Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Has Faced a Disappointing Setback

[MacRumors]

Apple has scrapped some of the features that it had planned for its long-rumored smart home hub device, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

"I'm told that Apple has pulled some bolder features from the device that could reappear in subsequent models," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter this week. However, he did not reveal any of the specific features that were pulled.

Apple made this decision in order to get the smart home hub "ready faster," according to Gurman. The device's launch was already postponed after Apple delayed its personalized Siri features, which are expected to be a core aspect of the hub, per his previous reporting. In his newsletter this week, he said that he expects the device to be released "by the end of this year at the earliest," but the exact timeframe "remains up in the air."

Apple has yet to confirm that such a device exists, of course, so this is not an official delay.

Gurman had previously said that the home hub would be "Apple's most significant release" of 2025, as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home." He said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."

The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.

In March, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device would enter mass production at some point after WWDC 2025, which begins June 9.

Article Link: Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Has Faced a Disappointing Setback

 

[jdavid_rp]

Wouldn’t it be better a base where you can magnetically attach an iPad when you need a screen and a camera? And when you de-attach it it looks discrete and decorative like a HomePod.
They even have the new API so iPhones can control stabilizers to keep following a person and the Stage Center feature, so why not the same here for the FaceTime feature?

This way people could use it as an iPad charger/stand and choose the screen size depending on their needs (like a big one for the kitchen or a small one for the entrance)

Also you could be watching a video or a recipe while you cook and if the recipe needs like a 30min timer, you set it on the base and then take the iPad with you to the sofa to keep watching the video or the next steps in the recipe.

Honestly I expect this new device to be this modular, maybe not being an iPad but a touchscreen that receives signal from the base so it can stay slim and portable (like the Wii U Gamepad), because otherwise I don’t see its functionality

 

[fel10]

Unfortunately, that seems to have become the norm with Apple lately.

 

[jz0309]

"I'm told that Apple has pulled some bolder features from the device that could reappear in subsequent models," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter this week. However, he did not reveal any of the specific features that were pulled.

Gurman at this best… unannounced product, features removed yet he has no clue what features…

 

[wonderings]

I like some of the smart home stuff, I use Alexa and have echo's throughout my house for music as well as smart switches. It is not something I would want a screen for. I am not discounting a screen but what are people using a screen on a device like this for? It would not be something you carry around like an iPad so it is a stationary screen serving what purpose? As for the design they would be better off recycling the lampshade G4 iMac, which is still a marvel and wish mine worked still today!

 

[Fuzzball84]

Everything seems rushed these days. Everything.

Apple used to only release devices when things were ready. It set them apart. Now they appear to rush things out as much as anyone.

 

[redheeler]

It’s an okay idea. I have a 2013 iMac 21.5” that took a similar role in my apartment.

Not exactly revolutionary though. And TBH I really only use it while cooking anyway.

 

[Unami]

It's mainly a software product, it's probably delayed and they are already pulling features. I'll probably wait for the V2. Although, there's so many things the apple home app could do but doesn't or does very cumbersome. Massive room for improvements and new features there.

So we will see. If it's only the home app with an interface adapted to a new screen size snd a proximity sensor, I'll pass.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Gurman at this best… unannounced product, features removed yet he has no clue what features…

Henry Gupta is way more authoritative.

some of these rumors are so so vague and nebulous

 

[Realityck]

Not been a good year for Apple with the hard sell of Apple Intelligence not living up to Apple’s commercials. Hopefully major OS interface changes put aside this whole last year see everything greatly improving during wwdc 2025 presentations and with early development beta of each OS.

 

[GioGiusi]

Unfortunately, that seems to have become the norm with Apple lately.

And it's why Tim Cook needs to go. He is half-assing everything in order to ship sooner.

 

[Blisterpeanuts]

I'll file this one under "Why?"

Most people who already have iPhones and iPads would have little need for this. People without i-devices probably are even less interested.

In my opinion, Apple should have released an excellent Home Pod at a competitive price with Alexa and Google in the smart speaker space. Also give Siri a higher I.Q.; it's a bit 1990s these days.*

*and they'd better hurry up, before a ChatGPT-Pod or a Grok-Pod comes along that blows these other smart speakers out of the water!

 

[MacUserFella]

Why would Apple rush this out? It’s not like everyone desperately asked for it

 

[moabal]

I just wish we can set manual "Hey Siri" device prioritization rules.

I tried an iPad on a base. However, using "Hey Siri" does not necessarily use the closet iDevice. Instead it seems to prioritize HomePods or iPhones (even if they are farther away). Otherwise, I could certainly use an iPad as a stationary base.

Siri is much faster on other devices so I figured if I am near my iPad it will run things faster because it is a faster processor. However, if it is not reliably taking my Siri requests, it is not ideal as a base station.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I'll file this one under "Why?"

Most people who already have iPhones and iPads would have little need for this. People without i-devices probably are even less interested.

In my opinion, Apple should have released an excellent Home Pod at a competitive price with Alexa and Google in the smart speaker space. Also give Siri a higher I.Q.; it's a bit 1990s these days.*

*and they'd better hurry up, before a ChatGPT-Pod or a Grok-Pod comes along that blows these other smart speakers out of the water!

You cannot be Siri?

 

[pugxiwawa]

3, 2, 1 - Everyone acting shocked now.

 

[abatabia]

Apple really needs to stop trying to rush our new stuff and work on the bugs. I’m tired of repeating myself. Take as long as it takes. Fix what is broken now.

 

[turbineseaplane]

A setback for an in development Apple product?
Say it ain't so!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why would Apple rush this out? It’s not like everyone desperately asked for it

Or anyone at all!

 

[GermanSuplex]

Well, at least they didn’t announce this at last year’s WWDC. It’s reporting on an internal project, so as long as they aren’t announcing these projects they’re working on, it’s all discussion on the rumor mill.

I’d much rather them tighten up their mobile device software and Siri.

BTW, that mockup is hilarious. 😂 Definitely not a vision of Ive’s.

 

[jonnyb098]

“Disappointing setback” of an unannounced product no one’s asking for. 🧐

 

[turbineseaplane]

“Disappointing setback” of an unannounced product no one’s asking for. 🧐

An excellent point ... perhaps this is actually good news overall.

Maybe just can the whole thing.

 

[Realityck]

And it's why Tim Cook needs to go. He is half-assing everything in order to ship sooner.

It’s not the guy on top, there are entire teams of staff involved, it more like each of the OS ‘s needs substantially improved updates. As much as any Tim Cook involvement I dare say it’s the whole ship needs to have its software side vs the ARM processor implementation see major improvements. I think the hardware is way improved just its time for all the OS’s to see their turn in the light. Remember all the maladies before next OS showed up with looking for modern multitasking. This makes the WWDC first dev betas something that finally show tangible improvements a must.

 

[goonie4life9]

Folks, Apple skates to where the puck will be, not where the puck is. This revolutionary new product, being developed by the tiny startup Apple, has bleeding-edge features. Some of them just weren’t quite ready to delight customers. So, learning from the original HomePod disaster, in which Apple released a revolutionary product with all the features, leaving no clear upgrade path, Apple is pulling-back some features. This will allow a clear upgrade path for this revolutionary device, ensuring years of growing profits to come.

 

[one more]

I predict a flop, a-la Spotify Car Thing. Who would want a separate Apple gadget just to control their household appliances? Apple could have just improved on their Home software, so folks can control it from any Apple device they already own, an iPhone, an iPad or a Mac.