Developer Interview

MacFormat: What is the main advantage of HomeKit?

Florian: Apple is about bringing great user experience to technology products. We believe HomeKit has the potential to make home automation accessible to the mainstream. Many competing and proprietary standards already exist, but none put the main focus on the end user. HomeKit is designed to be simple, consistent and secure, keeping the data about your home private. Those attributes are immediate benefits for the customer.

MF: As a developer, what are your thoughts on HomeKit?

Florian: By providing common protocols, certified hardware and an SDK, HomeKit enables companies to do what they do best. It lets hardware vendors focus on delivering great sensor and control products, and it gives software companies the opportunity to innovate on apps in a way most traditional hardware companies can’t. Elgato has a very strong hardware and software background. We are confident that we can make a very meaningful contribution that will delight all users of HomeKit.

MF: How did you find working on a HomeKit product? What challenges did you face?

Florian: Adopting new technology at an early stage results in both unique challenges and also unique opportunities. HomeKit is a brand new platform that is just getting started, and so we continue to enjoy both sides every single day. Implementing the security mechanisms required by HomeKit was a task that required lots of very focused effort, especially since our devices are batterypowered. Ultimately, this level of care is great for the end user, the ecosystem and the devices that we create.

MF: What are your hopes for the future of working with HomeKit and for consumers using HomeKit products?

Florian: We believe HomeKit will enable a new category of consumer-friendly home automation products, both for us as individual users and also for Elgato as a creator of such products. From the experiences we have gathered creating these accessories, we’re thrilled to see this ecosystem getting started and can’t wait to be a part of it.