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Now please give me HomeKit support for my Ring cameras. I doubt it though. Amazon doesn’t want to lose money from people paying for their cloud storage.
Why would people stop paying for a Ring subscription if there was Homekit support? That doesn't enable local storage or anything, so I don't see why it would change things.
 
Why would people stop paying for a Ring subscription if there was Homekit support? That doesn't enable local storage or anything, so I don't see why it would change things.

No but if it’s like the Logi Circle 2 cameras, it allow for use of iCloud as storage, so that would mean one could cancel their Ring subscription if they already are paying for, and have enough iCloud space.
 
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I don't think anybody's pointed out, but HomeKit router + Restrict to home means competing solutions like Google Assistant and Alexa are blocked. So it's not just security, it's a way to block other ecosystems.

That is incorrect.

Restriction is done on per device setting; not on the whole network. In other words - I can have a HomeKit plug which is set to Restrict and a different HomeKit device which is not. You do not turn restrictions per network but per HomeKit device, via the Home app.

Other IOT devices that go out to do whatever they do are not affected at all.
 
Wish UNIFI would add this.. Starting to question my choice.
I hope they do. This is new and this was the 1st router to support it.


Ubiquiti has an app for the UNIFI products. What would being Homekit-enabled add?

it would add this:
- Automatic: allows an accessory to communicate to the devices and services approved by its manufacturer, preventing access by unauthorized services.

- Restrict to Home: allows an accessory to communicate only to HomeKit on your Apple devices. You will be able to manage your accessories through the Home app, but this may reduce some functionality, such as firmware updates.

- No restriction: allows an accessory to communicate with every device in your home, and any website or service on the internet, much like other devices on your home network.
 
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That is incorrect.

Restriction is done on per device setting; not on the whole network. In other words - I can have a HomeKit plug which is set to Restrict and a different HomeKit device which is not. You do not turn restrictions per network but per HomeKit device, via the Home app.

Other IOT devices that go out to do whatever they do are not affected at all.

My statement is not incorrect at all. When you block a device, it will be blocked from the cloud services necessary for Google and Amazon assistants. Are you doubting that?

Unless you are saying that is wrong, then HomeKit routers have the tools to easily block Google and Amazon-compatible devices from functioning while Apple HomeKit devices continue to work. Therefore, Google and Amazon ecosystem is blocked.

I did not say anything about defaults, per device or other IoT. You are reading something that I didn't say.
 
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Why would people stop paying for a Ring subscription if there was Homekit support? That doesn't enable local storage or anything, so I don't see why it would change things.
I would prefer to have my video recordings in iCloud as opposed to Amazon. Plus it would be nice to have my cameras intertwined with the rest of my HomeKit setup. Granted the two Ring cameras I have are outdoor so it isn't a HUGE issue if someone managed to see my recordings, but still would prefer they be in iCloud.
 
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My statement is not incorrect at all. When you block a device, it will be blocked from the cloud services necessary for Google and Amazon assistants. Are you doubting that?

Unless you are saying that is wrong, then HomeKit routers have the tools to easily block Google and Amazon-compatible devices from functioning while Apple HomeKit devices continue to work. Therefore, Google and Amazon ecosystem is blocked.

I did not say anything about defaults, per device or other IoT.

What exactly is the point you are trying to make? lol

These are settings for the user, Apple is not magically detecting amazon/google devices and allowing it to stop working.

A LOT of routers have this functionality and it is up to the user to decide what he trust. I would personally not want random X Switch from China to be contacting home and would prefer homekit to talk to it directly, that is the purpose of this type of security.
 
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Can't you just set up a separate VLAN for IoT devices?

One thing is that HomeKit devices will communicate which hosts and services to allow through a firewall. While that information is commonly documented for enterprise hardware, it's often difficult or impossible to get that info for home consumer gadgets.

These are settings for the user, Apple is not magically detecting amazon/google devices and allowing it to stop working.

Apple is giving people an easy one-click switch and a motivation (security) to block Amazon and Google device services, while allowing Apple devices to continue to work. This switch didn't exist before.

