Apple May Launch First iPad-Like Smart Home Accessory Next Year

Apple could release an iPad-like smart home accessory based on its homeOS platform as early as next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPad iOS 16 WP Display Feature eric edit
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reports that the display will run Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, and will feature an interface "optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information."

Apple's existing Apple TV and HomePod lineup already offer home hub functionality, but crucially lack the hardware to run AI models. In contrast, Apple Intelligence will be central to the new home accessory, which is actually a "lower-end companion" to a $1,000+ robotic device for the home, writes Gurman.

Similar devices have been rumored for some time. Prototype designs are said to have resembled a HomePod with a screen (magnetically attaching to walls or sitting atop a desk), and an iPad-like display mounted on a robotic arm. Both accessories are said to be collaborations between Apple's AI and home device hardware engineering groups.

Backend code discovered by MacRumors in January suggested that Apple was continuing work on a homeOS platform, as a variant of tvOS. Another code reference finding in June subsequently confirmed the existence of at least one unreleased home accessory.

More recently, 9to5Mac has claimed that the lower-end smart home device features a "squarish display", an A18 chip, and a built-in camera for FaceTime. The device apparently supports AirPlay, is able to identify hand gestures from afar, and can tell one person apart from another for personalized requests‌. 9to5Mac says Apple could release the home product as early as next spring.

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Top Rated Comments

gusping Avatar
12 months ago
Which will cost far too much, sell 100 units and be binned shortly thereafter. Apple can’t even get a simple smart speaker to sell well. Focus on that first.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iToph Avatar
12 months ago
another useless device. "Hey Siri, turn on the light" "Sorry I can't find a song named turn on the light"
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bLackjackj Avatar
12 months ago
Why,..oh why. So just a dumbed down iPad mini on a rotating base? ?‍♂️...what happened Apple?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lusty Avatar
12 months ago

...what happened Apple?
That one is simple, the mission went from "make things work" to "Make things subscription".

The iPhone was a success because it did things we all wanted to do. Many of those things are actually harder today because Apple wedged a subscription between us and doing something.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tenthousandthings Avatar
12 months ago

another useless device. "Hey Siri, turn on the light" "Sorry I can't find a song named turn on the light"
[MEDIA=applemusic]us/song/573715583[/MEDIA]
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Churchman Avatar
12 months ago
My patellar reflex to this article is - to me… I repeat, to me - that Apple feels like it is in the initial stages of becoming like Steve Ballmer’s MSFT.

Half baked vision goggles… half baked Apple Intelligence that is being released in .1 /.2 /.3 phases through 2025 rather than all at once because Apple has not finished baking it - and this is supposed to replace Siri after 13 years of being lacking as an AI assistant…. An iPhone 16 that analysts are saying will sell fewer units than 15…. A guy above saying his home pod does not recognize his voice half the time…. Apple is about to release an M4 chip into Macs (yay!!!) while some Macs are still being sold with just M2 chips today (boo!)…

That’s the kind of stuff that feels very MSFT / Steve Ballmer.

What is Apple’s corporate vision now for consumers products? It’s beginning to feel more and more like the vision and product strategy are becoming “let’s just release X though it’s not done and though it’s not awesome. Let’s see if the customers will bite. Then we’ll release whatever widget is on that table there, unless the tech wind blows a different way tomorrow.”

I am hoping that the Ballmer philosophy at MSFT that gave us the memorable MSFT phone (what was it called) and the Zune is not beginning to infect Apple and Tim Cook.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)