Matter was meant to take the guesswork out of the smart home, but as more accessory makers silo themselves in their own ecosystems, Apple needs to take dramatic action at its October 13 Welcome Home event.
Apple Home has been caught in a rut, and smart home accessory makers have noticed. Some are siloing themselves off into their own walled gardens. Matter was supposed to fix this, and Apple even offered HomeKit as the basis for Matter. Yet it dropped the ball on supporting the latest version of the standard, and now smart home devices are growing more complex while Apple clings to an ancient app UI, layout, and feature support.
Apple's partnership with LG on products like thermostats and door locks initially confused observers, especially given recent reports of LG smart TVs spying on users and Apple's privacy-first stance. Code later revealed that Apple is working with multiple manufacturers it calls "second-party" partners for Apple Home. Schneider is the second company on the list, and the LG devices were the first to reach regulatory approval. Leaked images and pairing animations suggest more brands are involved.
Second-party accessories are not made by Apple, but they may as well be. Apple likely created a specification requirement, similar to "Made for iPhone," that defines what its home products must offer. The writer expects the October 13 event to show multiple participating brands, and believes second-party accessories could restore faith in Apple Home.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing