Siri won’t set lights off everywhere

Here’s an update…

This problem does not exist when using my old iPhone 5s, running iOS 12.

Saying “set all lights off” works as a substitute to “set lights off everywhere” in iOS16.

I suspect this is related to a HomeKit issue with iOS 16, since thousands of people are having problems with HomeKit after updating to iOS 16. But why would Siri recognize “set all lights off“ while not recognizing “set lights off everywhere”?

“Incompetent” thy name is Apple.

Another update…

This problem does not exist with my 2016 model iPhone SE running iOS 15, nor with my connected Apple Watches, running watchOS 8.7.

Apparently, the problem exists not with Apple in general, but with Apple software. The Internet is chock-full of complaints about Apple software. Problems that remain forever and are never fixed. Updates that break as many things as they fix. The list is endless.

As a retired software engineer myself, I sympathize. Software can be difficult. But with proper rules and procedures, and ensuring the rules and procedures are followed, issues are minimized.

As software engineering guru Gerald Weinberg once remarked, many, many years ago: "If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization."

Many in this forum have commented that sending issues directly to Apple is more effective than using this forum. I disagree. Many have claimed Apple does not monitor this forum, but I know for a fact that Apple pays close attention to what users post here.

In my personal opinion, the best way to get Apple to make changes is to complain publicly. This is a public forum, so that’s what I’m doing. If more people started complaining openly, I think we’d have a better chance of motivating Apple to do what needs to be done.

In my personal experience, sending issues directly to Apple is akin to a black hole. Never to be heard from again.