Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

A Small iOS 27 Change Hints at Apple's Long-Rumored Home Hub

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster


In iOS 27 beta 2, Apple updated the Home app to add support for remotely updating an Apple TV.

ios-27-apple-tv-home-app.jpg

The Apple TV is now listed in the Updates section of the Home app's Settings interface, and tapping on the Apple TV update button installs the latest software without needing to turn on the Apple TV.

The HomePod and HomePod mini have long been able to be updated through the Home app, so the iOS 27 change for the Apple TV puts it on par with the HomePod. The HomePod and HomePod mini run a variant of tvOS, so it makes sense for the Apple TV to be updated in the same way.

Apple's decision to add the Apple TV to the Home app update interface suggests that the upcoming home hub device that's in the works will also be controlled and updated through the Home app.

Apple is expected to release a dedicated home hub later this year, and it will run a version of tvOS like the HomePod. It will be a centralized spot for controlling smart home products, making video calls, getting information like the current weather, and interfacing with Siri. The device is expected to have a 7-inch square display with built-in speakers, and it could be something of a HomePod-iPad hybrid.

Article Link: A Small iOS 27 Change Hints at Apple's Long-Rumored Home Hub
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/22/ios-27-apple-tv-home-app/
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: attila, Z-4195 and Brettka7
I wish Apple would get all their new Home stuff out soon, our doorbell recently died and I really want to see what Apple is planning with their rumored one, plus whatever else they want to put out. I have been adding IKEA sensors to Homekit and they have been flawless so far, but they aren't going to add something like a doorbell, locks, or cameras. HomeKit works well with products that take supporting it and the Matter standard seriously, I'd really like to upgrade to more smart home stuff, so the wait is really a bummer.

Here's hoping that Apple is finally going to take this seriously and have a big push for the Christmas season with some serious products.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarlJ, Mikeyde1989, Veoronox and 6 others
Keymaster said:
I wish Apple would get all their new Home stuff out soon, our doorbell recently died and I really want to see what Apple is planning with their rumored one, plus whatever else they want to put out. I have been adding IKEA sensors to Homekit and they have been flawless so far, but they aren't going to add something like a doorbell, locks, or cameras. HomeKit works well with products that take supporting it and the Matter standard seriously, I'd really like to upgrade to more smart home stuff, so the wait is really a bummer.

Here's hoping that Apple is finally going to take this seriously and have a big push for the Christmas season with some serious products.
Click to expand...
Check out Unifi (ubiquity) home solutions. I use cameras/access points and their app is pretty good with meshing everything together. They have a doorbell but I don't have experience with it
 
  • Like
Reactions: tranceme and CDPlayer
MacRumors said:
The Apple TV is now listed in the Updates section of the Home app's Settings interface, and tapping on the Apple TV update button installs the latest software without needing to turn on the Apple TV.
Click to expand...
Finally! Been asking for this for years. If HomePod can do it, there's no reason Apple TV shouldn't be able to.

It has been frustrating to no end to have to run around the house to update Apple TVs every time an update comes out, or wait multiple weeks for them to auto-update.
 
  • Like
Reactions: QuarterSwede, zapmymac, twocents and 4 others
repoman016 said:
Check out Unifi (ubiquity) home solutions. I use cameras/access points and their app is pretty good with meshing everything together. They have a doorbell but I don't have experience with it
Click to expand...
+1 for UniFi. It may be overkill for the average consumer but their wifi systems and switches, etc are top notch with fine tuned control. The WiFi AP's are well priced with a POE+ switch which would fit most peoples' needs and the WiFi 7 models are actually less expensive than most consumer mesh systems. Only downside is wiring everything which may be costly depending on the home.

I'm still perplexed Apple dropped the Airport line considering their devices and streaming and cloud services all depend on third party devices now. I would have thought updating to mesh systems would be a no brainer especially selling them alongside a new Mac or iDevice. A lot of user problems with Apple's services and devices are due to improperly installed and configured wifi systems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: QuarterSwede, minik, repoman016 and 2 others
xpxp2002 said:
It has been frustrating to no end to have to run around the house to update Apple TVs every time an update comes out, or wait multiple weeks for them to auto-update.
Click to expand...

