Apple searches for firm hand to guide its AI smart home into market – Will work with smart home devices and require AI at the center though doing that will offer challenges for Apple.
According to inside sources, known only as ‘J490’, it’s due to hit the market by the end of 2018 and take the way we all do smart home to a whole new level.
This new hub, which looks like a cube-shaped, 7-inch tablet (more or less) on a stand, with a touch interface, is supposed to serve as a central command center for all of them.
It will be able to work with Apple’s HomeKit system and will likely work with the company’s new collection of AI features, all of which are known as Apple Intelligence.
The integration will allow users to control smart appliances, security systems, and entertainment devices with intuitive voice commands made possible by a more advanced version of Siri.
One of the most intriguing aspects about the latest smart home hub is its impressive front-facing camera. It’s not clear what those capabilities are beyond basic video calling features FaceTime, though the camera is rumored to include robust AI-based capabilities.
Those could be smart person detection for more intelligent security alerts, facial recognition for tailored home automation, and perhaps even gesture control.
The device should also come with speakers built-in for audio communication and entertainment.
The hub’s software is said to be a shiny new operating system, currently calling itself ‘homeOS’, which is a mix of watchOS and iOS’s StandBy mode.
This interface will include a customizable home screen for widgets or quick access to controls, a dock for launching different apps.
Though a custom app store is not believed to be ready in time for a launch, Safari, Apple Music, News, Notes, Calendar, and Photos would all come pre-packaged.
Also, Apple is said to be working on modular expansion accessories for the hub, such as wall mounts and speaker docks, for you to place around the house as you see fit.
There’s also talk of a higher-end version, has been dubbed the J595, that might pack a robotic arm to not simply move its display into whatever position suits, but also to track where your face is looking, which could also allow holographic like projections, but this isn’t expected to see the light of day until 2026 or beyond.
It’s an announcement that reflects Apple’s determination to enter the increasingly crowded smart home market, which is currently being led by Amazon and Google. By incorporating sophisticated AI and camera capabilities into an easy-to-use hub,
Apple’s pushing for smart home adoption that’s cohesive and intelligent, thus further entrenching itself in the connected living room.
No official pricing has been unveiled, but industry analysts believe the company is likely to pursue an aggressive pricing strategy to grab market share.