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The hero image here basically reflects the only thing anyone can ever think of in terms of a purpose for this device, beyond things like recipes while cooking and FaceTime.

It's a vanishingly small group of people that have taken to making dedicated Home controllers out of old iPads. They are definitely not a big enough market for Apple.

Despite having over 50+ accessories in Apple Home, I don't see the need for such a product. My smart home is setup correctly, where everything has a real world analog and the smarts are obfuscated. I don't need software controls on the wall or the counter for people to figure out how to operate my home.
 
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I have an iPhone and an iPad. I have the former with me most times, and it can do everything that this product would likely be able to do. Pass.
Of course, but just like other common capabilities, Apple will limit core functionality to their newest member of the ecosystem. It’ll be interesting how they try and differentiate this potential device from the iPad and build a wall between the os/software functionality of the two. $899-$1499 would have to be justified somehow. The interoperability officials in the EU should love this product.
 
This is what I was thinking. Best Buy is full of home tech now, but nothing from Apple.
They're missing Ubiquity too though. And their Hue selection is abysmal, at best. Like, yeah, they have a lot of stuff, but for the most part it feels like low quality and high prices, where as I'd rather buy high quality at slightly higher prices. It's a much better bang for my buck, IMO.
 
I am one of them.

I've seen smart home displays at my friend's and neighbor's home, and they make a good of sense in frequently occupied common areas like the kitchen and family room. Controlling smart home devices without a voice command and getting an at-a-glance information (e.g., timer, family calendar) like Apple Watches, but with a larger screen that can be shared with anyone, can be incredibly useful.

When I am home, I don't want to have a phone in my pocket. I want to put it on my charger and not bother with it.

LCDs have become a common component, even in inexpensive chargers. Apple has explored this idea with widgets, which could be adapted for "HomePad" (I really hope it won't be called that).
Wouldn’t an iPad with a stand (or double-sided tape ;) ) cover your needs?

The ‘HomePad’ feels like a solution hoping for a problem.
 
I just wish that Apple would stop copying existing Windows and Google products like the Google Home Hub. Or the Samsung Fold-a-phone.

STOP PLAYING CATCH UP AND GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW AND "INSANELY GREAT!"
 
I feel like it is more likely that they just announce more HomeKit APIs or additions to try to foster more devs and companies to start using it more with the intention to perhaps add this product down the road.
 
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I am one of them.

I've seen smart home displays at my friend's and neighbor's home, and they make a good of sense in frequently occupied common areas like the kitchen and family room. Controlling smart home devices without a voice command and getting an at-a-glance information (e.g., timer, family calendar) like Apple Watches, but with a larger screen that can be shared with anyone, can be incredibly useful.

When I am home, I don't want to have a phone in my pocket. I want to put it on my charger and not bother with it.

LCDs have become a common component, even in inexpensive chargers. Apple has explored this idea with widgets, which could be adapted for "HomePad" (I really hope it won't be called that).
I just can't get behind the idea that you actually need readily available software controls for Home, and the devices you already have aren't enough.

- In my smart home, 99% of things are preprogrammed to do what they're supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it. There is very little need for manual operation.
- What little manual operation is done, is done via the hardware controls that exist around the home for such things. Lights should be operated by light switches, which is why things like smart bulbs are not sufficient home automation.
- The microscopic use case left over after all that, is served by a call to a Home Pod, or to an Apple Watch.

I could have long ago built in a dedicated kitchen iPad for the kind of thing you think you need, and its just so far from being necessary that I haven't. If your smart home is built correctly, this is definitely the most unnecessary addition to it. Its certainly not a critical piece at the heart of it.
 
A solution in search of a problem.

If Apple launches this as an "exciting new product," it will be proof that the end is near for Apple.
 
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What we really need a change to iOS to allow multiple users on a single iPad, or a variant of AppleID login so you could have a "user-less" iPad in the home for the whole family to use as a remote/ smart home hub etc.
 
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I can't see the point. Siri listens to what I say. My phone is always in your pocket, my watch on my wrist. Why do I need to walk up to a device to touch the screen to get it do what m existing devices already do ?
Same here. If my kids (who don't have devices) want to turn on lights, they can darn well ask me!
 
Remember, Apple skates to where the puck will be, not where the puck is. As a tiny startup on the bleeding edge, Apple seeks to create products customers don't even know they need but fall in love with, all over again.
Hope I am missing the sarcasm....

There are plenty of stuff like those already, are they skating where the puck already was?
 
Wouldn’t an iPad with a stand (or double-sided tape ;) ) cover your needs?

The ‘HomePad’ feels like a solution hoping for a problem.
With the right software, an iPad would cover my needs. But that software would need to recognize different people so that different members of my family could access different sets of controls, and visitors could access basic controls.

I'm hopeful that the HomePad (or whatever it's called) will be able to manage individual and family tasks and calendars, even for those who don't have a device in their pocket all the time, but allow those of us who do have iPhones to manage them there also.

I don't know if Apple is building the exact thing I want, but I'm interested in seeing what they offer. I'm holding off on buying competing products that might not integrate as smoothly with the devices I already have.
 
I could see this form factor being similar to this from Ubiquiti but with a bigger screen:

Unifi Dream Wall
 

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They will want something to differentiate it from the usual naming convention, something along the lines of " Jeeves " if anyone is as ancient as myself and remembers that far back.

Ah, Jeeves! But, dollars to donuts, you're referring to the online service, “Ask Jeeves”, from back in the late 1990s.

That is, to that rather than to the original — and the reason they named the service that — Bertie Wooster's sage butler, Jeeves, the “gentleman's gentleman”, from the wonderful P.G. Wodehouse novels from the early 20th century!

See


and

 
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I love all tech but for some reason I’ve never bought cctv or alarms before. If Apple did a range of cameras and alarms all linked into their eco system including this rumour I’d def be up for buying it.
 
I can't see the point. Siri listens to what I say. My phone is always in your pocket, my watch on my wrist. Why do I need to walk up to a device to touch the screen to get it do what m existing devices already do ?
I wish Siri would listen to me! I find it so hit and miss for basic things like call my wife etc.. it seems to take a few tries to get it to acknowledge me
 
I feel like Apple CAN'T preview this next week if they're apparently avoiding any announcements that aren't *definitely* ready to demo. And if Apple Intelligence and Siri are indefinitely in the oven still, the HomePad (working title) is technically a product that can't be demoed. Sure you have the new OS for it but will that be enough to wow everyone? I doubt it.
 
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