Apple’s next frontier likely to be ‘homeOS’ running two new smart display products

Apple’s next frontier could be ‘homeOS’ running two new smart display products, according to Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman, one of which may be an iPad-like display on a self-actuating robotic arm.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
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Apple is taking another crack at the smart home market — an area where it’s had mixed results so far. As I’ve discussed before, the most significant product in development is a tabletop device code-named J595 that combines a robotic limb with a large, iPad-like display. It’s also working on one dubbed J490, a low-end smart display for using FaceTime and controlling home appliances.

The latter product is slated to be launched as early as next year. And it could ultimately be the lower-end companion to the robotic device, which may cost $1,000 or more. The Apple Intelligence tools will be at the heart of both products, helping the company bring AI into the home. Its current home lineup — the Apple TV, HomePod and HomePod mini — doesn’t have the hardware needed to run AI models on the devices themselves.

Beyond adding Apple Intelligence, these new products will run a new operating system called homeOS. This move follows Apple’s playbook: Each of its major hardware categories has its own operating system — a variation of macOS or iOS. Apple TV already has software called tvOS, and this will be the basis for homeOS. I expect both of the operating systems to ultimately get combined and run on every Apple home device.

Both of the new products are considered collaborations between Apple’s artificial intelligence and home device hardware engineering groups. The low-end smart display is designed to run apps like Calendar, Notes and Home, and will include an interface optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information.

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MacDailyNews Take: We’re hoping “HomePad” can bring real Apple Intelligence features to simple things like playing the user’s desired tracks correctly via Siri – something with which HomePod struggles, sometimes mightily – along with more complex, real time-saving innovations.

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