Apple's Home Hub Will Have a Widget Gallery With iPhone Widget Support

[jarman92]

So spending $thousands on Apple devices over the years doesn’t qualify as “loyal customer” unless you also go all-in on services?

Not in this context, no.

 

[Astuces iOS]

HomeHub is the service that runs all the home devices. They can call their new product that but the name is already taken.

You cannot use an iPad as a homehub because they removed that feature a few years back (iPadOS 16 I believe). Probably for the same reason they removed Front Row from MAC OS X way back to make room for the aTV.

Yeah I understand but like any HomePod or Apple TV has this feature and you can still use your iPad to control everything… It just sends the signal to the HomePod and then the HomePod to home devices

 

[budselectjr]

I don’t think a lot of people on here ever leave their house and don’t know how popular devices like Echo Shows are.

“Just get an iPad” 🙄

 

[Mr_Ed]

Not in this context, no.

What context?

 

[Happy_John]

You can save locally with your camera, no? But if you want to access them through HomeKit then obviously Apple needs to process that video.

There is no technical reason why the data must leave your local network to do so. Do you really think HomeKit sends all traffic to Apple servers?

Lots of home camera systems work perfectly well on home networks without any need of a server or any processing outside the local network.

 

[sully54]

this device sounds like its a decade too late.

 

[OldNewMBP]

Why didn’t you trade it in at Apple?

How dare you! I have a 2012 Unibody MBP and I LOVE it! It can do things as well as any other MacBook can do! It simply works!

 

[jarman92]

What context?

The context of Apple incurring indefinite, ongoing costs in order to provide a service.

 

[Happy_John]

Not in this context, no.

I don't think you're in a position to define what a "loyal customer" is.

 

[jarman92]

There is no technical reason why the data must leave your local network to do so. Do you really think HomeKit sends all traffic to Apple servers?

Lots of home camera systems work perfectly well on home networks without any need of a server or any processing outside the local network.

The person I'm responding to clearly wants to access their video through HomeKit. That requires Apple's involvement. Otherwise they're free to use whatever third-party system comes with their camera.

 

[rchaser]

hold your horses 😛

If the rumored ATV 4k is $150+ I do not see this device cheaper than an iPad mini, or at least not significantly cheaper

It will be cheaper because It will be a rebranded kindle but with “Apple parts” and the “Apple touch” and other such marketing jargon which will induce you to say - like the sheep you are (not you personally) - “yes. Baaaa. I do need that. Baaaaaaa’aaaaa. I do need a 7th screen to monitor that one smart light bulb and smart outlet I have. And to check the weather’n sheit”

 

[rchaser]

so, let me get this straight: this "new product" will be a fancy iPad stand - integrated into an iPad?

No. It’s a Magic Trackpad standing on its end, with a kindle screen, and an extended leg to balance.

Basically.

 

[Genelec8341]

You can save locally with your camera, no? But if you want to access them through HomeKit then obviously Apple needs to process that video.

No, there is no local save with the Logi ⭕ View, it is HomeKit only.
Maybe a savy tech could root it to save to a wireless NAS but that's not me.

If one wants to record 1 second of video, one must buy 50GB iCloud.
There is no requirement if one only wants to stream.
Yeah it's only $12/year, but it's an Apple nickel & dime anyway you slice it.

 

[Mr_Ed]

The context of Apple incurring indefinite, ongoing costs in order to provide a service.

Sure. Try to move the goal posts all you want now, but you tied “loyalty” to services. Period. By that logic, a brand new Apple customer who subscribes to services is more “loyal” than a someone who has been buying Apple devices for 20 years but doesn’t do services. Complete nonsense.

The point made by several here is that if storage is the issue for a single camera, the base 5GB would actually work but Apple apparently doesn’t give you the option.

 

[rchaser]

The reason they killed HomeHub support on the iPad folks. For a lazy product that will just reuse the same UI found across the rest of your devices.

So innovative 🫠

Somebody’s interviewing for a position at Apple!!!

 

[rchaser]

Why didn’t you trade it in at Apple?

Many such iPad have more value as reader or viewer than whatever the trade in value is. Depends on the family.

 

[xt0pher16]

I would be interested in a wall mounted Home Hub if it could replace my smart thermostat.

 

[rchaser]

Apple - for many years now - (since Tim Beancounter slid in the chat) has been a “skate to where the puck is” company.

For once, I actually wish they were more aggressive with new, cheaper ideas.

Apple has turned into a boomer company that drives a Buick. Boring. Predictable. Not pushing the envelope. Not advancing tech. Just safely crushing at 35mph in the 55 zone. (Safety first!)

I mean really, their entire playbook over the last 15 years is to play it safe and keep the shareholders happy.

It’s so boring.

So when I see articles like this, I’m thinking, “sure nana Apple, let’s get you back to bed.”

 

[rchaser]

By deleting any video captures regularly I could get by easily. I have an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac and could get by easily with 5GB iCloud along with my local storage.

Skimping isn’t loyalty.

Peasant.

 

[jarman92]

If one wants to record 1 second of video, one must buy 50GB iCloud.

Nobody wants to record 1 second of video, this is a nonsense, straw man argument.

 

[Genelec8341]

Nobody wants to record 1 second of video, this is a nonsense, straw man argument.

It's enough to differentiate between FedEX or UPS at my door.
That's just one example but alright, you win.

 

[Someyoungguy]

The reason they killed HomeHub support on the iPad folks. For a lazy product that will just reuse the same UI found across the rest of your devices.

So innovative 🫠

I agree completely, yet I will seriously consider this in order to put a public, front end on my home assistant stuff.

 

[rchaser]

Not in this context, no.

Definitely loyaling wrong.

 

[jarman92]

Sure. Try to move the goal posts all you want now, but you tied “loyalty” to services. Period. By that logic, a brand new Apple customer who subscribes to services is more “loyal” than a someone who has been buying Apple devices for 20 years but doesn’t do services. Complete nonsense.

The point made by several here is that if storage is the issue for a single camera, the base 5GB would actually work but Apple apparently doesn’t give you the option.

Not quite sure what you're talking about (and not sure you do, either). An iCloud+ subscriber can arguably use the "loyal customer" argument when demanding free services; someone who buys only hardware has no leg to stand on—you paid for excellent hardware, you got excellent hardware. The deal has been consummated.

HomeKit Secure Video is currently limited to 1080p, meaning 5GB will hold ~6 mins of video assuming no other data (which isn't realistic, if its even possible). That's absurd. It wouldn't work for anyone.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Yep, this is a big stumbling block. If a person is the type to use Apple devices running smarthome devices and music in their home with HomePods, AppleTV, HomeKit, Airplay compatible devices etc, it's very likely they have older iPhones lying around after updating to a later model etc, and this is how those older iPhones get repurposed to get more value out of them.

This is exactly what is done in my home, for example. My iPhone se2020 has a degraded battery, and I'll replace the battery at some point, but that's not a huge issue, as the phone is in a MagSafe-style magnet case, mostly on a magnetic stand, and it gets used as a remote control for music, podcasts, sending stuff to TV, lights, as a webcam etc.

Unless this device is very attractively priced, it's going to be surplus to requirements for a lot of people. People who stick with the Apple ecosystem in the mid-to-long term (and many do), already have enough devices to cover the functionality already,

If this is a HomeKit hub it will have that advantage over an old iPhone or iPod for those of us who don’t have an Apple TV 4K.