Smart home apps expand control for Apple ecosystem users

Recent updates to smart home applications have expanded control capabilities within the Apple ecosystem. Home Assistant has released version 2026.8.0 for its companion app, introducing enhanced support for iPhone, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. Key features include new energy and calendar widgets for iOS, Spotlight search for Home Assistant entities, and the ability to automatically switch between servers based on location. The Apple Watch app now allows users to manage lighting, climate, locks, and vacuum robots, while CarPlay has gained controls for climate devices and vacuum cleaners.

Simultaneously, the Home Widget for HomeKit app has released version 1.10.1, which introduces a Camera Mosaic feature to view all integrated HomeKit cameras in a single overview. This update also enables direct thermostat control and room-specific lighting management from the widget interface. Additionally, the app now supports Matter-enabled multi-sensors, improving compatibility with the industry-standard Matter protocol.