New Philips Ambiance Hue Lighting Set is HomeKit-compatible

Philips has announced a new set of HomeKit-compatible Hue-branded lighting products. What’s different this time around is that these Hue White Ambiance lights are geared towards people who want adjustable white lights and don’t need the varied color options. These Wi-Fi-connected bulbs promises to show “every shade of white light,” ranging from 6500k daylight to 2200k warm light. And like other Hue bulbs, these 800 lumens bulbs rated at 4000k can be adjusted throughout the day with varied light recipes, routines, and HomeKit scenes. And with HomeKit support, it responds to Siri voice commands, too.

The package comes with two Philips Hue white ambiance bulbs, a HomeKit-compatible bridge, and one wireless dimming switch that can be controlled from anywhere in the house even without the iPhone app. The entire kit retails in the US for US$129.95 (around CA$170), while each bulb costs US$29.95. You can check out Philips’s website for more details.

Source: MacRumors

UPDATE (as of July 14, 2016 8:48 p.m. EDT)

Error on this writer's part but the individual bulbs cost CA$29.95 as well.

Dedicated smart home app reportedly coming to iOS 10

The list of devices that support Apple’s HomeKit platform continue to grow. And with that means varied apps needed to manage different kinds of appliances or devices. Thankfully, there might be a central hub for all of that in the future, if the rumours are to be believed. MacRumors reported they saw a review on Amazon from an Apple employee that claims a “standalone” HomeKit app will be coming in the fall just in time for the release of iOS 10. The staffer can’t say how it’d work but the implication is it’ll be a hub for all HomeKit-compatible gadgets. Of course, there’s no certainty that Apple plans to show up soon. But if this does get released, that’ll give Apple an edge in the smart home market.

Source: Engadget

Home bridges the gap between you and HomeKit

Apple's HomeKit is helping you communicate with your smart home better but it has its limits. It's a framework after all that lets third-party OEMs "talk" to each other without having to implement lots of APIs from each other. So, that's where apps like Home come in. Developed by Matthias Hochgatterer, this app brings together your smart devices at home and helps you control them all with one app. It works rather similar with IFTTT but in this case you have to set up scenes before you can set up triggers. For example, once you unlock a connected door, as you instruct it, it can bring other gadgets to life, so to speak. It can even be activated by Siri if you want it, too. 

It's on the pricey side at $16.99 but having a central app to control all your HomeKit stuff might just be what you need.  

Source: The Next Web | Download: Apple App Store ($16.99) 

Apple TV revealed as central control hub for HomeKit accessories

Updated on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 4:46PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

WWDC 2015's banner heralds "The Epicenter of Change," and while we can see various app-related icons and outlines (squircle for iOS, round for Watch), at the very centre is  what looks like the outline of an Apple TV.

New information suggests that a new version Apple TV which will serve as the central control hub for HomeKit, which is Apple's home automation, Internet of Things and smart devices play.  

The new Apple TV will reportedly have an app store and will employ the Siri voice assistant to offer users more control of Apple TV as well as many of the HomeKit connected devices that have recently been released. Proof that Apple TV will be the nervous system of HomeKit is derived from text on a support document on Apple's page.

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