Homekit Software Authentication Finally Coming

[JDRoberts]

@clsanchez77

I wont be able to check until tonight but is the new one from early 2017. Its hardwired on my network so its not a wifi issue.

Model numbers:

Differences Between Apple TV 3 and Apple TV 4 (Apple TV HD): EveryMac.com

[clsanchez77 (C L Sanchez 1877)]

Model A1625 w/tvOS 11.2.1
4th generation

[leebossio]

Can we get a Smartthings employee to chime in on this thread? Any interest here to enable this for users? If getting commercial support is difficult through MFI, can we consider an option for users to develop a smartapp to directly authenticate with Apple’s HomeKit cloud?

[JDRoberts]

@leebossio

Can we get a Smartthings employee to chime in on this thread? Any interest here to enable this for users? If getting commercial support is difficult through MFI, can we consider an option for users to develop a smartapp to directly authenticate with Apple’s HomeKit cloud?

A couple of different things here.

First, smartthings have said for the last year that they are not going to comment anymore on future plans. So I don’t think we’ll see input on that.

Second, HomeKit doesn’t have a cloud. Everything runs locally except for voice recognition through Siri. So all of the device authentication is done locally. Right now the Apple side of the software options discussed in this thread are in early closed beta, but rumors are that it will be released as part of an iOS update later this year. A lot of manufacturers are waiting for that. We’ll just need to see how smartthings responds at that time.

The good news is that if you do want to “roll your own” there is an existing software integration called “homebridge” that quite a few community members are using. It does require having a separate laptop or other device like a raspberry pi to act as a “man in the middle“ server and host the software integration. You can get more information about it in the following threads:

HomeKit Integration Video Tutorial (Unofficial Integration Using Homebridge)

I made a quick video tutorial on integrating SmartThings with Siri: Makes controlling SmartThing’s so much easier, I got tired of dealing with the slow iOS app. Takes 40 seconds to load! Instructions for Raspberry Pi Homebridge Install: https://www.mactechgenius.com/2017/06/07/smartthings-homekit-integration/

[OBSOLETE] Hello, Home HomeKit (and Siri!) control via homebridge

Homebridge is an OSS Node.js server that emulates the iOS HomeKit API. I’ve just submitted a pull request to that project that adds support for creating HomeKit accessories for each of your Hello, Home actions, and by extension, enabled a means to trigger them via Siri. Setup is a little complicated. You need: A membership in the iOS Developer Program The SmartApp at homebridge/HelloHomeBridge.groovy at smartthings · jnewland/homebridge · GitHub installed on your SmartThings account with OAuth enabled The version of HomeBridge from the above linked PR running on a server on your local network BetterHomeKit installed on your iOS device Given those ingredients: Install the HelloHomeBridge SmartApp into the SmartThings app on your iOS device. Open the HelloHomeBridge SmartApp Copy the g…

[leebossio]

Thanks so much for your fast reply - and after a glance back at the software authentication doc via Homekit, you’re right. There isn’t a software cloud to sync with. What it might require though, is that Smartthings open up its disabled bluetooth support for a smart app to be able to act as a HomeKit connector, without Homebridge. I have Homebridge running currently on a raspberrypi, but it’s generally unstable and does require a hardware bridge device at home running constantly. It appears that 11.3 will enable Homekit software authentication, so fingers crossed that Smartthings takes this path towards an official (or beta sans-raspberrypi) integration!

[Stromos (Jason Campanella)]

So just going to leave my two cents. I am sure I can get one of these alternatives going in a VM but I am shocked that the App that we are supposed to use relies on Samsung’s datcenter with no local control. If I would have realized this I might not even have SmartThings in the house.

Platform is down which is why I am here. I see I can access the API webpages and see my devices but I can’t turn anything on/off. We have a recirculating pump on a zwave switch and I currently can’t control it.

They need to add HomeKit support just so I can flip the switch locally directly to my hub. I am going to have nightmares now knowing if Smarthings is no more the hub is useless.

[sumguyatvt (Jason)]

Awesome info thanks so much! I just switched from a samsung phone to the new iphone xs. No longer able to create customized voice commands like “ok google open garage, etc.” Does your method allow me to use customized voice commands with Siri? For example, “Hey siri turn on lights or hey siri lock up?”

[JDRoberts]

@sumguyatvt

Awesome info thanks so much! I just switched from a samsung phone to the new iphone xs. No longer able to create customized voice commands like “ok google open garage, etc.” Does your method allow me to use customized voice commands with Siri? For example, “Hey siri turn on lights or hey siri lock up?”

I don’t use that method myself, so ask in the following thread (this is a clickable link) and the folks there should be able to tell you:

[OBSOLETE] Hello, Home HomeKit (and Siri!) control via homebridge