Apple is planning to release its first smart home device powered by Apple Intelligence as early as March, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The product will take the form of a “wall display” reminiscent of a traditional home security dashboard.
Apple hopes it will serve as a “control hub for the home” with a combination of Apple apps, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit integration.
Apple's wall-mounted smart home display with AI
Codenamed J490, which 9to5Mac first reported in September, it will feature a square display that Bloomberg says will be about 6 inches and “roughly the size of two iPhones placed side by side, with a thick edge around the display.”
It will also reportedly feature a camera in the top center, along with a built-in battery and speakers. The design is centered around a wall mount, like a “classic home security panel,” and will be available in silver and black.
Bloomberg also reports that there will be “bases with additional speakers that can be placed in the kitchen, on a nightstand, or on a table.” The company has also developed a system that uses external sensors to detect how many people are nearby:
Apple is also working on a system that would allow a home device to detect how many people are nearby. This approach relies in part on external sensors that could be placed in wall outlets in close proximity to the device, but these accessories may come later or be canceled altogether.
The product will be a standalone device, meaning it will be able to operate almost entirely on its own. But it will require an iPhone for some tasks, including parts of the initial setup. It will also work with Apple's Handoff feature, which allows users to start a feature on one device and then continue on their iPhone when they step away.
In terms of software, the user interface is said to look like a mix of iPhone Standby and watchOS. However, Apple believes that most people will use Siri and Apple Intelligence features to interact with the product.
The screen-based device, which runs a new operating system codenamed Pebble, will include sensors to detect how close a person is. It will then automatically adjust its features based on the distance. For example, if users are a few feet away, it could display the temperature. As they get closer, the interface could switch to a panel for adjusting the home thermostat.
The new operating system will also include a customizable home screen, where users can launch widgets to check stock quotes, the weather, and appointments. Or they can customize the screen to highlight key home controls. There will also be a dock for quickly launching favorite apps and an iPhone-like grid of software icons.
Apple reportedly “discussed launching an app store as part of the device,” but recently scrapped that plan. Instead, the device will run Apple apps like Safari, FaceTime, Apple Music, and Apple News. It will also connect to HomeKit to control smart home devices.
Apple is also continuing to work on a more expensive smart home product that features a robotic arm to move the screen, priced at around $1,000. However, this wall-mounted display will cost “much less” and will be similar to products like Amazon’s Echo Show line. These products range in price from under $100 to $250.
Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence at WWDC in June and released the first features to iPhone and Mac users last month. However, the company hasn’t shared any details about its plans for Apple Intelligence for its HomePod smart speaker.
Top comment from JustNeedItForDev
This rumor sounds a lot like the Apple TV that has been scheduled to launch in 3 months for years.
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This wall-mounted display will focus on integrating Siri and Apple Intelligence into the home in an entirely new form factor.
“The hardware was designed around App Intents, a system that allows AI to precisely manage apps and tasks that is set to debut in the coming months,” Bloomberg reports.
Finally, confirming recent reports from Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg reports that Apple is “exploring its own line of smart home accessories, including an indoor security camera that could also double as a baby monitor.”
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