Apple released the first beta of tvOS 17.4 this month, and it includes another reference to Apple's operating system, which There have been rumors for a long time: a home OS. However, it remains to be seen whether this actually means anything for Apple's future smart home plans…
The homeOS link was spotted by Aaron Perris on MacRumors. The help says Apple is still working on what it calls “homeOS”; in one form or another. HomePod and HomePod mini currently run a version of tvOS.
This isn't the first time Apple has mentioned homeOS. Back in 2021, mentions of the platform appeared in job listings right before WWDC. Apple eventually updated this job listing, removing the reference to homeOS and replacing it with references to tvOS and HomePod.
There have been a lot of rumors about Apple's plans to expand its smart home efforts beyond HomePod and HomePod mini. Bloomberg, for example, reported that one of Apple's projects looks like a HomePod with a touchscreen, reminiscent of an iPad on a robotic arm that can move and turn to face the person in the room.
There have also been rumors of a more versatile HomePod with with a screen that looks like something like the Echo Show. Last year, 9to5Mac found evidence that Apple was testing tvOS 17 running on the iPad mini as part of its work on a HomePod with a screen.
Do you think Apple should enter the smart home market with more capabilities? ? HomePod options? Let us know in the comments.
