Apple Could Convey Out a Touchscreen HomePod with AI Options

Apple is claimed to be creating a brand new product – a house accent that can run on a software program variant of tvOS, in keeping with a report. It’s mentioned to be a touchscreen model of the HomePod with shows and cameras, one which has lengthy been rumoured to be in improvement. The gadget is purported to be powered by Apple Intelligence – the iPhone maker’s suite of synthetic intelligence (AI) providers that it launched on the Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) 2024 on June 10.

New HomePod

In a report, MacRumors revealed that it had found a code in Apple’s backend that references a brand new identifier class “HomeAccessory17,1”, which is purported to be a HomePod with a touchscreen show. This means that the gadget could also be powered by the A18 chip – the identical SoC which can also be rumoured to energy your entire upcoming iPhone 16 lineup.

Courtesy of this chipset, the gadget might get Apple Intelligence options. As per the report, this “house accent” is purported to run on a variant of tvOS, the working system of Apple TV. The brand new OS could also be named homeOS, the reference of which was beforehand mentioned to be found in a tvOS 17.four beta which was launched in January.

In April, a tipster with the username Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) leaked a picture of the show cowl of the rumoured upcoming HomePod, suggesting that the gadget might have a touchscreen LCD display screen surrounded by the speaker. It’s purported to show info – reminiscent of media playback controls and incoming notifications.

This improvement builds upon the prediction by TF Securities Worldwide analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who steered that the Cupertino-based tech large might launch a HomePod with a 7-inch touchscreen show in 2024. It was theorised to compete towards units reminiscent of Amazon’s Echo Present and Google’s Nest Hub. On the time, Kuo mentioned that Tianma could be the only real provider of the purported HomePod. Whereas it was speculated to return out in H1 2024, Apple has not launched any comparable gadget up to now.

Nevertheless, there are two Apple occasions nonetheless deliberate for the yr, and the rumoured touchscreen HomePod might but nonetheless launch this yr.