While the Matter protocol should be deployed soon, Apple took advantage of its WWDC conference to present the new interface of its Home application under iOS16, which would be simpler and more reliable.
Alongside the announcements dedicated to iOS 16, Apple briefly mentioned some improvements to its ecosystem designed for the connected home. The interface of the Home app, a real dashboard for managing the various connected devices, has had a facelift. The Cupertino company has worked on the creation of new sections, new tiles, as well as new widgets to bring more comfort and simplicity to the interface. The navigation has been redesigned, integrating parts and favorites in the main tab of the application. The activation of certain filters will make it possible to display the devices by product category (speakers, bulbs, cameras, connected locks, etc.). Thus, by selecting one of the categories, the user can see all the accessories belonging to the selected category, organized by room. This would turn off all lights, activate all cameras, or lock all doors, even if they are in different rooms.
For more comfort, it will also be possible to control its connected equipment from the lock screen, Apple having worked on the creation of new widgets. One of these should include not having to unlock the iPhone to take control of connected objects.
Matter, a highly secure standard
Finally, with the Matter standard intended to unify existing solutions for the connected home soon to be deployed (expected by the end of the year), Apple has declared that the new operating system will bring the Standard support at Home app. In addition, Apple wanted to recall that the firm had participated in the foundation of this new standard with HomeKit and that Matter supported some of the fundamental principles of HomeKit, starting with everything related to data security and confidentiality, all encrypted.
As a reminder, Matter is an ambitious project initiated at the end of 2019, which aims to make as many connected home products as possible interoperable. All the big names have come together in this ecosystem (Zigbee Alliance, Amazon, Google, Apple, IKEA, Somfy, Schneider Electric, Philips, etc.). The arrival of the first products is not for now since the development kit is not yet available. It should be before the end of 2022, after being postponed for the first time the previous year.