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Airversa has released the Humelle, a humidifier that connects to Apple Home over the Thread protocol via a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K hub. The device includes a built-in temperature and humidity sensor, letting users set a target humidity in Auto Mode so it adjusts mist output automatically. It holds a 3.2-liter top-fill tank rated for up to 60 hours of runtime and projects mist roughly 40 inches high.
A Reddit user named pdfu says they found strings in HomeView's settings app bundles and the Home app indicating the device could record and livestream video using HomeKit Secure Video. The strings reportedly describe four modes—Off, Detect Activity, Stream, and Stream & Allow Recordings—plus privacy features like a recording indicator light, an audible chime, and notifications when settings change.
A troubleshooting guide explains why smart home devices frequently drop off Wi-Fi networks, pointing to router connection limits, band compatibility issues, and signal range as common culprits. It recommends upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 or 7 routers, separating 2.4GHz and 5GHz SSIDs for older accessories, and using multiple Apple home hubs to reduce HomeKit's 'No Response' errors.
Code researcher pdfu found settings in HomeView software version 27.2 indicating the device can detect motion, stream live video, and record footage. The discovered options include modes for off, activity detection only, streaming only, and combined streaming with recording, each configurable based on whether users are home, away, or asleep.
Strings found in HomeView Software 27.2 by X user pdfu indicate Apple plans to let the device's built-in 12MP Center Stage camera function as a HomeKit Secure Video camera. The leaked setup text describes four operating states (Off, Detect Activity, Stream, Stream & Allow Recording) and three presence modes (When Home, When Away, When Asleep), alongside privacy safeguards like an on-screen indicator, an audible chime during streaming or recording, and alerts when settings change.
A Reddit user named pdfu discovered strings in HomeView 27.2 software suggesting Apple is developing security camera functionality for its smart home hub, including motion detection, live streaming, and recording. A setup page reportedly references using HomeView as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video. Apple has not confirmed these features publicly.
SwitchBot has released the K11+ Pro, a compact robot vacuum measuring under 10 inches across and 3.62 inches tall, paired with a small self-emptying dock roughly 9.4 by 7.1 inches. The device uses LiDAR mapping with a close-range sensor for furniture detection, stores up to five floor maps, and supports Matter, allowing it to integrate with Apple Home alongside the SwitchBot app.
SwitchBot has released its RGBICWW Light Bars, a two-bar lighting set combining dedicated cool- and warm-white LEDs with 12 total RGBIC color zones across the pair. The bars connect directly to Apple Home via Matter over Wi-Fi, requiring no separate hub, and include 26 preset effects, six music-reactive modes with a built-in microphone, and a wired physical controller.
A HomeKit Weekly column advises smart home users to buy outdoor-rated smart plugs now for Halloween decorations, noting the same hardware and automations can be reused for Christmas lights in December. It recommends ensuring a home hub (Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini) is set up first, and suggests dual-outlet outdoor plugs and devices like Eve Energy for indoor use such as Christmas trees or fog machines.
Apple introduced the Apple Home Collection, a set of cameras, thermostats, sensors, a video doorbell and a smart lock co-developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The devices launch alongside HomeView, Apple's first dedicated smart display, marking the company's first in-house hardware push into the smart home after 12 years of relying on third parties through HomeKit.
A commentary piece argues that Apple's newly launched Home Collection of smart home accessories addresses longstanding usability problems that have kept mainstream consumers away from smart home technology. The author notes that while HomeKit, and later Matter and Thread, improved compatibility across ecosystems, configuration remained difficult for non-technical users.
Apple has co-developed a set of smart home products with LG and Schneider Electric, and the resulting gadgets are compatible with non-Apple smart home systems rather than being locked into Apple's own ecosystem. This marks a departure from Apple's historical tendency to favor proprietary, Apple-only integrations.