TVOS 26: Homekit out, home pure – for the sake of brand management

Is Apple plans to rename or clarify its smart home system? In the fifth Developer Beta of TVOS 26, which was published last week, Apple has deleted information on HomeKit and instead relies on the term Apple Home. Apple may want to reduce a confusion of terms here – with both terms being used since 2014.

What are Homekit and Apple Home for

“Homekit” stands for the technical basis behind Apple’s smart home system. The framework is both in the compatible devices in the form of their firmware as well as in the (occasionally occurring) respective apps for iPhone, iPad or Mac that can be used for control. “Apple Home” in turn reflects the entire ecosystem and is also a brand on the device packaging (“Works with Apple Home”) used.

A little more confusing: The central control app for Apple’s smart home ecosystem is also called Apple Home (or home app). The latter has not yet existed in TVOs, instead devices have so far been controlled via the control center. However, Apple has been expecting a “real” home app to donate a “real” home app to its Apple TV multimedia.

Rebranding thanks to the new home device?

In TVOS 26 Developer Beta 5, “Homekit” has now been exchanged for “Apple Home” in several places. This applies, for example, to that Central setting menuas well as for sub -point. So is in a warndialoguethat is about the connection to iCloud and Apple’s smart home system: “Your Apple TV will not connect to iCloud and Apple Home, provided you do not create a standard user.” Before that, it was called “Homekit” instead of “Apple Home”.

It is conceivable that Apple does this clean-up work to prepare the release of a new home device that has been serviced for a long time. It should enable easy control of Apple Home using a tablet-like hardware. There are also reports on new HomePod models that receive a screen for the first time. It is also conceivable that both devices are combined: as a control unit and loudspeaker dock. It is unclear whether the devices will be released this year. They are probably depending on new functions for Siri, which Apple had to move.