A new support document posted to Apple’s website on Wednesday has officially confirmed the widely-held belief the Apple TV set-top box will play a huge role in the firm’s HomeKit drive.
The post reveals an Apple TV will be required in order to remotely control HomeKit-compatible accessories and appliances via iOS, when the user is out of the home.
Users will need to sign in with the same Apple ID on both their Apple TV (3rd generation or later) and iPhone/iPad to be able to bark orders back to the homestead through Siri.
The article explains (via 9to5Mac): “
“Sign in with the same Apple ID on your iOS device and Apple TV, and you’ll be able to use Siri commands to remotely control your accessories.”
Apple is expected to go into more detail about how Apple TV will become the central hub during next week’s WWDC conference. During the keynote event, Apple is expected to launch brand new Apple TV hardware, with Siri infusion, an App Store and potentially a new subscription television offering.
Read more: Amazon Fire TV vs Apple TV
The good news, judging from Apple’s post on Wednesday, is that users won’t need the newest Apple TV model in order to connect to HomeKit remotely.
The 2012 third-generation model is Apple’s most recent iteration to date, which boasts 1080p support and is currently priced at just $69/£59.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.