Going home
It doesn’t seem far fetched to suggest that 2020 is
shaping up to be a significant year for Apple’s smart
home agenda. But now that the company has made
strides towards interoperability, what next steps
might it take?
I’ve long advocated that Apple should consider
dipping its toe into the smart home device market,
if only to provide an example of ‘best practices’ for
manufacturers of HomeKit-compatible devices. While
the emphasis on interoperability and relationships
with third parties seems to lend credence to the
idea that Apple doesn’t want to build its own smart
home devices, it does perhaps raise the possibility of
building more capabilities into its own products that
help support smart home tech.Apple HomePodGoinghome
Itdoesn’tseemfarfetchedtosuggestthat 2020 is
shapinguptobeasignificantyearforApple’ssmart
homeagenda.Butnowthatthecompanyhasmade
stridestowardsinteroperability,whatnextsteps
mightittake?
I’velongadvocatedthatAppleshouldconsider
dippingitstoeintothesmarthomedevicemarket,
ifonlytoprovideanexampleof‘bestpractices’for
manufacturersofHomeKit-compatibledevices.While
theemphasisoninteroperabilityandrelationships
withthirdpartiesseemstolendcredencetothe
ideathatAppledoesn’twanttobuilditsownsmart
homedevices,itdoesperhapsraisethepossibilityof
buildingmorecapabilitiesintoitsownproductsthat
helpsupportsmarthometech.
Apple HomePod