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HomeKit is the HomePod’s secret weapon

Just like Siri, Amazon Echo and Google Home can use voice commands to control a variety of devices and appliances in your home – perhaps turning your heating off, or turning down the lights when you go to bed. However, they’re not so good when it comes to controlling more than one device at a time. That’s an area where Apple’s HomeKit software, which is built into the HomePod, has a real edge.

The Home app in iOS 10 works with HomeKit too, and it allows you to create “scenes” that perform complex tasks, such as turning both your lights and heating on or off at the same time. There’s also a more powerful option in the app, automations, which gives you even more control – such as the ability to monitor your location using GPS on your iPhone, in order to turn on your lights as you approach your abode, maybe turn on your smart coffee maker, and even turn on “dumb” devices (Elgato makes a HomeKit plug that can do the latter.)

Amazon Echo (shown to the right) and Google Home have an automation option, but it requires you to use a separate service, called IFTTT. This is really a form of simple computer programming, so you do have to put in a bit of effort to use it properly. Apple’s HomeKit platform automatically handles these controls for you, potentially making the HomePod far more powerful and easier to use than either Amazon Echo or Google Home.