Apple Home Hub to launch in October
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple plans to launch a completely new, smart command center for the home sometime between October and early next year – the Apple Home Hub.
The Apple Home Hub essentially combines a HomePod speaker with a 7-inch display. According to reports, the device runs on a completely new operating system based on Apple TV’s tvOS platform. The user interface is described as a blend of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS. It will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, as well as customizable watch faces.
Apple Home Hub with facial recognition, FaceTime and Home Security
According to the report, the hub uses integrated facial recognition to identify who is looking at the display and show personalized information. The size of the controls changes depending on whether a user approaches or moves away from the hub.
Other features mentioned include FaceTime video calls, home security monitoring, HomeKit accessory management, photo galleries, a calendar, music playback, and an intercom system for households with multiple Apple devices.
According to the report, Apple is also continuing to work on an advanced home surveillance camera intended to compete with Amazon‘s Ring products.
