making a scene
Thanks to the improved Home app in iOS 11, it’s a great time to join the home automation revolution!
Get devices working together for an easy life
Apple’s HomeKit software for home automation has actually been around since 2014, when it was launched as part of iOS 8.
But the first version of HomeKit was buried deep inside iOS, and the smart home revolution was somewhat ignored. So, with iOS 10, Apple introduced a new Home app that acted as a visible central control point for HomeKit devices. The Home app was updated with iOS 11 in 2017, to provide new automation controls – but also to work with the forthcoming HomePod smart speaker. Many manufacturers have updated existing smart devices to work with HomeKit, and we’re starting to see new security cameras, sensors and other smart hardware that can now be controlled with HomeKit.
Making a scene
Whenever you buy a home automation device, such as a security camera, light bulb or thermostat, your first step is to download the manufacturer’s own app. These apps will guide you through the initial setup process and provide various features for controlling each device, and – importantly – downloading software updates for that device in the future. But if the manufacturer also makes its devices compatible with HomeKit, those devices will also appear within iOS’s built-in Home app, along with any other HomeKit-compatible devices that you might have from other manufacturers. So, if you own an Elgato security sensor, along with a Tado Smart Thermostat, or a smart light bulb from LIFX, then you’ll be able to control all those devices from within the Home app – without having to keep switching between the separate apps provided by the various manufacturers. The Home app even allows you to link devices together, using ‘Scenes’. There are some simple scenes already built into the app, such as ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Good Night’. You might want to select the Good Morning scene and then add some lights and your thermostat to the order, and maybe even a smart kettle or coffee machine. When you wake up in the morning, you can just tap on the scene in the Home app and your heating, lights and morning coffee will all spring to life before you even get out of bed. You can even use the “Hey Siri” command to wake up your iPhone or iPad, and then just say “good morning” to activate the scene with your voice. The Good Night scene would work in a similar fashion, turning the lights and heating off when you go to bed (although you’ll need to fill the kettle up yourself). You can also create custom scenes of your own, perhaps turning the