Apple’s smart speakers have always been more interesting in the speaker department than in the connectivity and intelligence department, at least compared to the competition. But Apple is reportedly reviewing its home automation strategy. References to homeOS were found in the developer beta of tvOS 17.4.
The term homeOS, which is currently not part of Apple’s operating systems, first appeared in 2021, when it was mentioned alongside iOS, WatchOS, and tvOS in a few job postings. Naturally, as soon as the news was reported, Apple removed homeOS from job postings.
The exact purpose of homeOS is unclear. But it seems obvious that it must be referring to new efforts to revamp Apple’s smart home experience. We don’t know if homeOS would be a way to rebrand the HomePod operating system, which is currently powered by a simpler version of tvOS, or tied to the HomeKit platform.
WWDC 2024 in sight
Apple could expand its line of smart home products beyond the HomePod and HomePod Mini. Rumors starting in 2021 and resurfacing through 2023 suggest that Apple could be working on an entirely new device combining the HomePod and a touchscreen, like an Amazon Echo Show 10.
These rumors are not without merit: Evidence that Apple tested tvOS 17 on an iPad Mini as part of a display-equipped HomePod project was found last year and reported by 9to5Mac.
If Apple is working on such a device with homeOS implementation, we expect the announcement to be made at its annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC), which usually takes place in June. But if the company is working on this kind of Echo-Show-like device, I hope it makes improvements to Siri as well.
Source: “ZDNet.com”