In addition to an overhauled Apple Music app, the forthcoming iOS 10 software update is likely going to bring out a brand new stock app for your Home screen: HomeKit.
First spotted by MacRumors, an Amazon reviewer who works in the marketing department at Apple apparently made the claim that the next version of iOS due this fall will have a standalone HomeKit app.
The publication has confirmed that the post in question was indeed created by an Apple employee. Here’s an excerpt from that post (emphasis mine):
As I work in marketing for Apple, we test many Smart Home devices, especially for iOS HomeKit integration. Some advice, there are many third party applications, most free, that offer more control and customization(s) with many Smart Home devices.
“Yonomi” is a free app that I often use, “Home” is another which cost $14.99. Both offer support for many devices with more added daily (including Amazon “Echo”). The next version of iOS due this fall will have a standalone “HomeKit” app as well.
Currently, customers who use HomeKit-compatible gear can control their accessories either using Siri or via third-party helper apps. While iOS allows a certain degree of customization when it comes to HomeKit (for instance, you can create so-called scenes), a standalone HomeKit app sounds like a good idea.
Such an app could cancel the need for third-party HomeKit apps as you’d be able to control all your HomeKit-compatible home automation accessories in one central place.
Assuming the HomeKit app is indeed going to launch alongside iOS 10 this fall, Apple may preview it and quite possibly show off other HomeKit platform advances at its Worldwide Developers Conference next month.
Source: MacRumors