Everyone’s really excited while waiting for the very first HomeKit TVs to reach the market.
Now, developers have taken to the first beta of iOS 12.2 in order to provide initial demos of the functionality.
AppleInsider was the first tech publication that presented the features of HomeKit TVs, and the same outlet says that these features can be tested with the iOS 12.2 which has added the initial support.
The magazine also reports that they learned a bit more on how iOS will interact with the televisions.
Here’s what they write: “When added to HomeKit, the TV will show in the Home app like any other accessory. It will show the current state, content can be played or paused, and the input can be switched. Inputs can be renamed to reflect their purpose —such as “Input 1” becoming “Apple TV.” Currently, that is all the functionality found in the Home app.”
A little correction, the “Remote” part of Television support is actually implemented in iOS, just under Apple TV remote tile, instead of Home app 😅 pic.twitter.com/6yqvQuJQmo
— Khaos Tian (@KhaosT) January 24, 2019
The Remote widget
The other important features such as navigation and menus are tucked into the Remote widget that’s located inside the Control Center.
This will probably get added to the Remote application after the full release.
While using the Remote widget, different TV controls can be exposed: a directional pad, an info button, a back button and so on.
😉 it’s nice LG’s API can basically mapped 1:1 to HomeKit pic.twitter.com/idXgqEnrvQ
— Khaos Tian (@KhaosT) January 25, 2019
Huge names set to launch HomeKit TVs in 2019
This should let almost any TV function to be controlled only by using your iPhone.
All these great features are added to HomeKit and scene can also be integrated with them.
AppleInsider notes that “Movie time can now not just adjust the lights but can turn on the TV and switch the input as well.”
There are a few manufacturers who have already lined up to launch the HomeKit TVs in 2019, and some prominent names that are worth mentioning are Sony, LG, and Vizio.
After finishing Theatrical Journalism at the Faculty of Theatre and Television in Cluj-Napoca, Rada reviewed movies, books, theatre pieces and she also wrote articles from the IT niche as a content editor for software producers. At the moment, she is working with various online advertising firms.
