Apple Rumored to Launch Smart Home Doorbell With Face ID and More

[ChrisA]

if it did happen, apple doesn’t have enough of the supporting product to justify making the switch for me. My ring doorbell works with all the other ring security products I have. Also who wants indoor security cameras? I’d say the majority of security cameras sold are outdoor yes?

Matter is supposed to fix this. Apple can produce a doorbell and it would work with any Matter-enabled lock.

No one is going to install this in a house except as a hobby project until there is an industry-standard where we have an assured supply of compatible parts 30 years from now. Buildings have LONG lifetimes.

Apple's problem is that they like to update their products too fast. No one wants to have to upgrade all the light switches in their house every year. We expect them to last at least 20 years. Matter should fix this.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

This could be really stinkin’ cool!

 

[MrRom92]

I really like this. First off, Ring has straight up lied about their plans to integrate HomeKit support for YEARS. So I have not gotten a doorbell cam yet. This would solve that issue. And as someone who already has had an Apple homekey supported smartlock since they first became available, the additional co-functionality with that is just icing on the cake.

 

[Tar Sniffer]

Apple creating a Nest like device makes sense, but if they are going to create multiple home accessories then it’s a distraction from their core business. They should establish a new company that’s dedicated to HomeKit devices and just keep looking for the next big thing.

 

[LV426]

Think it'll be HomeKit compatible?

The most important thing is that the ringer shouldn’t sound like the noise you get out of those novelty Christmas cards that play a tune, like Ring. It sets my teeth on edge every time I hear one of those.

 

[Shearwater]

Hey Siri..unlock the Front Door!
" OK...here's what I found on the web!"

 

[hagar]

Never going to happen. This makes no sense for Apple whatsoever.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

This is actually a really good idea, Apple could do something really great here. Makes you wonder why they weren't doing it ages ago though.

 

[Just_Kevin]

I would gladly swap out my Nest cameras for Apple, assuming they do 24/7 recordings and have the other features and abilities that I want.

It boggles my mind that I still need to use the Nest app and the Google Home app to retain full functionality, since I have a mix of older and newer devices.

 

[steve09090]

Hey Siri..unlock the Front Door!
" OK...here's what I found on the web!"

I can do that with my Aqara U300. Never had an error

 

[stocklen]

I agree. HomeKit is good but I want more control, closer to the manufacturers control. I have an Aqara door lock that works natively in HomeKit with iPhone/Apple Watch, but I can’t add a fingerprint or passcode without buying an Aqara M3 hub for way too much.

Stick to their lane but they need to allow better cross platform 'matter' control. It’s the whole point of matter!

I have to say,I think its fair enough for manufacturers to incentivise buying their hub etc.

Homekit compatibility, or matter compatibility, only really gives the most high level control to the devices in Home... most devices we are certainly used to having to at least download the manufacturers app to register, and have fine control over other things. Unfortunately mandating a hud to facilitate deeper functionality is necessary.

The exception to me is that a thread based device should not require a separate hub - although again thats only going to give the bare minimum functionality.

Take for example a smart thermostat. Sure, in Home you can turn it on and off and set the temperature... but you need the manufacturers app to create schedules and adjust settings etc.

 

[steve09090]

I have to say,I think its fair enough for manufacturers to incentivise buying their hub etc.

Homekit compatibility, or matter compatibility, only really gives the most high level control to the devices in Home... most devices we are certainly used to having to at least download the manufacturers app to register, and have fine control over other things. Unfortunately mandating a hud to facilitate deeper functionality is necessary.

The exception to me is that a thread based device should not require a separate hub - although again thats only going to give the bare minimum functionality.

Take for example a smart thermostat. Sure, in Home you can turn it on and off and set the temperature... but you need the manufacturers app to create schedules and adjust settings etc.

Whilst I agree with everything you’ve said, I think it is ludicrous to charge AU$279 for the Aqara M3 Hub! There is nothing special about it that justifies that. People think Apple charge too much, but for a single hub, it’s outrageous.

