HomeView: Apple’s new home hub in two versions
After a long wait, Apple has its new home device ready. This adds a new product line after the Apple Watch. However, EU citizens will need to be patient.
Apple’s HomeView – square, but also practical?
(Image: Apple)
Apple has, as expected, presented its new smart home hub, the so-called HomeView. On the company’s website, the device is presented along with a short video. The standard model of the HomeView features a 7-inch square display that sits on a speaker base and looks a bit like a “lampshade” iMac G4. A second variant, a model for wall mounting, is also offered.
Initially not for the European Union
The wall model comes without a speaker base (but a midrange driver likely remains in the housing) and requires a mount that is not included in the packaging. Both models will be offered for $299. However, the hardware will not be available in the EU initially. Instead, the device will launch first in Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India, with pre-orders starting today and delivery by November 13th. The hardware will also come to Singapore, but with pre-orders starting October 15th.
The Apple HomeView relies on control via Siri AI but also has a touchscreen. Apple is using a liquid-retina display based on an LCD. Familiar Apple apps such as News, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, or “Find My” are on board, as is, of course, smart home control via HomeKit. The device can access the user’s personal context, as is known from Siri AI on the iPhone. The speaker base is said to deliver better sound than Apple’s HomePod mini. An integrated camera can recognize the user.
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Display for Bedroom and Living Room
The display is said to achieve up to 500 nits, making it easily readable even in bright rooms. With integrated color adjustment (True Tone), it can also dim down to 0.3 nits, for example, for use on a nightstand. Each user in the house should receive a personalized experience. For this purpose, there are personalized home screens with apps and widgets. However, there is no App Store initially; Apple has not yet opened the platform, which is likely called homeOS. The HomeView will be available in four colors in the version with a speaker base: Silver, “Starlight” (a shade of gold), Pink, and Space Gray. A color-matched USB-C cable is included.
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