Apple's Home Services Head Departs Company After Two Years

[MacRumors]

Sam Jadallah, Apple's head of Home Services, left the company last week after two years leading some of Apple's work on smart home initiatives.

Jadallah announced his departure on LinkedIn, where he said that it was "a treat to be an entrepreneur within Apple and to create products at scale." Based on some of his tweets, Jadallah worked on digital key-related projects, such as Apple's recent iOS 15 effort to add keys for HomeKit-enabled locks to the Wallet app.

Apple hired Jadallah back in 2019, and his hiring made headlines because he was brought on from Microsoft to improve Apple's work on HomeKit-enabled devices. Jadallah formerly worked at Microsoft, and before joining Apple, he headed up luxury smart lock company Otto.

When Jadallah was hired, many saw it as a sign of Apple's effort to push further into the home space. Apple has been developing its HomeKit protocol and working on home devices like the HomePod for many years now, but it continues to lag behind companies like Amazon and Google, especially in the smart speaker department.

In the two years since Jadallah's hiring, Apple has introduced several new HomeKit initiatives. In addition to expanding the functionality of the digital Wallet app, Apple has also added support for Thread, worked on introducing Matter, and introduced new HomeKit features like HomeKit Secure Video.

It is not clear why Jadallah is leaving Apple or what he plans to do in the future, nor how his departure will impact Apple's home services team. Apple seems to be in the middle of a refocus on its home efforts, and with the launch of the new MacBook Pro models, Apple redesigned its website to group the TV & Home categories together.

Apple is aiming for a total living room strategy that will ultimately see the HomePod and Apple TV combined into a single device that will be able to be used for controlling smart home devices, entertainment, communication, and more.

Recent reports have suggested that Apple is struggling with its hardware strategy, which could impact home services going forward. Apple's engineering team is pessimistic about the future of the Apple TV, a key component in Apple's current smart home ecosystem. Like the HomePod, Apple struggles to get people interested in the Apple TV, with many consumers choosing more affordable set-top boxes from companies like Roku and Amazon.

Apple's plan to combine the HomePod and the Apple TV into one device as a single point of home control could turn things around, but we'll have to wait to see how the strategy pans out following the product's planned 2023 launch.

Article Link: Apple's Home Services Head Departs Company After Two Years

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Blame the home pod mini colors. That’s probably the most innovative feature he worked on.

He’ll be applying for Google… new colors in NEST coming soon.

This is what could have been a better feature. So, Useful!

 

[Rychiar]

I don't see how a combo Apple TV/homepod would work... I want my Apple TV in my tv stand and speakers spread out around the room for surround...

 

[Realityck]

Apple doesn't have a standalone product that acts as a home automation access/control point.

They are using their devices (Apple Watch/Iphone/Ipad/Mac) to interface with various home automation products, but judging how little home automation products they carry in the Apple store they are way behind others.

Apple also don't sell really anything that interfaces with a home entertainment setup except the 24/7 Apple TV 4K.

They position their HomePod mini as powerful audio devices you can place around the house.

 

[zachz]

I‘ve found the Home experience over the last few years to have gone downhill, at least in my experience. Maybe his departure will be in Apple’s interest.

So many bugs, especially with iOS 15 and macOS Monterey, it’s nearly impossible for me to set scenes in the Home app without it automatically switching all my lights to white.

So many smart home competitors seem to be doing better for half the price, it’s a shame a company like Apple cannot perfect the smart home

 

[tgwaste]

Home is the worst overall product Apple has. I so regret leaving Nest. Nest just worked. But Google has a track record of just giving up on things so...

 

[Rychiar]

I wish shortcuts worked. I have one at bedtime to set my night scene and control a fan and the thermostat but for some reason it fails on the night scene... which works totally fine outside of the shortcut... and once in a blue moon it all works.... such crap

 

[DNichter]

I don't see how a combo Apple TV/homepod would work... I want my Apple TV in my tv stand and speakers spread out around the room for surround...

I think an Apple sound bar/TV combo makes a lot of sense. I am the same as you and have traditionally gone for a more traditional set up, but many people just go for a sound bar and I think this would check a lot of boxes. I know they have ones that support atmos and the like, but I am not sure how good they sound.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Home is the worst overall product Apple has. I so regret leaving Nest. Nest just worked. But Google has a track record of just giving up on things so...

The only way Home is ever going to work is if Apple gets into all the other spaces - doorbells, thermostats, security cameras, light bulbs, all of it.

 

[Menel]

Don't **** up our doorbells. The notifications popping up on TV, overylaying my games (steamlink), movies, etc and package detection are slick!

 

[Rychiar]

The only way Home is ever going to work is if Apple gets into all the other spaces - doorbells, thermostats, security cameras, light bulbs, all of it.

which I don't see why they can't. other companies release so many products every year. they Can't spend their trillions on dedicated teams for smart home products? its not like the few products they do make have been all that high quality the last few years

 

[rpmurray]

Apple seems to be in the middle of a refocus on its home efforts

This explains it. His managers have screwed up and threw him under the bus as a scapegoat which is why he's leaving. Refocus is a code word for when higher-ups have blundered badly but are unwilling to take blame. Now they just need to find another whipping boy for whatever other incompetent discussions they make going forward.

