We’re just two short days away from Apple’s upcoming “Welcome Home” launch event in New York City, and the rumor mill is working overtime.
The latest news about what to expect comes from Bloomberg’s own Apple correspondent, Mark Gurman, whose recent newsletter anticipates some exciting new announcements in the smart home space, where Apple has been floundering for more than 10 years since the release of its HomeKit software in 2014.
While major rivals like Google purchased Nest Labs, makers of the most popular smart thermostat, and Amazon purchased Ring, a popular smart home security company famous for its video doorbells, Apple struggled to find a grip on the market, and its rare attempts, like the short-lived HomePod smart speaker released in 2018, were rare financial failures for a company accustomed to always hitting home runs.
That all changes this coming Tuesday, according to Gurman, who expects Apple to unveil “a ready-made ecosystem and a full lineup of devices designed to work together,” anchored to the smart home hub called HomeView. Available in both free-standing and wall-mounted varieties, HomeView is alleged to boast a vibrant display and advanced voice control features powered by an A18 chip, but it’s not meant to serve as a standalone device. Rather, Gurman expects Apple to use the HomeView as an anchor point for a vast array of third-party accessories, including doorbells and smart locks, made in partnership with LG.
MacRumors also expects Apple to announce a partnership with the leading home security company ADT, though the specifics of what that would entail remain entirely speculative.
As part of their more comprehensive approach to the smart home, Apple is also expected to unveil updates to Apple TV, which has been untouched for the last two years, with everything from built-in microphones for better Siri integration to a more advanced chip and greater color variety, according to Gurman.
While official release dates are as yet unknown, Gurman has a great track record for predictions and expects both the updated Apple TV and the new HomePod to ship to customers and arrive in stores on Oct. 30, right before Halloween.
Source: https://mashable.com/tech/apple-returns-to-smart-home-ecosystem-with-upcoming-welcome-home-event
