Posted by Leonard Steinberg on May 27th, 2014

Apple, the creator of all things cool and simple-to-use, is planning to introduce a smart home concept at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, according to The Financial Times.  The company is planning to showcase a system that lets users control their lights, appliances and security systems with their iPhones at their conference next week. The rumored introduction comes after Google purchased Nest Labs, a smart thermostat started by former Apple execs Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, for $2.8 billion in January. Will Apple threaten Crestron, the company that right now virtually owns this sector of the market?

A “select number” of device makers will be certified to offer products that work with Apple’s upcoming system, although we don’t know the name any of the manufacturers yet. The company signaled its interest in the category in a June 2012 patent filling for a technology that connects lighting systems, security systems, garage-door openers, music controllers, climate controllers or kitchen appliances with mobile devices. The Internet of Things, as the class of smart appliances that interact with mobile devices and desktops is known, will account for 9 billion products by 2018, according to Business Insider.

Based on the volume of complaints I hear about Crestron systems, combined with my personal experience with the difficulty of operating their systems, the thought of Apple taking over this area of technology is music (or i-tunes)to my ears!