With the launch of iOS 11.3, Apple has introduced a new software authentication option for
HomeKit accessory manufacturers.
Not exact matches
Any
manufacturer can implement
HomeKit into their smart
accessories.
Manufacturers can add support for
HomeKit into their smart
accessories, but they need to get their smart
accessories approved by Apple in order to make them «
HomeKit - enabled» and compatible with Siri.
Earlier this year, iDevices was acquired by major electrical equipment
manufacturer Hubbell, but the iDevices brand and product lineup lives on.I've been using a number of iDevices products, including the recently launched Wall Switch and Wall Outlet, as well as the Switch and Outdoor Switch that launched some time ago, and I've gotten a pretty good idea of how well these
accessories fit into my home and integrate with other
HomeKit devices through
HomeKit.
If you're on iOS 9 and your
HomeKit manufacturer has built in support for HAP (
HomeKit Accessory Protocol), you should be able to access those devices on LTE, but if you're finding yourself out of luck, you might need to hook up an Apple TV.
Today, smart home device and
accessory manufacturer Elgato announced the latest addition to its line of
HomeKit - enabled tech at CES 2018 in Las Vegas.
This gives developers and
accessory manufacturers new options in creating new
HomeKit accessories.
Like many other
accessory manufacturers, Incipio quickly went to the drawing board when they heard that Apple would open
HomeKit to developers, allowing third - party gear to be tightly integrated with the iPhone.
If you have
HomeKit accessories with a terrible companion app or multiple
HomeKit manufacturers in your home, you need the Home app.
Yes, despite this very iOS - centric registration scheme, your iPhone or iPad has no official
HomeKit app where you can view and control
accessories: Instead, it punts you to apps from various third - party
HomeKit manufacturers.
Within this database, you can add
HomeKit accessories from any
manufacturer, and set up those
accessories in specific rooms, zones (groupings of rooms), or scenes (groupings of
accessories that might be time - or situation - based).
All that said, Apple's stringent rules regarding the security and quality of
HomeKit - enabled
accessories have kept some
manufacturers from creating products that work with Apple's
HomeKit framework.