My story's headline begins with the word 'rumour' and there'll be a quote in here with the words “according to people familar with the matter” so I wouldn't hold your breath. But if fancy doing that, you only have to stop breathing until around 10am Pacific Time on 2 June when Apple makes its next announcements.
And allegedly one such announcement will be that:
Apple is readying a new software platform that would turn the iPhone into a remote control for lights, security systems and other household appliances, as part of a move into the “internet of things”.
Apple plans to take on rivals Google and Samsung and make a “big play” in the world of smart home technology at its Worldwide Developer Conference on June 2 in San Francisco, according to people familiar with the matter.
The full Financial Times article requires registration to read but you get the gist.
I don't know if I want Apple to let me control my house. If I did, there are many, many ways of doing it already.
But I do remember seeing a Sony image of the future at a house show a few years ago. Whizzy lights, expensive props, and a journey through the imagination of everything that will be possible soon with Sony's PCs and Sony's technology.
I can't remember the details now but I remember wandering off, disappointed, because every single thing that was promised in this wonderful future I was already doing with my Mac and had been for a long time.
I don't know how that story came to my mind but I wanted to share it with you. Apple doesn't introduce much that's actually new, it just tends to find the way to make things right, so I'm not joining you in holding my breath.
Actually, I'm not holding it for much this time: I like Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference announcements and I'm sure I'll be paying attention to what they say about the next versions of iOS and OS X, the two operating systems that run my life.
I just don't think I want them to run my house too.