Since the HomePod 2 was released in early 2023, rumors have been circulating about what’s next for HomePod. Some rumors suggest that Apple is getting into tabletop robotics for the smart home, while others suggest that Apple could be launching a more traditional smart display, a smart device that offers Apple intelligence for the home but is cheaper than the iPad. There are also rumors that the company is working on display development.
Apple intelligence support
Apple’s next smart home product with display, known internally as “Home Accessories” with the codename J490, is expected to be powered by the A18 chipset. This means that, unlike existing HomePod models, it supports the full Apple Intelligence feature set and the all-new Siri.
Both the HomePod and HomePod mini use the chipsets from the Apple Watch models, the S7 and S5 chips, respectively. It’s unclear whether Apple has any short-term refresh plans for the regular HomePod with support for Apple Intelligence, but either way, a potential HomePod with display could be Apple’s first smart home product with Apple Intelligence. Highly sexual.
7 inch lcd display
Apple’s smart display products will likely feature 7-inch LCD displays similar to products such as the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This panel is exclusively provided by a new supplier known as Tianma.
Kuo believes the new products “bring deeper integration with Apple’s other hardware products and represent a major shift in the company’s smart home strategy.”
Meanwhile, Kuo’s initial report stated that this was on track for an early 2024 launch, but apparently that didn’t happen. Apple’s plans may have changed since then.
unique form factor
Apple’s next product will have a built-in camera for FaceTime and video conferencing apps, unlike some other smart home displays. However, unlike those products, Apple may not just attach a cheap display to the speaker, but rather make the display the focal point of the product.
Bloomberg’s Mark Garman has previously called the product “an iPad-like smart display that attaches magnetically to the wall.”
I personally have my doubts, as it’s unclear what kind of appeal it will have compared to a cheaper iPad, but this is something Apple is potentially working on.
New operating system: homeOS
Apple is likely to name its next operating system for smart home products with displays homeOS, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Garman. This is consistent with a previous report from earlier this year.
9to5 mac previously discovered a lock screen interface known internally as PlasterBoard within the tvOS 18 beta. This likely means that tvOS will become the basis for homeOS in future products.
release date
According to 9to5 mac According to sources, Apple aims to release this product in the spring of 2025. Plans are obviously subject to change, but this product will probably arrive sometime next year regardless.
Are you excited about Apple’s future work on standalone smart home products with displays? Let us know in the comments.
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