iPads Will Work as Home Hubs in iOS 16, But Won't Support New Home Architecture

[3460169]

I’m stupid. What does this new architecture do or what do they mean?

This is a relatively new subject I've been exploring recently so I may be off on some points here but --

They're most certainly talking about Matter which is a new, open Internet-of-Things connectivity standard for the likes of home automation gadgets and other such things you might use in the various ecosystems of the big players like Google, Amazon, Apple, etc. Devices made for Matter can ideally be easily used in any ecosystem, which is generally not the case with devices today. Today you typically have to get devices specifically for the ecosystem you invested in (e.g. HomeKit) and they typically do not work in other ecosystems (at least not without some hackery and literal "bridging" of one way of doing things to another). Matter is potentially a replacement for HomeKit as we know it today (and the proprietary ecosystems of those other aforementioned players), though it will likely live alongside traditional HomeKit for some time.

You'll also see chatter about Thread which is a wireless technology for interconnecting such devices (if they support Thread of course) in sort of a mesh network that is intended to be highly reliable, resilient, and responsive (low latency) among other things. Thread is one such hardware means of communications between devices used in Matter (Matter can also work with good ol' Wifi connections). Thread devices even work with Apple's native HomeKit already. Two devices in the Apple world -- the current generation Apple TV 4K and the HomePod Mini -- are capable of acting as "border routers" for thread devices within HomeKit. A "Border Router" allows Thread devices to be controllable from the IP network as you know it, e.g. they bridge the Thread devices mesh network to the IP network, essentially. Ideally there will be a number of Border Routers in a Thread mesh for redundancy.

Some definitions of terms here:

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I just recently started implementing Thread devices in my humble abode's HomeKit setup (notably outlets for controlling lights) and I have to say they've been quite nice and reliable so far, unlike earlier generations of the same devices that were IP-based and would sporadically become "unresponsive" for no logical reason.

 

[chucker23n1]

I know it doesn't damage the hardware or anything, but I have a problem with leaving my computer up and running for nothing.

Sure, you can do that.

I think a lot of people leave it on all the time, but I also think the majority turns it off like I do.

I doubt it. Certainly not for iPhones and iPads, and increasingly not for Macs.

Also, the disk activity is suspended on Macs by default.

This is true, but that's a solvable problem.

For example, launchd can launch services based on network connections. Apple could, if they wanted to, launch the Home Hub as soon as something tries to connect to it.

There is a power button on the iPad. You can turn it off if you want to (Shut down). It does "boot" similarly like a mac does.

I've never seen an iPad with a power button. But yes, there is a menu you can bring up to shut it down. There's a reason this is kind of obscure: Apple doesn't think this is a common operation any more.

I'm in IT. I have yet to see a computer that can't be turned off.

Nowhere did I say computers "can't be turned off".

 

[dumastudetto]

Most certainly iPads as Home Hubs were adding friction points to a concept that was envisioned to be frictionless. So this coming change is an opportune moment to fix the issue.

 

[chucker23n1]

Most certainly iPads as Home Hubs were adding friction points to a concept that was envisioned to be frictionless. So this coming change is an opportune moment to fix the issue.

I kind of get it for portable devices.

I still hope desktop Macs get the capability.

 

[itsmesteven]

This is great news. The day I need Matter/Thread I will buy a Homepod mini but until then my iPad will work fine.

 

[svish]

Glad to hear that it still works without support for ‘Matter’.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I love apple’s strategy of purposely crippling iPadOS features, brilliant!!

They're still more mobile than a speaker. Thus I think new HomePods are coming, after all HomeKit components are for the home (not mobile).

 

[kevinws]

I just got to wonder if a home pod with a screen is on the way.

 

[BuddyRich]

Apple, like everyone, is moving to use Matter. Matter is based on openThread. Thread requires IEEE 802.15.4. IEEE 802.15.4 requires a different physical radio than the iPad has (or the mac or the iPhone). Apple isn't crippling anything, purposely or not. The hardware necessary just isn't there.

But that doesn't explain why the OG Homepod, ATV HD and ATV 4K Gen1 can be home hubs with matter but an iPad cannot. Only the Mini and ATV4K Gen2 have the Thread radio (for the current Homekit over Thread support) yet those Threadless devices will still be able to be hubs in the future, while the iPad apparently won't be.

