Apple's rumored smart home platform may not live up to hype, report says
Following rumors that Apple is planning to debut a smart home platform at WWDC, a report on Thursday claims the unannounced program is not as ambitious as market watchers and pundits first thought.
Citing sources with knowledge of Apple's supposed smart home initiative, Gigaom reports the new initiative is less of a platform than it is an extension of the "Made for iPhone" certification program.
The people said Apple plans incorporate some standard home automation functions like easily connecting smart devices to a home's Wi-Fi network, as well as possible remote control over Bluetooth. Apple is also expected to provide hooks into Siri for voice control operations, though restricted to minor commands.
According to these people, Apple's rumored solution is not expected to boast a true automation layer that is able to override individual device apps. The possibility of automating lights, appliances, HVAC systems and more was what made the rumor exciting. Without those capabilities, Apple's smart home program is basically an effort to simplify device setup and ensure hardware interoperability.
While disappointing, end users will likely be able to purchase MFi certified devices that can connect to a central hotspot or even the iPhone itself, negating the need for separate hubs that serve different communications protocols, the people said.
It is possible that Apple may one day introduce universal control to the as-yet-unannounced platform, but the system debuting at WWDC next week will not include that advanced functionality.
AppleInsider offered a peek at what a full-fledged Apple smart home platform could look like, but it appears Gigaom's sources have poured cold water on the potential of seeing many of those enticing features roll out.
Citing sources with knowledge of Apple's supposed smart home initiative, Gigaom reports the new initiative is less of a platform than it is an extension of the "Made for iPhone" certification program.
The people said Apple plans incorporate some standard home automation functions like easily connecting smart devices to a home's Wi-Fi network, as well as possible remote control over Bluetooth. Apple is also expected to provide hooks into Siri for voice control operations, though restricted to minor commands.
According to these people, Apple's rumored solution is not expected to boast a true automation layer that is able to override individual device apps. The possibility of automating lights, appliances, HVAC systems and more was what made the rumor exciting. Without those capabilities, Apple's smart home program is basically an effort to simplify device setup and ensure hardware interoperability.
While disappointing, end users will likely be able to purchase MFi certified devices that can connect to a central hotspot or even the iPhone itself, negating the need for separate hubs that serve different communications protocols, the people said.
It is possible that Apple may one day introduce universal control to the as-yet-unannounced platform, but the system debuting at WWDC next week will not include that advanced functionality.
AppleInsider offered a peek at what a full-fledged Apple smart home platform could look like, but it appears Gigaom's sources have poured cold water on the potential of seeing many of those enticing features roll out.
Comments
Ugh. Tuesday can't get here soon enough!
At this point, it does not matter- Stock will see new highs in 2014!
Bottom Line- Buy the Fuc.ing Dips (BTFD) is the name of this Game!
BTFD video -
Is this a new record for the quickest “APPLE WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE WORLD” to “APPLE ISN’T ACTUALLY GOING TO DO ANYTHING SELL YOUR STOCK”?
"Hype"? What hype? This rumor literally came out 2 days ago out of left field, and there was no details apart from "home automation". They speak as if Apple itself has been hyping something for months. Not a single normal person knows about this rumor- it made a splash on the tech blogs, of course, but the term "hype" is really being abused here. There's nothing to "live up to" because absolutely nothing is known or even predicted. This rumor literally s a day old.
Personally, I can't wait to see iOS8 and OSX10.10. Everything else is icing on the cake, so I'm not going into this expecting to be disappointed.
NY Times is reporting that iOS 8 split screen multitasking won't be ready for WWDC. Mark Gurman says Craig Federighi wasn't at the Code conference because iOS 8 and OSX 10.10 are running behind schedule.
If it isn't ready show slides.
Wow cycle of rumor, hype, dispelling of the myth, and hopeless despair now fits into 24 hours.
What's next? 1 pm. New rumor of Apple product!
1:05 pm ELATION!
1:15 RUMOR AND HOPES DASHED
1:22 APPLE IS DOOMED
1:30 NEXT RUMOR!
It all adds up to zero actual information...
Now we're left with the 'disappointing' speculation that 'Apple's smart home program is basically an effort to simplify device setup and ensure hardware interoperability.' Well, that's sorta what Apple does, doesn't it?
Apple Insider, I generally like you guys, but this type of article is just too funny... Perhaps we should all just wait until Tuesday and find out what the facts are and then form opinions...
In the meantime, I'm going to take a little break from this site...
LOL! Yesteray's rumors are today rumored not to be correct, which is 'disappointing'! Oh my!
It all adds up to zero actual information...
Now we're left with the 'disappointing' speculation that 'Apple's smart home program is basically an effort to simplify device setup and ensure hardware interoperability.' Well, that's sorta what Apple does, doesn't it?
Apple Insider, I generally like you guys, but this type of article is just too funny... Perhaps we should all just wait until Tuesday and find out what the facts are and then form opinions...
In the meantime, I'm going to take a little break from this site...
"Second Hand News"
—Fleetwood Mac, Album: Rumors
I know there's nothing to say
Someone has taken my place
When times go bad
When times go rough
Won't you lay me down in tall grass
And let me do my stuff
I know I got nothin' on you
I know there's nothing to do
When times go bad
And you can't get enough
Won't you lay me down in the tall grass
And let me do my stuff
One thing I think you should know
I ain't gonna miss you when you go
Been down so long
I've been tossed around enough
Couldn't you just
Let me go down and do my stuff
I know you're hopin' to find
Someone who's gonna give you piece of mind
When times go bad
when times go rough
Won't you lay me down in tall grass
And let me do my stuff
I'm just second hand news
I'm just second hand news
So I guess we are now at the "rumors of the demise of Apple caused by rumors of new products that were rumored to be announced at WWDC to be rumored to not be announced" stage.
Ugh. Tuesday can't get here soon enough!
^this^
Who cares? AAPL up $11
A passbook app for this would be kind of cool though.
Passbook is exactly what this reminds me of. It was a huge letdown. I've used it, but it is hardly user-friendly, and didn't deliver the promise they hype anticipated. There's nothing wrong with the app per se, but the rumors made it seem like an out-of-the-box NFC replacement.
CNET claims no hardware will be announced at WWDC. it will be all about software and mostly about OSX. Grr...I hope they're wrong.
I suspect this is accurate. It's a dev conference so there isn't necessarily any reason to unveil new hardware unless they want devs to get to work creating for new sizes/devices.