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HomeKit-Enabled Chips Begin Shipping to Smart Home Device Makers

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Apr 12, 2001
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At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple announced HomeKit, a platform designed to allow smart home devices to seamlessly integrate with iOS devices via Bluetooth and Wi-FI. As part of the certification process for Apple HomeKit, manufacturers must purchase their Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips from Apple-approved chipmakers like Marvell, Texas Instruments and Broadcom. Those Apple-approved chips have begun shipping to smart home accessory makers, according to Forbes.
These chipmakers have begun shipping their chips loaded with HomeKit firmware to device manufacturers, Broadcom and Texas Instruments have confirmed to me. That means we could begin seeing HomeKit-certified devices show up on store shelves sometime soon. Although Apple hasn't officially launched HomeKit yet, device makers can at least start putting together their gadgets now that they have the wireless chip armed with the HomeKit firmware.
Click to expand...
Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom's senior director of embedded wireless, tells Forbes that smart home device makers are "getting ready" and that users should "expect to see new product launches in the next cycle of product releases." Bedrosian does caution that the firmware on the chips hasn't been finalized by Apple yet, and is essentially just a beta version of HomeKit. Broadcom and other chipmakers will be able to update the firmware remotely as HomeKit's feature set continues to be developed.

According to Bedrosian, the smart home device market has been fragmented thus far, but HomeKit provides a reliable way to bridge protocols and create simple connections between various devices using iCloud.

We've already seen several products that will take advantage of HomeKit, including a smart USB charger, a line of connected home sensors from Elgato, and the August Smart Lock, but Apple's HomeKit supports a wide range of products like lightbulbs, locks, fans, thermostats, power outlets, garage doors, and more. Apple has also announced several partners already, including Philips and Honeywell, and has finalized hardware specifications, bringing us one step closer to the launch of HomeKit.

Apple has plans to hold a Made for iPhone (MFi) summit November 12 through November 14, providing accessory manufacturers and developers with information on HomeKit, iBeacon, AirPlay, and more, and with chips shipping to manufacturers, we should be seeing additional hardware products with HomeKit support surfacing in the near future.

Article Link: HomeKit-Enabled Chips Begin Shipping to Smart Home Device Makers
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/03/homekit-chips-device-makers/
i've always wanted to turn off my lights by taking out my phone, unlocking it, searching for the app, and turn it off...as opposed to flipping the switch.
 
Old Devices

So what about the $300 worth of Hue bulbs I already own? Will those be supported by Homekit? Will there be firmware updates or will they need to have the special "chip" built into them?
 
I would love to be able to control all of my electronics in my house from my iPhone / apple watch. It's starting to become a reality.

Alarm, surveillance cameras, tv, music, ATV, door lock, garage door, lights and last but not least my coffee maker so I don't have to get out of bed for those extra 5 minutes :D
 
You guys rely too much on electronic devices. A simple thing like EMP would make you totally helpless.
 
luckydcxx said:
I would love to be able to control all of my electronics in my house from my iPhone / apple watch. It's starting to become a reality.

Alarm, surveillance cameras, tv, music, ATV, door lock, garage door, lights
Click to expand...

In a perfect world, I agree with you. But iOS 8 can't even switch screen orientation correctly half the time for me. I'm not sure I want my phone in charge of my locks on my doors.

I can see it now:

This update is recommended for all users.

- Fixes a bug that would inadvertently open garage doors remotely for some users without warning.
- Addresses an issue with locking some users out of 2016 Ford cars
[...]
 
ProfessorHenry said:
You guys rely too much on electronic devices. A simple thing like EMP would make you totally helpless.
Click to expand...

OR - A simple thing like a power outage (assuming you don't have an auxilliary generator or a Faraday Cage around your house):)
 
2020DC said:
So what about the $300 worth of Hue bulbs I already own? Will those be supported by Homekit? Will there be firmware updates or will they need to have the special "chip" built into them?
Click to expand...

