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Apple's Upcoming Home Hub Could Include 'Robotic Swiveling Base'

roklanhavok said:
I hope there is something robotic. Once Apple takes that first step we're on a fast track to a serious working robot.
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There’s already a host of companies leagues ahead in that department. Insert Gemini’s world models in them and bam, we’re en route to “Companion”.
 
jdavid_rp said:
I still think this should be just a base accessory for iPads, so you can get the “display” you want and let the base do the “AI things”. It could still work as a HomePod without screen and then just request an iPad when needing to show things.

Also it would lower the price and make it more interesting for people that already owns an iPad. But surely apple sales team knows better.
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I think google tried this with a low powered iPad-type with a speaker dock. If I remember correctly, it didn’t resonate with the public.
 
... this is just the beginning. In a few years, everyone will be playing around with all kinds of "AI Tamagotchis".
 
jdavid_rp said:
I still think this should be just a base accessory for iPads, so you can get the “display” you want and let the base do the “AI things”. It could still work as a HomePod without screen and then just request an iPad when needing to show things.

Also it would lower the price and make it more interesting for people that already owns an iPad. But surely apple sales team knows better.
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I personally think if it is meant as a home hub, that the difference to an iPad on the wall will be sensory data. For a home hub I would expect some sensors for temperature and similar. I think a static position will help with the user pattern prediction.

If it gives me based on machine learning the relevant widgets to control my home, I can see them replace most light switches. Enabeling music and home control (lights, solar, car charging).
 
As an investor it concerns me that Apple seem to really be struggling to get anything new to market while their competitors leave them behind (and no I don’t count the latest iterations of iPhone). This home hub is something so fundamentally simple but something that would greatly benefit HomeKit that I’m astonished it’s taking them so long.
 
kalsta said:
I don’t like the way cars are going either—would never buy a car that phones home to tell the company where and how I’m driving. Not an issue with my rusty old ute. 😄



Interesting. I can see why that might be useful—avoiding that network of tangled cords one has to keep from touching anything hot. Overall though, I like to keep things simple and repairable.
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In many ways you’re not wrong.
 
I really don't understand this idea. All they have to do is make an iPad Home app that isn't crap and the problem is solved.

Why make a static device when we already have the iPad?
 
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Plutonius said:
A swiveling base ?

And people claim that Apple can't innovate /S 🙂.
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Sounds like the nomi assistant in those Nio cars:

NOMI – World’s first in-vehicle artificial intelligence - Blog | NIO

In the past, cars gave people the freedom of mobility. In the future, we believe cars will go one step further to free people from driving altogether, giving them the newfound freedom of time.
www.nio.com www.nio.com

Interesting but seeing reviews showing it in action, it seems annoying.
 
theinstructor said:
They cannot even get the Home app functions to work well as it is, now they need this? No. They need to fix their crap.
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For sure.

My HKSV is slow as molasses. My thermomstat and TRV's turn themselves on and off when they want. My air purifier turns itself up when I ask for it to be turned off. I ask for lighting to be turned off at night and Siri (without fail) replies that something has gone wrong. And this only on my top floor. Not any other floors and I have 2x HomePods on each floor for stereo and HK.

It makes me wonder, ponder and realise that I clearly bought into the Star Trek myth of smart home automation too early, and it was most definitely the wrong ecosystem.

What irks me the most. It used to work a lot better than it currently does.

Siri is awful.

Why would I trust this to a new device that (until proved otherwise) will continue to do the same things...?

It's embarrassing. In fact, I'm embarrassed for Apple for continuing to gaslight us with this *ollocks!
 
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Tech companies need to come down from the mountains..the clouds are obstructing your view.

We don't need whizbang stuff. We need functional devices and software to manage our increasingly busier and costlier lives.

At some point we don't need WOW factor we need "It just works" to be the prime directive. Glasses with cameras, VR and ancillary items that don't improve the lives of the masses.

AI is nice but don't go overboard. We not paying your VC debt ...we have our own to manage.
 
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If they charge $1000 for a simple metal stand, I can only imagine how much this is going to cost.
 
kalsta said:
Ah, you're highlighting my ignorance of other brands. 🙈😄

Okay, that makes sense now. Wait, no it doesn't. Why would someone want a ‘hub’ that is basically an iPad locked to a big paperweight? I remember when the Mac was Apple’s ‘Digital Hub’—but then iCloud eventually stole that honour.
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At-a-glance things like a shared house calendar, weather and news. That said, mark my words. If they have an announcement video there will be someone using it in a pristine kitchen while cooking, with a recipe on one side and a video playing on the other, with the video pausing to let them know to take something out of the oven.
 
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Why can't we have a wall version and I'd be fine even providing my own touch screen that it connects to. 6" and 7" are too small to really display a variety of things. I mean, the hub should have Calendar, Reminders and allow a few apps. Don't care about a robotic arm. More things to break.
 
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