APPLE IN 2020that’s already been built out by many of the working
group’s members, it should be something that many
existing smart home devices can take advantage of.
Apple’s not always the best at playing well with
others, so its endorsement of this project is a positive
sign. Unlike other markets Apple has entered, the
company’s probably not going to dominate this one,
not least of all because it doesn’t currently compete in
most of the smart home tech categories, like switches,
lighting or appliances. But the company does want all
of those devices made by others to work with Siri and
the Home app – and sometimes that means swallowing
your pride and ensuring that everything works just as
well for the products of your competitors.What happens in Vegas
Over the past few years, Apple has generally avoided
participating – in an official capacity, at least – at the
annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (As
someone who had to attend the event more than once
in the line of duty, I sympathize with that decision.) This
year, however, Apple worked with partners to show off
new HomeKit-enabled devices and Siri integration.
Again, this unusual move demonstrates Apple’s
realization that smart home tech can’t be developed
and rolled out in a vacuum. With so many products in
this market, the company needs to be a good citizen
and work with third parties to make sure that the
devices consumers want are interoperable with its
smart home system. And given that CES remains the
largest consumer electronics show in the US, well, you
need to go where the business is.APPLE IN 2020
that’salreadybeenbuiltoutbymanyoftheworking
group’smembers,itshouldbesomethingthatmany
existingsmarthomedevicescantakeadvantageof.
Apple’snotalwaysthebestatplayingwellwith
others,soitsendorsementofthisprojectisapositive
sign.UnlikeothermarketsApplehasentered,the
company’sprobablynotgoingtodominatethisone,
notleastofallbecauseitdoesn’tcurrentlycompetein
mostofthesmarthometechcategories,likeswitches,
lightingorappliances.Butthecompanydoeswantall
ofthosedevicesmadebyotherstoworkwithSiriand
theHomeapp–andsometimesthatmeansswallowing
yourprideandensuringthateverythingworksjustas
wellfortheproductsofyourcompetitors.WhathappensinVegas
Overthepastfewyears,Applehasgenerallyavoided
participating–inanofficialcapacity,atleast–atthe
annualConsumerElectronicsShowinLasVegas.(As
someonewhohadtoattendtheeventmorethanonce
inthelineofduty,Isympathizewiththatdecision.)This
year,however,Appleworkedwithpartnerstoshowoff
newHomeKit-enableddevicesandSiriintegration.
Again,thisunusualmovedemonstratesApple’s
realizationthatsmarthometechcan’tbedeveloped
androlledoutinavacuum.Withsomanyproductsin
thismarket,thecompanyneedstobeagoodcitizen
andworkwiththirdpartiestomakesurethatthe
devicesconsumerswantareinteroperablewithits
smarthomesystem.AndgiventhatCESremainsthe
largestconsumerelectronicsshowintheUS,well,you
needtogowherethebusinessis.