{
  "id": 897522,
  "title": "HomeKit Weekly: This iPad app turns your HomeKit setup into a wall-mountable command center",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/homekit-weekly-this-ipad-app-turns-your-homekit-setup-into-a-wall",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-14T18:11:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/14/dashboard-for-your-home/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dashboard for your home is the featured Apple Home app that transforms an old iPad into a central command center. It consolidates cameras, thermostats, lights, local weather, and calendar information onto one screen. The app offers live previews of up to four cameras, with unlimited access in the Premium tier, and features a one-tap button to switch between all feeds simultaneously. Users can tap on individual cameras to expand them to full screen, and two-way audio is available for compatible cameras. The thermostat and switch control extend up to four and eight units respectively, organized by room. A six-day weather forecast is integrated for the home's location, and a weekly calendar view highlights upcoming events. Custom text colors can be assigned to each calendar for easy differentiation. The app powers down after periods of inactivity, resumes with a touch, or upon detection of HomeKit motion sensors. It adapts to the user's light and dark mode settings on their iPad. A new feature in the latest version is a 3D floor plan, which allows users to upload images of their home layout and converts it into a top-down view with tappable icons for lights, blinds, sensors, and locks. Quick-scene buttons on the right side of the app enable easy access to windows, doors, and thermostat settings. The weather and per-room temperature cards provide real-time information, while a seven-day calendar strip displays upcoming events with countdown timers. iCloud backup is available for configuration settings across multiple iPads. The app is free, with a $9.99 annual subscription for the Premium tier, which provides unlimited cameras, thermostats, and the floor plan feature. It requires iPadOS 17 or later and a HomeKit setup, but also functions on an iPhone with a scrollable layout. Dashboard for your home is available for free on the App Store.",
  "summary": "The ideal command center for your smart home is simple: take an old iPad, mount it somewhere central, and give it one job. Dashboard for your home is the really great Apple Home app that solves this problem. Cameras, thermostats, lights, local weather, and your calendar all on a single screen.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}