The iPhone already includes it in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
But why has Apple added it to computers?
Thread is specialbecause it was designed specifically for smart home purposes.
The HomePod mini is already Threaded.Victor Carvalho / Unsplash
That’s why flipping a light switch should have an instant effect.
Sebastian Scholz / Unsplash
A smart home setup requires a gear to be in charge.
These “border routers” can be anything, from a smart speaker to a computer.
Smart speakers can act as Thread hubs.Sebastian Scholz / Unsplash
And the neat part is, if one border router goes offline, another one can take over.
It’s important to note here that the music itself does not stream over Thread.
The protocol doesn’t have enough bandwidth for things like home security video cameras either.
Smart locks benefit from the reliability and security of Thread.Sebastian Scholz / Unsplash
But it could still let your phone and your HomePod connect faster, decreasing the delay for connections.
“Security is another compelling reason for Thread’s inclusion.
It can also beused in hospitalsto connect devices and monitor them securely in real-time.
“Security is also huge when dealing with private health data.
From my experience, ‘Robust encryption and authentication is critical to protect patient privacy and stay HIPAA compliant.’
It doesn’t look like Apple has any secret Thread agenda, then.
It’s just its usual day-to-day secrecy in action.
Either way, we’ll just have to wait and see.
