Is Apple seeking to gain new market share in the connected home? This is a fairly likely scenario given the latest rumours, relayed by Bloombergaround the development of a new range of objects for the home.
Smart Display and Apple TV boosted
The Cupertino company could develop a connected screen to control interior home automation (lights, thermostats, etc.). The device would be based on the iPad, with a lower quality standard, and could allow viewing videos and making FaceTime calls, according to sources familiar with Apple’s plans. This smart display will have magnetic fasteners and could even be available in a version with a larger screen.
At the same time, the Apple brand could update its Apple TV. The design should not evolve, but the case could gain in power, with a faster processor. A device that would not, however, be able to stream video in 8K, a format that is still in its infancy. The official release of this boosted device could take place in the first half of 2024, according to our colleagues.
On the innovation side, Apple would not have abandoned the idea of combining its TV box with a smart speaker and a camera. A release was planned for 2023, but the project is behind schedule, like that of the smart displays.
Apple lagging behind on the Connected Home
Amazon and its Echo Show, Google and its Nest Hub… By launching its own connected screens, Apple would seek to catch up on the competition. For several years, the Californian firm has been struggling to penetrate the connected home market. The features currently offered by Apple devices remain limited. Several first-price connected objects also lack compatibility with the iOS ecosystem. Not to mention the virtual assistant Siri, not functional enough, and far behind the competition from Google Assistant and Alexa (Amazon).
With the arrival of temperature and humidity sensors on the second generation of HomePod, Apple seems to confirm its desire to invest more effectively in the heart of the home.