Bloomberg: Apple Increasing Hiring for Team Working on New HomeKit Devices Beyond HomePod

[MacRumors]

Apple is ramping up hiring for a team working on new HomeKit-based devices and software, having posted at least 15 openings for engineering positions on the team in the last month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The report claims the efforts are headed by Andreas Gal, the former CTO of Mozilla who joined Apple last year following the iPhone maker's acquisition of Silk Labs, an artificial intelligence startup that had created a privacy-focused security camera and smart home hub system.

Details are vague, but one possibility is said to be new smart home devices beyond the HomePod speaker. Apple is also said to have explored creating a wide range of smart home accessories, such as modules for opening and closing windows, cabinets, and doors, but those efforts were reportedly put on hold.

Article Link: Bloomberg: Apple Increasing Hiring for Team Working on New HomeKit Devices Beyond HomePod

 

[acblue94]

About time

 

[DoctorTech]

Glad to hear this! Looking forward to some new Apple smart home products.

 

[Rogifan]

This story seems to be based on nothing more than a job listings on Apple’s website and then Gurman trying to infer what those job listings mean and turn it into a scoop/story.

 

[genovelle]

About time

They usually hope they can trust developers to support their platforms if they give them the tools to do so. When they realize they won’t do it, they do it themselves and the developers come running to complete once Apple is highly successfully doing what they asked them to do for years.

 

[chris4565]

I would love to buy first party HomeKit devices from Apple. Really looking forward to them.

 

[Abazigal]

I would love to buy first party HomeKit devices from Apple. Really looking forward to them.

I don't see Apple releasing their own smart lightbulbs and kitchen appliances, if that's what you are suggesting. Their attention and resources is way too limited and precious to waste on endeavours like this which can easily be outsourced to a third party.

 

[kyleh22]

15 doesn't seem like a categorical shift in focus. Hopefully this is just the start...I'd love to see Apple as invested as Amazon and Google are.

 

[DanBig]

So we'll see a home server again! Which is is secured and manages the home, Siri Voice Pods, room entry stations, Desktop view stations & more variations of HomePods all inter-linked via Mesh WiFi!

 

[gsmornot]

I would like to see a return of Wifi routers, maybe one with HomeKit hubs integrated so we don't need hubs from other brands.

 

[cardfan]

I don't see Apple releasing their own smart lightbulbs and kitchen appliances, if that's what you are suggesting. Their attention and resources is way too limited and precious to waste on endeavours like this which can easily be outsourced to a third party.

True. They should waste time making more tv shows instead.

 

[Vado]

It's about time! I'd love to see some great high quality HomeKit products produced by Apple rather than them just creating the platform.

 

[kemal]

Or just concede defeat and fully integrate with Amazon and Google. Then bring back headphone jack and ditch Lightning for USB C.

I'm kidding. Apple will introduce an RGB unicorn puke lighting device that is good for one's health.

 

[SBlue1]

This story seems to be based on nothing more than a job listings on Apple’s website and then Gurman trying to infer what those job listings mean and turn it into a scoop/story.

Well this is a rumors site so it fits quite perfectly.

 

[McScooby]

I would like to see a return of Wifi routers, maybe one with HomeKit hubs integrated so we don't need hubs from other brands.

First thing I thought & hoped for!👍

 

[Edsel]

The current iterations of Airplay2, iOS 13.1.2, HomePod, and Apple 4kTV are horribly unsynchronized. It's a mess that needs desperate attention. Apple seems to be more focused on how a product looks and feels than how they operate in a synchronized system.

Before they invest more assets in developing additional HomeKit devices, please improve your device firmware and iOS software.

 

[G3Blue]

I want to spend money on smart home devices, why are Apple taking so long to release some? I’m holding out as I only want HomeKit devices.

 

[fmcshan]

Hoping this becomes a thing! If Apple does go forward with this plan I will definitely purchase these devices, as they most certainly will be much more reliable than some of my other smart home devices.

 

[sputnikBA]

I would like to see a return of Wifi routers, maybe one with HomeKit hubs integrated so we don't need hubs from other brands.

God I hope so. My AirPort Extreme is at the end of its life and I’d love to replace it with a WiFi 6 tri-band successor from Apple.

 

[redpandadev]

I would love for Apple to develop some smart home accessories. There are very few good ones out there and even less that are built with any regard for privacy.

A camera in particular would be awesome. Rip the ultra-wide camera out of the 11 series and make it a standalone HomeKit camera and you’ve got gold.

 

[ersan191]

Apple gives developers tools to develop their own products to work with their ecosystem.

Developers either don’t make products or make mediocre ones.

Apple says screw it we’ll make it ourselves. Product is wildly successful.

Developers: Pikachu face

Customers and Media: WaLLeD GaRDeN!!11

 

[FelixDerKater]

Make a thermostat! And a camera as beautiful as iSight.

 

[millerlite]

I LOVE my Homepods, and I was worried that they were being neglected. We still haven't even seen the OS update, to match all of their other devices. So this is very welcome news, indeed.

 

[centauratlas]

They should just build a wifi router into HomePod etc. Perhaps MESH, but with all ease from the old airports etc, and all current standards WPA3, WiFi 6 etc.

 

[alexandr]

great. perhaps they will consider making routers again!