Insteon’s Apple HomeKit-compatible hub drops support for many Insteon products.
So will the new Hub Pro eventually support the same devices currently supported by the product formerly known as the Hub II? We don’t know. Insteon’s not saying. We have to imagine that this is not what long-time Insteon users expected or hoped for.
DISH and T-Mobile flirt with the idea of a merger… but Ergen doesn’t always seal the deal.
Mr. Ergen envisions selling bundles of video and wireless service to better compete with cable and telecom rivals who are banking on their broadband businesses for growth. Mr. Ergen has had near brushes on deals with MetroPCS, Clearwire, Sprint, Hulu and DirecTV, and in each case, he walked away empty-handed.
Amazon Echo does what Sonos can’t with native Audible streaming.
Since Amazon owns Aubilde, there’s no account linking or setup required. Simply say “Alexa, read [book title]” to begin listening to a book in your library, or say “Alexa, read my book” to continue listening to your most recent audiobook.
What is the purpose in a non apple hub being home kit compatible? Is the apple tv going to be a hub controller?
The Insteon hub acts as a bridge, allowing HomeKit to discover and control Insteon devices that themselves aren’t HomeKit compatible. In theory, it opens up an entire ecosystem of devices for HomeKit. The problem is that at launch, many devices that current Insteon customers use aren’t supported by this new Insteon hub.
HomeKit is like a software hub or framework. The most obvious benefit is Siri control, but I think we’ll see some interesting interaction between and beyond HomeKit enbabled “things” for lack of a better word. An Apple TV in the mix gives you more “permanence” over mobile iOS devices but is probably more relevant to nodes, like a sensor or bulb, versus a hub.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204893
If you have an Apple TV (3rd generation or later) with software version 7.0 or later, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories when you’re away from home using your iOS device.
Richard and I were obvously commenting at the same time… :)
Apple has already said that some types of items will not be allowed to be bridged. Specifically, items that are more integrated wth the home. Ie, thermostats, door locks, garage doors.
So in other words, things that are way more security concerned. I assume this is just Apple protecting themselves. I also assume that open/closed window and door sensors fall under this category. So my guess is that they’ll never be supported.
Hm, hadn’t come across that and wonder what the criteria is. Maybe we should call it Apple Half-a-HomeKit. ;)
Having said that, Elgato is already taking orders for a HomeKit-compatible door/window sensor:
http://amzn.to/1HQUkLy
Will be real interesting to see what Nest does later this month…
http://www.cnet.com/news/nest-learning-thermostat-press-conference-june-17th-2015/
At the very least, there will one new Dropcam:
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=gMdqfCCFyJhF2%2FSDslo4Rw%3D%3D&fcc_id=ZQANC11
I suspect Insteon just wasn’t ready and pulled features to hit the date. The good news is that you can use your old controller at the same time. So essentially using the new one as a HomeKit bridge and the old controller for complex configurations with timers etc.
To me HomeKit offers the promise of de-balkanizing the HA space. The space is desperately in need of a standard protocol. I’m a bit confused as to if I can use an Elgato door sensor to directly turn on a Insteon Light (for example), though. If an iPhone app is required to make that connection, I’ll be very disappointed.
“To me HomeKit offers the promise of de-balkanizing the HA space. The space is desperately in need of a standard protocol.”
And you expect Cupertino to be a help in that mission?
I can’t reliably get my iPhone 6 to resume audiobooks in iTunes. If any other app produces sound, iTunes “forgets”. Too bad Siri can’t ask Echo to help with that.
> Having said that, Elgato is already taking orders for a HomeKit-compatible door/window sensor
Yes, that would be a native HomeKit appliance. Those of course are fully compatible. But what Insteon is doing is bridging their non HomeKit appliances via their HomeKit approved bridge.
Native HomeKit appliances talk the HomeKit protocol, which is only over IP (wifi) or BTLE.
Here’s the details: http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/22/apple-details-homekit-compatibility-with-competing-home-automation-platforms/
> There are restrictions on which accessories can be bridged to HomeKit. For starters, Apple will not allow home automation accessories connecting over Wi-Fi, such as a Nest Thermostat, to be bridged. Those will have to go the HomeKit protocol route and become licensed MFi products.
> Apple will allow some Bluetooth LE accessories to be bridged, but only those that don’t offer users control of the home. For example, a non-MFi Bluetooth lightbulb product must not be bridged. Instead, like Wi-Fi products, it would have to go through the HomeKit protocol and get MFi certification. Apple’s restrictions on bridged accessories appear to be at least partially security-related. The company also notes, for instance, that any accessory regardless of how it connects cannot be bridged if it allows physical access to a home, such as a door lock.