Apple is working on new home devices that could include a series of 'Smart Displays' and a more sophisticated Hybrid HomePod-Apple TV Device
Early this morning, Apple announced that its taking orders starting today for their updated full size HomePod that will begin shipping on Friday February 3. According to a new Bloomberg report this afternoon, the revised full sized HomePod is just the beginning a new wave of possible devices for the home that are in-the-works.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, "Apple Inc. is working on a slate of devices aimed at challenging Amazon.com Inc. and Google in the smart-home market, including new displays and a faster TV set-top box, after relaunching its larger HomePod speaker.
The push into smart displays is reportedly aimed at competing with Google's Nest Hub Smart Display, Amazon's Echo Show and others. Apple may start with an iPad with limited functionality to control smart home devices like thermostats lights, show video, handle FaceTime chats and more. The product could be mounted on walls or elsewhere using magnetic fasteners. Other plans on the table includes a more sophisticated pro version of a smart display.
Gurman further points out that Apple may be working on a more advanced Apple TV box powered by a faster processor.
Lastly, Gurman notes that Apple has been working on a long-anticipated product that would combine their TV box with a smart speaker and FaceTime camera. For more on this, read the full Bloomberg report.
For the record, Apple filed a patent back in April 2020 for an advanced HomePod with a FaceTime camera that could recognize faces at a much further distance than it can today. The next-gen HomePod will also be designed to work with Siri to control home devices as noted in a series of Apple patent figures below.
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