Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects that Tuesday will also see the release of refreshed versions of the Apple TV and the six-year-old HomePod Mini smart speaker.
(Credit: Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
Apple is reportedly set to debut a new smart home device, dubbed HomeView, this week at its “Welcome Home” smart home event on Tuesday.
The new device will act as a “Siri command center” for an Apple-powered smart home, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. HomeView will reportedly come equipped with a display and an Apple-designed A18 chip. It’s set to launch with two versions: “a countertop model with a metal speaker base and a wall-mounted version with a flat, square base that sits against the wall beneath the display.”
The countertop offering will give buyers more variety when it comes to colors available, with space gray, silver, starlight and pink versions all up for grabs. Meanwhile, the wall-mounted version will be limited to only space gray and silver. Earlier reports indicated that the device’s square display will be measured 7-inchs and that it will feature built-in facial recognition technology.
According to a MacRumors report from the end of last month, users will be able to launch classic Apple apps like Photos, Notes, and Calendar from a user interface which will blend elements of Apple Watch, iPad, and Apple TV.
HomeView is expected to go on sale in the middle of November.
The new device may represent a very different approach from Apple’s usual. Gurman claims Apple is hoping that third parties will build accessories that can be controlled via Siri and other Apple devices, using HomeView as the central connecting hub.
The launch is expected to be part of a broader push into the smart home market, with a new home hub speaker expected soon. Other reports have claimed Apple will soon sell an ecosystem of smart home accessories, made in partnership with LG. These devices will reportedly include a doorbell, a smart lock, and a thermostat.
Gurman expects that Tuesday will also see the release of refreshed versions ofApple TV and the six-year-old HomePod Mini smart speaker. The new Apple TV is expected to include new Siri-powered voice control, an updated remote, and an updated A19 chip. The new HomePod Mini is expected to come with an S10 chip that will extend “voice control, music playback and other functionality throughout the house.”