Gurman Reports Apple Is Launching New ‘Smart Home’ Products on October 13
Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg (gif link): Apple Inc. plans to make its long-delayed push into the smart-home market on Oct. 13, marking a critical product expansion for the company under new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus. At the center of the strategy is a smart-home hub code-named J490, according to people familiar with the matter. Apple also plans to announce the first update to…
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to enter the smart-home market on October 13, a significant product expansion under new CEO John Ternus. The centerpiece of this strategy is a smart-home hub code-named J490. Alongside this, Apple will unveil an update to the HomePod mini since its 2020 release and its first new TV set-top box since 2022.
The new hub resembles the earlier "sunflower" iMac G4, taking the form of a six-inch square display, which can be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter. It has a single FaceTime camera on the front, no rear camera, and microphones and speakers in its connected base. This device, thick as an iPhone and with a quarter-inch black bezel, features rounded corners and no sharp edges.
It lacks a battery, requiring constant plugging in, and has no volume or power buttons. Its standard gray aluminum finish includes a USB-C port for power. The screen sits above a metal, round base with multiple perforated speaker holes and connects via a polished metal arm.
The hub's key attribute is its capability to serve multiple household members. It identifies users by voice or facial recognition, albeit less reliable than iPhone's Face ID. Users can require secondary authentication through an iPhone for added security. Apple Watch can also serve as an identifier to unlock the device, similar to how it unlocks Macs and iPhones.
Written by urgent.news from Daring Fireball's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
