Here are all the new things coming to Apple’s HomeKit next week

With the new iPhones come new features. And starting next week, Apple HomeKit users will get plenty of software updates to iOS 15, HomePod 15, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8. Apple has confirmed that these will all be available on the same day, September 20. .

So if you’ve been excited about the unlimited HomeKit secure video cameras, the HomePod Mini as a speaker for your Apple TV 4K, or the chance to see your doorbell on your Apple Watch, you’re in luck.

Here’s a look at all the new features related to HomeKit and HomeKit that will be phased out on Monday.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Control your Apple TV with Siri on HomePod

Finally, you can use Siri on your HomePod to turn your Apple TV on and off, start a specific show or movie, or pause or resume playing for you. It’s been a feature of Amazon Alexa smart speakers and Google Assistant for quite some time now (when paired with a Fire TV or Chromecast device), and we’re excited to see Apple bringing the Siri speakers to match.

Set up your HomePod Mini as an Apple TV speaker

A single or a pair of HomePod Minis can now be the default speaker for your Apple TV 4K. This feature was previously only available for the original (now discontinued) HomePod, but is now available for Apple’s smaller (not discontinued) smart speaker.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Have your HomeKit camera packages spotted

Security cameras connected to Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video (Apple’s option for storing footage from your smart home cameras) via an Apple TV 4K or HomePod Mini can now tell you when they see a package. This is in addition to the detection of people, animals and vehicles and will increase the usefulness of the two HKSV-compatible residential doorbells currently on the market – the Logitech View and the Netatmo smart video doorbell.

View multiple HomeKit cameras on your Apple TV

Apple TV can now stream multiple streams from your HomeKit cameras instead of just one, so you can monitor your area from the big screen. It will also offer control of nearby accessories (like a front door lock or porch light), so you can turn on the lights and unlock the door using the remote – no need to take out your phone. .

Add an unlimited number of HomeKit secure video cameras

Speaking of multiple cameras, with the iOS15 update on your iPhone and iPad, you can now add unlimited cameras to HomeKit Secure Video if you sign up for the new 2TB iCloud Plus plan ($ 9.99 per month) . Previously 5 was the maximum number allowed, which is a bit limited if you want to cover an entire house indoors and outdoors with cameras.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Talk to Siri in more places

The voice assistant is coming to other HomeKit accessories that are compatible with speakers. The Ecobee SmartThermostat is the only accessory confirmed to date – and the feature won’t go live for a few weeks, according to Ecobee. But it’s likely more devices will follow soon, letting you ask Siri to control smart home devices, set timers and alarms, and use the intercom feature in more rooms in your home. You will still need a HomePod Mini on the same network for the device to relay requests.

Tell Siri to do something later

Siri gets smarter in controlling the house, letting you ask the voice assistant to do something later or based on an event. This means you will be able to use commands such as “Hey Siri, turn off the lights when I leave the house” or “Hey Siri, turn off the TV at 6:00 PM”

Image: Apple

Control your home from your wrist

With WatchOS 8, the Apple Home app gets a much needed overhaul. You can now access individual accessories as well as HomeKit scenes, and the watch will use the context to determine which devices and scenes to offer for control. You can also see HomeKit-enabled camera feeds on your wrist and use Intercom to quickly broadcast a message throughout your home, individual rooms, or personal devices.

To update your HomePod and HomePod Mini software, go to Home settings in the Apple Home app (you can turn on automatic updates here). For Apple TV 4K, search in your device’s settings menu, and for Apple Watch, use the Watch app on your iPhone or the settings app on the watch itself.

Update, 6:47 p.m. ET, September 17, 2021: Clarified that the article refers to Siri on a HomePod to control Apple TV.