Apple announces October 13 'Welcome home' event, smart home products expected
Apple has announced a special event for October 13 in New York, teased as "Welcome home." The company is expected to show a HomePad smart display, refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini, and possibly LG smart home accessories.
The event marks Apple's second of the fall. According to Engadget, Apple is expected to unveil a long-rumored HomePad, a smart display with a seven-inch screen and a new operating system called homeOS. The device is said to include a dashboard similar to the StandBy mode on iPhones and to use face and voice recognition to personalize content for whoever is using it. It is also expected to control smart home products and support FaceTime calls, video and music streaming, and intercom communication with other devices.
Apple is also expected to refresh the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Engadget reports that those updates are likely to add support for Siri AI, and recent macOS beta code suggests the revamped speaker may gain a display with an Apple Watch-style interface.
The Verge reported that Apple may also team up with LG on new smart home devices at the event, including a video doorbell, thermostat, and indoor camera. Renders purportedly showing some of those devices leaked yesterday.
The HomePad has been rumored for years as a rival to Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple delayed the device until Siri AI was ready. Siri AI launched last month with a beta tag.
October is shaping up to be a busy month for Apple. Engadget noted that in addition to the event, Apple is set to release the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, in a couple of weeks.