First Plans for Apple's Tabletop Robot Spotted in Supply Chain

[MacRumors]

Apple's rumored tabletop robot has been spotted in its global supply chain for the first time, Taiwan's United Daily News reports.

Apple has apparently chosen Hongzhun to play a critical role in the development of the forthcoming device. Specifically, the supplier will be responsible for developing key mechanical components and casings for the tabletop robot. Once the product moves into mass production, Hongzhun will be tasked with producing the mechanical parts on a large scale. Hongzhun is a subsidiary of Foxconn, a longstanding manufacturing partner of Apple.

At its most recent shareholders' meeting, Hongzhun announced its intention to invest in emerging technologies such as robotics and AI, signaling a move away from its traditional focus on producing casings for laptops and game consoles. Hongzhun has prior experience in assembling Foxconn's own "FoxBot" robot.

Apple's robot project, reportedly code-named J595 internally, is described by Bloomberg as a desktop device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm. It is designed to serve as a central hub in Apple's smart home ecosystem, integrating with other Apple products and services like Siri, and run a variant of iPadOS. It could be introduced as soon as 2026, with an estimated price tag of approximately $1,000.

Article Link: First Plans for Apple's Tabletop Robot Spotted in Supply Chain

 

[iMac The Knife]

Apple Robot, more like Apple NObot.

 

[ersan191]

Can we really call this a robot?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Still think when this thing ends up actually being released, it’s just going to be a HomePod stand you connect an iPad to.
If the screen is actually built-in and not removable… That’s basically just a small iMac. Or a significantly under utilized stationary iPad.

 

[Stenik]

We don't need gimmicks. Can Apple make Apple great again?

 

[bradman83]

I would very much like a smart home hub similar to the Echo Show or Nest Hub, something that provides a simple interface to control smart home devices and shows me customizable, relevant information from other apps in my Apple ecosystem (weather, calendar appointments, reminders, etc.). Basically a HomePod with a nice display that runs a stripped down version of iPadOS.

This sounds like an over-engineered mess of a product and a $999 price tag is a non-starter for me when competing smart displays are literally a quarter the price at the high end. I’m genuinely curious to know what Apple’s thought process is behind this robotic arm, because unless it can get dinner started for me I don’t see the value proposition for that price point.

 

[Ramchi]

Another display, another console adding to the existing eWastes!

 

[chadtheartist]

The render looks like the 2002 iMac.

 

[jblank]

Good lord, who wants this? Come on Apple.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

HomePod with a screen. Stop calling it a robot to try to make it sound cool. It's interesting, not cool.

 

[al256]

I've been racking my brain trying to think of something that would sell me on this. Rewind the clock and go back to the Ironman movies. Make a Jarvis that's a hub and personal assistant. Find ways to make life easier. Is the washer done running? No problem, just buy this Apple electric plug-in and set it as a washer. Is the dryer done running? No problem, maybe just buy the three-pack of Apple power monitors instead. Let me talk to Jarvis and create accessories that compliment my life. Tell me if the garage door is open after an hour.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

The render looks like the 2002 iMac.

View attachment 2407420

The render includes a stand Apple have charged $1,000 for before.

 

[coffeemilktea]

So is this like a... HomePod: Robotic Arm Edition...? 🤔

 

[one more]

What’s the point? iPad-like screen, iPadOS-like OS, can’t Apple just keep developing their Home software to work seamlessly from any Apple device?

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Central hub in the Apple smarthome system. Now it’s coming together. Makes sense. Nice

 

[MBAir2010]

ROBU!

 

[Analog Kid]

Would this be Apple's first product with motorized parts? Other than the optical drive trays made by drive makers they integrated, I can't think of anything else.

I'm a bit skeptical about this concept, but I'm also aware that Apple rarely puts anything out that's as poorly thought out as people are expecting this to be.

 

[Kylo83]

Let’s all be honest it’s just gonna be an iPad Pro on a stand nothing special but more expensive even tho it’s less portable

 

[Jay Tee]

Pretty ugly. Doubt it.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple's robot project, reportedly code-named J595 internally, is described by Bloomberg as a desktop device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm. It is designed to serve as a central hub in Apple's smart home ecosystem, integrating with other Apple products and services like Siri, and run a variant of iPadOS.

In the simplest of terms, it's a device desgined to get people to subscribe to Apple services. That's the only segment within Apple that's actually growing by a meaningful amount each year and with the highest of margins.

 

[HelmetFire]

The render looks like the 2002 iMac.

View attachment 2407420

We know.

 

[HelmetFire]

The "ProBot" will come with 8Gb Ram and 256GB storage. Only $1999.

 

[scrapesleon]

please cancel this and go back to producing the car

 

[dominiongamma]

Apple is losing its focus on what customers want

 

[klasma]

This would be better: