Philips Hue lights really will get HomeKit support, and it's coming this fall. The company also said the smart lights you already own are going to be HomeKit compatible, so you won't have to replace them when you start using Apple's home automation platform.
Your current Philips Hue smart lights get HomeKit support this fall
Philips said on its Hue Facebook page,
Starting this fall we will take your lighting experience to the next level and unlock new features for your existing Hue lights. Stay tuned to learn how we will support you with any necessary upgrade to your system. More details will follow from September 2015 onwards.
HomeKit is Apple's iOS-based platform for controlling smart home devices from different manufacturers through a single interface. The system includes Siri support, so you can say something like, "Siri, I'm going to bed," and your lights dim, doors lock, and thermostat drops to a lower temperature.
Philips was listed as a HomeKit partner when Apple showed off the platform at its 2014 Worldwide Developer Conference, but until now hasn't said when that support will be coming. HomeKit compatible devices started shipping from Ecobee, Elgato, iHome, Insteon, and Lutron last week.
Apple's 2015 WWDC event is set to start today with a keynote at 10AM pacific time. The company will be showing off iOS 9, Apple Watch app development, possibly a new streaming music service, and we could get more information about HomeKit, too.
Be sure to follow along with The Mac Observer's live event coverage on our website and our @MacObserverLive Twitter feed.