While it is nominally for security, it obviously has competitive implications to encourage ecosystem exclusivity.

If Apple put in a setting that said "Services blocker: HomeKit Only. Block Amazon, Google and other services from your home device", you'd scream proprietary lock-in. They did exactly this, just changed the words to hide it.

A LOT of routers have this functionality and it is up to the user to decide what he trust.

What consumer is going to register in a DHCP binding and fiddle with firewall settings for every IoT device? Very few. Especially since most US consumers use ISP-provided routers and they rarely have firewall features to reduce tech support calls.
 
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My statement is not incorrect at all. When you block a device, it will be blocked from the cloud services necessary for Google and Amazon assistants. Are you doubting that?

Unless you are saying that is wrong, then HomeKit routers have the tools to easily block Google and Amazon-compatible devices from functioning while Apple HomeKit devices continue to work. Therefore, Google and Amazon ecosystem is blocked.

I did not say anything about defaults, per device or other IoT. You are reading something that I didn't say.

Hmmm so you are saying that if a specific device (aka a smart plug for example) supports and is actively configured to be controlled via two ecosystems (let's call them HomeKit and Alexa) - that adding the device to HomeKit and setting the security to "Automatic" or "Restricted" will break management via Alexa?

Actually - I do not know the answer to that, as I have not tried. I do not know that having a single device in two management ecosystems is a frequent thing? 🤷‍♂️ But I'd have to test it, I guess.

MY reading of your original post is that a restriction was per network, which it is not. In other words - I can have Plug 1 in HomeKit and restricted, while I have a Plug 2 contrived via Google, on the same network, and Plug 2 will be completely unaffected by HomeKit router settings / restrictions.
 
Hmmm so you are saying that if a specific device (aka a smart plug for example) supports and is actively configured to be controlled via two ecosystems (let;s call them HomeKit and Alexa) - that adding the device to HomeKit and setting the security to "Automatic" or "Restricted" will break management via Alexa?

Adding the device and changing the service to "restricted" will block Amazon, Google and manufacturer-proprietary services, the way it's implemented today (see the earlier post).

I didn't say anything about defaults or granularity. It's that setting has the effect of blocking Alexa and Google Assistant control, while HomeKit works perfectly.

Now use some skepticism: sit and think about the competitive and lock-in implications of this.
 
Presumably this is targeted at that subset of people who like smart home products but want to maximize security to the greatest extent possible. Obviously having no smart product (get rid of your smartphone, computer, and home internet too) would provide the maximum amount of security, but most are trying to achieve a balance between creature comforts and security.
Or simply put, normal people.

For most of us, the restricted home mode is too much. I need my devices to update firmware and restrict to home appears to prevent that functionality.
 
Adding the device and changing the service to "restricted" will block Amazon, Google and manufacturer-proprietary services, the way it's implemented today (see the earlier post).

What I can tell you is that - I'm at work now. I just set my home smart plug to Restricted. And then, I tried to manage it via manufacturer's app. And I am able to control it via that app (I see the state of the plug / on-off changes in HomeKit as I change it in the manufacturer's app).

I am somewhat at a loss that if I explicitly set a device to Restricted that I'd be surprised that access to it is in fact, Restricted?
 
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All this and Linksys, which was/is in Apple Stores is yet to add this capability. C'mon Velop, how long are you gonna let the ball stay dropped?
 
What I can tell you is that - I'm at work now. I just set my home smart plug to Restricted. And then, I tried to manage it via manufacturer's app. And I am able to control it via that app (I see the state of the plug / on-off changes in HomeKit as I change it in the manufacturer's app).

I am somewhat at a loss that if I explicitly set a device to Restricted that I'd be surprised that access to it is in fact, Restricted?

Nearly all manufacturer's apps also interface via HomeKit, I think you actually need that for setup. Looking on my device, Hue, iDevices, iHome, and Wemo all have HomeKit interfaces. For example, Wemo doesn't force you to set up their cloud services, if you don't or it's down, remote access will automatically occur through HomeKit.

