Earlier today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was fast-tracking work on several wearable products. He’s added that the tech giant is also working on new Home products.
“Beyond wearables, Apple is developing a range of AI devices for the home,” Gurman said. “That lineup includes a smart display built around the company’s upcoming Siri revamp and a later version with a larger screen and robotic arm. The company is also working on an updated HomePod speaker and a compact indoor sensor for home security and automation.”
One of those products is almost certainly the rumored HomePod-with-a-screen. The “HomePad” The device is expected to use sensors to determine how close a user is. Here are some of the rumors about the device:
° It will be powered by an A18 processor.
° It will have a squarish display rather than an iPad-ish rectangular design.
° It will have a built-in camera that works for FaceTime and other video conferencing apps.
° It will use the camera to identify hand gestures from a distance.
The home security camera will reportedly have facial recognition and infrared sensors to determine who is in a room. Apple believes users will place cameras throughout their home to help with automation.
“That could mean turning lights off when someone leaves a room or automatically playing music liked by a particular family member,” Gurman says.
Apple is also reported to be working on a smart doorbell with advanced facial recognition that wirelessly connects to a deadbolt lock.
The idea is that the doorbell could automatically unlock the door for a home’s residents by scanning their face — just like Face ID lets them into their iPhone.
As for a “robotic arm,” Gurman has previously said that Apple plans to roll out a tabletop robot with a 7-inch screen on a movable arm.
The idea is for the device to act like a person in a room. It could interrupt a conversation between friends about dinner plans, say, and suggest nearby restaurants or relevant recipes,” he said. “It’s also being designed to engage in back-and-forth discussions for things like planning a trip or getting tasks done — similar to OpenAI’s voice mode.”
The “Apple Bot” (my moniker, not Gurman’s or Apple’s) will be designed to support FaceTime calls and sport a Center Stage-like feature for moving around to follow folks in a room, he says. Gurman adds that users may be able to control the robot with a joystick.
Apple is also rumored to be working on a on a mobile robot with wheels and a large mechanical arm that could be used in manufacturing facilities or retail stores.
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