So, whilst the door lock is great, they have stopped me from buying any other devices. They would likely bring me into their ecosystem if they didn’t make the hub so much. It’s not like they even make the new locks backwards compatible.

Pretty sure I can use the Eve Room temperature (thread/matter) to initiate shortcuts or automations. As I can every Meross device I own. Difference being they are natively HomeKit compatible I guess. No hubs or even proprietary apps required. I only ever need them to update firmware.

 

[robantonelli]

Apple is in the early stages of developing a smart home doorbell and lock system with Face ID, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the doorbell would wirelessly connect to a compatible deadbolt lock, allowing users to automatically unlock a door with Face ID. The doorbell would likely work with third-party HomeKit locks, but Apple could also partner with another brand to offer an all-in-one solution, he said.

Apple's doorbell would compete with Amazon's line of Ring doorbells, but Gurman did not say if Apple's solution would capture video.

Apple would almost certainly tout the privacy and security benefits of its own smart home doorbell. If the product is ever released, Gurman expects that it will be equipped with Apple's rumored Wi-Fi chip, which is said to have a Secure Enclave to protect user data. And if the doorbell does end up offering video capture, Apple already has a HomeKit Secure Video service with end-to-end encryption for storing footage in iCloud.

Gurman believes Apple's doorbell is unlikely to launch until 2026 at the earliest.

Apple seemingly has plans to make a bigger push into the smart home space over the next few years. In addition to this doorbell, the company is expected to launch a smart home hub next year, and it is also rumored to be planning its own HomeKit-enabled indoor security camera that would compete with products like Logitech's Circle View.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Launch Smart Home Doorbell With Face ID and More

So they’re ok with adding Face ID unlock to a doorbell but not the Mac? They both present extremely similar “problems” So why would a doorbell (accessible to any stranger outside your home) get this benefit but not the Mac (which is arguably more secure sitting inside your home)?

 

[stocklen]

Whilst I agree with everything you’ve said, I think it is ludicrous to charge AU$279 for the Aqara M3 Hub! There is nothing special about it that justifies that. People think Apple charge too much, but for a single hub, it’s outrageous.

So, whilst the door lock is great, they have stopped me from buying any other devices. They would likely bring me into their ecosystem if they didn’t make the hub so much. It’s not like they even make the new locks backwards compatible.

Pretty sure I can use the Eve Room temperature (thread/matter) to initiate shortcuts or automations. As I can every Meross device I own. Difference being they are natively HomeKit compatible I guess. No hubs or even proprietary apps required. I only ever need them to update firmware.

I agreee with you

I don't use Aqara devices and that does seem very steep indeed.

Hubs are the bane of my life - or the smart home life. I appreciate why they are necessary, and what they do to facilitate connection to the wider smart home and the outside world... but needing *many* of them is a huge pain.

I have 4 hubs at home. I don't want 4 hubs, but I have no choice. The only saving grace is that one of them is wifi connected but the other 3 are ethernet connection which in itself becomes an issue needing all these wired ports.

Regarding your Aqara issue, it *certainly* stops me buying another manufacturers devices where it means I will need to buy and house yet another hub for the privilege and especially if its so expensive.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Ring doesn’t even work with HomeKit

I don’t use HomeKit so that matters not to me personally.

 

[icerabbit]

One ring camera with very limited motion and the snapshot every three minutes ( or whatever the longest is ) already uses 25 GB of data in a month. ( learned this the hard way ) No way continuous recording can be offered with cloud solutions. It has to be local storage; and Apple doesn't like memory cards or external storage, we don't even have access points any more that you can attach a drive to ...
I don't see what Apple would want to bring to the table.

 

[awisdom]

Hey Apple! Most people come home via garage not the front door. Duh! FaceID isn’t what is needed. It’s a camera, mic and speaker like Ring. If you can’t add value then don’t make the product. The great fall of Apple keeps accelerating. Next up -> Apple’s very own TV about 20 years too late! Way to go Tim! We love you!

