On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we dive into more Amazon hardware arriving this fall, a leaked sensor from Ikea, evidence of Apple’s smart home display, and the delay of Apple’s next-gen Siri.
As Apple’s smart home plans remain in flux, code discovered in tvOS 18.4 reveal Apple has added support for ChatKit. This is a framework used for Messages, currently unused on Apple TV.
As the new smart display is rumored to run on tvOS, it makes sense this would be added to support messaging. We also talk about the next-gen Siri, and whether it is necessary for Apple’s product to release.
Speaking of code sleuthing, it appears we also have support for Matter water sensors in iOS 18.4. This joins robotic vacuums and smoke detectors as new device types.
Also in the news, Ikea appears ready to release its own Matter sensor. This would be the first direct to Matter sensor and support temperature and humidity.
After debuting at CES 2025, the new Ecobee thermostat is finally here. It’s the Ecobee Essentials Smart Thermostat and has a price point of $129 and works directly with Apple Home.
Finally, SwitchBot has a new set of trimmable smart shades, Eufy has its new S3 Doorbell Pro, and Abode has launched a new TV app to monitor your security cameras.
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