Apple unveils HomeView smart display in renewed home push

Apple unveiled its latest smart display, HomeView, on Tuesday, as the tech giant seeks to expand its presence in the home market. The new device, featuring a square seven-inch touchscreen and speaker base, will be available for purchase in the United States starting November 13 for $299.

HomeView aims to strengthen customers' connections to the Apple ecosystem by integrating with various smart home features, including lights, locks, thermostats, and cameras. Additionally, the display can handle FaceTime video calls, play music and videos, and function as a digital picture frame when not in use.

Apple's revamped Siri AI assistant, powered by Apple Intelligence, serves as the central component of HomeView. This AI is designed to be a more conversational and helpful assistant compared to its predecessors. Apple is leveraging Google Gemini's AI technology to enhance Siri AI's capabilities and catch up to its competitors in the realm of generative artificial intelligence.

However, the launch of HomeView comes with a caveat. The device will not be sold in the European Union initially, as Apple works to ensure that Siri AI complies with the region's competition rules. The company is actively collaborating with EU authorities to find a suitable path for the product's entry into the European market.