Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a new Apple TV that is combined with a HomePod speaker and that has a camera for video calls through a connected television set.
From Gurman’s report:
The company is working on a product that would combine an Apple TV set-top box with a HomePod speaker and include a camera for video conferencing through a connected TV and other smart-home functions, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters.
The device’s other capabilities would include standard Apple TV box functions like watching video and gaming plus smart speaker uses such as playing music and using Apple’s Siri digital assistant.
Apple discontinued its original high-end HomePod back in March, due to disappointing sales. The company’s newer and smaller HomePod mini has proved to be more popular than the original, thanks to its lower price.
Apple combined its HomePod and Apple TV engineering teams during 2020, suggesting work is being performed on an integrated device that boasts the best features of the combined devices. However, the Gurman report indicates that the product’s development is still in the early stages, so the product could be changed or completely canceled before it can be launched.
