The “HomePad” is a new device that Apple is preparing. It is supposed to allow the company to better exist in the smart home market. It will be a kind of combination of the HomePod speaker with the iPad tablet, but the new homeOS software will appear. What do we already know about the “HomePad” device and when will it premiere?
“HomePad” is not the official name of Apple’s new hardware, but only a conventional one, proposed by Mark Gurman, among others. The homeOS device is hiding fewer and fewer secrets from us, and its market premiere is fast approaching. What do we already know about this hardware?
Apple wants to have a stronger presence in the smart home market
Let’s start with why Apple would create hardware called “HomePad”? The smart home is an issue in which the company shows great interest. The entire HomeKit platform proves this. The problem, however, is that HomePod or Apple TV are devices that have not been a spectacular success and only some customers using the ecosystem of the giant from Cupertino have them.
“HomePad” may change this to a greater extent, although the price will also play a major role here. More universal hardware with greater capabilities may allow the company to enter the kitchens, living rooms or bedrooms of customers. And that is probably the goal.
“HomePad” is not HomePod and iPad in one housing
There has been a lot of talk in the past that the new Apple device would be a combination of an iPad tablet with a HomePod speaker. In a way, it will be, but this is a great simplification, although the company will certainly use the experience from both categories of devices.
We know that this device will receive a touchscreen with a diagonal of about 6 inches, so in this respect it will be smaller than iPads. In terms of size, it is to resemble two iPhones placed next to each other. The frames around the display are to be thin and we will find built-in speakers and a FaceTime camera here.
Apple is working on a special system for mounting the gadget directly on the wall, although there should also be an option in the form of a base, which will allow it to be placed on a shelf or countertop. There are to be two color variants of the housing to choose from. These are black and silver.
Apple “HomePad” with the homeOS system
Apple is also preparing new software for the “HomePad” device. We are talking about homeOS, which has been prepared for years. It is to be a combination of tvOS with solutions from watchOS and standby mode from iOS. The interface is to be largely based on widgets and we know that a lot of emphasis will be placed on Siri, communication and smart home control.
The device will allow you to run Music, Safari, FaceTime, Notes and other applications, but there will be no access to the App Store. However, there will be support for Apple Intelligence and the new App Intents function, which will facilitate voice control. In addition, a lot of emphasis will be placed on home security and integration with other devices with the bitten apple logo. The premiere is to take place in the first half of 2025.
