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Apple Working on iPad-Like Display for Controlling Smart Homes, FaceTime Chats and More

MacRumors said:


iPad-iOS-16-WP-Display-Feature-eric-edit.jpeg



As of right now, Apple is targeting a 2024 launch for iPad-like smart home display.
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ever since the Ipad was released "PAD" has always made references to other meanings.yuck
 
So a universal remote that can control lights, blinds, security cameras, appliances, door locks, thermostats, and an entertainment center? I guess I kinda sorta see a need for this being separate from a regular ipad. The only thing that makes it minimally compelling is the multi-user element. My bet, though is in most families with kids old enough to use a remote on their own, everyone probably already has their own ipads. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
 
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2024 as Release?
Cmon! Cannot be that hard.
Use an older gen iPad mini.
Make the back out of polycarbonate.
Install MagSafe from iPhone to connect and charge on the wall.
Use mag safe charger to install this HomePad in the wall.

Make some SW adjustments.

Done

That sounds like another “one more thing”
 
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mikebenton said:
The problem with using an iPad for a 'family' device is that it's tied to one user. Unless you lock it down, anyone can access your message, emails, etc. It would be nice if they had an iPad-like device that is multi-user. I guess I had always hoped they would update iPadOS to enable multiple users. They went another way and created a whole new piece of hardware instead.
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problem with multiple user is... they only would sell one iPad each home!, and that's not the point!

Anyway, Android tablets has it, so Apple would implement that as soon as it gets popular. Public pressure is the only way Apple give in.

Anyway, most of the families I know have the iPad mainly for the kids, so no email, social media or messages in it. Just Youtube Kids, games and Netflix.
 
Having home assistant running on a Pi4, taking care of all integrations on one place and a fire8 tablet in full kiosk mode, I really don't see how the price of this would be justified. Apple would really need to bring something new.
 
ds2000 said:
Having home assistant running on a Pi4, taking care of all integrations on one place and a fire8 tablet in full kiosk mode, I really don't see how the price of this would be justified. Apple would really need to bring something new.
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I agree… I mean they have held a position on iot devices for so long, while google and Amazon have had several generations of homegrown products to support their ecosystems, that I wonder why they would be showing any interest now!
These kind of devices are not all that special, they contain low end displays and speakers, limited functionality and narrow use cases, so it’s surprising it’s going to be 2024 before any product release. I appreciate thread and matter are recent, but there have to be some fresh ideas too.
The main current differences between brands is the quality of the voice assistant; having a HomePod and a long and tired experience of Siri as a controller, I worry about the lack of potential. Siri still holds Apple back.
 
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This is a great idea, however they need to get the OS right. Home is such a basic app and requires the user to be familiar with the devices in the system. What it desperately needs is a graphical layout of a house that a user can navigate around.
 
siddavis said:
Does that sound like a mass market product?
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No, but by the time one:
  • pays the electrician for all the work in places someone wants iPads on their walls and
  • pays the HomeKit premiums for stuff to work with iPads as home controller, and
  • buys all those custom mounts and
  • buys all the iPads to have these wall controllers everywhere they want one and
  • pays some consultant to get it all working together…
…the relative fortune spent to use stationary iPads for only one thing sounds like modern Apple's kind of consumer spending target these days. 😉
 
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This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. It’s really hard with a HomeKit centric smart home to get into the whole room dashboard area. Even entry level iPad are way too expansive to put like ten of it around your rooms. But with cheap galaxy Tab A7 or something… you are very limited what you can do with a HomeKit smarthome.

Of cause this product would only make remotely sense if it’s significantly cheaper than an entry level iPad. And I would love to see apples take on a home dashboard in general.
 
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A wall mounted controller would fill a gap for folks wanting whole house audio systems. Having an on/off controller at the entrance to each room is very handy (if a bit old-fashioned).

Having a display showing what's playing and other home info is pretty cool too.
 
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