It could just be Apple debloating iPadOS... moving the hub functionality to tvOS (which I believe Homepods also run as well as the ATVs...)...

 

[name99]

I don't agree that that statement suggested that iPad users would have to dodge OS upgrades. It sounds like upgrading your home to Matter in the Home App will be opt in and/or require some work from the user. There also seem to be HomeKit devices that have been discontinued or not updated to support thread. I’m not aware of any official word from Apple on what will happen to these devices when we switch to Matter. When we choose to upgrade to “the new home architecture”, it may leave some of our older devices in an obsolete status. People who use the iPad as a hub are one group of people who will not opt into Matter but I doubt they’re the only ones.

That may come, but there is no way they will switch off support for "HomeKit Classic" this year!
There are barely any Thread hardware devices available, and, as far as I know, *not one* Matter device can be purchased right now.

 

[name99]

Ah I see.

So if the iPad is at home and you're out... you can control stuff remotely while you're out.

But if iPad is gone... and someone is still at home... they can control stuff from their phone in the house.

I get it.

You are correct, but you don't "get it"!
Automations are not about me "controlling stuff remotely", they are about AUTOMATION. In other words stuff just happens automatically. Temperature rises to a certain level and the blinds close. One hour before sunset and the lights come on. That sort of thing. That requires an agent in the house to communicate with the devices when the automation is supposed to execute.

This matters because one of the primary complaints many of us have with HomeKit is precisely that HomeKit Automation is so awful. It just makes things worse when people confuse HomeKit Automation (awful) with HomeKit Siri (or other manual controls), which are bad but nothing near as awful as Automation.

 

[felipur]

But that doesn't explain why the OG Homepod, ATV HD and ATV 4K Gen1 can be home hubs with matter but an iPad cannot. Only the Mini and ATV4K Gen2 have the Thread radio (for the current Homekit over Thread support) yet those Threadless devices will still be able to be hubs in the future, while the iPad apparently won't be.

It could just be Apple debloating iPadOS... moving the hub functionality to tvOS (which I believe Homepods also run as well as the ATVs...)...

Apple has never said that older devices including the iPad couldn't be hubs. What they said (in a footnote) is that some of the improvements they are making - more efficient communication, better reliability, larger number of devices, support for matter - will only be supported on the Apple TV and the HomePod (mini since they don't sell a non-mini) i.e. the ones with a thread radio. The other devices will still communicate with bluetooth and wifi they way they do now with the same issues they currently have. I assume eventually Apple will drop support for older devices as they usually do but not with the release of iOS 16.

 

[djphat2000]

I've never seen an iPad with a power button. But yes, there is a menu you can bring up to shut it down.

Sleep/wake combo with volume button to bring up the shut down menu. But, when it's off. It's the power button.
Mostly done to protect against accidentally powering it off.

There's a reason this is kind of obscure: Apple doesn't think this is a common operation any more.

They sure would hope it isn't something you need to do often. But, they also don't expect most people to leave the device plugged in 24/7. It's supposed to be mobile not a fixed (one location) device. To turn it off/shut down via obscure means is like I mentioned above. To prevent accidental power off.

Nowhere did I say computers "can't be turned off".

You suggested it was not designed to be turned off.
"Computers haven't been designed to be "turned off after use" for a long, long time."

Windows, Linux, and macOS all have shutdown options. And most of the computers they run on have power buttons to power them off. I'm not seeing how they are designed as you state to not be turned off after use.

 

[_Spinn_]

The new architecture has me intrigued.

 

[chucker23n1]

Sleep/wake combo with volume button to bring up the shut down menu.

Yes, thank you. I've apparently only been using iPhones for three days and Macs for four, so I'm quite unfamiliar with how they work.

(There's also a Shut Down item buried in Settings.)

The point is it's non-trivial to reach, and is not at all considered a common action.

But, they also don't expect most people to leave the device plugged in 24/7. It's supposed to be mobile not a fixed (one location) device.

Exactly. Not plugged in, but also not turned off. Simply on standby.

