> Back in 2019, I started my journey of self-hosting iCloud and disconnecting from Apple services. Despite a few inconveniences, I am quite content with the level of customization, privacy, and ownership my self-hosted services provide. At the time I was happy that HomeKit, unlike all the alternatives such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, did not require iCloud or the need to round-trip to their servers. ... Apple now wants to lock down your HomeKit devices to an iCloud account.
I’m amazed that we’d been able to run HomePods without an Apple/iCloud account for a decade!
It seems like we’d do better to positively support products like that though, rather than not buy them and then only complain when they rework their products and get rid of the privacy features the market doesn’t seem to care about.
(I realize I’m conflating the OP and the market at large a bit here, but from Apple’s perspective they’re both just “the market.” I think he should have the ability to downgrade his equipment to a version that doesn’t require iCloud, though.)
This is kind of misguided since Apple isn't taking control of your devices -- you can use alternative HomeKit Home apps just fine without logging in.
(I run homebridge and hack my own HomeKit devices, FWIW)
What has happened is that iCloud is now required for syncing settings across devices _and_ being able to tunnel back to your Apple TV/HomePod (whatever is your home hub) and control things remotely - which is not quite how the article puts it.
Eh. I feel TFA is a little overblown. It is not the devices (a physical thing with software) that are upgraded, it is the Apple Home instance (a purely virtual/software thing) that changes.
Personally, I use HomeKit with Home Assistant as the "backend" and it's working fine. HomeKit can see and act on exactly what I need it to.
While this sucks, HomeKit is definitely the best smart system out there in terms of balance of privacy and convenience. They allow you to use “unofficial” bridges so I just have home assistant tied into HomeKit so everything is in my iPhone without an additional app.
13 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 33.3 ms ] threadIn that case why not use an open solution like home assistant?
> Back in 2019, I started my journey of self-hosting iCloud and disconnecting from Apple services. Despite a few inconveniences, I am quite content with the level of customization, privacy, and ownership my self-hosted services provide. At the time I was happy that HomeKit, unlike all the alternatives such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, did not require iCloud or the need to round-trip to their servers. ... Apple now wants to lock down your HomeKit devices to an iCloud account.
Then you never really owned them.
It seems like we’d do better to positively support products like that though, rather than not buy them and then only complain when they rework their products and get rid of the privacy features the market doesn’t seem to care about.
(I realize I’m conflating the OP and the market at large a bit here, but from Apple’s perspective they’re both just “the market.” I think he should have the ability to downgrade his equipment to a version that doesn’t require iCloud, though.)
It's coming, and lots of HN commenters are gonna be confused with Apples hypocrisy.
(I run homebridge and hack my own HomeKit devices, FWIW)
What has happened is that iCloud is now required for syncing settings across devices _and_ being able to tunnel back to your Apple TV/HomePod (whatever is your home hub) and control things remotely - which is not quite how the article puts it.
Personally, I use HomeKit with Home Assistant as the "backend" and it's working fine. HomeKit can see and act on exactly what I need it to.
Not because my surname is stallman but rather if I’m going through the hassle of DIY then it needs to be durable and independent
Easy to check if you own any device, flash your own OS/firmware into it. ;-)