Image credit: @pwign on X
Apple may make its much-rumored smart home hub available in two different versions sometime in 2025. The devices will run a version of tvOS rebranded to carry the “homeOS” moniker, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The new devices will offer control of home automation and other similar actions and products.
In the new report, Gurman reiterates his previous claims that Apple’s much-anticipated Home Hub device could turn out to be a cross between the HomePod and a smart display, similar to Amazon’s Echo Hub.
Gurman says the high-end device of the two Apple currently has in development is a tabletop device code-named “J595” that features a robotic limb snd an iPad-like display. A lower-end device that currently carries a moniker of “J490” will be a lower-end smart display designed for FaceTime calls and controlling home appliances and devices. He says both devices are expected to be powered by an A18 chip or better, to provide support for Apple Intelligence tools. The two devices are said to support hand gestures used in apps like FaceTime and Zoom.
Gurman also claims Apple will rename its existing tvOS operating system – which currently powers the features of the Apple TV, the HomePod, and the HomePod mini – to “homeOS.”
The high-end version of the HomePod is expected to carry a retail price of $1,000+ and will likely be intended for use in homes and offices where video conferencing is the norm, the device’s robotic arm will allow meeting participants to move around during a meeting and still stay in frame.
The lower-end new model is expected to offer support for a limited selection of apps, such as the Home app to allow for control of smart devices. Apps will include Calendar (with integrated Reminders functionality), Notes, and FaceTime apps.
Both new devices will continue to offer support for high-quality audio, while also offering access to the improved Siri functionality provided by Apple Intelligence.
In April, Gurman said that Apple had an idea to make the high-end device’s display “mimic the head movements” of a person on a FaceTime video call. The report also said Apple executives were hotly debating whether to develop such a device and the company has faced technical challenges related to “balancing the weight of a robotic motor on a small stand.”
Gurman now says the Apple artificial intelligence and home device hardware engineering teams are working together on the projects.
(Image credit: @pwign on X)