Might as well start this post like dozens before it... 
I’m building a new house and have started the search for Smart Home items and ways to execute home automation (IFTTT or Siri Shortcuts). In this search I have found that Apple doesn’t look or even feel like they have a presence here. Apple has their ecosystem; iPhone, iPad, Mac and the continuity (literally) of use between them. AppleTV has it’s own integration to the line up as well as HomePod. I want that feeling now with HomeKit devices and yet I really feel like I’m not getting that. I’m especially worried about the lack of seamless integration of what feels like 5, 10 or more products going in to my home by that same number of companies.
Look at Nest and Ring for example. Nest is owned by Google and has its suite of home security devices, thermostats, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, they integrate to Google Home, Google Assistant and they have special alerts tailored just for Android phones. My issue here is that I don’t like or trust Google. I’m torn on what data Nest collects and sends back to Google.
Ring and it’s product line is an Amazon company. Ring doorbells will announce and show up on an Echo Show. Ring has promised HomeKit for a while now with no follow through. Schlage door locks are built to work with Ring and Alexa devices and Amazon Key lets me take deliveries inside the garage or the front door. I can watch them leave the package and the door locks after they leave. Also, I know that Amazon uses Android on some devices, like the Echo Show and Fire tablets, but I feel like it (Amazon) is more trustworthy than Google directly.
To my eye and my research Apple doesn’t feel like it’s in this space. They have the HomeKit thing going but it’s multiple companies, some I’ve never heard of. How long will they exist? How are the software updates? Will Thing-A talk to Thing-B the way I expect them to?
I know of only 1 HomeKit video doorbell and 1 on the way. How good is it? Ring is on what feels like it’s 5th version. There are enough Ring users out there that the Neighbors app is genuinely useful. People with and without Ring devices can join but I’m sure that will just pull in those people to buy a doorbell eventually.
So what is it? Am I overthinking this? Is expanding this system easy? Will things work “OK” just not as nicely as they might on Amazon, Google or SmartThings?
I’m building a new house and have started the search for Smart Home items and ways to execute home automation (IFTTT or Siri Shortcuts). In this search I have found that Apple doesn’t look or even feel like they have a presence here. Apple has their ecosystem; iPhone, iPad, Mac and the continuity (literally) of use between them. AppleTV has it’s own integration to the line up as well as HomePod. I want that feeling now with HomeKit devices and yet I really feel like I’m not getting that. I’m especially worried about the lack of seamless integration of what feels like 5, 10 or more products going in to my home by that same number of companies.
Look at Nest and Ring for example. Nest is owned by Google and has its suite of home security devices, thermostats, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, they integrate to Google Home, Google Assistant and they have special alerts tailored just for Android phones. My issue here is that I don’t like or trust Google. I’m torn on what data Nest collects and sends back to Google.
Ring and it’s product line is an Amazon company. Ring doorbells will announce and show up on an Echo Show. Ring has promised HomeKit for a while now with no follow through. Schlage door locks are built to work with Ring and Alexa devices and Amazon Key lets me take deliveries inside the garage or the front door. I can watch them leave the package and the door locks after they leave. Also, I know that Amazon uses Android on some devices, like the Echo Show and Fire tablets, but I feel like it (Amazon) is more trustworthy than Google directly.
To my eye and my research Apple doesn’t feel like it’s in this space. They have the HomeKit thing going but it’s multiple companies, some I’ve never heard of. How long will they exist? How are the software updates? Will Thing-A talk to Thing-B the way I expect them to?
I know of only 1 HomeKit video doorbell and 1 on the way. How good is it? Ring is on what feels like it’s 5th version. There are enough Ring users out there that the Neighbors app is genuinely useful. People with and without Ring devices can join but I’m sure that will just pull in those people to buy a doorbell eventually.
So what is it? Am I overthinking this? Is expanding this system easy? Will things work “OK” just not as nicely as they might on Amazon, Google or SmartThings?
