Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub is reportedly revealed on October 13. BloombergMark Gurman of reports that the smart home device will be revealed alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV device.
All three products are expected to feature Siri AI, Apple’s revamped AI-based assistant. The smart home hub, a new product category for Apple, will be the centerpiece. It would feature a 6-inch screen that could be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter. The hub is “about as thick as an iPhone,” according to Gurman, and has bezels similar to older iPads.
It looks like the hub will look a bit like Apple’s iMac G4, thanks to a round metal base that houses speakers, microphones, and a metal arm to hold the screen up. This also allows the screen to tilt, and Apple is said to sell a second wall-mounted version with a thinner base underneath for speakers and microphones.
Apple is apparently using USB-C power delivery for its home hub, as the device doesn’t have a battery inside. Gurman reports that the hub will be available in “Apple’s standard gray aluminum finish.”
It appears that the new operating system built around Siri AI for the hub is going to rely on iPad-like apps, as Gurman reports that the Messages app has a two-panel layout. The hub would also support control of other smart devices, video calls, music playback, photo slideshows and intercom-style calls, with voice and facial recognition to identify users.
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