I'm wondering the same thing--Hue doesn't use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but if HomeKit is supposed to work via iCloud, I don't see why a wired Ethernet connection wouldn't work (that's the only IP-based connection Hue uses). This could be disappointing for existing products like Hue and Lockitron if their hardware won't work with Apple's specifications. (That being said, I'm using my phone a lot less for Hue since the Tap was released, and even before then I had both USB and Bluetooth PowerMates to help me out.)
 
Well this sucks. I guess all the current equipment I have now won't work with HomeKit. I thought it would. Oh well. No biggy I guess. I thought it would be software upgrade. I didn't think anything would have to be done with the hardware.
 
farewelwilliams said:
i've always wanted to turn off my lights by taking out my phone, unlocking it, searching for the app, and turn it off...as opposed to flipping the switch.
Click to expand...

Yea... i guess if you are on vacation and you want to turn on the lights at night (so someone looking for a house to rob will think someone is home)... you could get on a plane, fly home, turn on the light... then fly back.
Seriously though, if that is the only use case you can think of, you are not thinking hard enough! :p

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iamMacPerson said:
Well this sucks. I guess all the current equipment I have now won't work with HomeKit. I thought it would. Oh well. No biggy I guess. I thought it would be software upgrade. I didn't think anything would have to be done with the hardware.
Click to expand...

That does suck... i hadn't thought so either. Guess it would depend on the type of device, whether a firmware upgrade would be feasible.
 
autrefois said:
In a perfect world, I agree with you. But iOS 8 can't even switch screen orientation correctly half the time for me. I'm not sure I want my phone in charge of my locks on my doors.

I can see it now:

This update is recommended for all users.

- Fixes a bug that would inadvertently open garage doors remotely for some users without warning.
- Addresses an issue with locking some users out of 2016 Ford cars
[...]
Click to expand...

As much as I hate to admit it you are right. Maybe iOS 9 will be much more refined, more like the final build of iOS 6.
 
i just started dabbling my feet in this stuff with the new GE WINK Hub and a couple Smart LED Bulbs. Like that fact that now, with it getting dark before 5pm here in the Midwest, I can use the WINK app to turn the lights when it senses my location being home so I can see all the damn toys the kids left in my walking path and not break my leg. It just works bruh.
 
In addition to having an Apple approved Bluetooth and WiFi chip, one also needs an Apple approved crypto chip. The August Smart Lock does not have this chip so I don't see why you are saying they are HomeKit compatible.
 
Interested to see it.

I currently use Vera lite on the micasa verde platform as an integration hub and the home wave app, with z-wave switches and modules outlets and locks. It is nice to tap a button from bed at night and have everything turn off and lock up. I also get alerts when my daughter gets home from school, video surveillance integration, pool control, irrigation control, etc etc.

Exterior lights come on automatically 20 min prior to sunset and again in the morning at a preset time, going off a little after sunrise...

I also know when anyone enters my carport, tool shed etc etc.

It was a lot of work but I really like it. Doing it for others has also made me a lot of money.

Really interested to see apples take on the scene.
 
I'm quite close to upgrading my current programmable thermostat to a wifi enabled one. My gas company offers $100 discount. It's so cheap I can't really resist. But that'll make it even easier to switch when a homekit version hits the market.

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2020DC said:
So what about the $300 worth of Hue bulbs I already own? Will those be supported by Homekit? Will there be firmware updates or will they need to have the special "chip" built into them?
Click to expand...

Isn't Hue already supported by an iOS app?
Good questions.
 
farewelwilliams said:
i've always wanted to turn off my lights by taking out my phone, unlocking it, searching for the app, and turn it off...as opposed to flipping the switch.
Click to expand...

Or you could set up a profile and as soon as the device detects you (or knows your coming from your GPS coordinates), the house devices tells your partner your coming, lights up whatever at the right level, the right color, adjust the heating puts the TV on to Game of Throne, makes popcorn and coffee, sets the correct music, opens your door and yes, sets the popcorn and coffee in front of the TV and pets your dog (required robot is not included for those last tasks) ;-).

You don't open any app, you are the trigger. If letting anyone with your phone into your house freaks you, you can probably set up touch ID for extra security.

You have a lack of imagination....
 
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