In this weekend’s Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg outlined some additional details for Apple’s upcoming smart home products, and it seems likely that there’ll be a throwback to one of Apple’s beloved computers – the iMac G4.
Apple has long been expected to be working on a smart home display, and it’s currently on track to ship early next year. This device will also be Apple’s first smart home product to support Apple Intelligence, and will feature the A18 chip.
According to Gurman, it will feature a relatively small screen, about the size of two iPhones placed side by side, with a square aspect ratio. The product will likely be relatively cheap and easy to spread across your household, making Apple’s upcoming homeOS operating system pretty accessible.
Gurman also mentions that Apple’s new homeOS will run apps like FaceTime, Notes, and Calendar, describing it as “well-suited” for video and photo slideshows.
Additionally, he says it’s possible that the base will include speakers, making the smart home display into more of a HomePod with display.
Top comment by Burner Account
If Apple had not shut down their AirPort line of WiFi routers, they could be adding mesh network nodes into their HomePods and these new devices, and it would be a great replacement for Eero (now owned by Amazon) or other mesh networks. Feels like a real missed opportunity.
However, the most interesting part of all is a smaller design tidbit that Gurman emphasized:
The screen is positioned at an angle on a small base, making it reminiscent of the circular bottom of the iMac G4 from a couple of decades ago.
It sounds like the upcoming Apple smart home display will be a nice throwback for Apple fans, many of whom have always wanted to see that retro iMac design make a comeback.
What do you think of Apple’s upcoming smart home display? Will you be buying one? Let us know in the comments.
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