S.B.G
Moderator emeritus
I wonder if the Apple TV will suffer the same fate.
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Apple's 'HomePad' Now Rumored to Launch Even Later Than Expected
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Lunarman25
macrumors member
Lunarman25
macrumors member
I get that Apple wants to sell another hard product line / SKU / etc to hit a specific corp gross margin target.
But this does not seem to justify being hardware.
This seems better as a connected AI app on your phone, iPad, Mac… whatever. As you go room to room in your home, you talk to the AI app which hears you on any device and responds from any device. And the App itself is connected to smart home devices.
Example: I am in the hall closet looking at my supply of hand soap bricks…. “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Check Walmart prices for X brand soap blocks.” The iPhone in the bedroom answers me. I walk into the kitchen and say, “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Make a shopping list. Put that soap on it, as well as paper towels, almond milk and sockeye salmon.” The iPad on the kitchen counter responds that the list is created and that CarPlay in the Toyota Camry has directions to a place that has cheaper sockeye than the local Walmart. I then ask…. “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Is it going to rain today?” It says, “40% chance of rain possibly starting in the next 30 minutes in this area. The rain should continue for 2 hours.” I say, “OK. Please adjust the heat in the house higher by 2 degrees starting now. That way the rain won’t chill things too much.” The HVAC system in the home activates. I say, “Thank you” as I head to the garage. Through my watch, the AI says, “Not at all. And you are looking quite sexy today.” I say, “Shut up… and open the pod bay doors. Anything else you have to say, tell me via text or speak though my Beats Fit Pro ear buds.” My phone buzzes. I look and a text message says, “As you wish.”
To me, this is an omnibus persistent subscription AI service in the cloud that provides monthly rents for Apple and connects to other cloud services while being omnipresent on all of your AI enabled Apple devices and apps. It seems way more profitable and “must have / must keep / must maintain / must update” in that form versus a pure hardware solution.
Of course, this would entail Apple having a truly intelligent Apple AI.
But this does not seem to justify being hardware.
This seems better as a connected AI app on your phone, iPad, Mac… whatever. As you go room to room in your home, you talk to the AI app which hears you on any device and responds from any device. And the App itself is connected to smart home devices.
Example: I am in the hall closet looking at my supply of hand soap bricks…. “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Check Walmart prices for X brand soap blocks.” The iPhone in the bedroom answers me. I walk into the kitchen and say, “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Make a shopping list. Put that soap on it, as well as paper towels, almond milk and sockeye salmon.” The iPad on the kitchen counter responds that the list is created and that CarPlay in the Toyota Camry has directions to a place that has cheaper sockeye than the local Walmart. I then ask…. “Hey, supposedly intelligent Apple AI. Is it going to rain today?” It says, “40% chance of rain possibly starting in the next 30 minutes in this area. The rain should continue for 2 hours.” I say, “OK. Please adjust the heat in the house higher by 2 degrees starting now. That way the rain won’t chill things too much.” The HVAC system in the home activates. I say, “Thank you” as I head to the garage. Through my watch, the AI says, “Not at all. And you are looking quite sexy today.” I say, “Shut up… and open the pod bay doors. Anything else you have to say, tell me via text or speak though my Beats Fit Pro ear buds.” My phone buzzes. I look and a text message says, “As you wish.”
To me, this is an omnibus persistent subscription AI service in the cloud that provides monthly rents for Apple and connects to other cloud services while being omnipresent on all of your AI enabled Apple devices and apps. It seems way more profitable and “must have / must keep / must maintain / must update” in that form versus a pure hardware solution.
Of course, this would entail Apple having a truly intelligent Apple AI.
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The lack and the expense of RAM and storage is the problem.
Apple is likely using every bit of its capacity for iPhones, iPads, Watches, and Macs. Every other product that needs RAM/storage will be sidelined until the RAM/storage markets gain equilibrium, because Apple also understands customers won't buy Apple TVs, HomePads, or any other such gizmos for double or triple their existing price.
klasma
macrumors G4
Fall 2026 still seems optimistic, given that the device supposedly relies on New Siri working well.
jdawgnoonan
macrumors 65816
I doubt that I will be anymore interested in an Apple smart display than I have been in any other companies offerings. I have an iPhone, two iPads, and two Macs which is more than sufficient. Smart home stuff has yet to strike me as very smart. The so called “Smart” devices that I do own are rather disappointing (an oven and a refrigerator) and add almost no extra value to my life other than if I choose to preheat the oven as I drive home (which seems rather unsafe, but I have done it).
klasma
macrumors G4
Chatbot Siri is firmly delayed to iOS 27. The 26.5 features are comparatively minor enhancements.
This thing has the double problem of being a solution looking for a problem and being reliant on Apple making Siri useful which they have yet to be able to do.
I’ll bet you launch will be pushed off to 2027, and then quietly cancelled.
I’ll bet you launch will be pushed off to 2027, and then quietly cancelled.
Ok, gave up on new Apple TV and ordered the current latest. It's still way ahead of the ancient one I have and I needed a few more for other TVs so I can ditch the horrible Xfinity TV box (and their TV service) I've been using. One can't wait forever.
Lunarman25
macrumors member
It will launch but it makes no sense to launch with current Siri, they have to wait for Gemini integration
k1121j
macrumors 68020
Don't know about you but i don't carry my phone in my pocket at home. The home pods are terrible all of them for controlling my home, absolutely maddening.
"Siri turn of the laundry room light"
I'm sorry you done have any home accessories setup
"Siri turn on the kitchen lights"
I'm sorry i cant handle multiple request
Newest one in the last month or two
"Siri turn on the Livingroom lights"
I'm unable to control the Apple TV in Bedroom 1
You obviously don’t have a smart home. Because this sort of product is ideal for casual users to operate accessories , appliances and automations.
Sure you can ‘mount an iPad’, but an iPad logged into a single persons iCloud account? That’s not going to work.
This is what I always expected, I assume it will be announced at WWDC and then launch around when OS 27 comes out, as I assume that is when we will finally get the new version of Siri.
Black Belt
macrumors 65816
Tim Cook needs to be replaced. He obviously doesn’t have the drive to run an AI company. Put him in charge of watch bands and emojis.
Awkward post. AirPower was pre-launch revealed by Apple. This HomePod thing wasn't. I think it's safe to say that Apple went back to Steve's mantra: "We don't discuss future products".
And with good reason, because with AirPower, the only thing Apple was able to charge was my Credit Card.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
This is right about the time somebody chimes in and says they love their HomePods and they’ve never had a single problem with Siri, ever.
🤣
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
I would like it if Apple would just release guidance, such as "No new Apple TV in the next 6 months". This is getting ridiculous.