Apple prefers that your private data stay on your devices. That philosophy has prevented and delayed a number of product features that some of Apple's competitors have rolled out earlier, but the tradeoff is often worth it. A few months ago, Apple enhanced its HomeKit Secure Video integration with iOS/iPadOS 14’s Home app to let you tie in your Photos library’s People app, while giving nothing away to Apple—or providing a hole for others to snoop.
That’s a lot of terms to unpack, however! HomeKit Secure Video is Apple’s iCloud-based home security camera storage and monitoring system. Apple doesn’t sell cameras, but this system works with about 10 cameras across several manufacturers. (I switched my existing Logitech Circle from Logitech’s system to Apple a few months ago.) It requires a 200GB or 2TB iCloud storage subscription and a device that works as a HomeKit hub: an iPad (always connected), an Apple TV, or a HomePod.
