I'm pretty sure most of the people who saw my post knew I was referring to the stock immediately going up after Apple's keynote address.
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Apple to Launch New 'Smart Home' Platform at WWDC
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I'm pretty sure most of the people who saw my post knew I was referring to the stock immediately going up after Apple's keynote address.
My Nest has worked quite well. It saved more in the first 6 months than it costs. I have no troubles controlling temp, schedules, using the device, apps, or anything else. Most of what I do with Nest, other than the occasional temp override (which is trivial), is automatic based on my location. Away and home are set automatically.
iBeacon is the key here
iBeacon has mesh networking already, they(hardwares) are relatively cheap too. Apple will have to come out with a central controller which again could be built in to Apple TV, Time Capsule , Airport express or individual unit for something like sub $50 price point, which makes it extremely easy for anyone to buy the device.
The switch issue is already addressed by having an ibeacon receptacles that is either for light bulbs or standard power port. Besides if apple were to bring this a s a platform then Philips, belkin, sonos and numerous other third party manufacturers would simply support iBeacon and may be even ditch zwave, zigbee, x10 etc..
Since its a mesh network, the range can be easily extended with a cheap power receptacle or so.
On the software end of things, Apple could show a summary page like they do with iOS devices on iTunes or as an iCloud app. A slick visual graph of power consumption of all devices, ip camera footage, temprature, humidity can be shown.
The most important aspect would be automation itself. The rules have to be more like IFTT than like a programming language but much more complex than IFTT since home needs are very specific. The automation should be self learning like nest thermostat in that it identifies user's habits. CoreLocation already has iBeacon distancing based on the power if I am right, this could be used to draw an approximate map to represent and the user assign the type of sensor(light control, standard switch etc) on the map. The next step would be for the system to automatically suggest scenarios that the user can set. The user could then play with the scenario to modify and tweak. Apple has figured the hardware part already its just the software that ties it all together.
Shade control is probably the most expensive and hard of all. Replacing the shades is very expensive and retrofitting is very hard for a consumer.
iBeacon has mesh networking already, they(hardwares) are relatively cheap too. Apple will have to come out with a central controller which again could be built in to Apple TV, Time Capsule , Airport express or individual unit for something like sub $50 price point, which makes it extremely easy for anyone to buy the device.
The switch issue is already addressed by having an ibeacon receptacles that is either for light bulbs or standard power port. Besides if apple were to bring this a s a platform then Philips, belkin, sonos and numerous other third party manufacturers would simply support iBeacon and may be even ditch zwave, zigbee, x10 etc..
Since its a mesh network, the range can be easily extended with a cheap power receptacle or so.
On the software end of things, Apple could show a summary page like they do with iOS devices on iTunes or as an iCloud app. A slick visual graph of power consumption of all devices, ip camera footage, temprature, humidity can be shown.
The most important aspect would be automation itself. The rules have to be more like IFTT than like a programming language but much more complex than IFTT since home needs are very specific. The automation should be self learning like nest thermostat in that it identifies user's habits. CoreLocation already has iBeacon distancing based on the power if I am right, this could be used to draw an approximate map to represent and the user assign the type of sensor(light control, standard switch etc) on the map. The next step would be for the system to automatically suggest scenarios that the user can set. The user could then play with the scenario to modify and tweak. Apple has figured the hardware part already its just the software that ties it all together.
Shade control is probably the most expensive and hard of all. Replacing the shades is very expensive and retrofitting is very hard for a consumer.
iBeacon devices are basically small GPS like signal generators that allow an app to determine where it is, inside a home or business, by the distance to one or more iBeacons. IOS already has iBeacon APIs included, and they are not that hard to use. The beacons are passive devices and don't really do much other than transmit location, ID, and some acceleration/temp data.
Using this distance info, apps can do different things based on location. Envision a super market that tells you about the special of the week when you enter that aisle area...
I've done X10 and Insteon. I got tired of the lame Windows apps and the one Mac app I could find... plus the PC was always on.
I have started moving things over to my ADT Pulse system wtih Z-Wave. It really works well, but needs more help in the automation and device support arena. They do support Z-Wave thermostat, so that's looking good.
ADT provides a Z-Wave hub that ties into their alarm system. They also already have an iOS app that lets you control things via the Apple device.
I'd love to hear that Apple is partnering with ADT (as well as others) to tie everything together. With ADT they could use the Pulse hub to mange the devices, and supply the software/API.
I have started moving things over to my ADT Pulse system wtih Z-Wave. It really works well, but needs more help in the automation and device support arena. They do support Z-Wave thermostat, so that's looking good.
ADT provides a Z-Wave hub that ties into their alarm system. They also already have an iOS app that lets you control things via the Apple device.
I'd love to hear that Apple is partnering with ADT (as well as others) to tie everything together. With ADT they could use the Pulse hub to mange the devices, and supply the software/API.
I used X10 for decades before switching to Insteon. Insteon has worked well for me, along with their hub for control. The Hub is also easy to interface to PC/Mac/IOS apps.
Yes, its only a matter of time they expand the iBeacon API to more than just alert when the device enters a given space/location. May be they'd call it something else, but the fact is iOS7 has Multipeer Connectivity Framework to allow devices to mesh network under this protocol. With Bluetooth LE being cheaper than WiFi, its not farfetched to imagine that it can be key home automation tech than relatively old tech like Zigbee, Zwave, Insteon or X10.
Edit: Apparently there are a few people already at it
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zuli/zuli-smartplugs
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ninja/ninja-sphere-next-generation-control-of-your-envir
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Yes. The Nest thermostat is a bunch of fluff with hardly any real climate control features. Add to the list: can't simultaneously control a humidifier and a dehumidifier. Can't do communicating zoning. Can't display outdoor temp or time even on home screen. It's a very very basic thermostat in an expensive package.