So manufacturer's app does not mean manufacturer's cloud services. In fact, before the Home app in iOS 10, the only way to access HomeKit was through manufacturer and third-party apps.
 
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Can't you just set up a separate VLAN for IoT devices?
Yes, you can. However it's much more annoying than just letting the software automatically do it. Also the Homekit router essentially creates a VLAN per device which would really get into a headache to do manually - and might not even be possible.

I think you can only assign 1 VLAN to a WiFi network actually.
 
Or simply put, normal people.

For most of us, the restricted home mode is too much. I need my devices to update firmware and restrict to home appears to prevent that functionality.
I would consider leaving everything on "restrict to home" and then periodically changing it globally and checking for updates. Then change it back. But I'm weird.
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Yes, you can. However it's much more annoying than just letting the software automatically do it. Also the Homekit router essentially creates a VLAN per device which would really get into a headache to do manually - and might not even be possible.

Exactly this. I haven't looked too much into it, but I expected it's setting up microsegmentation.
 
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It really doesn’t matter if it’s in iCloud or not. I’m not paying Ring any more money out of principle and word of mouth about how laggy and poor their support has gotten. So really them adding HomeKit support would be a saving grace at this point. Otherwise, when another brand makes one, I’m asking for a full refund on this false advertised doorbell. It’s really silly as they say things like it takes time to implement. You just feel dumber after hearing them say that.
 
Wish UNIFI would add this.. Starting to question my choice.
Unifi is something "corporate" level, you still made a great choice. Unifi networks are a huge step above something like Google Wifi or Eero. I went with a SonicWALL with SonicPoint APs myself after Apple left the router business, I went for something more "business class"
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It really doesn’t matter if it’s in iCloud or not. I’m not paying Ring any more money out of principle and word of mouth about how laggy and poor their support has gotten. So really them adding HomeKit support would be a saving grace at this point. Otherwise, when another brand makes one, I’m asking for a full refund on this false advertised doorbell. It’s really silly as they say things like it takes time to implement. You just feel dumber after hearing them say that.
I am in total agreement here, Ugh! I can't stand when someone is at the door, and then it takes a minute to even connect to the doorbell to see who's at the door! Worthless, now I would love that netatmo doorbell to come out already.
 
I have eero and have been waiting for this. I run everything through homekit and use home app for remote access. i do use homebridge for ikea bulbs on hue hub and nest protects. i wonder how homebridge devices will work. Im away but will set thus up thus weekend. ill probably leave it as automatic as i use alexa, but if apple ever makes a homepod mini i find for home automation siri is better than alexa and google home. Or a dock for ipad with a farfield mic. then change to home only.
 
One thing is that HomeKit devices will communicate which hosts and services to allow through a firewall. While that information is commonly documented for enterprise hardware, it's often difficult or impossible to get that info for home consumer gadgets.



Apple is giving people an easy one-click switch and a motivation (security) to block Amazon and Google device services, while allowing Apple devices to continue to work. This switch didn't exist before.

While it is nominally for security, it obviously has competitive implications to encourage ecosystem exclusivity.

If Apple put in a setting that said "Services blocker: HomeKit Only. Block Amazon, Google and other services from your home device", you'd scream proprietary lock-in. They did exactly this, just changed the words to hide it.



What consumer is going to register in a DHCP binding and fiddle with firewall settings for every IoT device? Very few. Especially since most US consumers use ISP-provided routers and they rarely have firewall features to reduce tech support calls.

This is why we run in circles because of conspiracy theories like this.
 
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I wish Eero would add login support for PPPoE so I could quit using my current modem to run everything. My Eero is stuck in bridge mode due to no PPPoE support.
 
Or simply put, normal people.

For most of us, the restricted home mode is too much. I need my devices to update firmware and restrict to home appears to prevent that functionality.

If you need your device to update firmware then you would select this.

This feature is a god send for those that want smart products and care about security. I do not want my random Smart Plug to be pinging some random server in China.
 
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