I wholeheartedly agree; a single place to update all of my AppleTVs will be great -- but to be fair, I don't imagine that most AppleTV households have as many of them around the house as Apple geeks like you and me. 😉

Hopefully, the interface also shows the model -- and the lack of upgradability -- of older/obsolete units.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac
Keymaster said:
I wish Apple would get all their new Home stuff out soon, our doorbell recently died and I really want to see what Apple is planning with their rumored one, plus whatever else they want to put out. I have been adding IKEA sensors to Homekit and they have been flawless so far, but they aren't going to add something like a doorbell, locks, or cameras. HomeKit works well with products that take supporting it and the Matter standard seriously, I'd really like to upgrade to more smart home stuff, so the wait is really a bummer.

Here's hoping that Apple is finally going to take this seriously and have a big push for the Christmas season with some serious products.
Click to expand...
100% this. The market's had years to progress & has to a point, but not for Apple products, Apple jumping in now could hardly be seen as competitive advantage, but of course it would. It's a market ripe for the picking.
 
I was expecting to read something like they let the name or description of such a product slip through in one of the settings or descriptions in the UI. This is just ... a stretch. Apple TV can be used as a Home hub (and, for some models, Thread Border Router) like the Home Pod, so it's not like this doesn't make just as much sense with or without such an addition coming.

As much as I hope one is. 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: nBode, attila, Eddie Beeps and 2 others
Keymaster said:
I wish Apple would get all their new Home stuff out soon, our doorbell recently died and I really want to see what Apple is planning with their rumored one, plus whatever else they want to put out.
Click to expand...
Same. I've been partial to Netatmo's cameras because their products tend to be more privacy-focused than competitors like Ring and Nest, with video being encrypted at rest on local storage; as well as, the option to offload video to your own FTP destination that you control.

Since they discontinued their doorbell and seem to be exiting the US/Canadian markets, there's definitely a gap begging for someone to come in with a doorbell and some cameras that fully support HKSV and also don't require uploading your video to somebody's cloud to use the product.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac
xpxp2002 said:
Same. I've been partial to Netatmo's cameras because their products tend to be more privacy-focused than competitors like Ring and Nest, with video being encrypted at rest on local storage; as well as, the option to offload video to your own FTP destination that you control.

Since they discontinued their doorbell and seem to be exiting the US/Canadian markets, there's definitely a gap begging for someone to come in with a doorbell and some cameras that fully support HKSV and also don't require uploading your video to somebody's cloud to use the product.
Click to expand...
Have you also tried Eufy? I use some cams of them at home and they work good. Only downside is they have no low-battery warning.
 
I wonder if Apple’s added functionality to stop an update on ATV or HomePod if someone’s actively using them.

Or if there’s only one Home Hub in a household and someone over-eagerly triggers an update taking all the smart devices down for a few minutes, a warning would be smart in that scenario.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac
xpxp2002 said:
Finally! Been asking for this for years. If HomePod can do it, there's no reason Apple TV shouldn't be able to.

It has been frustrating to no end to have to run around the house to update Apple TVs every time an update comes out, or wait multiple weeks for them to auto-update.
Click to expand...

Yes. Wait until it updates like 99,99% of users. It will save you “frustration to no end”.
 
I'm going to jump in on the Ubiquiti cameras. Local video storage (no cloud), a wide variety of options and price ranges, a pretty decent app across the Apple ecosystem, including TV. Doorbells are nice and high quality with (depending on model) package cameras, video intercom and remote chimes (I have a remote chime all the way back in my workshop). Video is 100% under your control. Local AI detection for vehicles, people, license plates, etc for some models or through AI Port add on.

Only two real downsides, 1) they are in high demand and can be hard to find at times 2) no HomeKit integration.

I have 28 external cameras on one NVR, and 8 internal cameras (workshop only - NO cameras in the house) on a second NVR.
 
I would LOVE this feature, since I have four AppleTVs around the house I'd love to update this way, but I have 27.0 beta 2 and this feature does not appear in my Home app :/

All the TVs are shown, but no way to update them remotely 🙁
 
a bit of a leap. Connecting some dots that can also be explained by it simply making sense to have the Apple TV update in the home app.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back