Apple Smart Home Accessories Draw Nearer to Launch

Did you know Apple’s iOS 8 is equipped to dim your lights, turn down your air conditioning, and open your garage door? HomeKit, a programming framework designed to control home accessories, was built into the latest operating system and introduced to developers last winter. This spring, the company is expected to debut devices equipped to respond to Siri through AirPlay-enabled embedded chips. The advantage of using AirPlay over Bluetooth is added security. Because AirPlay only works with Apple-enabled hardware, Apple is able to provide encryption throughout the process. The encrypted command can only be decrypted by Apple hardware, keeping those signals from being intercepted and hijacked. Google acquired Nest Labs, maker of the Nest Learning thermometer, last year, and Samsung acquired SmartThings this past summer as well, but Apple’s use of AirPlay over Bluetooth is something to consider when converting to a smart office or home.