I'd definitely won't matter much. I don't even know how we got down the rabbit hole of which is more important. iPads can definitely do some home automation better thanks to screen space, and I'm thinking a lot about complicated A/V functions. But when you add in stuff that you want to control away from home, iPhones become more important because of connectivity anywhere.
As you mentioned there a huge range of functions that can be controlled. I just hope the developers can do this without pricing us regular folks out of the game. The Kwikset lock that opens via Bluetooth is about $200, and the Philips Hue bulbs are $50 each. Egads. These functions need to drop to less than doubling the price of comparable non-smart devices.
Personally, I prefer not to pay recurring monthly extortion fees to the likes of ADT for the privilidge of controlling my home. I actually hope Apple does NOT partner with ADT. I have been controlling and automating my home for 5-6 years with my iOS devices, using DIY hardware with APIs. I added Siri voice control 2 years ago for the fun if it. All without recurring monthly extortion fees.
Fully agreed on the monthly fees. I guess I didn't say it properly. I'd like to see Apple partner with ADT and other providers so that if you have ADT you can use that infrastructure, if you have something from , say Smarthome, you can use that. I'd just like to see ADT on that list that Apple supports/partners so I'm not as much at the mercy of ADT and their slow/horrible implementation of features.
It's probably already been said but the fact that Apple let Nest go to google is a prime and clear example that Apple is now attempting to come from behind . Think about that for just a minuet or two .. Nest was a product beyond greatness that followed Apples past mantra of perfection integrated with beauty. The writing on the wall is clear as day
The beats aquasition was nothing more then a way to garner a different demographic of consumers. It had almost ZERO to do with product development or product excellence . I don't see any of this ending well frankly because without Steve apple is showing that it has no real vision, and the bean counters are doing what they do best
money won't solve this problem, it is the start of a rot from the inside out .
Or... Nest is a company that has nothing that Apple needed.
Interesting use of the past tense and opinion presented as fact.
Can you provide examples of Apple showing real vision with Steve in between major product announcements?
Was? Apple did not announce the acquisition. It hasn't started in the first place and negotiations are not complete yet, the price is not set. There are very limited number of people who know what value Apple would derive from beats IF this acquisition were to go through. If I personally were to "speculate", I'd say that the acquisition is less about the physical headphone products and more about the content curation. Beats has valuable editorial team that consists of experts in music. Beats music is aimed at anyone who listens to music, no sure what you meant by different demographic(I am guessing you meant beats by dre heaphones). Its quite clear from Apple's history that it cares more about what technology enables people to do than the technology itself.
Not sure what the basis for lack of vision at Apple is. Is it based on the RUMOR that Apple MAY acquire beats? Does releasing new categories of products frequently mean a company has vision? Or is it selling in volume and making profits? Vision, disrupt, innovation and more words like these are simply overused in tech industry today. They add little value to a fact, opinion or an argument.
I would expect the approach to be in levels. The core functions would be lighting, security, and HVAC. These are relatively inexpensive to implement but currently lack a unified interface for programming or use. Implementing other options, such as door locks, would depend on how much a home owner is willing to spend on retrofits.
The Hue bulbs are a novelty, IMO. I can't think of a good reason to spend hundreds to add mood lighting to my home. In fact I can't think of a good reason to do it at all.
The rabbit hole was created by MR's reporting this as entirely an iPhone story. FWIW, an iPad can also do connectively anywhere.
Sorry I brought it up, I just mentioned that I use it. I know, everything Apple must be better.
Bet smart home has the iTV as the centerpiece - with a Pixelworks chip
It would appear an iTV is actually on the way. A very small chip company called Pixelworks that mainly deals with TV's (ie Hitachi etc are customers) added a former Apple exec to the board, disclosed to SEC that Apple did over $10M of business with them last year developing new product, and they've said a major ramp of of revenues is expected by the 3rd/4th quarter of this year because of a product release. Seems that finally the iTV is going to materialize. Obviously this is speculation, but the dots seem to add up that we'll see one this year.
It would appear an iTV is actually on the way. A very small chip company called Pixelworks that mainly deals with TV's (ie Hitachi etc are customers) added a former Apple exec to the board, disclosed to SEC that Apple did over $10M of business with them last year developing new product, and they've said a major ramp of of revenues is expected by the 3rd/4th quarter of this year because of a product release. Seems that finally the iTV is going to materialize. Obviously this is speculation, but the dots seem to add up that we'll see one this year.
Apple has concentrated on acquiring indoor locating technology.
Perhaps they'll do something like the CRISTAL project shown below, with a visual representation of the remote control devices in your house. This would work well on an iPad.
You might first walk around your house, so your iPad learned and photographed the area where each remote control item is, using some kind of beacon. It would be an automatic setup.
Just a thought.
Perhaps they'll do something like the CRISTAL project shown below, with a visual representation of the remote control devices in your house. This would work well on an iPad.
You might first walk around your house, so your iPad learned and photographed the area where each remote control item is, using some kind of beacon. It would be an automatic setup.
Just a thought.
NEST was founded and developed by Apple engineers, so it's as good as it could possibly be. Apple couldn't make one better by definition.
I'm not sure there is anything that iOS can expand on, as the limitations are hardware based. The beacons do what they do. The only limitations today are the imagination of the developer in how to use that information. iOS might do more of the heavy lifting, but apps can do it today if they want.
A good example of what people are doing is Tiles, which is mostly beacon like. ITs an interesting product with imagination.