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Apple enables HomeKit support for home security cameras and routers

Apple enables HomeKit support for home security cameras and routers

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Store footage in iCloud for 10 days at no charge

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Apple HomeKit photos

Apple’s smart home system, HomeKit, is adding support for several new types of devices this year, including home security cameras and routers. Apple has steadily expanded the types of devices that HomeKit can handle since its introduction in 2014, adding a few year by year as product makers have requested support for them. This year’s additions fill an important gap in the home security space.

The support for home security cameras, which include models from Logitech, Arlo, and more, has been long requested by homeowners with HomeKit systems. The new HomeKit Secure Video API will let these cameras send their video to an Apple HomePod to locally analyze it before sending it up to the cloud. Once analyzed, the video is encrypted and stored in iCloud, where you can have up to 10 days of footage stored at no charge.

The new router support in HomeKit will let you firewall off accessories, so they can’t access your full home network. Linksys, Eero, and Spectrum will initially support the HomeKit features.

HomeKit remains one of the easiest to use smart home systems thanks to its deep integration with Apple devices. If everyone in your home owns iPhones, HomeKit allows smart home devices to be controlled from everyone’s phone, through Siri or a variety of different apps, including a Home hub made by Apple.