A Raspberry Pi camera works fine as a HomeKit accessory – you just need the right software layer between them. This isn’t a one-click process, but it’s not hard either. If you’ve ever used the terminal and installed a package or two, you’re qualified. Budget about an hour for a clean install. The standard approach … Read more
Quick correction before we get into this: a Raspberry Pi running Homebridge is not the same thing as an Apple HomeKit hub. The title on this page implies otherwise, so let’s fix that up front. What you’re actually building here is a Homebridge server – software that bridges non-native HomeKit devices (think Nest, Ring, TP-Link, … Read more
No. Blink cameras do not work with Apple HomeKit natively, and they never have. Blink is an Amazon-owned brand, Amazon and Apple don’t play well together at the platform level, and there’s been no announcement from either side that this is going to change. If you want a Blink camera tile in the Apple Home … Read more
Home Assistant wins on device compatibility, local control, and long-term flexibility. Apple HomeKit wins on simplicity, polish, and Siri integration. The right pick depends almost entirely on how much setup work you’re willing to do. What Is Home Assistant? Home Assistant is a free, open-source home automation platform that runs locally on your own hardware … Read more
HomeKit Secure Video is Apple’s privacy-first approach to home security cameras. Instead of sending raw footage to a corporate server for processing, your camera streams to a HomePod or Apple TV on your local network, that device analyzes it on-device, and only then does encrypted video get uploaded to your iCloud account. Apple never sees … Read more
Two sprinkler controllers reach HomeKit natively, and one popular brand doesn’t anymore – which matters more than any feature comparison if HomeKit is the reason you’re buying. Eve Aqua covers single-zone hose-end watering, Rachio covers multi-zone in-ground systems, and Orbit’s B-hyve line, despite shipping with HomeKit support back in 2018, isn’t natively compatible today. Here’s … Read more
You can set up ecobee geofencing through the ecobee app directly, or through HomeKit automations – and the HomeKit route is the better one if you have multiple people in the house. Here’s how both work, and why you’d choose one over the other. Two Ways to Geofence an Ecobee Ecobee has its own built-in … Read more
Zuli is dead. The company shut down its cloud services around 2018-2019, the app stopped working, and every Zuli Smartplug out there became a fancy plastic paperweight. If you found this page because your Zuli stopped responding, that’s why – there’s no fix, no workaround, and no one at Zuli to call. The good news: … Read more