Apple Preparing New Smart Home Display Launch for Next Year

Apple may have encountered some challenges with the Vision Pro headset, but the tech giant is gearing up to broaden its product range beyond the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. According to renowned insider Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a new smart display designed for the smart home market.

This anticipated smart display is scheduled for release “as early as next year.”Referred to as the J490, it will serve as an affordable smart display aimed at facilitating FaceTime calls and managing home appliances. Gurman revealed that this upcoming display will feature Apple Intelligence integrated and will operate on a new system known as homeOS, which is a derivative of the current tvOS.

This information aligns with earlier speculation regarding the homeOS in development. Mentions of this intriguing operating system were found in the source code of tvOS 17.4 earlier this year. Furthermore, there have been ongoing rumors about an Apple smart display or a HomePod equipped with a display.

In addition to the J490, Apple reportedly is also working on a premium smart display that will run on homeOS and Apple Intelligence. Gurman has stated that this more expensive device will feature a large display akin to an iPad connected to a robotic arm, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees and tilt vertically.

The price for this innovative robotic device is expected to exceed $1,000 upon its launch. While Apple aims to expand the reach of Apple Intelligence across various platforms, Gurman emphasizes that the current line of Apple smart home products—including Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini—lacks the necessary hardware to support on-device AI functionalities.

Apple has consistently followed the trend of equipping each of its hardware offerings with a unique operating system, whether it’s popular devices like the iPhone and Mac or specialized gadgets such as Apple TV and Vision Pro. The HomePod operates on a modified version of tvOS; it is anticipated that Apple will eventually integrate tvOS with homeOS to function across all Apple home devices, as speculated by Gurman.

Source: Bloomberg

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