Apple, Amazon, Google, and Zigbee Alliance to Develop Open Standard for Smart Home Devices [Updated]

[gplusplus]

The last time Apple was on a standards committee, they quit and made their own competing technology and created even more fragmentation. I’m referring to when Apple was part of the Khronos group developing the Vulkan graphics API. They did an about-face and created their own graphics API: Metal. Now because of Apple, we don’t have a cross platform, modern graphics API, when the entire point of the committee they were part of was to make that happen.

So yea, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

 

[gatortpk]

About damn time. So many cheaper smart devices (bulbs, plugs etc) are Google/Alexa only. The Homekit versions cost double which just isnt worth it usually.

You took the words right out of my mouth - About damn time. I was just speaking to another client yesterday about how there’s no standard for connected smart home devices.

 

[G4DPII]

Makes no difference, once a standard is set Apple will ignore it and come out with it's own again, just like they have done every other time they join anything.

No one should get their hopes up that this will result in anything positive.

 

[SkyRom]

Everyone: "Privacy is a fundamental right."
...
Apple: "Privacy is a fundamental right!"
Also Apple: Default search engine is Google, Siri now "assisting" Alexa, Google and Cortana, massive IP-based open source "sharing" project with Google and others (Facebook...Amazon...etc.) is underway.

 

[Smith288]

This is amazing. Now do Messages and FaceTime....

 

[1144557]

Hopefully Apple's in the driver's seat on this new group. The last thing I want is Amazon dictating what can and can't be done with my data.



So extrapolate from your statement, you'd be totally fine if I got on your WiFi network, right? Cause there can't possibly be any personal info floating around in the air in your home, right?

---

It's entirely possible for someone to use an IoT device as a pivot point on a network... or manipulate those devices. Smart devices aren't limited to just light bulbs. Someone could manipulate your furnace and roast you or turn your lights on at 3am.

Or unlock your door when you're not home.

But yeah, totally no personal info from an insecure bulb.

I think the issue is more than if someone is able to gauge if your smart plug is on or off. An unsecured IOT device can be used as a gateway to comprise your whole network.

I understand that but is there any EVIDENCE that the current standards non-homekit devices uses are NOT generally secure? Not conjecture and thoughts on Google and Amazon and what they do with data.

Other than the recent Ring issue, which could be on their end and not a standards issue (nothing has been made public how they were accessed, could be a simple too easy password account hacked thing), I have not heard of any public smarthome vulnerability cases out there.

And if one thinks anything Apple made/their standard is immune to cyber attack anyway, I have ice to go sell Eskimos. NOTHING is foolproof; especially connected to the internet. Even if the word Apple or Homekit is slapped on it. I may enjoy my iphone but not living in the distortion field either.

I guess I should also add any evidence this new open standard would NOT be secure. So far we know a few words about this total and a lot of assumptions being made just based on names involved.

 

[DoctorTech]

Not sure if this is the best move for Apple. I’ll take security over product availability or price any day. Apple seems to be the only one with security at the forefront.

That was my 1st thought as well. I would welcome the new standard and increased device compatibility but ONLY if it maintains the security / privacy standards we currently have with Homekit compatible devices.

 

[Jason2000]

Interesting. And good idea on Apple’s part. If you ask me Siri’s selection of smart stuff isn’t as broad as Alexa’s

Isn't as broad isn't even close. Alexa rules in this area and by a huge margin.

 

[TonyC28]

This is awesome!

 

[brucewayne]

That was my 1st thought as well. I would welcome the new standard and increased device compatibility but ONLY if it maintains the security / privacy standards we currently have with Homekit compatible devices.

Every one of my Homekit devices (Ecobee, iHome smartplugs, Lutron and Philips lights) talk to the cloud directly can be accessed by other means. I'm not sure it is even possible to setup/maintain (firmware updates) or use additional services not within Homekit (like ecobee efficiency tracking, iHome kwh monitoring) for those products without setting up cloud accounts with the manufacturers themselves. Homekit isn't as locked down as we are led to believe.

For me i use homekit devices in conjunction with smartthings and hubitat because each one has its pros and cons. For instance, Hubitat is the only one that allows me to control philips hue lights with my Lutron Pico switches.

I don't care if they release a new standard, as long as it doesn't break what I already have.

 

[Plutonius]

Maybe it would have been better to come out with a standard first before releasing all the products to the marketplace ?

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

I understand that but is there any EVIDENCE that the current standards non-homekit devices uses are NOT generally secure? Not conjecture and thoughts on Google and Amazon and what they do with data.

Philips Hue Smart Lights Can Be Hacked By Using A Drone

According to a new study, a security flaw allows that drone could be used to hijack Phillips Hue smart lights.

www.itechpost.com

This has been patched, btw.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Great idea. Dumb name.

