iOS 16 HomeKit Wish List –

This is officially the time of the year when I take note of what will be announced at WWDC in June. Rumors are always flying around this time of year, and aside from some big iMessage improvements, I hope Apple spends a lot of time during the keynote showing off much-needed HomeKit improvements. So let’s dive into my iOS 16 HomeKit wishlist.

HomeKit Weekly is a series dedicated to smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to the Apple smart home system.

Updated Home app for iPhone and iPad.

The current Home app on the iPhone is really starting to show its age. As I kept increasing the number of HomeKit devices, the Home app doesn’t scale well with it. The idea of ​​rooms in HomeKit is a good idea, but access is incredibly slow. If Apple is going to keep rooms (especially for accessing Siri), the way they access will have to change. I wish Apple would let you display your location based on proximity to your HomePod mini or Apple TV, and then the Home app could show devices near where you stand in the house.

Second, now that Apple is allowing an unlimited number of HomeKit cameras in iCloud+, we need to change the way they are integrated into the Home app. Like the list of HomeKit devices, when you add multiple cameras, it becomes just a scrollable list. HomeCam strikes the right balance of usability and functionality with HomeKit cameras. Maybe it’s time for Apple to take cameras out of the Home app with the dedicated HomeKitCam app.

While the iPhone app is outdated, the iPad app also needs an overhaul. When used as a wall mount for HomeKit, the Home app is pretty bland. Apple has a lot of room for innovation to make it a real use case.

Continuous Recording

For wired HomeKit cameras, I would like Apple to expand the ability to use continuous recording. For battery-powered HomeKit cameras, it makes no sense to record 24/7, as this will drain the battery. However, for wired cameras, I would love to have an option—even if it was only a feature on the $9.99/month plan—to record everything at any time. Especially with the release of Eve’s first outdoor spotlight camera, it’s time for continuous recording.

Granular sharing by device or room

When sharing HomeKit, there isn’t really much granularity other than the cameras. What if I don’t want my kids to have access to the HomeKit thermostat? There is currently no way to do this. Ideally I would like to see a situation where I can grant access to certain rooms or block access to certain devices.

Summary

There are only three things I want to see in HomeKit in iOS 16. I think the granular sharing, continuous recording, and redesigned Home app for iPhone and iPad will still make HomeKit the best foundation for a smart home.

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