Apple Introduces HomeKit for iOS 8

Apple wants to make it easier to manage your home automation devices, so that you can lock doors, dim lights, and adjust your thermostat from your iPhone or iPad. On Monday, the company announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco that it has added functionality in its upcoming release of iOS 8, through the HomeKit software platform, to integrate control for door locking, light dimming, and other home automation gadgets and features to iOS devices.

Of course, each of these apps uses its own network protocol, Federighi pointed out. Now Apple is offering a way to make it easier for these app developers to integrate their apps' functionality with iOS devices. The integration will also allow app developers to use the Siri personal assistant software so these devices can be adjusted simply by speaking a command.

Smart home users will also be able to group their devices together, so that a single command can control them all. For example, Federighi said that just by saying, "Get ready for bed," to your iPhone or iPad could result in automatically dimming the lights and locking the doors.