Way too much work for the acronym CHIP, lol.

“Connected Home over IP” is absolutely ridiculous, I agree!

 

[jimothyGator]

Great idea. Dumb name.

Sounds like somebody's got a CHIP on his shoulder.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Way too much work for the acronym CHIP, lol.

“Connected Home over IP” is absolutely ridiculous, I agree!

Why? It at least forms a word, unlike Transmission Control Protocol Over IP.

 

[TJ82]

Great so we can now end up with a ton of junked old plastic smart things because the tech-profiteers didn't get their act together early on and waited until the market was getting saturated to find a way to get us to trade up by creating a non-backwards compatible new standard.

Pure sleaze these tech firms.

 

[TechieGeek]

Hopefully Apple's in the driver's seat on this new group. The last thing I want is Amazon dictating what can and can't be done with my data.

When has Amazon leaked or misused your data?

All of these companies care about data privacy. Don’t spread misinformation.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

When has Amazon leaked or misused your data?

All of these companies care about data privacy. Don’t spread misinformation.

The Amazon Alexa Eavesdropping Nightmare Came True

An Amazon user in Germany recently requested data about his personal activities and inadvertently gained access to 1,700 audio recordings of someone he

gizmodo.com

Google to Fix Location Data Leak in Google Home, Chromecast – Krebs on Security

krebsonsecurity.com

And that's just five seconds of searching. Google and Amazon are forbidden from being in my home.

 

[Regbial]

Hmmm... glad I didn't splurge on the Hue bridge and some bulbs back in Black Friday... But yeah, "hunting" for smart plugs in Amazon compatible with HomeKit is a chore, I swear Amazon almost obfuscates it on purpose... To promote Alexa and their information-gathering devices.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Hmmm... glad I didn't splurge on the Hue bridge and some bulbs back in Black Friday... But yeah, "hunting" for smart plugs in Amazon compatible with HomeKit is a chore, I swear Amazon almost obfuscates it on purpose... To promote Alexa and their information-gathering devices.

You know... I never thought of that. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

 

[Regbial]

The Amazon Alexa Eavesdropping Nightmare Came True

An Amazon user in Germany recently requested data about his personal activities and inadvertently gained access to 1,700 audio recordings of someone he

gizmodo.com

Google to Fix Location Data Leak in Google Home, Chromecast – Krebs on Security

krebsonsecurity.com

And that's just five seconds of searching. Google and Amazon are forbidden from being in my home.

Exactly. And it's particularly gross to me how they SELL these devices to the consumer when their intention is to take, use and sell the consumer's information. ... Nauseating.

(ok there's probably no proof they use and sell the consumer's information, but, I dunno... I have a hunch. Especially with how low they sometimes go with those Alexa devices prices when they are on sale, and how much they promote them)

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Exactly. And it's particularly gross to me how they SELL these devices to the consumer when their intention is to take, use and sell the consumer's information. ... Nauseating.

Don't get me wrong, I am envious of how prolific Alexa is and the breadth of things it can do. But I'm not willing to make that trade off because frankly, all I really do with Siri on my HomePods is tell her to set the lights or create a reminder.

I'm still waiting for a HomeKit robot vacuum.

 

[G5isAlive]

The last time Apple was on a standards committee, they quit and made their own competing technology and created even more fragmentation. I’m referring to when Apple was part of the Khronos group developing the Vulkan graphics API. They did an about-face and created their own graphics API: Metal. Now because of Apple, we don’t have a cross platform, modern graphics API, when the entire point of the committee they were part of was to make that happen.

So yea, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Apple has been part of (and still active on, so yeah this time, not last time) plenty of successful standards committees

HTML5
USB
VESA
Thunderbolt (might be stretching the definition of standards committee lol)

And I think in this case as Homekit is lagging woefully behind in acceptance and forcing traditional Apple customers to consider alternatives, Apple is very motivated to help develop a universal standard that its walled garden can play in.

So I am guardedly optimistic.

 

[Stella]

Great for the consumer.

This will obviously benefit Apple more than Google, Amazon and other established smart device manufacturers. Apple have struggled to compete with Homekit so interoperability would be a definite advantage.

 

[BGPL]

Too bad z-wave got left out, they probably have the highest number of devices in the wild, and they are almost always the cheapest. I have over 80 devices in my home and most are z-wave. I looked at HomeKit and the devices weren't there, and the prices for the ones that were there were outrageous. This is good in the standard sense, but anything Apple will be expensive. Alexa can handle anything z-wave and anything zigbee... and although I like Apple, Alexa is absolutely crushing Siri.