Apple's Smart Home Display to Resemble Iconic iMac G4 Design With Small Square Display

[MacRumors]

Apple has several new smart home products in development, and with rumors about the initial low-cost smart home control device ramping up over the past few months, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has fleshed out a few new details in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter.

MacRumors concept of an iMac G4-like HomePod/smart home device​

According to Gurman, the smart home device is planned to launch sometime next year and will feature a hemispherical base with a small screen positioned at an angle on the base, making it resemble the iconic G4 iMac design from two decades ago.

Following up on previous rumors that the device will include a "squarish" display, Gurman indicates the screen and overall device may be smaller than many have expected, with the screen being "about the size of two iPhones side by side."

The small size is reportedly part of Apple's effort to keep pricing down, allowing users to scatter multiple units in different rooms around the house.

The original iMac G4​

As previously described, the smart home device will run a number of iPad-like apps that make sense for its intended purpose, including FaceTime, Notes, and Calendar, as well serving as a hub for smart home controls and being able to display photo and video slideshows. Gurman says it's "possible" that there will be speakers in the device's base, allowing it to serve as a HomePod-like device as well.

Beyond this initial smart home device, Gurman has previously described a more ambitious product with a larger screen mounted on a robotic arm that would be able to identify users and automatically track them as they move around a room. That higher-end product will likely retail for around $1,000 and won't launch until 2026 at the earliest.

Article Link: Apple's Smart Home Display to Resemble Iconic iMac G4 Design With Small Square Display

 

[SamRyouji]

This thing has to be priced cheaper than an iPad, since an iPad could also double as home hub.

Edit: I didn't realise the new Home Hub architecture does not support the iPad anymore. Feel a bit devastated knowing it, really.

Apple Confirms iPad Will No Longer Be Supported as a Home Hub in iOS 16

The iPad will no longer be able to be used as a home hub following the launch of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and the HomePod 16 software this...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I still have my iMac G4, that was such an awesome design!

Definitely looking forward to Apple releasing this smart home display

I use my HomePod on a daily basis for both music and podcasts so this will be a nice addition to be able to add to my Apple HomeKit set up

 

[pbau]

omg... sci fi 2000's vibes... just do not release this crap apple. work on current software more (and maybe deliver AI as promised) instead on this crappy iPad like for 1000$ that will display temperature in a room... what a joke Apple has become is beyond me

 

[iLuddite]

…Gurman has previously described a more ambitious product with a larger screen mounted on a robotic arm that would be able to identify users and automatically track them as they move around a room.

K*ll it with fire!!!

 

[citysnaps]

I can see Apple introducing a home assistant type product. And it might even have a hemispherical base as a nod to the past iMac G4. Doubtful it would have an articulating arm.

In any case, it will for sure be a successful product.

 

[pbau]

I can see Apple introducing a home assistant type product. And it might even have a hemispherical base as a nod to the past iMac G4. Doubtful it would have an articulating arm.

In any case, it will for sure be a successful product.

Yes, it will be as successful as Apple Vision pro - while great on paper, lack of real world usage will just kill it with time. lol

 

[doelcm82]

This thing has to be priced cheaper than an iPad, since an iPad could also double as home hub.

It will likely be cheaper than some iPads. The advantage of this is that it stays where you put it.

 

[DHagan4755]

This supposed product does not interest me at all. Wouldn't you rather have an iPad instead?

 

[Mr_Ed]

I’m not sure I see the appeal of something like this. Voice assistant products have been around for a long time now, and Apple’s own attempts at similar functionality with speakers relying on Siri have not exactly been stellar. As for Facetime, who wants to get up and go over to where this device is to do that when they can already be wherever they want and use their iPad or iPhone to do that?

 

[citysnaps]

Yes, it will be as successful as Apple Vision pro - while great on paper, lack of real world usage will just kill it with time. lol

It will be priced much less than AVP. And will appeal to people with healthy imaginations. You are correct that people who are cynical with closed minds will probably not be interested and pan it on MR. That's a tradition.

 

[Digital Dude]

Blast from the past may well be successful if they can get it to work. 🤷‍♂️

 

[pbau]

It will also be priced much less than AVP. And will appeal to people with healthy imaginations. You are correct that people who are cynical with closed minds will probably not be interested and pan it on MR.

Sure, you will be able to play your Wheel Of Fortune AAA class game on it while attempting to ask Siri for weather... Go ahead buddy, until the software that Apple is offering does not open up to more developers it will be just a crappy experience (while iOS is great - their HomePods, TVs are just not catching up... i do not even mention the "AI")

 

[jz0309]

Design - like it or not.
Functionality - for those who live home automation, let’s see what it can and cannot do. For people like me who have no investment into any home automation (yet), this product if it comes to market has no value/interest

 

[tonywalker23]

The first Mac that I remember seeing in person as an adult. College bookstore. Blew me away. Ended up getting a PowerBook 12”. have an iMac g4 in my living room today. As a middle age man longing for the good ol days, I miss those hardware designs and the aqua interface.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

I have zero confidence in Apple's ability to do anything useful with something like this.

I don't do "always listening" mics, I don't do cameras inside my house. I've got old iPhones strategically placed around the house as lighting control panels, I don't talk to them.

 

[Mr_Ed]

It will be priced much less than AVP. And will appeal to people with healthy imaginations. You are correct that people who are cynical with closed minds will probably not be interested and pan it on MR. That's a tradition.

I chuckle every time I see the critics’ “lack of imagination” thrown around.

Requires imagination to see a use for it = no practical commercial use case

Simple as that.

 

[XboxEvolved]

The iMac G4 is one of the best designed products ever, period. So if it is basically like a baby version of that, I'll buy it. I can't wait for this product!

 

[EugW]

Undoubtedly, it will do away with the G4 iMac's articulating arm. So, that sounds like a Google Nest Hub with a differently shaped base.

I'll just use my old iPad Air 2 for that purpose for now.

 

[benface]

I've got old iPhones strategically placed around the house as lighting control panels

I think it’s safe to say that this would be considered unconventional. lol

 

[DaniTheFox]

The newly introduced device must incorporate a minimum of a 10 gigabyte Ethernet port. This feature facilitates the connection to your internet router, thereby establishing a seamless Wi-Fi 7 mesh system.

Furthermore, the device should support the latest Bluetooth technology, enabling effortless connectivity with your AirPods and other devices. This seamless handover between devices is further enhanced by the inclusion of a microphone and speaker for FaceTime sessions. This and the camera will automatically transition between room with you.

Power supply should be provided via USB-PD (Power Delivery). DP (DisplayPort) facilitat the connection to a biger screen for Apple Music, Apple TV, and mirroring the display of your device. Do we still need a additional HDMI port?

 

[DarthDon]

Apple invented the brnd-new jelly-pad home...

 

[Think|Different]

This thing has to be priced cheaper than an iPad, since an iPad could also double as home hub.

But it can’t. An iPad can’t be a hub.

 

[GuilleA]

So, an iPad mini mounted on top of a HomePod mini

 

[GuilleA]

But it can’t. An iPad can’t be a hub.

It used to be, they decided to make us purchase an Apple TV or HomePod instead.