Rumor has it that Apple's smart home project won't bring deep product integration

According to foreign media reports, the Financial Times' report on Apple's smart home platform a few days ago made many people excited and imaginative, but according to sources, Apple's project is more about solving the fragmentation problem of the current smart home market, rather than bringing deep product integration and providing a complete smart home experience.

It is said that Apple's smart home initiative will not actually bring the grand experience that people expect; on the contrary, it is a much simpler project, which is essentially to certify many Internet-connected devices on the market or that will enter the market in the future and label them "Made for iPhone" (hereinafter referred to as "MFi").

Sources explained that the smart home project will focus heavily on easily connecting devices via Wi-Fi and will likely offer voice control via Bluetooth; however, it will not have some kind of Apple-controlled automation software layer that would replace the devices' native apps.

This is a shame. Industry insiders had hoped that Apple would show the industry how to do automation and programming well, but from now on, its project is more about solving the fragmentation problem of smart homes. However, this is also a good thing.

Currently, consumers buy connected home devices like light bulbs and worry about whether they will work with other devices. With Apple's platform, they can look for products with the MFi label and be assured that they are compatible with each other - and can be controlled through iOS devices. Technically, users can control some device functions from their phones or tablets without opening the app , or the app will open automatically based on voice commands or presence detection. Those devices will need to use chips certified by the MFi program.

At next week's Apple Developer Conference (WWDC), you will likely see a list of partners, devices and chips that support the MFi standard, and Apple may announce some proprietary features in addition to compatibility with iPhones and iPads. The concept is actually not new. Earlier this year, Apple announced a partnership with Haier to allow the latter to certify its Tianzun smart air conditioner using the MFi program. The air conditioner is the first connected appliance to meet Apple's MFi standard (certifying the design, quality and iOS compatibility of third-party products). It is reported that the ability to connect the air conditioner to Apple devices without registration or password entry is the key to its MFi certification.

Apple may consider adding its own automation software layer to its smart home efforts in the future, although that won't happen at next week's WWDC. For now, the company seems more interested in testing the market and helping consumers get past the confusion surrounding connected home devices.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.