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Bloomberg: Future HomePod May Feature iPad Connected Via Robotic Arm to Track Users Around The Room During FaceTime Calls
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Between this story and the other one about the multi-function Apple TV rumor, either someone at Bloomberg is partaking of some really good drugs or someone at Apple is doing the same.
Apple might have tested out a product with a robotic arm but there's no way they'll ever release that.
Apple is (in)famous for removing moving parts, buttons and ports. They will release a product that utilizes a camera with a spherical lens or just multiple, stationary cameras on the product before ever going into having anything actually move around and follow you.
Even just having the camera swivel in place would introduce so much room for failure and tons of repairs.
These rumors are just fodder for the news-cycle and have next to no thought behind them.
Apple is (in)famous for removing moving parts, buttons and ports. They will release a product that utilizes a camera with a spherical lens or just multiple, stationary cameras on the product before ever going into having anything actually move around and follow you.
Even just having the camera swivel in place would introduce so much room for failure and tons of repairs.
These rumors are just fodder for the news-cycle and have next to no thought behind them.
Actually, when they were talking about a HomePod with a screen - this is what I was thinking of. The base would be the speaker, and on the arm would be something like a full sized iPad or an 12.9" iPad Pro. iPad mini could work - I've seen those mockups of a HomePod mini stretched out with the screen - but how's that going to work for video calls?
Easily my favorite Mac design ever. Loved my iMac G4!!
I was going to say that this idea seems a bit frivolous, given so many people already have iPhones that can be used for FaceTime calls, but then I got to thinking about how it would be nice in the kitchen to not have to hold the iPhone (or iPad) to do calls with friends / family. It could also be an interesting solution for work related calls where you need to have your hands free while doing some action that isn't stationery.
I assume so as well. Most people are getting lost in the “robotic arm” aspect of the rumor, which leads to plenty of jokes and mock-ups.
However I believe the rumor is just poorly-worded and the Apple device would be very similar to this Belkin. A more appropriate description would probably be “iPad stand that rotates to follow the user via face tracking.”
Why a robotic arm? The Xbox One Kinect could zoom in on whoever was talking in a wide angle video call of your living room over Skype. It actually worked really well.
Literally makes no sense.
My Apple TV is buried behind the TV, like so many. It isn't a centerpiece. And it can't be one since it has bulky power cables and HDMI to run to the TV.
My Apple TV is buried behind the TV, like so many. It isn't a centerpiece. And it can't be one since it has bulky power cables and HDMI to run to the TV.
