try this in a multi-person household. You don't want to lose out-of-home control over your thermostat just because Junior decided to play Hearthstone.
Apple needed to make a standalone HomeKit app
HomeKit, Apple's platform for the Internet of Things, was introduced in 2014. Last year, hardware makers finally started selling devices with companion apps that supported the architecture. But the one thing missing from that platform was an accompanying app built by Apple. Instead, the company decided to let developers take care of that. Apple set up the framework and third parties were supposed to build a beautiful front end around it. But it didn't quite happen that way.
Apple introduces Home app to control your connected devices
Apple's connected home platform HomeKit got its very own app today, called Home. Apple's senior VP of software engineering, Craig Federighi, announced at WWDC that the new IoT application for iOS will give users quick access to all their HomeKit-supported devices.
Apple TV gets better for cord-cutters and cable TV subscribers
Today at its big WWDC keynote, Apple announced a few updates for the Apple TV platform. New apps arriving include Sling TV (finally), Fox Sports, the French streaming service Molotov and the Minecraft: Story Mode game. Apple is also upgrading the remote application on your iPhone. The app is a lot more like the hardware remote, with touch-based navigation, Siri voice search, plus the ability to use the keyboard for input and game control using the accelerometer. As for the hardware itself, a new feature called "Live Tune in" will let you switch instantly between livestreaming channels like Disney, ESPN and more. There's also a dark theme now, while Automatic App downloads mean that when you install a universal app on your iPhone or iPad, it will be there on your Apple TV too.
iOS 10 reportedly includes a dedicated smart home app
There's no shortage of devices that support Apple's HomeKit platform. However, managing those devices is something of a mess -- you typically end up visiting separate apps to control your lighting, security and appliances. You might not have to worry about that when iOS 10 rolls around, though. MacRumors says it spotted an Amazon review from an Apple employee (verified after the fact) who claims that the next iOS release will have a "standalone" HomeKit app when it arrives in the fall. The staffer doesn't say how it'd work, but the implication is that it'd serve as a hub for all your HomeKit-compatible smart home gadgets.
Siri reveals Apple's WWDC event will begin June 13th
When it comes to announcing plans for an event, the folks in Cupertino typically send out invites and info via email. That's not the case this year, though, as Apple is relying on its virtual assistant to inform the masses about its annual WWDC soirée. Thanks to Siri, we know the developer conference is scheduled for June 13th through the 17th in San Francisco, the event where we'll hear details on new versions of OS X, iOS and WatchOS.
Elgato's Eve Thermo lets you control your radiators with Siri
Elgato is best known, in some circles at least, for its niche video products. In recent history, however, it's somewhat reinvented itself as a maker of smart home devices. The company's Eve range already includes smart plugs, door/window sensors and home/weather monitors, and today it's being joined by the Eve Thermo. This new device is easily installed on standard radiator valves, retrofitting them for remote, smartphone control. Like the rest of the Eve line-up, Thermo is compatible with Apple's HomeKit smart home platform, meaning you can politely ask Siri to kick the temperature up a notch when you're feeling a bit chilly.
Philips Hue now responds to your Siri commands
One of the frustrations of choosing an Internet of Things device is finding one that plays well with the other smart appliances in your home. Philips' Hue lighting platform is already pretty extensible, but today it's finally gained support for another big partner: Apple. With its new Homekit-enabled bridge, Philips will let you control your lighting via Siri (and supporting third-party apps), whether your bulbs are old or new.
The future of Apple starts with 'Hey Siri'
"Hey Siri." It was a cutesy tag line for the Apple event invitation. The company even pre-loaded its digital assistant with canned answers to questions about what the company was going to unveil. But by the end of the never-ending shindig it became abundantly clear that Siri has become an important part of the entire Apple ecosystem. It's the UI that begs not to be touched and Apple is going all in with Apple TV, iOS 9, HomeKit and iPhone 6s. But will users stop tapping and start talking?
Apple HomeKit now supports more sensors and security systems
It's been just over a year since Apple announced HomeKit, its plan to allow you to control your smart home with an iOS device. Compatible products have only just started trickling onto shelves, and there's been some confusion about how exactly the company is going to turn this idea into a coherent experience. That's still not entirely clear, but Apple has at least given us a little more information with the addition of support for new category types including security systems, smart locks and carbon monoxide detectors. It also announced that you'll be able to control devices remotely using iCloud.
Existing Philips Hue bulbs will work with HomeKit this fall
Apple keynotes normally display pictures of pictures of Philips' tech, but it was never clear if the existing gear would work with the company's home control platform. Now, Philips has taken to the internet that yes, the collection of Hue bulbs that you've spent hundreds of dollars assembling will be compatible with HomeKit. The Dutch lighting firm isn't talking about specifics and has said that the details are still being finalized, but pledges that the solid facts will be laid out this September ahead of a launch in the Fall. So, we can rest easy knowing that we won't have to throw out our Sharknado setup when it comes time to renovate our home. [Image Credit: AP Photo / Jeff Chiu]
The first products that support Apple's HomeKit have arrived
A year after Apple first announced it, you can finally buy products based on HomeKit. Lutron and Insteon have products available now, while others like Elgato, Ecobee and iHome are bringing accessories soon. That means you'll be be able to build a HomeKit system with programmable lights, plugs, energy and climate sensors, thermostats and more. Apple introduced HomeKit standard to allow such devices to play nicely together, and of course, let you control everything via your iPhone, iPad or Watch. The idea was to also bring voice control to home automation via Siri.
Apple could be delaying HomeKit by a couple months (Update: Nope)
Citing sources close to the project, Fortune reports that Apple plans to delay the release of its much anticipated HomeKit platform. While the company has never actually provided a firm release date, it's been widely speculated that HomeKit would hit sometime mid-summer, around June or July. Now it would appear that users will have to wait until August or September to begin smartening up their homes. Fortune's sources blame rapidly bloating code for the delay. Apparently, the current programming iteration demands far too much memory from smaller IoT devices and Apple figures it will need an extra month or so to trim the code down to more functional specs.
GE announces HomeKit enabled lights that'll help you sleep
Turns out it's not just our addiction to smartphones that messes with our sleep patterns, it's also the lighting in our homes that keeps us up at night. To alleviate all that tossing and turning, GE announced an Intelligent LED lighting system that not only works with HomeKit, Apple's slow-to-rollout home automation system, but also features GE Align to set the color of the lights to the "body's natural sleep circadian rhythm." The Philips Hue line currently does the same thing via "recipes" and is also integrated with HomeKit. GE's lighting system, on the other hand, won't be out until later this year. Of course being first to integrate with Apple's home automation system is a bit of a moot point since it currently doesn't have an official launch date.
Apple's home automation tech reportedly won't land until spring
We hope you weren't in a big rush to outfit your household with devices that use Apple's HomeKit automation technology -- you may be waiting a little while. Recode tipsters claim that Apple started certifying HomeKit gear later than it wanted, pushing the release of many supporting gadgets (and their underlying chips) back to spring or later. While Apple hasn't said whether or not there's a delay, the company notes that multiple companies (such as Elgato and iDevices) formally unveiled their first HomeKit hardware at CES. In many cases, the finished goods won't ship until spring or summer.
