Bloomberg: Apple Working on New Apple TV With Integrated HomePod Speaker and FaceTime Camera

Apple is working on a combined Apple TV with HomePod speaker that has a camera for video calls through a connected television set, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

AppleTV and HomePod Feature
From the report:

The company is working on a product that would combine an Apple TV set-top box with a HomePod speaker and include a camera for video conferencing through a connected TV and other smart-home functions, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters.

The device's other capabilities would include standard Apple TV box functions like watching video and gaming plus smart speaker uses such as playing music and using Apple's Siri digital assistant.

Following disappointing sales, Apple discontinued its original high-end ‌HomePod‌ in March, leaving many wondering if the company was working on a successor. The HomePod mini, which launched last year, has been much more popular thanks to its lower price.

Apple unified its engineering teams for ‌HomePod‌ and ‌Apple TV‌ last year, suggesting an integrated device offering the best of both worlds could be in the offing.

However, according to today's report, the product's development is still in the early stages, and Apple could choose not to launch the product or change key features.

Apple is known to be working on an updated version of the Apple TV that will allegedly have a gaming focus with an updated remote control, a faster processor, and increased storage capacity, although it seems likely that today's report is referencing another potential future product. Signs of the new ‌Apple TV‌ have been showing up in iOS since January 2020, so we are expecting to see a new ‌Apple TV‌ launch in 2021.

Today's report also mentions that Apple is working on a concept for a future ‌HomePod‌ design that has an iPad connected via a robotic arm, which could follow users around a room during video calls.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini

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Top Rated Comments

wanha Avatar
47 months ago
Granted I've been wrong a couple times in my life (my wife never let's me forget), but this sounds like a weird combination.

1. An Apple TV with a single speaker? Do people not want stereo sound anymore when watching TV?

2. The large HomePods weren't popular because they were considered too expensive. How does throwing in an Apple TV, a screen, and a remote make it any less expensive?

3. Does this combination provide anything unique? We can already do FaceTime calls with our phones, laptops and tablets quite easily. We already have media streamers in all our TVs built in. Many of us already have smart speakers in our homes.

In short, I hope I am wrong again, but I struggle to see the value of this "product".
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EntropyQ3 Avatar
47 months ago
Eh, bundling a bunch of stuff together that we didn't ask to have combined.
I don't think this makes sense. I really can't see the point. Never mind the practical nightmare of having to place the speaker so that the camera is reasonably positioned for picking up your face for video conferencing - all while it has to be physically connected to the TV display for streaming. Ugh.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blokitud Avatar
47 months ago
But will it have 720p camera with improved AI....
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jamesjingyi Avatar
47 months ago
If they basically make a Sonos Beam with an Apple TV built in that uses ARC so you can use it as a soundbar then take my money! Been wanting a beam for a while but this would completely replace it
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
markfc Avatar
47 months ago
Wow, only about 12 months to late.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ted13 Avatar
47 months ago
What I was imagining is that that a high quality HomePod Sound Bar (with HDMI/TOSlink IN so it can support something besides the AppleTV like the HDTV ARC/Blu-ray/TiVO combined with HomePod (not mini) Stereo or Quad (with HomePods in the front HomePod minis in the back) for Dolby Atmos and 5.0 sound. The result would be pretty much the best home theater sound system at any price.
This is still double Apple, it's not too late!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)