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Apple has quietly tweaked its Home app webpage to indicate that its upcoming robot vacuum control feature will now arrive in early 2025 rather than later this year, as previously advertised.

Roomba-and-HomeKit-Feature.jpg

When support is added, Apple device users will be able to start a robot vacuum via HomeKit automations and scenes, or ask Siri to clean a specific room. Apple says the Home app will support the "core functionality" of robot vacuum cleaners, such as vacuuming, mopping, power control, cleaning mode, and charge status.

Apple said at WWDC in June that the iOS 18 feature would arrive later in 2024 – presumably with iOS 18.2, due this month – but that's apparently no longer the case. Apple tweaked a footnote on the Home app webpage in early November, signaling the delay. When it does arrive, controlling robot vacuums with Siri will initially be available in English (U.S.) only.

Article Link: Apple Nudges HomeKit Robot Vacuum Support Rollout to Next Year
 
Wow I didn’t realize this couldn’t be done yet. I’ve been controlling a robot vacuum for a few years with Google assistant and just figured it was the same.
If anyone really wants this functionality they can just use HomeBridge or Home Assistant and have the vacuum show up as a couple of on/off switches.

Native support is always nice, though.
 
I'm wondering how Apple Keynotes would look like, if they only announce the features ready in time for the .0 release.
We have fixed the bugs we introduced in the new os release 3 years ago. And just to keep you trapped in our ecosystem we have introduced brand new batch of bugs, which will be resolved in 2030’s ios release.

**Note: Subject to you having enough money to buy our new iphone at massively inflated prices, because we can’t resolve your issues if you dont buy the latest and greatest iphone.
 
I can already do this with Alexa, it's becoming more and more difficult to justify to anybody how Apple is better than the current competition on the market.
When it comes to home automation and smart appliances, they aren’t.
When it comes to other things, they are.
 
Do these vacuum robots use Wi-Fi or Thread for communication? HomeKit or Matter?
 
I really wish Apple would invest more time and effort into HomeKit. It's such an important piece of the ecosystem, and it just feels so neglected.

It's also something that Apple Intelligence would be very helpful with eventually, helping users craft Scenes and Automations, etc.
 
Since I started my smart home journey in 2015 I always went by these rules.

1. It needs to be compatible with the big 3 (HomeKit, Amazon, Google)
2. They need to be from a reputable brand with decent support
3. Limit Wifi only devices

This has helped me stay away from headaches and if any one of the big 3 give me problems or does not have a feature I need I can jump ship and move to Google or HomeKit.
 
Anyone know if this will let me drop the iRobot app? That thing is annoyingly intrusive. Now it pops up advertisements in the middle of trying to start a vacuuming job.
 
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The home automation field is moving faster than Apple can follow. And that is all Apple can do: "follow".

The way it needs to be is for Apple to go full in with Mmatter/Thread and build products that work well with industry standards. The walled ecosystem does not work with light bulbs and thermostats. It all needs to be 100% interoperable.

I read that the Home Assistant project accepted contributions from 21,000 people last year. It is hard to imagine how they were able to manage this. It must be hard to compete with someone who has 21,000 developers who are willing to work at least part time for free.
 
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I can already do this with Alexa, it's becoming more and more difficult to justify to anybody how Apple is better than the current competition on the market.
It's easy to overlook the distinction but "Works with Siri" and Homekit aren't the same. Alexa is simply sending voice commands over to the robot using data inside the apps, Siri shortcuts do this as well. Homekit will adopt the vacuum and talk to it natively, requiring a universal framework that will work across all vendors and devices. It will also likely have security requirements that you won't find in the apps.
 
The home automation field is moving faster than Apple can follow. And that is all Apple can do: "follow".

The way it needs to be is for Apple to go full in with Mmatter/Thread and build products that work well with industry standards. The walled ecosystem does not work with light bulbs and thermostats. It all needs to be 100% interoperable.

I read that the Home Assistant project accepted contributions from 21,000 people last year. It is hard to imagine how they were able to manage this. It must be hard to compete with someone who has 21,000 developers who are willing to work at least part time for free.
Again, so much assumed here without paying attention to the nuances of this functionality vs. "others". Apple literally is approaching this holistically using standards, most of these other methods are just quick and dirty shortcuts.
 
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