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Smart Home

EnergyKit in iOS 26 Signals Apple’s Push Toward Smarter, Greener Home Energy Use

By Robert DeLuca in HomeKit on

EnergyKit: An Ambitious Step for HomeKit and Residential Sustainability

Apple's announcement of the EnergyKit framework in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 marks a deliberate expansion of the HomeKit ecosystem into dynamic energy management. As reported by AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, EnergyKit is designed for developers to build applications that help HomeKit users shift high-demand energy activities to cleaner and cheaper periods, further integrating Apple’s environmental priorities into daily household routines.

Personalized Grid Forecasts—A New Frontier for Home Apps

EnergyKit stands out by providing apps access to real-time, personalized grid forecasts, including carbon intensity data and time-based electricity rates. When users authorize their utility account through the Home app, supported apps—initially including those targeting HVAC and electric vehicle (EV) charging—can recommend or automate the optimal time to run appliances or charge vehicles based on both environmental impact and potential cost savings.

  • Key capability: EnergyKit takes a data-driven approach,
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Apple's homeOS: Aiming for Seamless Smart Home Integration in 2025

By Robert DeLuca in Apple on

homeOS Rumored to Unite Apple's Smart Home Ecosystem

With the smart home landscape growing more competitive, Apple appears poised to expand its ecosystem with the introduction of homeOS—a new operating system built to unify and elevate the connected home experience. References to homeOS have surfaced in Apple codebases and trademark filings since late 2024, as reported by MacRumors and AppleInsider. These developments hint at an imminent official announcement, possibly at the upcoming WWDC 2025.

A Familiar Approach: From iOS to homeOS

Apple’s strategy, according to reports from 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, is to leverage its proven model of tailored operating systems for each hardware category. Like watchOS for Apple Watch and iPadOS for iPad, homeOS is expected to power a new generation of smart home devices—specifically, a hybrid smart display combining elements of the iPad and HomePod (tentatively called HomePad). This would align with Apple’s historical pattern

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Trademark Filing Intensifies Speculation of homeOS Debut at WWDC 2025

By Robert DeLuca in homeOS on

homeOS Trademark Ignites Anticipation Ahead of WWDC

A recent trademark filing for "homeOS" is driving renewed speculation among Apple enthusiasts that a major step in the company’s smart home ambitions could be imminent, potentially at WWDC 2025. The filing, first uncovered by Parker Ortolani and reported by 9to5Mac, was made in April 2025 by an entity known as Home Operations Suite LLC—an approach consistent with Apple’s history of using shell companies to secure intellectual property discreetly.

Trademark as Indicator, Not Confirmation

While the filing specifies coverage for software and computer services, directly in line with an operating system, Apple has not confirmed its involvement. Industry observers note that this is not unusual; Apple previously filed for trademarks such as "visionOS" via shell companies prior to public announcements. However, such filings are not definitive indicators of an immediate launch, as seen with the earlier securing of the realityOS

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Eight Years of HomePod: Apple’s Smart Speaker Strategy Enters a New Phase

By Robert DeLuca in HomePod on

HomePod at Eight: Reflecting on Apple’s Evolving Smart Speaker Ambitions

Apple’s HomePod marks its eighth anniversary, a milestone that offers an instructive lens for Apple enthusiasts assessing the company’s shifting ambitions in smart home audio and control. Originally unveiled in 2017 as Apple’s answer to the rise of smart speakers, the HomePod promised “amazing sound quality and intelligence,” according to Apple’s then-marketing chief, Phil Schiller. The journey since then highlights Apple’s experimentation, setbacks, and renewed efforts in the increasingly competitive smart home market.

Launch Promise vs. Market Reality

While initial reviews praised HomePod’s audio fidelity, its smart features—driven by Siri—quickly drew comparisons to Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, often unfavorably. Multiple industry analyses, including those cited by MacRumors, consistently note Siri’s functional lag behind rival platforms, a gap widened by the proliferation of advanced AI chatbots like OpenAI’s

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