First of all, the hub will not be called HomePad or HomeHub, as some experts expected, but “HomeView.” Gurman attributes this scoop to MacRumors, which on Friday detected suspicious brand activity from a shell company.
It says this marking “reflects how the device should be used.” It’s a product that you primarily look at (and talk to using Siri AI) rather than interact with it directly via touch, although the latter input method is possible using the small touchscreen. He believes a name like HomePad would have led customers to expect a more touch-centric experience, similar to that of the iPad.
As for software, don’t expect an App Store for third-party software, nor a wide range of first-party apps. Rather, HomeView “will support a limited selection of Apple apps.” Perhaps this will change in the future, considering that the original iPhone also did not have an App Store, but in this case it seems more like an intentional decision to focus on simplicity of use.
Design-wise, HomeView (as we’ve known for some time) will come in two versions. A countertop version with a metal speaker base will come in many of Apple’s classic colors: Space Gray, Silver, Starlight, and Pink. But the wall-mounted version will only come in Space Gray and Silver. In both cases, the device will run an A18 processor and serve “as a Siri command center for an Apple-powered home.”
However, for about the first month of this new smart home era, Apple-powered homes will be left without their command center. The hardware will land in stores at different times: the new HomePod mini and Apple TV on October 30; the HomeView in mid-November; and LG accessories “later this year at the earliest.” This seems a little uncoordinated, but Apple has shown an appetite in recent years for announcing things before they’re ready. In fact, the iPhone Duo, presented on September 9, will not go on sale until October 23.
Announcements are scheduled for October 13 at 9 a.m. ET. You can follow the latest breaking news through our Welcome Home live blog, which is now live.
