Apple has several new smart home products in development, and with rumors of an initial low-cost smart home controller mounting over the past few months, BloombergMark Gurman has explained some new details in The latest edition of his Power On newsletter.
According to Gorman, the smart home device is scheduled to launch sometime next year and will feature a hemispherical base with a small screen positioned at an angle on the base, making it resemble the design of the popular G4 iMac from two decades ago.
Following up on previous rumors that the device will include a “square” display, Gurman points out that the display and device as a whole may be smaller than many expected, with the screen being “the size of two iPhones side-by-side.”
The small size is said to be part of Apple’s efforts to keep prices low, allowing users to distribute multiple units in different rooms around the house.
The original iMac G4As previously described, the smart home device will run a number of iPad-like apps that make sense for its intended purpose, including FaceTime, Notes, and Calendar, as well as serving as a hub for smart home controls and the ability to view photos and videos. Video slideshows. Gorman says it’s “possible” that there will be speakers at the base of the device, allowing it to function as a HomePod-like device as well.
Beyond this initial smart home device, Gorman previously described a more ambitious product with a larger screen mounted on a robotic arm that can automatically recognize and track users as they move around a room. This high-end product will likely retail for around $1,000 and won’t launch until 2026 at the earliest.
Popular stories
The timeframe for mass production of the iPhone SE 4 has been revealed as the launch date approaches
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a blog post. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design to the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, and a single 48-megapixel rear camera. Pixel and 8GB RAM…
Apple says iPhone driver’s licenses will come to these US states next
In select US states, residents can add a driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient, contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below we explain the US states that offer this feature, and the additional states that have committed to offering the feature in…
Apple teases M4 Mac announcements next week
Apple is planning to unveil new products next week, teasing updated Macs, Apple’s Greg Joswiak explained today. In a social media post, Joswiak told to “Mac your calendars” because there’s an exciting week of announcements starting Monday morning. With Joswiak’s announcement, it appears that there will not be a dedicated October event for Macs this year, with Apple instead…
What to expect from Apple’s ‘exciting announcement week’
Apple CMO Greg Joswiak said today that the company has an “exciting week of announcements” planned for next week. “Mac” your calendars, Joswiak said, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on Mac, so it’s clear that at least some of next week’s announcements will be Mac-related. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos! Below, we have…
5 reasons to be excited about your new Mac Mini
Apple’s Mac mini has always been a powerful machine in a compact form factor, offering great performance in a small package. With rumors swirling about a new, completely overhauled model that is likely just days away from being announced, anticipation is growing for what Apple has in store. From improved connectivity to major hardware upgrades, the upcoming Mac mini promises to deliver big…
Apple releases new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 ahead of launch of Hearing aid
Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, with the software available for both USB-C and Lightning models. The AirPods Pro 2 firmware has build number 7B19, up from firmware 7A305 released in September. The new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 comes ahead of when Apple plans to launch Hearing Health features in iOS 18.1. Hearing health includes hearing testing…
Apple Watch Series 10 prices drop to new lows on Amazon
Amazon today has the Apple Watch Series 10 42mm GPS at a new all-time low price of $366.28, down from $399.00. This sale is only available on the Rose Gold Aluminum model, and Amazon is providing an estimated delivery date of October 28 for most US residences. Note: MacRumors is an Amazon affiliate. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small amount…
Report: Apple may stop producing Vision Pro by the end of 2024
Apple has abruptly reduced production of the Vision Pro headphone, and may stop manufacturing the current version of the device entirely by the end of 2024, The Information reports. Citing several people “directly involved” in manufacturing headphone components, the report says production curtailment began in early summer. This indicates that Apple now has a sufficient number of…
Apple releases new firmware for AirPods Pro, AirPods, and AirPods Max
Apple today released a new firmware update for the original AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and the Lightning version of AirPods Max. The new firmware is version 6F21, which is higher than the previous 6A326 firmware that these devices were previously running. There’s no information on what’s included in the firmware, but since these are all older models, it’s likely that the new one…
“Certified food guru. Internet maven. Bacon junkie. Tv enthusiast. Avid writer. Gamer. Beeraholic.”
More Stories
EA boss says BioWare is back to strength with Dragon Age, predicts ‘breakout potential’ thanks in part to ‘limited competition’
Sony closes studio behind Concorde for PS5
Switch Online’s “mature” N64 app expands with two additional games