 

[BigJohno]

I think the only app i have no idea how to use.... Really not straight forward or very Apple like UI

 

[SBlue1]

Biggest surprise here is that the HomeKit department had a leader! I am shocked. Lets see what the future brings. It can't get any worse.

 

[donster28]

Sam Jadallah, Apple's head of Home Services, left the company last week after two years leading some of Apple's work on smart home initiatives.

Jadallah announced his departure on LinkedIn, where he said that it was "a treat to be an entrepreneur within Apple and to create products at scale." Based on some of his tweets, Jadallah worked on digital key-related projects, such as Apple's recent iOS 15 effort to add keys for HomeKit-enabled locks to the Wallet app.

Apple hired Jadallah back in 2019, and his hiring made headlines because he was brought on from Microsoft to improve Apple's work on HomeKit-enabled devices. Jadallah formerly worked at Microsoft, and before joining Apple, he headed up luxury smart lock company Otto.

When Jadallah was hired, many saw it as a sign of Apple's effort to push further into the home space. Apple has been developing its HomeKit protocol and working on home devices like the HomePod for many years now, but it continues to lag behind companies like Amazon and Google, especially in the smart speaker department.

In the two years since Jadallah's hiring, Apple has introduced several new HomeKit initiatives. In addition to expanding the functionality of the digital Wallet app, Apple has also added support for Thread, worked on introducing Matter, and introduced new HomeKit features like HomeKit Secure Video.

It is not clear why Jadallah is leaving Apple or what he plans to do in the future, nor how his departure will impact Apple's home services team. Apple seems to be in the middle of a refocus on its home efforts, and with the launch of the new MacBook Pro models, Apple redesigned its website to group the TV & Home categories together.

Apple is aiming for a total living room strategy that will ultimately see the HomePod and Apple TV combined into a single device that will be able to be used for controlling smart home devices, entertainment, communication, and more.

Recent reports have suggested that Apple is struggling with its hardware strategy, which could impact home services going forward. Apple's engineering team is pessimistic about the future of the Apple TV, a key component in Apple's current smart home ecosystem. Like the HomePod, Apple struggles to get people interested in the Apple TV, with many consumers choosing more affordable set-top boxes from companies like Roku and Amazon.

Apple's plan to combine the HomePod and the Apple TV into one device as a single point of home control could turn things around, but we'll have to wait to see how the strategy pans out following the product's planned 2023 launch.

Article Link: Apple's Home Services Head Departs Company After Two Years

Apple is weak in the “Home” business so this opens up new opportunities. Here’s hoping the successor does better.

 

[tubular]

Well, then, I hope for better. I use HomeKit automations and Siri to control a lot of my lighting, but it's surprisingly hit-or-miss-y.

 

[SBlue1]

The only way Home is ever going to work is if Apple gets into all the other spaces - doorbells, thermostats, security cameras, light bulbs, all of it.

I don't think so. The Home app works. The only thing is that it is very limited. And unintuitive. And clueless. It seems like the people who designed it never ever used it. Looks like nobody at Apple owns an iRobot Roomba otherwise I can't see why the whole category is not supported.

 

[mp8]

Home is the worst overall product Apple has. I so regret leaving Nest. Nest just worked. But Google has a track record of just giving up on things so...

Google also has a pretty horrible track record when dealing with ones privacy.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

Next should be Siri head department followed by Apple Music

 

[ForkHandles]

Hey Siri turn the tv on
.
.
.
I’m working on that
.
.
.
I’ll be right with you .
.
.
.
It’s taking a little longer than I expected.

Aaargh!!!!!!

 

[zorinlynx]

I don't see how a combo Apple TV/homepod would work... I want my Apple TV in my tv stand and speakers spread out around the room for surround...

Same; the product makes no sense to me. I want my nice compact Apple TV hiding behind my TV, with audio going to my existing sound system.

Trying to combine an audio system with the Apple TV will be convoluted and inflexible.

 

[citysnaps]

Apple should acquire Indigo Domotics. For 20 years they've been developing and supplying extremely flexible and robust home automation software for the Mac. I've been a happy user for the last eight years using their software on a headless Mac mini. With zero issues. It's superb.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Biggest surprise here is that the HomeKit department had a leader! I am shocked. Lets see what the future brings. It can't get any worse.

OMG spot on. Ready for new blood. Or... blood period.

 

[assb10yr]

Stock options vested time to leave.

 

[w5jck]

Apple has no clear pathway defined for home space automation. They are years behind Amazon, Google, and others.

As far as speakers for a home theater setup, IMO it is best to get a good 5.1 or 7.1 system designed for a TV (with an HDMI-CEC connection) and capable of Dolby Atmos, rather than buy speakers from Apple or Amazon. You are much better off with a sound system that works with any streaming device connected to the TV. If you try to use Apple or Amazon speakers they will only connect via an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV, won’t have HDMI-CEC, and will likely be buggy and kluge to use, and will only work with the streaming device they are connected to via Wi-Fi.