Apple is finally entering the smart home market in a big way. After years of speculation, delays, and meticulous planning, it will officially launch its first dedicated smart home hub on October 13. The long-rumored devicecode named J490 during developmentwill launch alongside an updated HomePod mini and Apple TV.
For years, Apple has watched Amazon and Google take over the living room and kitchen with their smart displays. While HomeKit has steadily gotten better and Siri has gotten smarter, Apple lacked a physical hub that could sit on the counter or be installed in a wall and claim ownership of the home. That changes next month. The new hub is about a 6-inch square screen, approximately 1 inch thick, with a bezel reminiscent of older iPads. One version sits on a rounded metal base that hides the speakers and microphones, giving it a look many have compared to the classic iMac G4. The other is designed to be installed flush into a wall, connecting through USB-C power.
What this does to make it more than ‘just another screen’ is its focus on customization. The hub will be able to identify people in the household and their individual preferences with facial recognition and voice identification and then show customized pieces of information, from the individual standing in front of the hub; Calendar events photos reminders, preferred music, on-screen font size, etc. The information for outsiders will be private, keeping a privacy-centric stance, which is very typical of Apple.
At the core of the experience is Siri AI. Now that the upgraded assistant is widely available, the center is a logical place for it to live. User should be able to do all the basic smart home controls like a direct video or voice command to control HomeKit-enabled lights thermostats locks, and more, initiate FaceTime calls, send intercom-style messages between rooms, play music or podcasts, access photo slideshows, and even find recipes or videos while cooking. Overall the interface was said to echo a combination of what you get on the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iPad, with widgets, clock faces, and a gorgeous, clutter-free home screen that is just right for the kitchen or hallway.
The timing is interesting. John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO, just took his position a few weeks ago. This launching seems to be one of the first big hardware move since he’s settling into the new position and refreshes the existing range of products to push Apple’s products further across people’s lives. Combining these new hub models with new generations of HomePod mini speakers and more robust Apple TV implies Apple’s strive for a coherent home ecosystem, not simply disconnected devices.
Of course the real comparison will be when people actually use it. Smart home devices live and die on their ability to be reliable, fast, and integrate seamlessly into people’s lives. Apple has always excelled at the polish and privacy of software and if the new hub fulfills those expectations and makes Siri Much more useful in the home it may finally offer Apple a foundation in a category it has been tentative in for so long.