 

[awisdom]

Having FaceID will be really beneficial. This combined with privacy features of Apple should be enough for many to purchase this product. Hopefully it comes to the market as soon as possible.

Hey no! We come home via garage not front door! Duh!

 

[awisdom]

I'd kill for an Apple-built home security system with actual end-to-end encryption. I have Ring now and it's utterly ****. The fact that Ring cameras still can't continuously record is such a brain dead move (Yes, I know it's coming. But it's coming to new cameras only).

Love my Ring cameras and doorbell. Why continuously record? They do a great job of detecting motion and or humans. Great products! You have no clue what you’re talking about.

 

[awisdom]

As a long time Apple user, I'm the first to talk **** about Apple when they deserve it.
But one thing is sure, I'd rather trust them with my face and private videos than Amazon, who basically gave the police a new dystopian-novel-grade video-surveillance system.

Seriously you have no idea what you’re talking about. We had crab in our neighborhood and the police came asking for access to cameras, they did not automatically have access. Please educate yourself before posting.

 

[Phaseangle]

Forget the HomeKit mention it is going to be Matter. Apple has already made it clear that all their future Apple Home products will be Matter as they have stopped delivering the HomeKit protocol and gone all in with Matter. Besides Matter has mostly evolved from HomeKit with the cooperation from other platforms.

 

[Scotticus]

I'm pretty happy with the Logi one we have now, which uses HKSV, but I'd prefer one straight from Apple for sure

 

[LV426]

Hey Apple! Most people come home via garage not the front door. Duh! FaceID isn’t what is needed. It’s a camera, mic and speaker like Ring. If you can’t add value then don’t make the product. The great fall of Apple keeps accelerating. Next up -> Apple’s very own TV about 20 years too late! Way to go Tim! We love you!

Simple. Just move to the UK, where all cars are now too wide to fit in the garage.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Seriously you have no idea what you’re talking about. We had crab in our neighborhood and the police came asking for access to cameras, they did not automatically have access. Please educate yourself before posting.

Oh, thank you very much!
Your incredibly precious personal and anecdotal evidence of something going well is a clear proof that nothing has ever gone bad!
I should always survey all people who are alive to look for exceptions before I dare assume that thoroughly documented evidence is real!
Apparently, you can prove a negative!

(Should I go on with sarcasm?)

 

[steve09090]

Simple. Just move to the UK, where all cars are now too wide to fit in the garage.

Why do they call it a garage? From what I have seen, they are all extra living areas, home gyms or storage rooms. 😃

I agreee with you

I don't use Aqara devices and that does seem very steep indeed.

Hubs are the bane of my life - or the smart home life. I appreciate why they are necessary, and what they do to facilitate connection to the wider smart home and the outside world... but needing *many* of them is a huge pain.

I have 4 hubs at home. I don't want 4 hubs, but I have no choice. The only saving grace is that one of them is wifi connected but the other 3 are ethernet connection which in itself becomes an issue needing all these wired ports.

Regarding your Aqara issue, it *certainly* stops me buying another manufacturers devices where it means I will need to buy and house yet another hub for the privilege and especially if its so expensive.

That's why I have stuck to HomeKit. But no one else does smart door locks as well as Aqara, at least for my use case (internal garage door to house). I refuse to buy a hub when I have 2 HomePod Mini's and 3 Apple TV's. I had a Eufy Homebase for cameras, but when I bought a new house, I went Reolink PoE cameras. So I have a dedicated NVR.

It's important to keep it simple imo.

Seriously you have no idea what you’re talking about. We had crab in our neighborhood and the police came asking for access to cameras, they did not automatically have access. Please educate yourself before posting.

^^^ Someone who thinks Privacy is for policing and not for making Money (Amazon/Google).^^^

(Should I go on with sarcasm?)

I appreciated the sarcasm 😂