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Apple Adds iOS 16.2's Home App Upgrade to Internal List of Major Issues

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Apple has marked iOS 16.2's Home architecture update as a major issue by adding it to an internal list of issues typically only reserved for widespread and noteworthy problems, indicating the update caused widespread and systemic issues to users' HomeKit devices and setup.

homekit-showdown-2-thumb.jpg

Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 16.2, which included an option for users to update their Home app to a new, more "stable" architecture. Apple previewed the new architecture in June, and it was offered as a user-initiated option for users as an update to the Home app following iOS 16.2's release.

Despite Apple claiming the update would improve the Home app experience, a significant amount of users reported their HomeKit devices, scenes, and setups were broken after the update. The widespread issues caused by the update forced Apple to ultimately pull the upgrade, saying it would return in the future.

Now, MacRumors has learned Apple has added the Home app update to a database of both hardware and software issues internally, a rare move for a software-related problem. The list, used by Apple, Apple Stores, and authorized service providers, typically only includes widespread issues faced by customers, including mostly hardware problems.

Apple claims the update improves the Home app to offer "faster, more reliable performance," alongside slight adjustments to the Home app design. It's unclear when Apple will fix the issues with the update and make it available to users again. Until the update is fixed, the company has provided instructions that users who are experiencing issues after the update should follow.

Article Link: Apple Adds iOS 16.2's Home App Upgrade to Internal List of Major Issues
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/30/apple-adds-home-app-to-issues-list/
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Maclver said:
I guess im one of the lucky ones who hasn't had any issues with the homekit upgrade and I have several devices in my home app. Fingers crossed things stay working!
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This.

While I only have two AppleTV units, a few HomePod Mini’s, some Nanoleaf A19 bulbs and two Wemo Smart plugs, everything has been working very smoothly. All automations are still in tact as well.
 
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Reactions: TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
Before Update: "Hey Siri, turn on the Den." Den lights turn on, AppleTV turns on itself and TV.

After Update: "Hey Siri, turn on the Den." Randomly starts playing Billboard Top 20 rap songs I didn't know existed nor desire to listen to on my HomePod mini stereo pair. Lights remain off. I have to make a scene that turns on these lights because asking to turn them on individually is kinda backwards, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE GROUPED TOGETHER in the room called DEN.

What's funny is I haven't listened to anything popular in over 10 years, and rap is not even a genre I consider music and thus never listen to it. So, I am wondering why I lost light control but gained "Hey, maybe they wanna listen to something they never listen to? Let's shove Billboard at them!"

Which doesn't make any sense. What appears to be happening here is lazy development with no real focus. Design by committee!

"People wanna have music just shoved at them when they turn on lights! Here, watch Tom Hanks make another movie about an emotionally stunted man! Here's some more content!"

Also, what's up with not having the ability to granularly add Home devices into Control Center? Isn't that its name? I get myQ being lazy and breaking up with HomeKit, but I would like to add just my Den to Control Center, not a random collection of whatever it thinks I need. Is it my phone or the AI Siri Suggestion's phone because I'm starting to wonder if Apple is eventually just gonna rent me the phone like I rent an apartment.
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, josephliu2003, amartinez1660 and 18 others
I have under 20 devices in my home (list below) that I am sharing with 3 other family members. Lucikly I didn't experience any issues with Home architecture upgrade. I also have Asus WiFi 5 AImesh with 1 node that is hardwired, but has 2.4 Ghz band off to keep all the 2.4 Ghz devices on the main router. The 5Ghz band is on the main router and a mesh node and so that 5 Ghz devices can easily roam for the best signal.

1x Apple TV 4K (2nd gen) - hardwired
1x HomePod (5Ghz)
2x HomePod mini (5Ghz)
4x Wemo wifi smart plugs (2.4Ghz)
3x Wemo wifi smart switches (2.4Ghz)
1x Wemo wifi smart dimmer (2.4Ghz)
1x Meross smart wifi garage door opener (2.4Ghz)
2x Logitech circle view cameras (2.4Ghz)
1x Logitech circle view doorbell (2.4Ghz)
1x Hunter smart fan + light (2.4Ghz)
1x Ecobee 4 thermostat (2.4Ghz)
 
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Maclver said:
I guess im one of the lucky ones who hasn't had any issues with the homekit upgrade and I have several devices in my home app. Fingers crossed things stay working!
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Same here. I have multiple home users, home hubs, many devices (mesh routers, thermostats, doorbells, HomePods, switches, the list goes on), and the upgrade was rock solid and made everything more responsive and reliable. This isn't to discount the issues that others may be having, but it's bizarre.
 
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Apple pls make it possible to organise automations and add and/or logic while you unf**k home
 
Were any of these issues flagged by beta testers? Surely Apple's internal team and the beta testers would have flagged this so the architecture update could be pulled before the RC?
 
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It’s a freaking hot mess!! My HomePods rarely work properly, and my AppleTV has been acting strangely. I don’t even have any types of home automation stuff in my house, so it’s all confusing to me anyway. All I know is that they need to sort it all out soon. I love coming home and asking Siri to play some jazz as I unwind a bit. It takes 3-4 requests, and the sound drops out overt few minutes. Or when I keep getting confusing messages on AppleTV about using my hub (or whatever) through my HomePods, when I selected my AppleTV in my living room (HomePods are in master bedroom in Home app). It’s all super confusing to me.
 
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Opened a case when my HomePods were stuck in an infinite "upgrade" loop. After deleting and re-adding them the Home architecture upgrade was available and completed.

It was a matter of a few days before Apple removed the update. I have had no issues to date and have tons of home automation, devices, etc.
 
needsomecoffee said:
Something is broken re: Apple software development. I do not know how they architect/manage their different systems, but it appears to be broken (e.g. my experience of ever more bugs affecting MacOS releases). Not sure Apple mgmt cares since little seems to change.
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Apple’s obsession with secrecy overrides everything. It’s really that simple.
 
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I'm sorry for everyone with these bugs. It really is terrible.

I hope they can fix it, instead of just abandoning the whole architecture. For what it's worth, after I upgraded, for the first time in months, my Watch doesn't say "You have no HomeKit accessories set up" when I try to close a garage door that I just opened.
 
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needsomecoffee said:
Something is broken re: Apple software development. I do not know how they architect/manage their different systems, but it appears to be broken (e.g. my experience of ever more bugs affecting MacOS releases). Not sure Apple mgmt cares since little seems to change.
Click to expand...
I also have noticed this - Apple's software has not been the best with this set of launches. Just going off the top of my head..

1. Camera shaking bug in 16.0 that possibly damaged hardware (how was this not caught earlier?)
2. Poor battery life on 14 PM at launch, to the point it felt like 50-60% of what my 13 PM was. AOD off.
3. Swipe up stutter
4. Watch failed to pair iPhone when I was setting up both devices at launch; scanned the watch screen and nothing happened
5. Performance on AT&T is very poor, to the extent of not loading pages at all, with secondary T-Mobile SIM enabled
6. Drifting airpods pro audio (not sure if this is a hardware fault)
7. This new HomeKit issue

I was previously a X.0 beta tester and have been on every beta since the iOS 11 days, but all of this has me likely staying on the last stable version of 16.x next summer and holding out until something like 17.2.
 
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Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, xpxp2002, Surf Monkey and 2 others
I'm glad I waited then, I've got several HomePods, Hue lights, Eve outlets and a Logitech doorbell. I'll wait until the general consensus deems it ready.

On a somewhat related note, Siri does seem to have gotten dumber, simple commands like "Turn off the dresser light" turns off the whole room....
 
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