You suggested it was not designed to be turned off.
"Computers haven't been designed to be "turned off after use" for a long, long time."

Exactly, and you seem to have read "not designed to" as "not capable of", I'm guessing, which is not what I wrote. Yes, you can turn off an iPhone and iPad. No, that is not something Apple considers something most people ever need to do in everyday workflows. Therefore, it is mostly hidden.

Windows, Linux, and macOS all have shutdown options. And most of the computers they run on have power buttons to power them off. I'm not seeing how they are designed as you state to not be turned off after use.

Except that I wrote "turned off after use". macOS has a shutdown menu item, yes, but with a MacBook, you just close the lid instead.

And don't be shocked if macOS 17 Death Valley features a redesigned Apple Menu that no longer directly has Shut Down…, just like iPadOS does not, because, again, people by and large do not commonly need to do that. Instead, they could move it to the Startup Disk pref pane (I presume macOS Ventura's Settings still has that).

 

[Michael Scrip]

Automations are not about me "controlling stuff remotely", they are about AUTOMATION. In other words stuff just happens automatically. Temperature rises to a certain level and the blinds close. One hour before sunset and the lights come on. That sort of thing. That requires an agent in the house to communicate with the devices when the automation is supposed to execute.

Well that goes back to the discussion of using an iPad as a hub... when the iPad can be removed from the house.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Apple, like everyone, is moving to use Matter. Matter is based on openThread. Thread requires IEEE 802.15.4. IEEE 802.15.4 requires a different physical radio than the iPad has (or the mac or the iPhone). Apple isn't crippling anything, purposely or not. The hardware necessary just isn't there.

I wish Apple would just say things like this themselves instead of talking like politicians all the time.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I gotta say I always found it strange that a mobile device could act as a Home Hub. It could cause a lot of instability.
A Hub needs to be up and running 24/7. The HomePod and the Apple TV meet this criteria.

Agree: seems a stationary, always-on device would be preferred. Apple's weird statement (and weirder policy) seems to almost cement that they're set to release a new, dedicated device for just such functionality - be it AppleTV or something else.

Not even Macs meet this criteria, because you're supposed to turn off your computer after use.

Really? Between my work and personal computers (literally all of which have been Macs), I've been putting Macs through their paces for 30-years (hours-long multi-track audio recording session, video editing, animation, design, etc.) and I almost never turn them off. At best, I Sleep them. But usually, they just default to Screen Saver, followed by their Display turning off after a preset time. But that's it. I was always under the impression that the temp spikes between ON/OFF stages tends to be that thing that can shorten a computer's lifespan more than most things. And always subscribed to a running Mac is a happy Mac. While that may not be, or ever have been, true, it's what I was told back in the day. And I've experienced very little issues with any of my Macs - a fact I always, in part, credited to their always-on status. Maybe I have just been lucky. Don't know. But that always-on aspect hasn't appeared to compromise my Macs to date. ((knocks on wood)) YMMV. 😜

 

[Jumpinbeans]

Removing one of the key devices from their hub list isn't the way to go. Perhaps this is apples way of then selling an always plugged in iPad like device at iPad+25% prices for us to control them....we can call it the HOMEPAD.

 

[TundraKing]

Spending $60 for a used HomePod mini is a cheap and simple fix for this issue regardless how your iPad is used in a Home setup. Plus... any larger Apple smart home installation should have at least one redundant hub.

 

[Peepo]

I hope they have option to disable it... I recently unplugged my HomePod mini because it would take over the hub and cause my HK to become flakey and cameras not stream most of the time.

 

[djphat2000]

Yes, thank you. I've apparently only been using iPhones for three days and Macs for four, so I'm quite unfamiliar with how they work.

I'm not hear to judge you on your history with said devices. I'm just objecting to your statement.

(There's also a Shut Down item buried in Settings.)

The point is it's non-trivial to reach, and is not at all considered a common action.

I take it your device has never failed, crashed, froze, or otherwise stopped working properly. Or maybe you have had your device for only a few days?

Exactly. Not plugged in, but also not turned off. Simply on standby.

Many will close their case (if they have it), or just wait for the device screen to sleep. I didn't argue against that. You simply stated its' not designed to be shut down. Which is simply not true. Every computer is designed to be shut down. It's just fact.

