7 Reasons You NEED Apple HomeKit! Sorry Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant

Here are 7 reasons you need to switch over to Apple HomeKit. I am sorry Alexa and Google, but there are things HomeKit can do that they Amazon and Google can't. Apples HomeKit has come a long way in the last year. The integration of shortcuts, apple secure video, thread, the U1 chip and more. Apples is bringing some good stuff.

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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:50 More affordable devices
1:26 #1 Ecosystem
2:00 #2 Apple Home App
3:00 What you need for HomeKit
3:15 #3 Secure Video
5:28 #4 Handoff Audio or Calls
6:15 #5 Native App Integration
7:53 #6 Shortcuts
9:57 #7 Apples U1 Chip and Thread
12:11 # Hoobs Hub

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#AppleHomeKit #HomeKit #Apple

[frankthecat]

I recently completed switching from Amazon Alexa devices throughout my house to all HomeKit. I appreciate Apple’s attention to my security and privacy.

[ashsworld]

Just got my first HomePod and I love HomeKit so much more than my setup with my echo.

[jesselopez]

One thing Apple does very well is their Ecosystem. Once I purchased my first Apple TV and saw how my iPad and iPhone could communicate.. I was sold! That was the beginning of my HomeKit Experience. #ShareTheLove

[brentmcknight]

I’m using the Google assistant atm. But thinking about switching to Alexa. Using a single ‘wake’ word I think would be a simple quality of life improvement, plus the Zigbee integration would be a nice to have feature.

[joejoe]

In the long run the U1 chip is going to be the game changer.

[HeyTechi]

Completely agree! Siri Shortcuts is a hugely underappreciated resource in the smart home world and Apple adopting Thread as standard in the HomePod Mini (and hopefully a refreshed HomePod and next-gen AppleTV) really sets HomeKit apart. Great video as always!

[penningtonsm]

Man I would really like to convert to HomeKit, but there are just too many devices I love that won’t work on home kit. Like Wyze products. Great video as usual though.

[brentmcknight]

Really great video. I’m just getting involved in the smart home space. Trying to sift through the crap is a mammoth task. Great informative videos like this makes the task a lot more enjoyable.
We’re an Apple family at home but I prefer Spotify over Apple Music. As some will know, this simple preference complicates the integration of music into the system.

[WTSPC]

Banging my head here - 2 iPhones 1 iPad and couple of Macs - yes I understand Homekit idea BUT I want to use some Ring products and on a budget for the rest. I haven't started yet just want to get over the first seemingly BIG hurdle!

[BigMu]

A year ago when I started my smart home journey I had planned to use HomeKit. I setup my hue hub and it absolutely refused to connect to HomeKit. So I setup Alexa and has control of my lights within 5 minutes.

About two months later, after having bought some echos and ring cameras, I decided to try to add it again for fun and options. It connected with no problems. If it had just connected in the first couple of days I might have cared more about HomeKit. Now I try and buy products that work with all three when possible in case I switch someday.

[rogerboone]

Watched video, loved it. Switched to HK and won’t look back. just for those who might have a synology nas in their home - homebridge runs in there like a boss. i’ve got all my alexa compatible switches, nest, ring cameras, doorbell, rachio irrigation, and my door lock. all on my home screen with automation and routines setup.

[BroManDudeGuyPhD]

Native iOS control IS very nice. I have homeassistant and setup every smart plug and LED strip I have (WLED too) in Homekit. Super accessible to wife who doesnt want to mess with multiple apps.

[ahale]

Craig, Great video and HOOBS/Homebridge are great for "expanding" HomeKit (I've got my Roborock vacuum, Logitech Harmony Hub, and Ring Alarm in Homekit with HOOBS), but it's not universal. The claim that HOOBS/Homebridge allows you to use your non-HomeKit devices in HomeKit only applies if there is an available plugin and then it's how well the plugin works. For my Ring and Harmony kit, it was super simple. For the Roborock vacuum, the plugin is great, but HomeKit, even in 2021 (maybe WWDC will change this) doesn't support vacuums as a device type. With my HOOBS setup, my vacuum shows up as a fan and a presence sensor. I've seen other folks report other robot vacuums in HomeKit as a variety of on/off switches. It gets the job done, but it's certainly not plug n play. YMMV on which devices/plugins you use.

I especially like your point about the U1 chip and how that could be a game changer. I'm disappointed that the U1 chip isn't in the new ATV4k.

[davetester]

My favourite assistant for getting things done around the home is Jenkins my butler, who brings me afternoon tea as well as the occasional gin and tonic.

[Bigglare]

You don't need Homekit to have a centralized third party app and interface. You can also use the Alexa or Google Assistant apps to control and access your devices without the need to use their manufacturers apps.

[Anilu]

I just got two HomePod Minis and love my new automations! They start playing music when I arrive home and stop when I leave. I also have them set to turn on music when I wake up for work. Looking forward to doing more HomeKit stuff

[adobephile]

As a happy Apple custoner, I've been aware of Homekit for years now, but never realized until recently that I'd actually like to use it. My wife has some mobility challenges, and it takes her a while to get to the door when someone rings the doorbell. Though our Ring video doorbell helped her in knowing who was at the door, it still took her a good while to get to the door to unlock it. So, we recently purchased the Encode electronic deadbolt lock from Schlage, our favorite lockset brand. The first one we bought didn't support Homekit, so I returned it to Home Depot to get the Encode Plus, which DOES support Homekit. Then I learned that I could make a HomeKit hub on my Apple TV. So I paired my lock to HomeKit, and she can now can lock and unlock the deadbolt from her computer. And I can do the same from my Apple Watch. With the watch, I can unlock the door simply by holding it against the lock's numberpad. Sweet! We also replaced our Nest thermostat (we hate Google!) a couple years ago with an Ecobee3 Lite, which I discovered has supported Homekit all along. I added it to Homekit by simply holding my iPhone near the thermostat, which lit up a QR code on the thermostat's displaya, which my phone read and paired it automatically with Homekit. And the Homekit app on my watch lets me now control the thermostat with it. Next step for us is to get an HK-compatible video doorbell to replace the Ring (Amazon—eeeuww!) one—probably Logitech or Belkin! I'm 73, and I've been around computers and made my living with them for over 50 years. Apple made me a zealot of the Apple brand, and now they can pry my Apple stuff out of my cold dead hands, eternal gratitude to Steve Jobs and Tim Cook and company.

[alexlilano]

I love the homekit and automation, but it needs more devices to work on it. I got my locks and lights done, but not my vacuum, garage opener, and curtain.

[movingloz]

110% dedicated Apple here but also have a few Amazon products. Australia here and I just wished we’d have more available for HomeKit. There’s really not much of a choice at all. Alexa stuff is much more plentiful.

[benle]

Class video explaining the benefits. If anyone wants to know why run HomeKit over Google or Alexa I’ll be sure to send them to this video. 👌🏽