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Kuo: Apple Planning Smart Home Camera and New AirPods With More Health Features

I'm curious. I've been nerding out the past couple of years, Home Bridge in VirtualBox on an old iMac, now Home Assistant on a dedicated Pi. I've been able to integrate most things into Homekit, but it's all for hobbyists.

Edited to mention, I have a Logi front doorbell cam and a Logi circle view for my driveway, which only work on Apple Homekit, and have very few problems.
 
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I seriously don’t get the ‘health’ angle Apple has taken. The first thing I did when I got my ultra watch was turn off all of those features. I track my workouts but that’s it.

I would far prefer a utility angle from all these products. Like why doesn’t the Apple Watch have a led flashlight emitter on the side? Imagine being able to point your arm as a flashlight.
 
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I wish ubiquiti would support HKSV natively. My hoobs server with homebridge and unifi protect was too unreliable. It’s also easier for family to use Home than the Protect app.
 
nutmac said:
I hope I am wrong, but I suspect their smart home camera won't be what most of us wants -- doorbell camera and floodlight camera. Instead, I suspect it will likely be an indoor camera, perhaps with wheels.

I don't think Apple wants to deal with anything that requires that requires or demands a professional installation.
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As much as I hate to admit it, you're probably right. I want to get rid of my Nest cameras so badly...
 
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Muero said:
I think the biggest help here would be if Apple would bring back their AirPort line of Wi-Fi routers. Oftentimes, complaints about HomeKit are really complaints about flaky Wi-Fi.
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Issue is not wifi in this scenario. Light bulb is right next to router.
Didnt have any of these issues with the older non homekit lifx bulb i replaced.
Others in lifx subreddit complain of the same homekit unreliability.
 
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Muero said:
I think the biggest help here would be if Apple would bring back their AirPort line of Wi-Fi routers. Oftentimes, complaints about HomeKit are really complaints about flaky Wi-Fi.
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Yes, please apple, make routers great again!
 
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adammusic said:
Fix HomeKit first. Got a new lifx bulb with HomeKit. Control center widget is buggy. Light goes offline (no response). Wall Light switch control takes a couple toggles.
Homekit seems super unreliable.
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It's not HomeKit. I've got the latest DECO Wifi 7 Pro Mesh [Which actually doesn't act as a MESH network] and it needs some serious firmware updates.

Apple isn't just working on 5G/6G but also Wifi so don't be surprised they invest and produce end-to-end Smart Home network services. I like the new REOLinks I bought but I'll drop them in a nanosecond if Apple produces what I know they can do and hits the price point to compete.
 
I would think that these cameras would be one of the first Matter compatible cameras so I expect a similar timeline for Matter camera support. Matter version 2.0 perhaps?
 
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This would be the first camera I’d buy as no doubt the intergration would be great but I also wish for cellular options as well. There aren’t enough of these on the market.
 
Smart camera can be a very successful product for Apple. Not surprised to hear about more health features coming to AirPods
 
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If Apple really is serious about the smart home, then surely having their own routers would make a F***TON of sense...
 
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adammusic said:
Fix HomeKit first. Got a new lifx bulb with HomeKit. Control center widget is buggy. Light goes offline (no response). Wall Light switch control takes a couple toggles.
Homekit seems super unreliable.
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If it's just the one thing... maybe it's the thing.

I have 120 lights, Hue, matter, various Wifi ones via homebridge... they are rock solid.

Main issues with Homekit are:
If a HomePod is in control it can be slow/glitchy depending on the HomePods connection and your home wifi.
Use a wired Apple TV and it's fine.

With Hue and Zigbee lights - make sure the zigged channels and wifi channels don't overlap. Basically keep one lowest numbers and one highest numbers.
 
CEmajr said:
Yes it would be awesome if they released an updated Time Capsule with newer Wi-fi tech. I still have one connected to my network with media files for all my Apple devices to access around the house.
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What you want is a Synology NAS. You can set up virtual drives for EACH of your devices and just target them from each Mac as the Time machine they will connect wirelessly. Plus all the stuff you can do with a NAS... Plex server etc.

www.synology.com

Product List | Synology Inc.

