Apple is making it easier for users to control their smart home devices on Apple TV, iPads and iPhones with its latest software update.
Apple continues its smart home evolution by introducing significant updates in its latest operating system releases: tvOS 18, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. These upgrades bring new functionalities designed to enhance user experience, optimize inter-device integration, and advance home automation.
Taken in context with recent news and rumors about Apple’s smart home ambitions, Apple could be making a play for a larger presence in smart homes, including custom CEDIA-channel home projects.
tvOS 18 Brings AI Features to Apple TV
tvOS 18 introduces several features that enhance the company’s streaming device experience and make Apple TV an even more powerful hub for smart homes.
According to Apple, tvOS introduces new AI features such as InSight, which displays timely on-screen information about actors, characters, and music from live-action Apple TV+ movies and shows. The streamers dialogue enhancer feature is also smarter, leveraging machine learning and computational audio for better vocal clarity. In addition, subtitles on Apple TV devices are also more intelligent, automatically appearing when users mute, skip back while watching, or when the language does not match the device language.
However, it’s the smart home features that really have us interested. The Home app on Apple TV and other devices is getting several updates, including guest access with iOS 18 that provides users with convenient ways to grant guests control of locks, garage doors, and security systems; schedule individualized or time-based access to the home with smart locks; and view Activity History for guests.
According to Apple, the updated Home app is designed to facilitate easier access to data to make more informed decision about home electricity use thanks to a partnership with leading utilities, beginning with Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California.
Other features for home control include sharing control of music playing from HomePod and HomePod mini using SharePlay and Apple Music, Spatial Audio in AirPlay, and Live Captions on Facetime with Coninuity Camera. The company is also teasing 21:9 support in tvOS for playing movies and shows on projectors.
Robot vacuum cleaners will also be compatible with the Home app and can participate in automations and scenes, the company says.
Easier Home Control on iPhone, iPad
Apple is also making it easier for users to quickly control smart home devices on both iPhones and iPads, allowing users to customize their Home Screen by placing app icons and widgets to frame the wallpaper or create the ideal layout on each page. Control Center is also redesigned, enabling users to access Home controls and connectivity options with just one swipe. Controls an also be accessed from the Action button, and users can change controls on the Lock Screen.
This is particularly useful on iPads, which are often used in either mounted or tabletop configurations for smart home control.
Is Apple Making a Bigger Move on the Smart Home?
Apple’s new smart home features in its new operating systems come as the company is involved in several rumored smart home innovations, including a new smart home operating system and new iPad-like home control devices.
Although Apple didn’t have a booth or a noticeable presence at CEDIA Expo 2024, the company’s solutions were featured in several booths and products at the trade show. For example, CEDIA-channel home control companies such as Savant and Control4 were showing off their integration with Siri and Homekit, while WALL-SMART featured a new iPad mount for home control.
Apple could not immediately be reached for comment about these possibilities, but these rumors and confirmed news all seem to indicate that Apple is making the smart home a larger focus, so we’ll stay turned for any other relevant news.
Source: cepro.com
