Rumors of a HomePod Display Have Been Circulating for Years

Apple’s HomePod has never quite lived up to the expectations of its competitors, such as Amazon Echo devices. Despite this, Apple continues to develop and release its own lineup of smart speakers. The latest software references suggest that a major upgrade is on the way, and it’s likely to feature a display.

Source: engadget.com

The current HomePods are essentially speakers with Siri, and aside from a touch-sensitive surface for media controls, they don’t really have an interactive display. However, the leaked beta code from Apple makes it clear that this is about to change. The new HomePod, codenamed HomePad, is likely to feature a screen and run a variant of tvOS.

Source: engadget.com

HomePad Interface and Customizable Faces

The interface of the new HomePad will be quite different from the current HomePods. The leaked code reveals that its home screen will feature ‘Faces’ and a ‘Face Gallery.’ These faces are likely to be customizable with different widgets and even Smart Stacks, so users will see different widgets throughout the day. The code also suggests that the new HomePod can detect when the user’s iPhone is nearby to decide whether or not to display personal information in the widgets.

Source: engadget.com

One of the most interesting features of the new HomePad is the ability to add iPhone widgets to its home screen. This should work much like placing iPhone app widgets on a Mac using Handoff. Support for Siri AI and App Intents is also expected based on what the code tells us.

Other Home Devices in the Works

Apple has other home devices in the works, including a tabletop robot. According to Bloomberg, the robot will feature a display attached to a robotic arm that can rotate in any direction. While product specs are still quite vague, the product is reported to be codenamed J595 and is expected to be released in 2027.

References to the tabletop robot can be found in HomeKit-related frameworks in the leaked macOS beta code. However, it’s unlikely that we’ll see this product unveiled before 2027. The code also references a new generation of the HomePod mini, codenamed B525. This is likely to be a minor upgrade without any big changes, but users can expect a few new colors.

Other Products Mentioned in the Leaked Code

The leaked macOS beta code also references new iPhones, AirPods, iPads, and even Macs. This suggests that Apple is working on a wide range of new products, and we can expect to see many of these released in the coming months.

In conclusion, the leaked macOS beta code suggests that Apple is working on a wide range of new products, including a new HomePod with a display and a tabletop robot. While we can expect to see many of these products released in the coming months, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the tabletop robot unveiled before 2027.