With HomePod, you’re not only getting an “amazing” sounding speaker, you’re also getting the smart home smarts of Siri, meaning controlling your HomeKit devices has never been easier. Just say “Hey Siri” and ask her to perform a scene, turn a light on or lock your Friday Lock.
HomePod a powerful Smart Home Hub
Like Apple TV, HomePod is the centrepiece of your Apple HomeKit smart home. It provides you secure access to your HomeKit accessories even when you’re away from home. It also creates a mesh HomeKit network for all of your devices to connect to. Because HomePod is a HomeKit hub, commands are lighting fast, faster than your iPhone or other smart speakers. In testing, commands sent to HomePod were fulfilled instantly compared to a 1 – 3-second delay with other speakers. This is due to HomePod being directly connected to your devices.
HomePod and Apple TV are also extending the range of your HomeKit devices. Let’s say you live in a large two-story home with HomeKit devices scattered everywhere. By adding a HomePod in a bedroom and in the kitchen, your Bluetooth HomeKit accessories will now be able to connect to your HomeKit network. They will have a faster more reliable connection because they are now connected to your HomePod. Previously they would attempt to connect to the Apple TV in the living room. In testing Hue bulbs and an Eve Degree that was out of Apple TV range now connect perfectly to the Home app.
HomePod and the Home app
HomePod is controlled through the Home app on your iOS device including iPhone. When setting up HomePod you are prompted to select a room in your Home. Because your HomePod knows where it is and the accessories around it, it is able to personalise the requests for the room it’s in. When asking HomePod to turn off the lights it turns off the lights in the room it’s in whereas on iPhone it does the whole house.
One thing HomePod can’t do is unlock doors or disarm security systems, it can only lock and arm them. This is for the safety of your home, so you can have a peace of mind for when you go out, someone can’t just yell through an open window “Hey Siri, unlock the front door” – Phew!
HomePod is a great addition to the HomeKit ecosystem and if you’re looking at diving in it’s a great way to get started with some cheaper Elgato or LIFX accessories. You can browse HomeKit-enabled products that are available in Australia here. HomePod, can be purchased from a number of retailers around Australia, including Apple’s online store.
Photo Credit – elgato.com
