We’re approaching Apple’s “Welcome Home” launch event, where numerous smart home-related announcements are anticipated. We expect refreshes to Apple TV and HomePod Mini, along with a completely new smart home hub. There might also be a first look at a new platform called homeOS, and some partner devices from LG.
What we probably won’t see is the long-rumored touchscreen MacBook, which Cupertino insider Mark Gurman says will debut later this month.
“Welcome Home” officially begins in New York on October 13th at 9AM ET. Here’s what we expect to see.
A Proper Smart Home Hub
Until now, Apple has mainly relied on the Home app to manage all the different components of your smart home. However, it’s a market segment the company has been keen to address more thoroughly.
The new device, which might be named HomePad, HomeView, or simply Apple Home Hub, is said to include a 6-inch square touchscreen that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table or countertop. According to Mark Gurman, the countertop version will somewhat resemble the iMac G4, with the display attached to an arm positioned in a half sphere.
It will also reportedly use voice or facial recognition to determine who is interacting with it, displaying relevant contacts, calendar appointments, and more. Apple will provide the option for secondary authentication via an iPhone to keep personal information more secure. This entire system is expected to operate on a new software platform called…
homeOS
The company may have filed a trademark for the name through
Apple’s upcoming smart home hub represents a major step in their ecosystem expansion.