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HomeKit Essentials Worth Checking Out
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Kinda the whole point having everything in HomeKit. I find the app to be perfect for what I use it for. All my stuff is homekit
Did you try configuring the notifications to not trigger for those sensors if you are home? I find the presence detection alright.
Meh I tend to lean towards preferring the separate apps if they’re of good quality. The amount of configurability in the Ring app would be hard to apply to the Home app, and they wouldn’t be able to update capabilities the same way.
I’ve looked into the circle view doorbell, but read that it shuts down on hot days in direct sunlight. Any experience with this issue? My door has no shade in the afternoon and faces northwest, so it would be a dealbreaker for me.
Be careful dude. I assume you setup a dummy switch “hack” to get around HomeKit not allowing this? Eventually you’ll leave your house and it will open your a garage door. It glitches out because geofencing sucks. And the worst part is you don’t always know when it happens because you’ll think it opened it because you’re coming home. Fortunately we have good neighbors who let us know. Sometimes it has trouble knowing if it’s opened or closed. Even having it automated to close at night is risky because I’ve had it open mine when it was already closed! And that’s the main reason I got it because we would sometimes forget to close it at night. I added a Ring magnetic door sensor to mine to add as an extra backup. It’s far more reliable than a tilt sensor and if it opens while we’re gone, we’ll get an entry delay alert from Ring or a call if we don’t clear it, and the alarm won’t arm at night without sensor bypass if it’s open. It’s good to have a backup if you do this!
Not only can you run a bridge, but with Pi-Hole you can secure your internet as well, and run retro games via an emulator. I just got one to play around with. Will checkout Home Assistant.
I've never been a fan of automating garage doors with aa device that requires an active internet connection. I went with a bluetooth enabled one called Garagemate, and am very happy with it. While it doesn't have the geofencing capabilities of some, it is a lot more secure and doesn't randomly open the door.
How did you mount the sensor and was t the new or old one. Try as I might I couold not get one to mount, work properly and clear the track.
I'm running iSmartgate garage door system with HomeKit.
Geofencing works with no issue (I've setup first to leave / arrive) and it asks to run automation, the iSmartgate app runs as well, it has a setting to send notifications if the door remains open, it also comes with a camera, so I can see the door's status or observe deliveries etc when I'm not home.
I'm really happy with this setup, it's only a fairly recent purchase, though I took quite a while to make up my mind, I think I've made a good decision.
Yup. And there are all of those personal privacy issues that are going to hit us square in the face as these devices work out the bugs and become more sophisticated. I've always been an early adopter of technology. But no Internet of Things in my house.
A fair question. I’m in the UK and so options are limited. At the time I was installing my system neither of the solutions you mention were available here. Abode has launched in the UK subsequently and I’d go for that if I was installing a system now.Which did you consider? What made them not work for you? I have helped a few friends install Lyric alarm panels that are HomeKit compatible and they are pretty happy with them. Abode is the other more DIY option that seems on par with the Ring products but with native HomeKit and without give Amazon more of your data.I have not used the Abode myself, so I cannot speak to it.
HomeKit was slow to take off after its 2014 launch, but now that it's been around for seven years, there are hundreds of HomeKit products available, ranging from doorbells and speakers to TVs, lights, and cameras. In our latest YouTube video, we rounded up some of our favorite HomeKit products that we find most useful.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Have a favorite HomeKit device that we left out? Let us know in the comments and we may highlight it in a future HomeKit video.
- HomePod mini ($99) - At $99, the HomePod mini is probably the best HomeKit-enabled speaker on the market. It integrates seamlessly with your other Apple devices, and can be used to control all of your other HomeKit products with Siri, while also serving as a home hub for accessing HomeKit devices when you're out of the house. HomePod mini also works with Apple's Intercom feature, so if you have multiple HomePod mini (or HomePod) speakers in the house, you can use them to communicate.
- Logitech Circle View Doorbell ($199) - The Circle View replaces your existing doorbell with a version that offers video, so you can see who is at your door and keep an eye on package deliveries. It features HomeKit Secure Video, so the only plan you need is a 200GB or 1TB iCloud Storage plan to record video. It offers HD video, color night vision, and an unobtrusive design.
- Logitech Circle View Camera ($160) - If you want a HomeKit Secure Video camera but not in doorbell format, Logitech also has the Circle View Camera with a 180 degree field of view, water resistance, and a high-quality camera that shows everything in full detail.
- Ecobee Smart Camera ($79) - If you don't want to spend over $100 for a security camera, Ecobee also has a Smart Camera available that's just $79. It offers 1080p video, a 180 degre field of view, smoke alarm detection, and more. It supports HomeKit Secure Video as an optional feature.
- Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control ($250) - This is Ecobee's top of the line Smart Thermostat, which learns and adapts to your schedule to keep your home at a comfortable temperature at all times. The Voice Control feature is Alexa-based, but it lets you listen to Spotify, make calls, and send messages. With HomeKit, it also responds to Siri voice commands and can be controlled through the Home app. If you don't need the Voice Control, make sure to check out Ecobee's more affordable options.
