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Apple's new HomeKit connects home appliances

Apple's new HomeKit connects home appliances

SAN FRANCISCO—Apple introduced HomeKit, its new home automation/home security framework, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, held here this week.

According to a June 2 company news release: “HomeKit lets your home accessories connect seamlessly to better manage your home. HomeKit delivers a common protocol, secure pairing and the ability to easily control individual or groups of devices throughout the house including integration with Siri. For example, you can tell Siri you are “going to bed” and it could dim the lights, lock your doors, close the garage door and set the thermostat.”

A National Public Radio (NPR) report described HomeKit as “a single, centralized way to control various automated appliances—everything from your smart thermostat to lights or locks or garage doors. The platform would allow your iPhone to act as a "remote control" for your smart home devices, and Apple to be the connective thread between various third-party home automation accessories.
Tech companies want to make your smartphones, TVs, lights and other appliances all work together, regardless of brand.”

NPR quoted Apple software chief Craig Federighi as saying: “There are great apps and devices on the market, but we thought we could bring some rationality to this.”

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