Apple Smart Displays Will Run New 'homeOS' Operating System [Gurman]

Apple is working on two smart display products that will run a new 'homeOS' operating system, according to a recent report from Mark Gurman.

In a newsletter to subscribers, Gurman says that Apple plans to take another crack at the smart home market with these upcoming devices.

As I've discussed before, the most significant product in development is a tabletop device code-named J595 that combines a robotic limb with a large, iPad-like display. It's also working on one dubbed J490, a low-end smart display for using FaceTime and controlling home appliances.


The lower-end smart display could launch as early as next year, while the robotic arm device may not arrive until 2026 or 2027, with a price expected to exceed $1,000.

Apple will purportedly use tvOS as the basis for its new homeOS operating system. Ultimately, Gurman expects both of the operating systems to get combined and run on every Apple home device.

Both of the new products are considered collaborations between Apple's artificial intelligence and home device hardware engineering groups. The low-end smart display is designed to run apps like Calendar, Notes and Home, and will include an interface optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information. When developing prototypes, Apple imagined the device magnetically attaching to walls or sitting atop a desk.

Apple's 'HomeAccessory' device is also rumored to feature a square display and support hand gesture recognition from a distance. It may enable Personal Requests, run apps, play media, and function as an AirPlay receiver. Additionally, it could offer a customizable Lock Screen with various clock faces.


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