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

Mr_Ed said:
I’ve said before if Apple goes in this direction, they should at least make something you can attach an existing iPad to for display. Extend the useful life of old iPads (good for “mother nature”), include the Matter/Thread hardware and the actual processing for Home stuff in this device so the old iPad’s processor is irrelevant.
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Old iPads have poor batteries, so it would need a permanent power connection, in addition to the device itself needing power. It’s also not straightforward to make the iPad non-removable, which is what families want (so that the kids don’t always take away the iPad from the stationary device). That would make it a bit awkward as a product for Apple.

Also, since iPads already have microphones and speakers, there isn’t really a need for an additional device. A stand would be sufficient, or at best additional Bluetooth speakers for higher volume.
 
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d-klumpp said:
I'm reserving judgment until I see it, but...

Recently I've wondered, why do we know so many iPhone details so far in advance of release, including photos of components, whereas we have no similar, credible details on the Home Hub or other devices. What's the difference in development pipelines and the secrecy or lack thereof?
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Because nobody is dying to know about home hub.

A documentary on fonts is possibly more interesting. Probably.
 
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budselectjr said:
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.
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Guilty as charged. We have six Echo dots throughout the house (gens 3-5). Passed on the Echo Show, it just had no appeal.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to see what this actually is when it releases.

I still can't imagine wanting this more than just using an iPad on a stand.

The price will matter as much as the features I think.
Will this be an impulse buy?
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Exactly this… why would there be any need for this? What’s the use case? Makes no sense!
 
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Something like this should have come out a long time ago. I needed a small, inexpensive smart speaker with a display to have in our kitchen for setting timers and occasionally asking it questions, but Apple dragged their feet on it. I now use Google Home as my main smart home platform despite being otherwise all-Apple. But the lack of something like this isn't their only problem in terms of how they compete (i.e., not well) against Google Home.

Oh, and I suspect this will be overpriced.
 
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jarman92 said:
Not quite sure what you're talking about
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This.
jarman92 said:
How are you a “loyal customer” if you don’t want even the lowest level of iCloud subscription? And how do you expect to record video without any storage? 🤨
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jarman92 said:
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.
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So, you were unable to make a basic argument that services cost money without questioning someone’s brand loyalty?

jarman92 said:
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.
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Not your place to decide how anyone configures (resolution, frame rate, codec, bit rate, etc.) their own security camera or how “useful” it might be to them.
 
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I don’t see the point of this with it having such a small screen. Now if it were more like the Unifi Connect Display, then we would be talking.
 
Chopper9 said:
That doesn't sound like Apple.
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I agree. Even Amazon's Network Hub is ad free. I guess the thinking is having ads on a device meant to control your home would be the upmost in frustration, along with the fact that using it for media consumption is most likely a secondary use case, especially if mounting the device on a wall.

Amazon does ask you if you are placing the device on a wall or stand. I can't see why that's a relevant question but there was speculation that if enough were placed on stands, Amazon would roll out ad's for the device. As of now the device is completely ad-free.
 
svish said:
Don't know how useful this will be. With the right price, it could sell. Waiting to see the device.
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It's not like listing a house. I get that most things have a price point but this thing will need to be pretty darn free to even consider giving up the counter space.
 
Genelec8341 said:
No desire for this personally.
I hope when this is released my A2843 Apple TV 4K will still be able to serve as my Home hub.
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Completely agree. This was something I desperately wanted a decade ago when the whole “smart home” took off. I tried everything to make various iPads and other devices work as a central control panel to my home. They all kinda sucked. Since then I’ve ripped out all the “smart” crap and only use a few hue lights at this point. The smart home is dead due to privacy and control issues, end of life and bankrupt devices, and the subscription hell it introduced.
 
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Soonerpet said:
Completely agree. This was something I desperately wanted a decade ago when the whole “smart home” took off. I tried everything to make various iPads and other devices work as a central control panel to my home. They all kinda sucked. Since then I’ve ripped out all the “smart” crap and only use a few hue lights at this point. The smart home is dead due to privacy and control issues, end of life and bankrupt devices, and the subscription hell it introduced.
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HA (Home Assistant) Might interest you if you're not familiar. Totally local and open source.
 
This sound too simple to be just a screen with home widgets and possibly a camera … we have our phones, iPad, Mac and even the watch for that … let’s see
 
I see a lot of people saying they don’t see the appeal, for me it is the following: i have no light switches anymore, I have one place next to the door for a small on the wall screen. That screen must have a temperature sensor for the heating and should offer the option to manually adjust things in the house. Light is mostly automated. Other companies move into that exact space at the moment - Loxone (wired smart home) offers now such a 7 inch square display.

Basis for all this though, is that Apple updates their home app considerably! For example Energy management for solar is needed.
 
Soonerpet said:
Completely agree. This was something I desperately wanted a decade ago when the whole “smart home” took off. I tried everything to make various iPads and other devices work as a central control panel to my home. They all kinda sucked. Since then I’ve ripped out all the “smart” crap and only use a few hue lights at this point. The smart home is dead due to privacy and control issues, end of life and bankrupt devices, and the subscription hell it introduced.
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I think the retrofit took a very long time to become solid. For construction of a new house local solutions like Loxone are pretty good - now it just needs to come together. Hopefully Apple can deliver on that
 
unless they are much much cheaper than the ipad and have sensors that ipad doesn't have there is no need for this. ipad on a stand can do just about everything.
 
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