Exactly, and you seem to have read "not designed to" as "not capable of",

No, I replied back to your statement of not designed. Which again, isn't true. I stated a disagreement with that premise, as I have yet to see a computer that wasn't designed to be shut down. I "get" what you're trying to say. But the statement stands. I didn't mis-read what you wrote.

I'm guessing, which is not what I wrote. Yes, you can turn off an iPhone and iPad.

thank you.

No, that is not something Apple considers something most people ever need to do in everyday workflows. Therefore, it is mostly hidden.

Not true. It's designed that way to prevent accidentally powering it off. If the function of the power button was to "only" turn it off. Simply placing an iPad or even your iPhone in a bag or pocket, "could" accidentally power it off completely. You could walk around and or travel for awhile (potentially, since people these days are glued to said devices) without having your device "on" and not know about it until you checked it. Which would suck if your waiting for a call, text, email, etc. Is it something you need to do everyday? Of course not.

Except that I wrote "turned off after use". macOS has a shutdown menu item, yes, but with a MacBook, you just close the lid instead.

Certainly yes you can do that. However, until these recent M series chips. My intel i7 having it's lid closed for 12 or 13 hours. It loses A LOT of battery power. I could save that by shutting it down.
Now with a full desktop (iMac, mini, Pro tower). Unless you need to let something run overnight. You may want to save on your home electric use by "shutting it down". They do sleep pretty good, but I've had plenty of external devices over the years prevent proper sleep on a Mac. Everyones use case will vary on this. You may rarely need to shut down your device or desktop. Or you may simply choose not to do so as often as others.

Again, the M series of chips (A for older iPhones, and non pro iPads). Help tremendously by using VERY little power. Compared to intel chips. So leaving a Mac on as long as it doesn't freeze, crash, or otherwise act up will be more acceptable from an energy use perspective. Even then. I'm sure you will still have a power button, and a shutdown option on any laptop or desktop. iPad/iPhone will more then likely stick with the current 2 button combo to shut down.

And don't be shocked if macOS 17 Death Valley features a redesigned Apple Menu that no longer directly has Shut Down…,

Aaaaahhhhhh, I'll be shocked. I choose shocked. And that would be for both statements here, Death Valley and no Shut down option, directly..

just like iPadOS does not, because, again, people by and large do not commonly need to do that. Instead, they could move it to the Startup Disk pref pane (I presume macOS Ventura's Settings still has that).

Not to beat a dead horse here but, I did say "To prevent accidental power off." in regards to the iPad. I'll stand by my comment that I have yet to see a computer that is not designed to be powered off or shut down. How common or not it is to shut a computer down in everyday life or every computer user out there isn't the point.
It's just not true what you stated.

 

[Burai]

Spending $60 for a used HomePod mini is a cheap and simple fix for this issue regardless how your iPad is used in a Home setup. Plus... any larger Apple smart home installation should have at least one redundant hub.

I'm presuming I'll just be able to use one of these:

Ikea Debuts Matter-Compatible Smart Home Hub

Swedish furniture and accessory store Ikea today announced the upcoming launch of the Dirigera smart hub, which supports Matter. Matter is a...

www.macrumors.com

If everything is a universal standard there should be no difference between buying an Apple device to use as a hub or a hub from anybody else.

 

[chucker23n1]

I'm presuming I'll just be able to use one of these:

Ikea Debuts Matter-Compatible Smart Home Hub

Swedish furniture and accessory store Ikea today announced the upcoming launch of the Dirigera smart hub, which supports Matter. Matter is a...

www.macrumors.com

If everything is a universal standard there should be no difference between buying an Apple device to use as a hub or a hub from anybody else.

For connecting sensors, yes, but for configuring automations?

 

[Burai]

For connecting sensors, yes, but for configuring automations?

My take on it (and I'm looking forward to being massively disappointed when it all comes out and I'm proved wrong) is that you connect your devices to your hardware hub and because everything speaks the same language you can configure it in whichever app you choose, whether that be Apple, Google, IKEA, Phillips, or whoever, and switch freely between apps if you so choose. Whilst the apps may use different design and descriptive language, you'll still be triggering the same functionality in the hardware.