Whether for work or play, Synology offers a wide range of network-attached storage (NAS) choices for every occasion. Compare specifications below and find the right model for you.
www.synology.com www.synology.com
or a more capable rack one etc.
$250 for the 223 model - You do buy your own HHDs - say $180 for 2 4Tb Segate Ironwolf NAS drives ( do get NAS Drives )

How do I back up files from my Mac to NAS using Time Machine? - Synology Knowledge Center

Synology Knowledge Center offers comprehensive support, providing answers to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting steps, software tutorials, and all the technical documentation you may need.
kb.synology.com kb.synology.com

Synology Community

Hi! Come and join us at Synology Community. A place to answer all your Synology questions. Ask a question or start a discussion now.
community.synology.com community.synology.com

 
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So in 2023 they announce that Siri coul be queried and used on third party devices. I think the only devices that has that is Ecobee thermostat and the Denon Home speakers.

Smart Thermostat Premium | ecobee

Save on energy costs and control your comfort and security with Smart Thermostat Premium. Comes with advanced radar sensors and air quality alerts.
www.ecobee.com www.ecobee.com

I expect an Apple camera may be used as Siri per room, Presence sensor that know who you are, Potentially as a AI security device.

The logical thing would be a small HomePod Device that could be wall or desk mounted, Camera with Ultra wide lens - Small screen less Than 6", Siri, HomePod mini level speaker. could be used for all homekit function, Room to room intercom, FaceTime, Siri and other specialist apps with an API.

home pod mini is $89. This could be $229. I'd buy 7!
 
tothemoonsands said:
Apple will buy the rights to the Circle HKSV cams, but instead of plastic it will be metal for even worse heat dissipation and wifi signal ;)

In all seriousness, this will be a very popular product. I wouldn't necessarily upgrade since I could not be happier with my Unifi Protect cams (AI Pros, G4 Doorbell Pro, etc.), but for many people that is too big of hurdle to get all of the needed Unifi equipment and have wired PoE. And nonetheless, there is a void for indoor cams that have Siri/Apple Intelligence/Facetime, so even folks with Unifi gear might want a product like that.
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exactly right - I am currently using Unifi + Netatmo (as it has good face-recognition) in a Combo - the Apple product could replace the Netatmos.
An ethernet port/POE option would be appreciated - but knowing Apple is unlikely.
 
This is great news and I suspect the camera will really be an indoors one to supplement whatever the HomePod screen device will be. I’m not sure Apple would want to provide outdoor cameras that involve end users having to employ someone to fit it or fit it themselves - for whatever reason it just doesn’t feel very Apple.

But Apple getting more involved in HomeKit hardware could be great if they can also work on some of the other devices that aren’t the best like doorbells.

Hopefully if Apple go through the development process themselves they might see why so many other manufacturers seem to struggle and improve things for everyone.
 
Apple really dropped the ball with this. It had everything set up to implement a connected home, with HomeKit/Apple Home, Apple TV, HomePod, etc. All it needed to do was make a few things that people wanted, like cameras, mesh network, and proper, easy connectivity with other makers. Instead, it wasted time, effort and money in trying to make a car as well as other useless endeavors (I'm not including Apple Vision in this, though, as if the price was right it would sell a lot).

Now Apple wants to get back into the game where Amazon and Google have taken a massive lead. This is Siri all over again
 
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I don't feel like Apple are going to want to get in on the home video camera game - they will spend more momey on support than what they will ever make. I feel like there is a reason they have only stuck to basics and provde a hub.

I honestly think that's why they got out of the networking game too - as much as I loved their AirPort lineup.
 
nutmac said:
That's more Lifx than HomeKit, rather smart home devices that uses Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi smart home devices soemetimes lose connection and don't reconnect unless you restart it. Restarting light switches or lightbulbs is no fun.
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Thread is just as bad if not worse
 
xizdun said:
Holy sh*t, this is big news. Can't wait to trash my non-functioning Logitech Circle HKSV cameras.
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Yes I have 2 one with no real issues the other is online when ever it wants to be I went months with it being offline then one day it connected. It’s still not a hundred percent stable. And scrolling through footage is terribly slow. Such a bad experience I went with the Aqara for my door bell I wasn’t taking my chance with another Logitech smart home product. Even if it is made for HomeKit.
 
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