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The MacRumors Show: Apple's Mysterious Home Accessory

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors surrounding Apple's "Home Accessory" product, which could launch as soon as next year.


Apple's work on an iPad-like smart home display product has been reported for over a year. It is expected to serve as a smart home hub with features adopted from the ‌iPad‌, HomePod, and the Apple TV, such as video playback and AirPlay. Apple's backend code suggests it will feature the A18 chip and run a variant of tvOS like the HomePod, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says it will support Apple Intelligence and run Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, with an interface "optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information."


The latest rumors suggest that it could have a "squarish display" to distinguish it from the iPad, along with a built-in camera for FaceTime, detecting hand gestures, and determining different users for personalized requests. The new device could launch as soon as next year. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about first impressions of the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Mysterious Home Accessory
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/04/the-macrumors-show-mysterious-home-accessory/
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I agree they need to revitalize TVOS. For the last few years I've felt like the Apple TV was Apple's best device, but TVOS really doesn't get much love. I would love to see a merging of home and TVOS and just make it a whole lot stronger. Not only that, but put the home app on the Apple TV itself, so I can update the speakers that are connected to said Apple TV (Homepod) from TVOS itself.
 
Just guessing that this thing will meet the same fate as the Apple Car. Or maybe the Newton.

But I'm also convinced that there's a different "insanely great" product or service in the pipeline. That's always been the case, and no one went broke investing in Apple for the long term.
 
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I would welcome an iPad-like screen that could display selected calendar/to-do information for multiple users (i.e., not be tied to a particular iCloud account only), could control home accessories and serve as a HomeKit hub, and could provide various bits of information via "complications" or something similar, but without the iPad interface or apps. It would need to be cleanly wall or stand mountable with the ability to get power from the back rather than a cable plugged in from one side. Multiple size options would be needed (including big ones), as families have different space requirements for such a device.
 
I imagine a wireless device that has a charging dock that works as a stand or base.

Not being able to pick it up and wander around, take to the couch, down the hall to the family room to look at while the "hub" is in the living room or on the kitchen sideboard, would be a design fail... IMHO. iPad sets the form factor squarely in my imagination of what is the right physical object.

^--- Multiple calendar view, to-do lists.... a great idea there, bluespark.

However, I like the idea of having iOS underneath and accessible if the easy-use interface is too simplistic for some users and they want to be able to "swipe" it out of the way.
 
Apples "smart home" is so lack lustre compared to Zigbee I have given up on it,
The "specs" for matter are so lacking that you can not control fan speed on an aircon, or set defrost cycles etc etc etc.

I can get high quality zigbee stuff from Schneider and other electrical manufacturers.

Hubitat has so much greater ability, flexibility than "home" its a no contest situation.

Apple now has no presence in the networking market, server market both of which would have helped Matter etc.
I have been running OSX server for 10 years on 2012 Mac Minis, but I have bought RaspberryPi units to start migration to more modern systems for DNS, DHCP, Print Sharing, Calendar, File sharing, Media server, VPN, etc, and NO I don NOT want "cloud" systems where I loose ownership and privacy along with forever increasing subscription costs and the propriety lock-ins with the risk of data mining, advert injection, etc etc etc.

I have been a Mac user for 40 years, I have Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple TV, iWatch, iPods, Airport, etc etc etc.
But with all the IP based devices in the house now that are non Apple I simply need to upgrade and Apple has zero in the market. That means I will be shifting a lot of other things, Media will go to Jellyfin, I already have a 3rd party FTP server, Hubitat, RAID systems, etc.
 
Reminds how great a design G4 iMac was. Return to form! Bring back G4 iMac design into the modern era with a chin-less, floating iMac display with prominent, professional quality speaker and Mac Studio style front port area.

AIO iMac with professional speakers encompassing much of the visible foot surface, with front located ports seamlessly integrated as part of a seamless, domed speaker design housing the computer. In addition to rear ports such as ethernet, several more Thunderbolt, and a built-in PSU (external power supplies suck).

24" and 30", height adjustable, weighted foot as prominent, large speaker, floating thin display, beautiful design. Give iMac personality again!

Example (should be macOS; no chin cleans up desk area; speaker design disguises fan ventilation holes):

Screenshot 2024-10-04 at 19.15.57.png
 
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I’m not sure how I feel if it looks like the old iMac. I guess I want a forward looking Apple rather than one doing victory laps.
 
I find myself in agreement with Hartley regarding the upcoming computer release being largely boring aside from the mild interest of a redesigned Mac mini. Adding a 6 month old chip to some of their computers with zero built up interest around it as anything more than an iterative update just isn't something that needs more than a press release.
 
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Nice! You guys got me thinking. I think you are both off. The home accessory that we are getting soon is a soundbar Apple TV combo. With the A18 chip, it is also Apple's return to the Apple Pippen. In other words, it is a gaming console and TV with importantly (!) speakers and a camera. The square screen is just a postage stamp thing with a touch "on/off" button, I would bet; something Apple's description did to confuse us and their competitors. Think about this, you get home and ask it to turn on. You ask it for the weather and news as you make dinner. Mom FaceTimes you in the middle of this and you talk to her using the camera, displayed on the television. After dinner you sit down to watch a tv show in a form of surround sound with your two HomePod IIs behind you and this accessory sitting under the tv in front of you. You change channels by moving your right arm. You increase the volume with your left. You switch to a game and get up and play golf by moving a la Kinect. At bedtime, you ask it for it your calendar for tomorrow and then shut it down with a voice command. It is Apple's great move to take over the living room. All of the pieces are already there. They just need this to work it. Probably looking at $350-400 price tag. If Apple is smart and you guys were talking about this, they should low ball the price.
 
Another product by Apple looking to fill a need that DOESN'T exist.

U have your, iPhone, iPad, iMac, AppleTV and HomePod and Siri. Why would you need something like this in the kitchen to check your calendar or the weather? Or like many people you could just turn on the real TV u have in the kitchen and check the news, sports weather etc.

BTW @Dan Barbera @Hartley I listen/watch the show each week but today you turned a 5 min discussion into a torturous 1/2 hr. Kind of reminds me how Tim drags everything out at Apple events trying to kill 1.5 to 2hrs with 30 min worth of substantive product announcements.

Product development needs a spark real soon. And I returned my iPhone 16Pro yesterday. I’m keeping my 15 Pro.
 
This is a serious question from my side - why would anyone wan't this?
I can't see what need this fills that isn't filled with a regular Mac. Except from the swivelling display...
If it's a home hub, do you wan't one in every room, or would you move it around? Then an iPhone/iPad seems more convenient.
 
I just want a good standby mode for the iPad so I can repurpose my older iPads. Then sell different accessories/stands for it. Yes, I know that isn't what we are going to get as Apple would rather you buy a new/different device to make more money.
 
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