- Nanoleaf Essentials A19 ($20) - Nanoleaf is mostly known for its wall-mounted Light Panels, but late last year, the company came out with a new Essentials line that includes HomeKit-enabled WiFi light bulbs. It's affordable at $20, and can be set to any color, plus it has a fun multi-faceted design that looks great in situations where the light bulb is visible. Nanoleaf's Essential bulbs feature Thread support, which is a mesh network that allows smart home products to better communicate with one another. Thread has many benefits, including extended range and coverage within the home, and better reliability for smart home products. No hub is required, and Thread devices integrate with other Thread devices, such as Apple's HomePod mini.
- Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip ($50) - Nanoleaf's Essentials line also includes a Lightstrip, which is priced at $50 for 80 inches, with expansion strips available too. The Nanoleaf Lightstrips connect to a HomeKit setup over WiFi and can be set to any color. You can put the Lightstrips under counters, behind TVs, behind desks, and more, thanks to the adhesive backing.
Article Link: HomeKit Essentials Worth Checking Out
We purchased a home last Fall that was equipped with Nest thermostats and ~12 Nest smoke detectors. Since I already had some Homekit items such as HomePods and Hue Lights, VOVOLinc outlets, I purchased the starling hub which allows Nest items to be discoverable in Homekit. https://www.starlinghome.io. This setup works great for us. I have liked the Nest items, though the Ecobee thermostat display in the posted video looks cool too.
The house came with a Ring doorbell that I cannot get to work with HomeKit.
I installed August deadbolt locks on all the doors. I got the 3rd Gen as they were less expensive than the 4th Gen and are getting cheaper still on Amazon. They were easy to install and work great with HomeKit. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0752VPHVK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I did purchase the Logitech Circleview camera described in the video and think it works great. I chose to add the HomeKit firmware instead of using the Logitech software. What I am not able to do is get it to automatically record the 30 days of video. I have figure out how to manually record snippets but not the continuous recording. I would welcome any guidance from this community. Thanks!
Not mentioned here but I have added some LaGrand https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FPB9VC4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and Meross https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DV22BSY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 smart light switches, which have worked almost perfectly. A couple of the LaGrand switches are not discoverable once in a while but I think it's because of Eero hub and the way it handles network traffic in the MESH.
The house came with two very bright and very rogue bluetooth enabled exterior floodlights by Halo/Eton https://www.amazon.com/MST20C18W-Outdoor-Security-Smart-Floodlight/dp/B07H9PZJJM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1C0YW997CLLDA&dchild=1&keywords=halo+flood+light&qid=1614517300&s=hi&sprefix=halo+flood,tools,175&sr=1-5
These lights are really terrible. They are hard to control with the Halo app, they are not always discoverable. They do not respond to factory reset instructions. Eaton sent me a free replacement and I paid a guy to install it and it worked for a couple of weeks but is now undiscoverable. The one that is discoverable some of the time, comes on and shines brightly all night and most of the day and is probably making enemies in the neighborhood. Does anyone have recommendations for floodlights that work in HomeKit and are more reliable than these Halo floodlights?
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Homekit is all run inside your house, no need for the outside Internet. Unlike amazon and google, internet voice systems (Siri) is not required for homekit. There are outside calls if you run the manufacturer apps (to update firmware etc). If you are concerned that the hardware itself is being bad and accessing the internet, get a Home Kit Router which can block individual IOT devices from the internet. As for the usefulness, I find it marginally useful, but it is a fun tinkerer hobby. Buy a few inexpensive power switches and whenever you are bored buy a few more to expand your network.
SimpleCommands can provide you with API URLs that when called do the action you want (different URL per action). You basically install the app, connect your Ring account to it, and then the app lets you generate Shortcuts for whatever operation you want. SimpleCommands app UI is pretty bad but thankfully you have to only set it up once and never have to open it again.
Oh I didn’t set up any geofencing stuff for this, no way am I basing my house security on a flaky GPS signal.
Instead, I made a Siri shortcut that does it. Only works through an authenticated Apple Watch or unlocked iPhone/CarPlay.
Homekits big plus is that it has to by design offer local control.
Thread is interesting but is just a refinement of zigbee. Many zigbee devices can actually be flashed to support Thread. Philips has mentioned they will make their bridge thread compatible but not individual bulbs and devices...
Its a shame Zwave never caught on but the tech is solid.
I do little "automation" but remote access and control is worth it.
Thread is interesting but is just a refinement of zigbee. Many zigbee devices can actually be flashed to support Thread. Philips has mentioned they will make their bridge thread compatible but not individual bulbs and devices...
Its a shame Zwave never caught on but the tech is solid.
I do little "automation" but remote access and control is worth it.