Rumors suggest HomeKit is delayed, Apple says no

By Jenny McGrath Updated May 14, 2015

apple tv homekit hub ios 8

Amongst the many features of the Apple Watch touted during its launch were those that would control the smart home. It was prelude to the forthcoming HomeKit, which is the company’s system meant to synchronize smart-home devices, from locks to lights to thermostats.

There’s never been a firm release date for the HomeKit (though some partners were optimistic it’d be here by now), but you might not want to bank on getting your favorite graduating senior a complete system as a gift. Apple is withholding the launch of some devices until late summer, according to Fortune.

June 8 marks the start of Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, a year after the company first announced HomeKit, but the system might not be quite ready for debut then. “One source says the code base associated with that part of the process ‘blew up’ and required way too much memory for smaller, battery-powered devices, so Apple is trying to shrink the code back down to size,” writes Fortune’s Stacey Higginbotham.

“HomeKit has been available [to developers] for just a few months, and we already have dozens of partners who have committed to bringing home accessories to market and we are looking forward to the first ones coming next month,” a spokesperson told Fortune, seeming to suggest we’ll at least hear something about the smart-home system in June.

Apple is expected to release its new Apple TV at the conference, and it may or not be the “hub” of its HomeKit. In addition to Apple Watch users being able to unlock their doors from their wrists, iPhone and iPad owners will be able to control their smart devices using Siri and their notification screens.

Smart-home-device makers have been scrambling to make their products compatible with HomeKit, and the list of devices keeps growing. Broadcom recently announced its software would create a bridge from Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as light bulbs, to users’ HomeKit-supported apps.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…

Smart Home

Apple HomePod vs. Apple HomePod 2023

Apple HomePod second-gen.

It has been quite a few years since Apple first launched the (now-defunct) HomePod, but the old smart speaker has been given a revival. The second generation HomePod retails for $299, and it offers some serious improvements over the original. Not only does it bring enhanced audio quality, but there are plenty of other upgrades that make it much better than its older sibling. Here’s a closer look at all the differences (and similarities) between the original HomePod and HomePod 2023.
Design

When compared side by side, you won’t notice many differences between the two HomePods. The new HomePod is about 200 grams lighter than the original model and is a couple of millimeters shorter, but overall the two are very similar. The touchpad on top of the HomePod 2023 is also a bit larger and now extends almost all the way to the edge of the device. Beyond those minor differences, they both sport an oblong design and come in multiple colors.
Speakers and sound
A diagram of the second-gen Apple HomePod internals (left) seen next to those of the first-gen HomePod.

Smart Home

Apple finally activates HomePod Mini’s hidden temperature/humidity sensor

Black HomePod mini on a side table, in front of an Apple TV

Apple recently revealed its second-gen HomePod, which is set to become the company’s flagship smart speaker in 2023. Featuring the S7 chipset, spatial audio, Matter compatibility, and tons of fancy room-sensing tech, the device is certain to be a hit when it launches in February. It’ll also feature a temperature and humidity sensor. Oddly enough, so does the existing HomePod Mini -- except Apple has only just activated the feature.

Apple has kept the temperature and humidity sensor deactivated for years, although now, with the launch of a new HomePod around the corner, the company has finally gone ahead and turned on the instrument in its existing Home Mini lineup. Once your HomePod Mini receives the update, you’ll be able to use it to track both the temperature and humidity in your home, then use that information to create various automations through Apple Home.

Smart Home

Apple reportedly working on a new iPad-like smart home display

Someone holding the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro (2022).

Apple recently announced a new HomePod with support for Matter, but it seems the company might have bigger smart home plans for the rest of 2023. According to the latest report from Bloomberg, Apple is allegedly working on an iPad-like device that could directly compete with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub Max.

Details on the rumored product are scarce, but it seems the device would feature a touchscreen and function similar to an iPad. Magnets would allow it to be mounted to a wall, and HomeKit would give it access to all your smart home products. It’s unclear at this time if the device would feature a stand, allowing it to sit on your countertops like the Echo Show and Nest Hub. What is clear, however, is that Apple wants to gain a stronger foothold in the smart home market -- and this could serve as a great alternative to using the HomePod Mini as a HomeKit hub.