Getting your household under control is a grueling task, especially when also having to manage a family, career, and day-to-day life. With the whole family all having multiple devices like computers, tablets, and phones, making sure they’re in good working order, and no one has a broken iPhone can be a challenge. Thankfully, Apple has a system that makes getting your home under control a little bit easier. Apple HomeKit is a home system designed to help people create, communicate with, and manage their smart-home appliances. This sounds too good to be true, so how exactly does it work and what exactly does it do?
How does it work?
Compatible with over 100 smart brands and appliances, the HomeKit allows you to control them from anywhere in your home- and even when away from home. “Turn off the bathroom lights” “Turn the bedroom fan on” “Warm the living room” Rather than having to download an app for each new device you purchase, you can control these devices in one place, the Home App. Appliances supported by HomeKit According to Apple: Air conditioners, air purifiers, bridges, cameras, doorbells, fans, faucets, garage doors, humidifiers, lights, locks, outlets, receivers, routers, security, sensors, speakers, sprinklers, switches, thermostats, TVs, Windows. To set up the HomeKit, you simply have to open the Home app and click the plus sign to add a new device to the room of your choice. The HomeKit is supported on iPhones, iPads, HomePods, Apple Watches, and newer Apple TVs.
Staying Organized and Setting a Routine
With the Home app, you can literally set the scene for your day. Setting a scene enables several devices to work together at the same time by voice command, tap of your phone, or timer. Each scene is customizable and significant to each person, but here are a few examples to get an idea. Saying “Good Morning!” will turn on the bedroom lights, raise the living room blinds, and power the kitchen outlets. This way you enjoy natural sunlight as your coffee maker is heating up. Tapping on “Leaving Home” will close the garage, locks doors, and activate your security system. This way you know your home is safe from intruders. Automating “Kids Out of School” will turn on the AC, TV, and speakers by the time your kids arrive home. To set a scene, launch the Home app, tap the add sign in the upper right corner, tap “Add Scene,” give your scene a fitting name, choose which appliances you’d like to be a part of setting the scene, and tap done. From here you can change each device’s settings and test run the scene until it is the perfect setting for your home.
Home Away From Home
You can have control of your home from anywhere- as long as you have an Apple TV (4th generation or newer), HomePod, or iPad at home. While at work or on the go, you can use the Home app and ask Siri to control your devices just like you would do when at home. If you attempted to control an appliance when out of range and without one of the needed devices, Siri will not be able to perform the command.
Secure Your Home
Are you ever in such a rush that you can’t remember if you closed the garage, locked the front door, and turned off your iron? With the HomeKit and its appropriate devices, you can put your mind at ease and go about your day. If any of these scenarios do happen to occur, all you have to do is use voice commands to fix the issues. You can also monitor your home security with HomeKit Secure Video. The security system actively monitors your home and detects when people, pets, or cars are present. If this happens, you’ll receive a notification that allows you to view the clip from the lock screen. Every recorded video is available to view for ten days from the Home App. For extra security, you can also select who’d you like to have control of appliances and receive notifications. This way family members, babysitters, and maintenance can take control when needed. All they will need is an iOS device and an iCloud account. It’s important know that HomeKit requires iOS 8.0 or higher. If your device is too old or you have trouble upgrading the operating system, it might be time to sell your phone and get a newer one. All you simply need to get control of your home away from home are two iOS devices. If you have neither, it is recommended that you shop around for the best deals. This secure system is sure to add simplicity to any busy schedule.
