IOS smart home options?

[radiologyman]

Did not find a better place to put this thread so here it is. I am buying a new home soon and decided to look around for smart home options. I will need home security system, audio in most rooms and hopefully some home automation. I understand that IOS 8 HomeKit will finally start addressing this issue but not sure what hardware is currently available, hopefully future proof with IOS 8.

I have Airport Extreme with attached hard drive to serve music, pictures and movies, AppleTV and several Airplay speakers, so this may take care of audio for now. I may install inwall speakers with aiplay or bluetooth compatibility later.

I don't even know where to start with home automation, I have not seen anything user friendly like IOS 8 should be and can wait till it comes.

House is not prewired for security. The area is safe but my wife wants a security system so I would like to buy soon a system feeding of house internet, with ability to see notifications/images on iphone. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[afsnyder]

Did not find a better place to put this thread so here it is. I am buying a new home soon and decided to look around for smart home options. I will need home security system, audio in most rooms and hopefully some home automation. I understand that IOS 8 HomeKit will finally start addressing this issue but not sure what hardware is currently available, hopefully future proof with IOS 8.

I have Airport Extreme with attached hard drive to serve music, pictures and movies, AppleTV and several Airplay speakers, so this may take care of audio for now. I may install inwall speakers with aiplay or bluetooth compatibility later.

I don't even know where to start with home automation, I have not seen anything user friendly like IOS 8 should be and can wait till it comes.

House is not prewired for security. The area is safe but my wife wants a security system so I would like to buy soon a system feeding of house internet, with ability to see notifications/images on iphone. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Considering iOS 8 just came out as a beta, I don't see anyone coming out with anything until iOS 8 launches to the public.

 

[radiologyman]

Considering iOS 8 just came out as a beta, I don't see anyone coming out with anything until iOS 8 launches to the public.

Good point. After official release we will see some new hardware and likely also some third party hubs bringing compatibility to previously released hardware. I suppose I should buy security system from a larger company with existing iPhone integration, making it more likely that ios 8 compatibility will be added later.

 

[afsnyder]

Good point. After official release we will see some new hardware and likely also some third party hubs bringing compatibility to previously released hardware. I suppose I should buy security system from a larger company with existing iPhone integration, making it more likely that ios 8 compatibility will be added later.

Probably. I believe that HomeKit is just an API so you'll still need the app anyway.

 

[Julien]

...I am buying a new home soon and decided to look around for smart home options. I will need home security system, audio in most rooms and hopefully some home automation. I understand that IOS 8 HomeKit will finally start addressing this issue but not sure what hardware is currently available, hopefully future proof with IOS 8...

About a year too early. It will likely be CES before we see a large selection of hardware demoed.

 

[radiologyman]

Probably. I believe that HomeKit is just an API so you'll still need the app anyway.

my understanding is that home kit requires specific apple approved wifi chip within the hardware or connecting hub. I think you may bypass app if hardware hooks into API directly. Anyways, any recommendations on already available home security?