Apple Smart Home Display: Everything We Know

[TinyMito]

Why would you ever buy this instead of an iPad?

All Apple needs to do is make the software experience for it. That's it. Any iPad can run it.

Not paying $1000 to mount on a wall for guest use and home security camera.

 

[boss.king]

That’s terrible from a security perspective.
Either you allow the device to Lock Screen (which makes it a hassle to use) or you leave it unlocked… and you can’t detach it from iCloud and your AppleID because it needs those for HomeKit.

it’s already in your home. Unless you just let strangers wander your house unsupervised, I don’t think security is that big a risk.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Until Apple figures out how to make Siri usable they'll stay second tier here.

 

[txscott]

I don't want this, I want an Apple TV that I can do Face Time on, so I can sit on my couch with my wife (as opposed to huddling around an iPad or Mac), like a civilized person and talk to my grandchildren. Make it happen Apple, you'll sell more of these than you can believe.

 

[Shasterball]

"...but Apple is designing an all-in-one home management product to make control even easier."

There, fixed it.

 

[Fraserpatty]

So this is why Apple took smart home hub capability away from the iPad and made it AppleTV and HomePod only. A chance to sell yet another device.

 

[sparky672]

How do you charge the iPads? Do you have outlets behind them on the wall?

Good point. Without an electrical outlet, an ethernet port might be another option. Without having a 110 vac outlet, you could run ethernet cable to your router, inject PoE remotely, and use a PoE to USB converter at the wall. Not a common option I guess, and not the Apple way since you would see a cord, assuming the port is similar to an iPad.

I imagine Apple will expect you to dismount it to charge it someplace else. We'll find out.

 

[scrapesleon]

You need fix Siri and the home app first get your priorities straight apple

 

[Alan Wynn]

A lot of us have older iPads sitting around that would be perfect for this if Apple would release an app that autolaunches on one and runs full time.

Some people have iPads that might be useful for this, and many do not. More importantly, a wired device (for power and/or networking) that was built to be on a desk or on the wall would be great. There are already third party apps that provide dashboards using iPads. This should be a purpose built device, not just an application that runs on iPadOS.

 

[JPSaltzman]

"Oh, look, Kim Kardashian! I'd hardly recognized you!" /s

In other words, please change the artwork for your lede photo. Sheeeeesh.

 

[CarAnalogy]

He already took a massive 40% pay cut from his annual salary. He can't be swimming floating around $ bills like that anymore.

https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/12/tim-cook-taking-pay-cut-in-2023/

Notice they’re one dollar bills. They used to be hundreds.

 

[1557750]

I bought a Velcro wallet because I hate the sound of Velcro opening. This way I’m less likely to open it to buy something as ridiculous like this just because it’s Apple.

Keep your new hardware with new software issues, Apple. No thanks.

 

[macguru212]

I refuse to have more crap watching and listening to me. I have enough of that already. I'm supposed to have them on all my walls too now?

I'm over it.

Wait for Apple’s much rumored iPillow: designed to analyze your dreams, thoughts, oh and health too.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

I have never really understood the Smart Screen, I prefer a good tablet. It is funny that the wallpaper on that looks like a butt.

 

[Macalway]

Is this some twisted Rorschach test?

Cuz it's working

 

[fwmireault]

Not sure I see the appeal for this product, but if it is priced right, I could be interested.

 

[Palliser]

I'd move to Apple HomeKit as a longtime Samsung SmartThings user here but the problem is backwards compatibility with older devices and no z-wave support. Been a year since the Samsung service has really started to go downhill with tons of errors and issues with the app. Recently they shutoff or "stopped supporting" access to Life 360 which I used as a presence sensor since the SmartThings app did such a bad job with location.

So... curious to see where this ends up as I'd rather use the Apple ecosystem but not spend another $500 re-tooling my smart devices around the house.

 

[svish]

Seems like Apple is expanding it's Home lineup. Don’t think it will be released soon.

 

[ipedro]

A lot of us have older iPads sitting around that would be perfect for this if Apple would release an app that autolaunches on one and runs full time.

You can put an iPad into a sort of kiosk mode that locks it to a single app so that the Home app always shows from unlock. Only thing really missing is motion sensor to wake when approached.

 

[Tevosn]

Is it is priced similar to the competitors I could see myself getting one of those.

 

[PowerMacBook]

You can.

This just brings added features, specific to its use case.

The iPad used to be able to be a Home Hub, but not any more, but in my experience (and based on online discussion, many people's experiences) it was a very unreliable Home Hub due to being battery powered. Even if it was always plugged in, it still would "sleep" in ways the HomePod and AppleTV don't.

But you can still use an iPad as a control point for your home. Just because it isn't a Home Hub doesn't mean it can't run the Home app and control your home.

That's what I really adore about the Philips Hue Tap: just hit a programmable button and the function you set up once will happen: no screen with passwords, no empty battery when you need it (the movement of the button actually creates enough energy to do the transmission, like an old bicycle generator (dynamo)).

That is simplicity in its purest form, practical, and like "it just works" without any b.s. or crystallised design blah blah.

 

[iSayuSay]

At least it needs to be a TV, hopefully with OLED or microLED for infinite contrast and perfect, pitch black? Otherwise I'd just buy whatever the cheapest iPad solely for home control?

 

[jlozoya]

That’s what I was thinking.. Why not release an App or an Operating System that controls everything? Why do we need new hardware for this? When we already have iPads.

Because Apple is in the Business of selling hardware.

 

[Applebot1]

I’m interested in a device like this. But having many different brands of smart devices that Apple Home doesn’t recognise would be off putting without swapping out quite a bit of my devices especially the cams. On the balance of things Google would personally be my best root so probably wouldn’t go down this route for now.

Can’t but feel Apple should have been more aggressive in intertropillty and highlights the argument for common standards.

 

[canonical]

I use an iPad Air as a very nice interface for security camera footage, viewable from the kitchen / front door access etc. The problem with existing iPads for this purpose is that the power/ ethernet access is via the USBC port, and that is on the side of the unit, whereas you really need neat access from the rear. The same problem happens with all shop consoles that use iPads. To keep things neat, I use an adaptor that takes in separate power and ethernet cables, and then provides power and ethernet over the single USBC connector. For permanent displays, this would be better placed to happen from the rear, so that the cables are not visible.